Circle of the Moon is one of those GBA Castlevania games that feels like it was made for people who love getting lost in massive, moody castles. You start as this vampire hunter named Nathan Graves—whip in hand, no fancy backflips yet—and immediately get thrown into a labyrinth of crumbling halls and secret passages. The first time I played, I spent like 20 minutes just figuring out how to jump properly over those stupid floating Medusa heads.

What makes it stick is the DSS card system. You collect these magic cards from enemies (good luck getting the drop you want), and combining them gives you wild effects—fire whips, ice armor, even summoning lightning. Half the fun is experimenting with dumb combos just to see what happens. Also, that soundtrack? All haunting organs and pulsing synth, perfect for creeping through a dungeon at 2 AM.

Fair warning: it’s tough. Some bosses feel like they’re reading your inputs, and the platforming can be brutal if you’re not patient. But when you finally beat that one room that’s been wrecking you for an hour? Pure Castlevania satisfaction. Just don’t expect Symphony of the Night levels of polish—this one’s got its own janky charm.