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Castlevania is a series with heritage. Since its introduction in 1986 it's rarely skipped a year, with 40 released titles spanning consoles, PC's and arcades. Over nearly 30 years, the backbone remains the same. The plot is an eternal repetition of the need for the Belmont clan (and occasional affiliates) to destroy Dracula who, against all odds, keeps getting resurrected in all manner of bizarre circumstances. Features and details may change, or occasionally be absent, but they're indelible parts of the series, always remembered, always returning. Perhaps Castlevania's most polished and revered trait is its music. Stylistically phenomenal from the very beginning, nearly every title in the 28 year history is an aural delight. When Konami released an 18 CD soundtrack set in 2010, it didn't even have room for every great piece that's graced the series. Behind these iconic tracks is the work of some talented composers.
Kinuyo Yamashita and Satoe Terashima created the original soundtrack for the first game, and it was a stupendous success. Their most famous track, and one of the most popular and reused in Castlevania history, is the backdrop for the very first stage; the awesomely titled "Vampire Killer". This music, and its subsequent remixing, provide a fantastic look at how Castlevania's themes have changed over the years, while keeping the spirit of the original compositions alive. First we'll begin with the NES original:
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