Over the past two decades, the Castlevania series has
featured whip-wielding heroes fighting on over a dozen different game
systems, some popular and some completely obscure. Up until now,
however, 1993’s NEC TurboGrafx-16 Dracula X: Rondo of Blood had
been available only in Japan or in the hands of a few obsessive
collectors. The Super Nintendo cartridge version that eventually
arrived on our shores was a pale imitation of the acclaimed, unknown,
well-crafted masterpiece—a turning point in the series that most
have never truly experienced. Until now.
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles for the PSP is an
excellent remake of the original NEC version, only with slick graphics,
new orchestral music, and revised, much harder gameplay. Hidden
treasures, multiple heroes, and alternative endings encourage
revisiting Dracula’s castle, while the mixture of traditional 2-D and
3-D graphics push the PSP to its limit. The new gothic graphics and
animation give the game a modern look while retaining classic
Castlevania old-school action. The simplistic but challenging
controls made me realize just how much I missed the series; it’s not
just a great mobile game, but a well-made game on any system.
Also included with the game is an unlockable version of the
original, as well as its 1997 sequel, Castlevania: Symphony of the
Night. Both games have new translations and sport a quick save
feature for the PSP. Symphony of the Night is an equally
polished and renowned masterpiece, well worth the price of admission
alone. Its expansive environments and fluid animation is the epitome of
the interactive art form.
Both versions of Rondo of Blood are extremely challenging,
with an unforgiving difficulty curve—even being an experienced
Castlevania player, I found myself cursing out loud several
times. The original games are not selectable at first but are hidden
items, making it one of the few game collections that hides a majority
its games from the start. There is both frustration and joy, and the
game gives a real feeling of accomplishment when you finally beat
Dracula and get the best ending. The high difficulty may turn away
casual gamers, but the challenge and artistry is too much for fans to
ignore. Obviously a labor of love, this collection of the two greatest
beloved Castlevania games is an incredible must-own—if
you’re up to the task. 