Random thoughts on Castlevania psp
Having been a fan of Konami and the Castlevania series since the original NES game, I more or less knew what to expect from The Dracula X Chronicles. Castlevania games are very basic: You collect hearts, weapons, and kill bad guys. That's pretty much the game reduced down to it's simple form. But to Castlevania fans, the series is much more than a mindless platformer. The series has always had a certain charm that has kept it going strong for over 20 years. Dracula X Chronicles is no exception.
First off, the graphics are probably the best in the series. The psp delivers some of the smoothest, complex graphics ever seen in the series. The music is very appropriate for the series as well.
My only complaint about the game are the controls. At times they can be a little stiff and it can be difficult making jumps or trying to fight bosses. It will definitely take time to get adjusted to. Also worth mentioning, is the difficulty of the game itself. Castlevania games were alway notorious for their frustrating difficulty levels, and this one is no different. You'll most likely find yourself getting killed a dozen times before you learn the lay out of stages and boss routines, which can be frustrating. Once you get past the controls and the difficulty level, you'll really enjoy this game for what it is: A top notch entry into the Castlevania series.
As an added bonus, you can unlock the original Rondo of Blood game (stick with the remake, it's much better), and the PS one classic, Symphony of the Night. My only complaint about the latter, is that the screen ratio does not take advantage of the psp's flat screen. You have to play at a smaller ratio, which really takes alot away from a really great game. Also, this version of SOTN seems alot harder than I remembered it being on the PS one.
All in all, there is no reason this game shouldn't be in your psp collection. Great graphics, killer sound, challenging game play, and unlockable content make this a must have for any Castlevania fan or anybody who just likes great games.
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Insanely difficult!!!!!!!!!
The re-mastered version of Rondo of Blood is one of the hardest Castlevania games I have ever played. It is not so much the enemies or the obstacles you have to overcome, it's the restrictions of the main character-Richter Belmont. Once you get to the third stage you can rescue Maria and use her as a playable character. She is much easier to control than Richter. You can also unlock Symphony of Night ("S.o.N") and the Original Rondo of Blood in subsequent stages. You can also use the old cheats for S.o.N which makes things interesting. The graphics are really incredible for the re-mastered Rondo of Blood, but it is really frustrating to get through the stages because of Richter's restrictions. If you are a fan of the series you won't be disappointed; just try not to break your PSP.
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