Ack! It hurts my head just trying to pick a favorite Castlevania game! That's like choosing which of your children you like the best! I love them all! Well, let's see... I could say what my favorite features of some of them are.

Castlevania- Nostalgic value! This game made me a gamer! It will forever be burned into my mind. The music, the graphics, the overall essence of it. There simply wasn't anything like it when it came out.

Castlevania 2- Bloody Tears! Sure, it was in Haunted Castle (Damn you, Konami! I want Haunted Castle! Can't you put it on a freakin' arcade classics collection?), but Castlevania 2 was the first time it appeared on a home console system. Besides the song, it's a wonderful game. Lots of nostalgic value too, just no where near as much as the original. The only complaint I have about the game is the mindless guessing.

Castlevania 3- Not very much nostalgic value, but such a solid game. Great music, great graphics, lots of variety, more balanced challenge, everything!

Castlevania 4- Very beautiful detailed graphics, and Bloody Tears sounding its best. Best non-RPG soundtrack, period. Some of it is perfectly atmospheric, while the rest just rocks. Castlevania, through and through. And the boss battles ruled! They were easy for the most part, but so fun! I remember when Dracula comes back in his second form (His head is a skull! Cool!), the music kicked in, and all the lightning was striking everywhere! Totally classic! And Mode 7 graphics don't get any cooler than the rotating room!

Ugh. Rambled on enough! I don't have much to say 'bout the rest, but these four are some of the best in the series, IMO. All I need is SotN. I'm dying to play it. Stupid Star Ocean 2. Why can't it be shorter?!