Review: Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (PSP)
Now you don’t have to trawl through eBay listings to pick up titles like Sin and Punishment or Paper Mario, so some previously overlooked classics can now get the appreciation they deserve. Konami’s decision to offer Symphony of the Night on Live arcade was snatched up by many, and now the publisher has allowed PSP owners to get in on the act with this nice little collection.
The package is centred on a shiny new remake of the Japan only Rondo of Blood, a game that appeared on the PC Engine back in the early nineties. New graphics, new voice acting and a wealth of unlockables have been thrown into the mix. For many this will be a completely new title. For others, however, it will merely be a tarted up version of a game that needed little alteration in the first place.
The new presentation is certainly easy on the eye. The polygon graphics are crisp, and the characters and backgrounds look great on the PSP‘s bright screen. It’s a trick seen in other recent remakes like Ultimate Ghosts ‘n’ Goblins and Prince of Persia, and works well at first. The trouble with the use of 3D models in a 2D title is the impact it can have on the gameplay itself. Too often the collision detection seems off, leaving the player unsure what their limits are with regard to traps. Huge sharpened pendulums swing back and forth, and due to the game’s desire to attract aesthetically, it can be awkward to know where the boundaries of safety are on the first play through. Interaction with the environment and enemies only seem off at times thankfully, and if anything, the game affords the player a little leeway. The control also feels sluggish - not that Castlevania games are often quick moving affairs of course - but Richter seems fairly slow and unresponsive to your commands (even more so when the original title becomes available for comparison). A little more fine tuning would have served the title well, and then it may not seem a pale imitation of its source material.
And that’s where the Dracula X Chronicles really shines. By playing through the new title and exploring a little, extras can be found. Artwork, music and both the original Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night are available. Once these are unlocked, it’s likely you’ll be spending more time with them than the main game. Rondo of Blood is a game made with 2D sprites for traditional 2D gaming, and as such is as well crafted as the finest titles in the series. Everything about it feels right, and it serves to prove just how little the need was for a remake. Symphony of the Night may have been downloaded by many on Live, but who can resist the lure of a portable version? With so much to unlock, there is plenty on offer for the completist, and will prove the driving reason for playing through Rondo’s remake.
As a game, the remake of Rondo of Blood would have been a worthwhile purchase through Live arcade. As a collection, the Dracula X Chronicles is a fine example of how to compile a package. It’s packed with extras, the games will occupy a lot of your time, and the standard of presentation is high. The remake is flawed yet enjoyable, and is unlikely to win the series any new fans, but for Castlevania collectors or retro enthusiasts, the Dracula X Chronicles comes highly recommended.
Rating: 8 / 10
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