DESCRIPTION

Dracula X: Rondo of Blood is part of Konami's successful Castlevania series, which started on the NES and has since appeared at least once on most major gaming platforms. Players take on the role of Richter Belmont, vampire hunter and member of the famous Belmont family. Dracula is alive again, and Richter must fight his way through Dracula's castle and defeat the vampire. Along the way, Richter must rescue kidnapped people and deal with a series of sub-bosses.

There are seven levels in Dracula X: Rondo of Blood, but every level after the first has a regular version and an alternate version. Each version has its own boss monster, and which version players play depends on the path they take through the game. These routes are not obvious, with some hidden behind false walls or down shafts that players must fall into.

Richter has a life bar that gets drained by being hit but can be replenished with food found throughout the levels. Players can pick up bags of money to improve their score, and as a means of buying boss-level cinematic sequences during the options screen. There are two other types of items that players can collect: special weapons and hearts.

Richter can carry only one special weapon at a time and will drop the one he's currently carrying if players move him over a new weapon. These weapons cost hearts to use, but give players more flexibility in attacking. Players can also attack with the item crash, which is a much more powerful special weapon attack that also drains more heart points. The item crash can be used when Richter's heart meter is flashing green. ~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide