Anyone who has
owned a Nintendo Entertainment System will remember the first Castlevania
game and the whip-wielding hero who fought against the famed vampire in his own
home turf. It was not only an amazing side-scrolling 2D action game with a
supernatural twist but it also inspired sequels that managed to rise above
Konami’s original classic. Among those games is Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
that was released in Japan in 1993 and followed four years later by
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, a game that’s not only a fan favorite
but the best Castlevania game. With Castlevania: The Dracula X
Chronicles for the PSP, Konami brings a newly remastered version of Rondo
of Blood (plus the 2D original) as well as Symphony of the Night in
one portable package.
While the PSP
packaging proudly displays that you can play both Rondo of Blood and
Symphony of the Night all on the same UMD, the truth is that you will have
to play through the revamped version of Rondo before you can unlock
Symphony or the original 2D version of Rondo. That’s three games in
one package but you must unlock the first two by completing Rondo and
that’s not a simple feat at all. Yes, it’s kind of frustrating that you’re not
able to jump right into Symphony if you want but then again Rondo hasn’t
been released in North America before this is the chance for those who haven’t played the Japanese original.
Rondo of
happiness
The newly
revamped version of Rondo of Blood is a pleasantly altered while keeping
the feel of the original. You play as Richter Belmont, a descendant of the original
Castlevania’s Simon Belmont who went up against Dracula and vanquished
him. Years later Dracula rises again but this time it’s Richter that answers the
call to do battle with the forces of evil and put Dracula in his coffin once and
for all. So off he goes to Castlevania to fight the supernatural threat in the
game’s opening prologue that has you on a coach pulled by galloping steeds as a
vampire attacks.
Early in the
game (the second level to be exact), you will get to unlock another playable
character that will play a role in helping you rid the land of Dracula. Maria
Renard might be a little girl but her attacks are just as effective as
Richter’s whip, throwing knives or crosses. Maria releases doves on her enemy
and can move faster than the slower but stronger Richter, who can perform a
helpful double jump that finishes with a back flip. It’s great to be able to
pick from two characters and both Richter and Maria play different enough to add
variety to the game’s levels.
Listen to
them, the Children of the Night – what music they make
Rondo’s
level design was a nice change from the traditional level design of
Castlevania and the sequels that followed seeing as the hero can move on to
the next area via a doorway that gives the impression that you’re smoothly
transitioning from area to area. The newly revamped version features cut scenes
that advance the story. Once you’re able to unlock the original Rondo of
Blood (the classic 2D version), you also get to unlock Symphony of the
Night. For anyone who missed the game, Symphony has you playing
Alucard (which is Dracula spelled backwards) who just happens to be the spawn
between Dracula and a human. Alucard just so happens to hate his father and goes
on a quest to defeat him after hearing that Richter Belmont and Maria Renard are
missing. His battle against the evil Count is actually more epic than Rondo and
the fact that Alucard has his father’s ability to transform into mist, wolf or a
bat adds more depth to the side-scrolling action.
Vampire
slaying is not easy
The problem with
these games is that they’re hard … too hard. Whether you’re playing Rondo
or Symphony, the game will show you no mercy and you’ll only have a few
lives to get you through each level. Add to that the fact that Symphony has no auto
saves. There are some challenging boss levels and if you’re patient enough you
can figure out their movements and attack patterns. Still, some gamers not used
to the old school-styled difficulty will find themselves a bit frustrated.
Visually, the
newly reworked games look really good and the animated cut scenes are just plain
wonderful. There’s a sharpness to the characters and backgrounds but you can’t
help but think that both the new versions of Rondo and Symphony
could have looked better on the PSP. There are also great
soundtracks for both games.
Sure, the Japanese voice work is good and the sound effects decent (werewolves
howl and ghost moan) but it’s the score that will have you playing this game
with the volume up.
Castlevania:
The Dracula X Chronicles
for the PSP offers enough gaming goodies to keep fans of the
series more than satisfied. It’s not a loaded collection, mind you, but Rondo
of Blood and Symphony of the Night (arguable the best Castlevania
game ever made) are reasons enough to run out and buy this portable action game
that will keep gamers more than busy. Be warned, though, the game’s steep
learning curve and really challenging difficulty is not for the casual gamers.
Everyone else, well, grab a whip and let’s tear into Dracula’s army.
|
|
Gameplay: 8.0
Casual gamers
need not apply; there are three different games that offer some truly difficult levels
and intense boss battles. Whether you play as Richter or Alucard, there are
enough challenges to meet in the various monster-filled levels of the game.
Graphics: 7.5
Visually, the
game could have looked more stunning but both Rondo and Symphony
look amazing thanks to the new visual style. The new cut scenes are actually
crisp and wonderfully colorful, and many of the monster effects just jump off the PSP widescreen.
Sound: 7.5
The music for
both games will not fail to give you chills in the best possible way and there
are some solid sound effects and the Japanese voice acting is superb (although,
at times, you’ll have to brush up on your Japanese to figure out what they’re
saying when there are no subtitles).
Difficulty:
Hard
Like the
original, Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night are still hard
so expect some frustrating moments that might not sit well with those gamers used
to a more forgiving difficulty setting. Some boss battles will not fail to
challenge even experienced gamers. Playing the game cooperatively with a friend
does help.
Concept: 8.0
The remixed
version of Rondo is well worth the price tag alone but then again it’s
great to be able to play the original as well as Symphony … a game that
still remains the best Castlevania offering. You can also play the
original 2D Rondo so there’s a lot to love about this portable package.
Multiplayer:
7.0
You can play
the game cooperatively with a friend who owns a copy of the game. This will
provide aid during those tough boss battles as well as the hard-as-nails final battle. The
good news is that the Ad Hoc multiplayer runs smoothly and without any framerate
problems.
Overall: 8.0
Castlevania
fans will certainly find a lot to love about The Dracula X Chronicles for
the PSP and, while the different versions of these classics are still too hard,
these classics are just way too good to pass up. The revised version of Rondo
will keep fans more than busy and who can say no to Symphony of the Night?
Trust me; this is one PSP game you will not want to miss.
