Circle of the Moon was my first GBA Castlevania, and man, it set the bar high. You play as Nathan Graves, a vampire hunter-in-training who gets yeeted into the depths of Dracula’s castle after a ritual goes wrong. Classic setup, but the atmosphere here is thick—dimly lit corridors, gothic architecture, and that iconic GBA color palette making everything look like it’s drenched in candlelight.

Gameplay’s pure Metroidvania: whip-swinging, backtracking, and hunting for power-ups to unlock new areas. The DSS card system is a neat twist—you collect these dual cards that mix and match for different magic effects. Took me forever to figure out some combos, but pulling off a Mercury+Salamander for a flaming whip felt ridiculously satisfying.

It’s tough, though. Some of those enemy placements feel downright cruel, and the platforming can be brutal if you’re not careful. But that’s part of the charm—when you finally beat a boss or stumble into a hidden room, it feels earned. Still holds up as one of the GBA’s best.