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November 04, 2004 by: Stephen Smith
Time to destroy the Count again, and I don't mean the one on Sesame Street. Castlevania is seeing a re-release through the Classic Nes Series for the Game Boy Advance. Very few times do I ever fight to get the chance to review a game, but I was prepared to do whatever I could to be able to review the original Castlevania. Lucky for me I was able to, and this is like a dream come true. [...] Now that you have hopefully laughing, I will continue.
stopped
Back in 1987, the first iteration of Castlevania in the US was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), and everyone knows this marked the beginning of one of the longest running game series of all time. Although this was not the first game in the series (Vampire Hunter, Haunted Mansion) it is the one that really set the precedent for what the series would become.
Classic NES Series: Castlevania Console Genre Publisher Developer # of Players Release Date ESRB Rating
Game Boy Advance Action Nintendo Konami JPN 1 10/25/04 Not Rated
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You play the part of Simon Belmont, as you attempt to thwart the evil Dracula. Simon begins his quest at the gate of the Count’s castle, and a feeling of impending dooms surely fills his soul. Lucky for Simon he is prepared. His primary weapon is his magical whip; passed down through generation after generation of his clan. Only this -- coupled with the holy relics that are found in the castle -- can defeat Dracula and his minions. These relics include an axe, sword, cross, and holy water. The only downside to the relics is that Simon must find hearts to use them. Upgrades can also be found in the castle for your whip, and these relics. If you have ever played any Castlevania game, you know what to expect. Lots of platform jumping, along with using your weapons to destroy enemies and attempting to dodge their attacks. Now, if you are a fan of newer Castlevaina games where you have RPG elements such as experience points, and leveling up, you will find nothing of that sort in this game. This is Castlevania in its purest form. < previous | page 1 of 2 | next > View all Media
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Time to destroy the Count again, and I don't mean the one on Sesame Street. You may be thinking that this game sounds easy, but trust me, it is not. The game itself is structured to impede your progress. Many times I have missed hitting a flying Medusa head, while jumping to a small platform, and then that same head hits me, and causes me to fall to my death. Precise attacks, and jumping is the only way to vanquish the evil hordes of Count Dracula. Speaking of evil, the bosses read like a classic scary movie roster: Phantom Bat: A giant bat that attacks with unmatched ferocity. Medusa: This particular variety won’t turn you to stone, but its head will fly across the screen and drop snakes. Mummies: They were once kings, now they are mindless drones of the Count. They will attempt to corner Simon, be careful! Frankenstein and Igor: If one wasn’t bad enough, they decided to team up. Igor jumps around widely, and Frankenstein tries to push you against a wall. Grim Reaper: Death incarnate is a force to be reckoned with. His attacks are difficult to dodge, and one must be very careful if he is to defeat the Grim Reaper. Dracula: The one responsible for all this mayhem is the strongest adversary to conquer. He breathes fire, and warps around the screen. Funny, I don’t remember him ever breathing fire in any book or movie I ever saw. Maybe he has indigestion? The Classic NES version brings all the bells and whistles of the 8-bit classic to the small screen. Everything from the graphics, to the sound is perfectly emulated. Even the way you control Simon is perfect. Like many of the other games in this series, they have included a battery save. This really makes Castlevania far more entertaining since it saves your progress. The original only had a continue feature, and I remember leaving my NES on for hours so I wouldn’t have to replay those old levels again. Then my younger brother would turn off my game so he could play Bases Loaded, and people still wonder why siblings fight... < previous | page 2 of 2 | next >
Visuals
The game is a mirror image of the NES original. From the pallette, to the animation, it all is perfectly emulated on the Game Boy Advance.
6.5
11/12/2004 13:37
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Sound
Control
Gameplay
Replay
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The music and sound effects are great, and a true testament of how great games can overcome any limitations. These same songs, are still be rearranged for current generation incarnations of Castlevania.
6.8
Control is a tricky area. For someone like me who has played every Caslevania game, it is not a problem. But for anyone who hasn’t played the earlier versions they may find the control a little difficult.
7.3
This is where Casltevania really shines. Fighting enemies with your whip, using holy relics, and finding secret treasures. This game is a point by point example of what mades a great game.
8.0
Unfortunately like all the Classic NES games, there are no extras. So once you complete the initial game, there is nothing to make you want to replay. Except to relive this grand adventure.
6.9
7.5
Verdict All things considered Castlevania holds up extrememly well dispite its age. The level design is great, and the overall experience of fighting the undead is not so much different then modern games. If you enjoy classic games, or count yourself as a Castlevania fan, don’t miss out on this game. It has quite a bite. Sorry that was just one to many puns.
[not an average] + Battery save makes the game alot easier. + The original Castlevania is finally portable. - Difficult level designs can get frustrating. - No extra content was included.
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11/12/2004 13:37
