While the score might seem like a mere bragging right, it directly contributes to earning extra lives. In Castlevania, you gain an extra life at 20,000 points, 50,000 points, and then every 50,000 points thereafter. This means that collecting money bags and defeating enemies efficiently can provide crucial extra chances to complete the game. Don't go out of your way to farm points if it puts you at risk, but be mindful of collecting money bags when they are safe to acquire. A higher score often indicates a more efficient and skilled playthrough, as you're defeating more enemies and collecting more items. These extra lives can be the difference between a Game Over and continuing your progress, especially in the later, more challenging stages of the castle.
