When you hear "Castlevania...

[elmagicochrisg]

I think Super Castlevania IV.

This...

[o.pwuaioc]

I think Super Castlevania IV.

This.

[BurningDoom]

So Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is my favorite entry in the series. However, when I hear Castlevania, I immeadiatly think of the original NES version, as that's what I grew-up with.

[MidnightRider]

I think of Belmonts vs. Dracula, which is practically never brought up in the metrovania's.

[Breetai]

The original series. I started with the first one on the NES, so that's what I think of. I enjoyed Simon's Quest, but never really did get far into it since... well, it's Simon's Quest. I then got, and bought, Castlevania III and really liked trying to get all three other characters and play as them. While Castlevania IV was a huge leap graphically, I actually thought it was a step backwards overall. I thought that at the time even! I liked that I would whip in 8 directions and change jump directions in mid-air, but found myself going back to Castlevania III. I rented the SNES version of Rondo of Blood and liked it more than IV, to be honest.

Then... I played Symphony of the Night. Best.Game.Ever. It is still possibly my favourite game. Despite my love for SotN, the classic series is what I think of first when I hear "Castlevania". Of course, SotN pops into my head right after! I do prefer the "Metroidvania games." The GBA and DS games are all incredible. The 3D series is not even on my radar.

My top 3 Castlevania games:
1. Symphony of the Night
2. Order of Ecclesia
3. Rondo of Blood (PCE Super CD)

honourable mention: Castlevania III

[sevin0seven]

When you hear "Castlevania...

i hear stage 1 music of castlevania 3.

[MrPopo]

I'd never played any of the classic Castlevanias on a controller until after I had played through Dawn of Souls. I'd tried both the original games as well as the GBA Metroidvanias on the emulator but neither controlled well enough with just a keyboard; too much precision required. So since DoS was the first Castlevania I beat that's the style I think of. It also helps that the Metroid series contains some of my favorite games.

[brunoafh]

The original series. I started with the first one on the NES, so that's what I think of. I enjoyed Simon's Quest, but never really did get far into it since... well, it's Simon's Quest. I then got, and bought, Castlevania III and really liked trying to get all three other characters and play as them. While Castlevania IV was a huge leap graphically, I actually thought it was a step backwards overall. I thought that at the time even! I liked that I would whip in 8 directions and change jump directions in mid-air, but found myself going back to Castlevania III. I rented the SNES version of Rondo of Blood and liked it more than IV, to be honest.

Then... I played Symphony of the Night. Best.Game.Ever. It is still possibly my favourite game. Despite my love for SotN, the classic series is what I think of first when I hear "Castlevania". Of course, SotN pops into my head right after! I do prefer the "Metroidvania games." The GBA and DS games are all incredible. The 3D series is not even on my radar.

My top 3 Castlevania games:
1. Symphony of the Night
2. Order of Ecclesia
3. Rondo of Blood (PCE Super CD)

honourable mention: Castlevania III

I concur with everything in this post, including your top 3 Castlevanias.

[Nintendork666]

The NES trilogy.

[Czernobog]

I think of the first game on NES because it's one of the first games I ever played.