Castlevania: Rondo of Blood

Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo (悪魔城ドラキュラX 血の輪廻 (ロンド)?), later released as Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, is a platform video game developed by Konami for the PC Engine. The tenth installment of the Castlevania video game series and a 2D side-scroller, it acts as a middleground between the earlier, typically linear Castlevania games and the later open-exploration ones; Rondo of Blood makes use of untimed stages with a clear beginning, but occasionally more than one ending. The game is notable for being the first Castlevania game to utilize a save feature. Due to the enhanced capabilities of the PC Engine CD-ROM² with the Super System Card which greatly expanded the PC Engine's memory, anime cutscenes and voice acting were added to the game, another first for the series. It was released in Japan on October 29, 1993. A direct sequel to it, the critically acclaimed Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, was released in 1997.

Taking place in 1792, Rondo of Blood is set in the fictional universe of the Castlevania series. The premise of the series is the eternal conflict between the vampire hunters of the Belmont clan and the immortal vampire Dracula. Rondo of Blood centers on Richter Belmont, who searches for his beloved Annette after Dracula's servant abducts her. In Dracula's castle, he frees young Maria Renard, who then becomes a playable character, and two other maidens before finding Annette and defeating Dracula.