Castlevania 3D

I have talked a lot of horror over the last decade, and one franchise that always put me into the right mood for that craving, is Castlevania. Like an all-stars of monsters ready to get slayed and whipped to death, it beautifully pays respects to the old Univeral Monster creeps, gothic horror and demonology in general.

The first 3D entry for the series, Castlevania(1999) was exclusively developed and released on the Nintendo 64, and was positively received, but with room for improvement.

There are two playable characters: Reinhardt Schneider, heir to the Belmont clan, and Carrie Fernandez, a magic orphan. Playing the game with a whip is the way to go for these games, but it's nice they offered a second option.

Storywise, it's up to the protagonists to stop Dracula's resurrection and vengeance once again, as has been done so many times before. A supportive cast is also present, including Vincent the vampire killer, Rosa the vampire, Renon the demon assistant, and Malus.

Konami's 3D gameplay as shown here was playable enough, however wrestling with the camera movement and getting used to the game's momentum slowed the overall experience, the controls could had been tighter. 

Subweapons such as Holy Water and the Axe are present to help out, and you can collect Red Jewels instead of Hearts to keep using them. The game also has light puzzles to solve, and a lock on system for the primary weapon(whip or homing energy balls).

Castlevania 64(1999) is a modest attempt, and is faithful with it's presentation and enemy design.

Rating: 7.1

An expansion of the previous game released in the same year, but also a prequel, Legacy of Darkness improves the formula in general, and adds two new playable characters named Henry and Cornell.

There are new areas and new bosses to be found, more dialogue and narration is involved, and you can even turn into a werewolf this time! The subweapons can also be leveled up now, and some of them can be quite empowering.

The physics feel different too, especially when confronted with the environmental hazards. It is still mostly a linear playthrough, but there are exploration moments, or semi open world segments, and the camera system and controls have slightly been improved, and using the Expansion Pack grants a few more textures.

Rating: 7.2

Labeled as the first game in the franchise, chronologically, Lament of Innocence is a different approach towards the three dimensional, although it is more smooth in it's pacing, and arguably more entertaining, although differently.

You play as Leon Belmont, and gameplay wise, this felt more like a hack and slash action adventure, rather than hacking and slashing your way... two dimensionally. I just realized that the hack and slash sub-genre also applies for 2D or 2.5D.

I'm trying to say that Lament of Innocence feels more action packed and perhaps even more like an arcade experience. Michiru Yamane's beautiful work as always, is accompanied through the soundtrack here, however, the game can feel quite repetitive after a while.

Lament of Innocence is still worth playing for the fans, however it can also be said that it was less ambitious or even innovative than CV64, and thus, it played things rather safe. Obviously, the graphics have improved, and people should be entertained by the enemy creatures.

I can't be the only that noticed that whenever opening doors, it sounds like someone is reloading a gun!?

Rating: 7.3

Slowly but steadily, the 3D Castlevania's are improving over time, but unfortunately, Curse of Darkness is where it ended on it's highest note if you ask me.

Taking place only 3 years after the end of  Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, you play as Hector, a Devil Forgemaster who once worked for the Prince of Darkness, but after his defeat, has retreated and lives among humans. It is not until his wife is burned at the stakes that he seeks against his former partner Isaac that the game begins.

He brings along the Innocent Devils system, in which demonic creatures will assist and support you offensively and defensively throughout the dark journey. Hector isn't able to equip the Vampire Killer(that's unlockable with Trevor), but he can equip all sorts of other weaponry, similar to Alucard and Soma.

Curse of Darkness also has more stages playing around Dracula's Castle such as villages, forests and mountains, similar to Order of Ecclesia later on, and as you got further, the gameplay which offered more tactics, the engaging soundtrack and the enemy design got more interesting, but the environments simply were still uninspiring.

Rating: 7.5

(That about sums up Castlevania in general for me. The Lords of Shadow games are spin-offs and not really canon. Perhaps someday, other than the spiritual successors, someone will revive Castlevania and thus resurrect Dracula in the future again...!)