Castlevania Chronicles (PSN) Review

Posted by Armando Rodriguez on 12.30.2008

Does the old school Castlevania remake get a proper rejuvenation or does it stink up the joint? Let's find out!



Game: Castlevania Chronicles
Developed and Published by Konami
Players: 1
Available on the Playstation Network (PSN Classic)
Price: $5.99


Castlevania Chronicles is a remake of a remake. Chronicles is based on the Sharp X68000 game Akumajò Dracula, which in itself was a remake of the original Castlevania game you probably played on the NES. The game was one of the few Castlevania's that had been exclusive to Japan until it was released as part of Castlevania Chronicles for the Playstation in 2001, during the Playstation's dying days. As such, the title sold pretty poorly since people where already moving up to the next generation of consoles. Konami is giving us a second chance to enjoy this game by making it available on the Playstation Store as a Playstation Classic title for a mere $5.99.

The story of the game is the same as the first Castlevania. Count Dracula is back performing his evil deeds and the player takes control of Simon Belmont, great-grandson of Soleiyu Belmont, who grabs his trusty Vampire Killer whip and sets foot in Transylvania with the goal of eliminating Dracula and returning peace to Europe.

If you choose to invest your money on Castlevania Chronicles here's what you will find. Chronicles offers two modes of play: Original Mode and Arrange Mode. Original Mode is exactly the same as the Sharp X68000 with the same music, graphics and punishing difficulty. The sprites are well drawn and the soundtrack is classic Castlevania, which is a good thing. The backgrounds, however, are drab and lack detail. Overall, the graphics have not aged well. The game's punishing difficulty will leave newcomers frustrated, especially if you have never played the series. Being a Sega Genesis owner back in the day, the only Castlevania I ever played was Castlevania Bloodlines, which is not a good representation of the series, so I was surprised at first by how difficult the game is. As a matter of fact, I am yet to beat the final level of this game in Original Mode. The other Castlevania game I have ever played was Symphony of the Night, which is also not as difficult as this game.

Arrange Mode is the exact same game as Original Mode, with a few minor changes. First of all, the sprites for Dracula and Simon Belmont where redrawn to fit with the style the series introduced in Symphony of the Night. The sound was remixed and sounds fantastic. The game also includes the option to use the original soundtrack, but I suggest you keep the remixed version because it offers fantastic tunes that would make any fan (especially Symphony of the Night fans) proud. The big change in Arrange Mode is that it offers adjustable difficulty and makes the game more fun and less frustrating. The other changes are very minor, so much so that I did not notice them even after considerable hours of gameplay. There are some minor (keyword: MINOR) changes to the graphics, but unless you are a super fan of the series and have played them all, or you check gamefaqs or any similar site, you won't notice them either.

The game also features a series of extras that are unlocked once you beat the game, including an interview with the producer, several concept art drawings and a Time Attack Mode that allows you to measure the time it takes you to beat levels. Time Attack is a really good addition for competitive gamers, but outside of this, the game has little replay value.

As for the gameplay itself, it is also as dated as the graphics. You can only whip in one direction (forward) and there is no way to whip up or down, which is already a step back from some of the Super Nintendo games. Also some of the control choices should have been reevaluated. I mean, having to press up and whip to use your special weapons feels a bit odd. Special weapons should have been mapped to a different button, especially considering that you have two buttons that function as the whip (same attack, no difference) and several other buttons that are unused.

The 411:

Castlevania Chronicles can only be recommended to fans of the series or serious old-school gamers. The graphics where dated in 2001 when this first came out and they are really dated now. The gameplay is also dated and somewhat frustrating. However, the game exudes old-school charm and can prove quite addictive if you take a chance with it. If you have never played Castlevania or want only one Castlevania game in your collection, I suggest Symphony of the Night, which is also available in the PS Store for $9.99. However, if you are a fan of the series or want a trip down memory lane, there are far worse ways to spend your $6 than Castlevania Chronicles.

Graphics	5.2	They where dated in 2001 and they are dated now. I feel that Konami should have tried to revamp the graphics and give them a bit more life.
Gameplay	7.2	Classic Castlevania which is not a bad thing. However, some of the innovations introduced in Symphony of the Night (and even Super Castlevania IV) are missing here and the gameplay feels as dated as the graphics.
Sound	8.0	For fans of previous games and fans of good soundtracks, the music in this game is a must have. The sound effects are ok at best.
Lasting Appeal	6.0	You unlock every extra after beating the game once, which means that it does not encourage multiple plays. Fans will probably dig the Time Attack Mode, but everyone else will probably move on.
Fun Factor	7.0	This is a must have for Castlevania fans. The game might look and feel dated, but it has a special appeal that keeps you hooked until you beat it. However, this game is not for everyone.
Overall	6.7   [ Average ]

Screenshots
All 6 Castlevania Chronicles Screenshots