Gamers have been enjoying Castlevania's eerie storylines since 1987, and the latest version of Castlevania for Game Boy Advance is one of the very best in the series. Powered by Game Boy Advance's 32-bit color graphics, Circle of the Moon looks great and sounds even better. The haunting music tracks and awesome sound effects are some of the greatest audio treats we've ever heard on a portable system. Turn down the sound on this one and you'll be losing a great deal of the gloomy atmosphere which is crucial to the Castlevania experience. Circle of the Moon relies heavily on the platform-jumping skeleton-whipping formula which led to Castlevania's initial success, but Konami has created some new gameplay elements which add to its depth. Instead of simply working your way from point A to point B in Dracula's castle, you can choose your own route through branching passageways and corridors. The gameplay is mostly linear, but you'll definitely make a few wrong turns before figuring out where you're supposed to go next.

One of the best side-scrolling game franchises makes a successful debut on the Game Boy Advance in Castlevania: Circle of the Moon. This time around you follow the adventures of Nathan Graves as he attempts to stop the recently resurrected Dracula. In the fine tradition of Castlevania vampire hunters, Graves carries a whip as his primary weapon, and will soon discover the traditional secondary weapons of holy water, dagger, boomerang, time freeze, and more. New to the series is the dual set-up system (DSS), which allows you to use 20 cards (randomly found) for up to 80 power-ups.

The game plays like a side-scrolling classic without seeming too dated. Players traipse around a nonlinear dungeon, defeat monsters, and unlock new parts of the dungeon, often through the use of new abilities. It's similar to the excellent Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for the PlayStation, with the obvious aural limitations of a cartridge-based handheld system.

Unfortunately, the game's dark graphics are difficult to see on the Game Boy Advance's fickle screen. Long sessions require consistent overhead lighting, so this isn't the ideal game for travel. The animations are also lacking, making character movement appear jerky. Despite these graphics shortcomings, this side-scrolling wonder makes a fine addition to your GBA library. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• Classic gameplay
• High replay value
• Great sound for a handheld game

Cons:

• Dark graphics are butchered by the GBA screen
• Mediocre animation

Konami's Simon Belmont started hunting vampires back in 1987, and he hasn't quit yet. Now he's chasing them across the Game Boy Advance in Castlevania: Circle of the Moon. He'll use his trusty whip, as well as a few magical items, to combat Dracula and more than just a few foul minions. The game takes advantage of the GBA's rich color palette to create detailed, moody environments and intricate spell effects.