Dracula 3D / Castlevania 64 [N64 - Tech Demo / Beta]

While in development at Konami Computer Entertainment Kobe (KCEK), Castlevania was originally known as Dracula 3D. United States news media referred to the game by this title as well as Dracula 64. In September of 1997, the game was approximately 10% finished and was 20% complete in February of 1998. In October of 1998 the game was featured at the Tokyo Game Show; several levels were playable and the game was a hit with the crowd. Later that month, it was revealed that KCEK decided to drop two of the planned four characters from the game “in favor of focusing the programming team’s development efforts and moving completion of the game forward”. [info from Wikipedia]

Most of the images preserved in the gallery below are from an early Dracula 3D tech demo, showing the main characters that were planned to be in the game. The graphic of this tech demo is much more detailed and definited than the final version and 2 playable characters were removed.

For more info on the beta: Castlevania 64 Beta Analisys

Most of the features planned for Castlevania 64 were later added to its sequel, Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness, that realizes some of the original game designers’ vision. For example, Cornell was present in early development media and press information for Castlevania 64, but was ultimately removed before the game’s release.

Thanks to Gilgamesh for some of these images!

Images:

Videos:

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1. Hybrid Heaven [N64 - Beta / Tech Demo]
2. Castlevania: Dawn Of Sorrow [DS - Beta / Unused]
3. Eternal Darkness [Nintendo 64 - Unreleased]
4. Shadowgate Rising [N64 - Cancelled]
5. Project Dream / Banjo Kazooie [N64 - Proto / Beta / Test Level]