Castlevania on Godot
A fully-realized recreation of a classic platformer, demonstrating deep understanding of game design and implementation.
Demo Video #
What is it? #
I rebuilt the original 1987 NES Castlevania from scratch using Godot. It’s a labor of love driven by childhood nostalgia—that game meant something to me, and I wanted to understand how it all fit together using modern technology.
The result is a faithful recreation that respects the original’s design while making thoughtful improvements. Better visuals, actual rotation for spinning weapons, camera shake effects—the stuff the original couldn’t do. Without access to the original source code, some mechanics are approximations based on careful observation, but the goal was always to honor the game rather than replace it.
Early Development Showcase #
Why this project? #
It’s about preserving gaming history by thoughtfully adapting a classic for modern technology. Understanding why a 37-year-old game still feels incredible to play. And proving that Godot is a serious platform for indie developers.
What I’ve learned #
- How to structure a 2D platformer in an engine
- Animation state machines and transitions
- The importance of feel (you can’t just eyeball these numbers)
- That some design decisions feel arbitrary until you play the original for 6 hours
Deep Dive #
For detailed information about the project, design decisions, and implementation, see the full project documentation.