- Capcom brings the previously unreleased action game from the cult-classic franchise, and seals the deal with the great Symphony of the Night.
Overview
Can you believe how long the Castlevania series has been around? I always wonder if the developers of the original games knew that twenty plus years later their games would still draw such a following. It has driven such a following that games that haven't even been released here in the States are being begged for by gamers to be taken out of the vaults and into gamers hands. Thus is the case with Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles, I consider this PSP game the answering of many fans' prayers. But is it all worth it? Read our full review to find out!
Gameplay
There is no doubt that the Castlevania series is one of the most beloved franchises in the gaming industry. In fact there have been so many Castlevania games in the past that I don't think fans of the series have ever been lacking. With that being said, Castlevania hasn't been on the forefront of video games in a long time either, becoming more of a cult favorite rather then a mainstream game, we haven't seen the buzz surrounding these games like we had in the past. With today's game Castlevania The Dracula X Chronicles your going to embark on an experience that many fans have been drooling over for years begging Konami to bring it out, and now that it is, was it worth the wait?
So you're not just getting one Castlevania game, which is why the name of the game has Chronicles. You are getting a never released (here in the States) Rondo of Blood as well as the extremely popular Symphony of the Night. Symphony of the Night has remained one of the strongest titles in the franchise, and many fans will point to that game as being the best of the franchise hands down. Do these games have what it takes so many years later on the PSP?
Many of us have already played Symphony of the Night so I am not going to spend as much time on that. Although the Turbo Grafx game of Rondo of Blood that is one I have never played and many of you probably have not as well. I was shocked at how much this game still manages to engage us almost fifteen years later. This remake really works well and you can see why it was so popular with the Japanese when it was released. The game just has a bit of a new feel over what we saw in the previous Castlevania games of the times, it wasn't as linear, it throws some surprises out there, all of which is a lot of fun. Things are not perfect all the way around; the controls are a bit touchy, and things can be heavy on the difficult side not necessarily because of challenge but because of some weird control issues. This is not a huge issue but a snag nonetheless.
Rondo of Blood is probably reason enough for most people to go out and purchase the game. It was just a blast to see what we have been missing, and although the English translation was pretty hit and miss, the experience still remained strong nonetheless. Having Symphony of the Night to go to after you get done is just an added bonus and just makes the game that much more enticing.
Graphics
Visually in some respects the game has a lot to be proud of and in others you kind of wish more was done. The main accomplishment is that the style of Rondo of Blood has been kept intact, and that just sets the right mood for the game. The visuals update isn't without its problems though. There are some weird effects or glitches that do hold back the experience. Overall though the visuals remain pretty solid, nothing perfect but good nonetheless.
Fun Factor
I have to say that I am not the biggest Castlevania fan, I enjoy the games, but at the same time I am not one that was dying to play Rondo of Blood. However having had the opportunity to play through this game and go through Symphony of the Night again, I was reminded why this series is so great. The game isn't perfect, its not "the best" in my opinion, but the re-mastered version for the PSP is really a lot of fun regardless.
Overall
If you have a friend, family member, loved one who likes Castlevania to any extent, this is a great game. Or if you are the one reading right now and you like Castlevania and have always wanted to see what the fuss was about for Rondo of Blood, then this is a great game to go check out, I would highly recommend it.
- Gameplay
8.0 - Graphics
7.0 - Fun Factor
8.0 - Overall
8.0
