Definitely one of the best 2-D game of all time, and also the best Castlevania game to date.
Before playing an old game that you're gonna play for the first time, you always need to approach carefully other wise you'll end up wondering: WHAT WAS ALL THE FUSS ABOUT THIS GAME ?, so anyway I downloaded the game once it became available in XBLA.
Since the first half an hour after playing the game I realised that this game was awesome, the gameplay is al ot of fun and killing monsters and skeletums and gaining experience for it was very pleasant, more satisfying are the sounds efects, the screaming of the creatures after being defeated is something you won't forget believe me, the graphics are great too, and I am sure that 10 years ago they must've been one of the best.
In the game you need to explore the castle and you will find many parts of the castle you can't acces, that's why during the game you'll be getting more and more special items that will let you get through parts you couldn't get in before, actually if you've played metroid before you how this system works.
Anyway this is such an awesome classic game that you cannot miss, and if you like castlevania and 2d action games than it is a most have, by the game the ending song is one the best song i've ever heard, definitely a must-have.