Akumajou Special is basically Castlevania crammed into a Game Boy cartridge—and somehow, it works. You’ve got the same whip-cracking action, creepy castles, and those ridiculous Medusa heads flying at you from off-screen. The music’s surprisingly decent for a handheld, too—haunting little chiptune melodies that stick in your head.

It’s tough as nails, though. One wrong jump and you’re plummeting into a pit, or some skeleton knocks you into a candle (why are there so many candles?). But that’s the charm—every enemy pattern feels like a puzzle, and when you finally beat a boss, it’s pure relief. Just don’t throw your Game Boy.

If you’ve played the NES games, this one’s a fun (and brutal) little sibling. If not, well… good luck with Dracula.