At this time is Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow’s twentieth anniversary, so in honour of its twenty years of utter magnificence, we’re republishing this text rounding up and rating each sport within the collection on Nintendo consoles. (Spoilers — Aria charges fairly extremely within the checklist beneath.) Take pleasure in!
The Castlevania collection has a wealthy historical past on Nintendo consoles ever because the unique sport got here first to the Japanese Famicom Disk System approach again in 1986, after which to the NES a 12 months later. There could also be a big launch or two from Konami’s vampire-killing catalogue nonetheless lacking from Nintendo platforms (we’re taking a look at you, Symphony of the Night time), however the overwhelming majority of the collection will be discovered on Nintendo consoles.
However the place do you have to begin for those who’re new to the Castlevania collection? Which Castlevania sport is the most effective? These are powerful questions, however we have completed our greatest to whip up a ranked checklist of the most effective Castlevania video games (on Nintendo consoles) beneath. The collection has many excessive factors, plus a few very low ones, and is available in two distinct flavours: the extra easy right-to-left model of the unique video games or the extra expansive model of Koji Igarashi-produced video games — typically known as ‘IGAvanias’ — which mixed spiritually with Nintendo’s Metroid collection to beginning a whole style of ‘Metroidvania’ video video games.
For Swap house owners, the Castlevania Anniversary Assortment ought to clearly be your first port of name, with the newer Castlevania Advance Assortment containing one of many absolute best video games within the collection, too. And there is at all times Koji Igarashi’s non-affiliated Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night time as soon as you’ve got exhausted all of the Belmonts beneath. The Swap model is not good, however it’s a lot improved since launch and is arguably the closest factor followers will get to Symphony of the Night time on Swap till Konami decides to place Symphony of the Night time on Swap.
We have included a few spin-offs and oddities, however that is sufficient speak. Wipe away these bloody tears, and let’s go kill us some vampires.
Writer: Konami / Developer: Konami
We begin with a spin-off. Set within the Castlevania universe, this 2008 Wii sport introduced all of your favorite characters and monsters collectively for a momentously garbage one-on-one 3D fighter with terrible controls and questionable character designs. Castlevania Judgment was panned by critics and followers alike on launch and time has completed nothing to heal the injuries this one inflicted. A depressing pile, certainly.
Writer: Konami / Developer: Konami
The primary entry for the collection on the Sport Boy, and one greatest left forgotten, Castlevania: The Journey is a turgid, terminally sluggish approximation of the collection’ traditional gameplay with repetitive, bland degree design. Given the host console’s limitations, you may be tempted to provide it the good thing about the doubt, however the sequel would present what the platform was actually able to and expose this for the horror that it’s. Do your self a favour, skip this and begin your transportable Castlevania journey with Belmont’s Revenge.
Writer: Konami / Developer: Konami
Accessible on Swap as a part of Konami’s Arcade Classics Anniversary Assortment, Haunted Citadel is an odd duck. Made solely for arcades, it occupies a wierd center floor someplace between homage, parody and port and sees Simon Belmont (with a sprite which stands 1 / 4 of the display screen tall) rescuing his new bride from the villainous clutches of the Depend. The music is by far the most effective factor about it, however regardless of wanting superficially ‘higher’ than the unique, it is an unfairly punishing arcade expertise designed to empty your pockets of shiny cash. As such, there’s not a lot enjoyable available and in the end it isn’t a patch on the unique.
Should you’re you’ll be able to try the variations between the unique NES sport, its VS Castlevania arcade port and Haunted Citadel on this video.
Writer: Konami / Developer: Konami Pc Leisure Nagoya
With out realizing that this was the third Castlevania for Sport Boy, you could possibly be forgiven for pondering this was the second sport earlier than Konami perfected issues with Belmont’s Revenge. However no, Castlevania Legends was a late launch for the ageing console (1997 in Japan, 1998 within the West) – the third and remaining entry and a lower than auspicious farewell to Nintendo’s 8-bit handheld. Following the discharge of the towering Symphony of the Night time on PlayStation would have been an unenviable job, to make certain, however even considering the platform’s inherent limitations that is an intense disappointment. With poor animation, lacklustre sprite work and equally unimpressive degree design, it is exhausting to consider that this got here a whopping seven years after its unbelievable predecessor.
Merely put, it wasn’t ok on the time, and regardless of being a sought-after collector’s merchandise as of late, it is solely received worse with age. Keep away from.
Writer: Konami / Developer: Konami
A flawed stab at a polygonal 3D Castlevania, this is not ‘unhealthy’ as a lot as ‘crushingly common’. Launching a number of years into the N64’s cycle in 1999, gamers anticipated higher from a 3D sport on the dawning of the brand new millennium. Digital camera points have been a perennial drawback for video games of the period, however the most effective Castlevania titles have at all times been characterised by tight controls and Castlevania (sure, it eschewed the ’64’ colloquially appended to its title) merely wasn’t as much as snuff. We respect it – from afar – however this one’s in all probability greatest left within the crypt.
Writer: Konami / Developer: Konami
This second N64 entry launched lower than a 12 months after the primary and really consists of all the first sport as an unlockable bonus as soon as you’ve got accomplished the prequel journey. Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness is basically the sport its predecessor ought to have been and would little doubt be a DLC launch with umpteen patches as of late. It options quite a few gameplay tweaks and likewise makes use of the Enlargement Pak for improved visuals, however paying full value for this after placing down exhausting money for its predecessor at the beginning of the 12 months was painful, even for collection devotees. These N64 carts have been dear again within the day, and even in its polished kind Legacy of Darkness is a good distance from ‘traditional’ standing, regardless of our residual affection for it.
Writer: Konami / Developer: Konami
One other sport we have now fond recollections of, regardless of itself. Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest is obtuse, infuriating and downright low cost at instances… however it’s received a killer soundtrack and admirably modifications issues up by constructing on the unique sport with new concepts, together with a day/night time cycle and an intriguing (if in the end irritating) non-linear method. Again within the day it will have been an absolute nightmare, and we completely perceive individuals who lose endurance with it, however for those who’re not against sitting down with a walkthrough and making use of save states, we would advocate giving Simon’s Quest one other probability. The soundtrack alone makes it value a playthrough.
Writer: Konami / Developer: Konami
This MSX2 model of Castlevania was developed in tandem with the NES sport and options many similarities in addition to some fascinating variations from the sport you are in all probability acquainted with. For instance, it wasn’t doable to implement scrolling within the MSX2 model so every degree is split into single screens that you simply transfer between. Should you’re thinking about a side-by-side comparability, try this overview video from Splash Wave.
So what’s this doing on an inventory of Castlevania video games for Nintendo consoles, you ask. Nicely, Vampire Killer launched on the Wii U Digital Console in Japan, so whereas we could not have had the pleasure within the West, it has technically appeared on a Nintendo platform. Ergo, it is inclusion right here.
Writer: Konami / Developer: Konami
Often known as Vampire’s Kiss within the EU, Castlevania: Dracula X is a Tremendous NES remake of the PC Engine unique Rondo of Blood, and it would not stand as much as comparability with the sport on which it’s primarily based, though it is definitely not unhealthy taken in isolation. It presents strong, old-school Castlevania fare and is value investigating for those who’ve chewed your approach by means of higher video games within the collection (most notably the unique Rondo of Blood). Should you’re new to the collection, we would not begin right here, although.
Killer field artwork, thoughts.
