Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles

By Sam Leitch

Virtual vampire fans are normally divided into two groups: those that think Symphony of the Night is the best Castlevania game, and those that prefer Rondo of Blood on the PC Engine (not the weak Dracula X Super Nintendo port). Whilst Symphony was released here (and is now damn rare) on the PlayStation, Rondo remained an import, and a damned expensive one at that.

Dracula X Chronicles is almost exactly the same game as Rondo of Blood, only with a couple of extras and 3d graphics. If you have only played Castlevania games made since Symphony, or have yet to indulge in the series, be warned – this game will not hold you by the hand and is filled to the brim with old-school challenges such as pixel perfect jumps. This is no walk in the park.

Castlevania games have always been loved by their fans for their brilliant artwork and music, making for a brilliant atmosphere. Somewhere along the line the series changed from being a more traditional type platformer affair to a sprawling Metroid style game – this is that 'somewhere' and supposedly it’s a fantastic blend.

Having missed out on this game for so long, I will be picking up the PSP version to see what all the fuss is about.

Spoilers below

However, there are some hidden inclusions that will more than justify the purchase of this game. Deep within the game are some extras, the full game of Symphony of the Night and Rondo of Blood with its original graphics! How’s that for extra value? Apparently the emulation isn’t perfect, but both games are more than playable and Castlevania fans will be thankful of the inclusion. The fact that it comes with SotN alone will sell a good many copies.

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