Castlevania Collection Gba
Rocki Eibl
The product is part of Konami's "Anniversary Collection" series, celebrating the company's 50th anniversary, with the other two compilations being Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection and Contra Anniversary Collection.
On April 18, 2019, coinciding with the worldwide release of Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection, the four remaining titles in the lineup were revealed and a release date was announced for May 16 of the same year.
The initial release of the collection only included the localized versions of the games. The original Japanese versions (which are usually known for having more content and being uncensored) for almost all games (with Simon's Quest being the only exception) were released in a post-launch update[1] on June 19, 2019.
Undead, with a dark soul and a penchant for sucking the blood from the young - but hey, that's enough about Konami, because we're here to talk about one of the series that made this once-great company's name.
I'm talking about Castlevania, of course, which, as part of a run of releases as Konami celebrates its 50th anniversary, saw a compilation release last week on Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. And it's a decent one, at that - a sizeable step forward from the merely adequate Arcade Classics Collection that launched last month.
You can put part of that down to M2's involvement this time out, which isn't so much a slight on Hamster's ports in the Arcade Classics Collection and more an acknowledgement that M2 remain the masters at this line of work. The Castlevania Anniversary Collection isn't quite the measure of M2's very best work - it lacks the detailing seen in the Sega Ages games, and feels relatively functional - but these are excellent versions of exquisite games.
They really are exquisite too, and that comes from a personal perspective not tinged with nostalgia. I'm a relative newcomer to Castlevania, for my sins, and this is a fantastic way to get acquainted with the foundations of the series. What's more, they are - for the most part - still incredible to play, rich with atmosphere, well-engineered action and absolutely killer soundtracks.
This collection is a fairly comprehensive introduction to the earliest days of the series. You get the 1986 original - which arrived fully-formed, it seems, with the core ideas firmly entrenched in what's an enjoyable adventure - as well as its ambitious 1987 follow-up. You get, in Castlevania 3, a high watermark for 8-bit action, and in the Super Nintendo's Castlevania 4 a handsome workout for the 16-bit machine.
There's the Game Boy's first Castlevania outing, perhaps the weakest link here, as well as its far superior sequel. There's curious spin-off Kid Dracula which adds a chibi makeover and Mega Man-like mechanics. And there's Mega Drive outing Bloodlines, too, an underappreciated entry that introduced a WWI setting and a muscular aesthetic that is entirely its own.
Of course there are omissions, some more lamentable than others. Haunted Castle, the risible arcade entry, is missing, though if you really must you'll find it on the Arcade Classics Collection. Completists might also regret Vampire Killer, the bizarre MSX2 parallel of the original Castlevania, not making the cut, though the real killer here is Rondo of Blood not making an appearance (perhaps, I'd wager, because it's included in the Castlevania Requiem collection that launched late last year on PS4). It means the link between classic Castlevania and the latter games that fall under the Koji Igarashi-era is absent, for shame.
But still, what's here is near enough essential for anyone looking for an education in the classics, and it's complemented by an expansive digital book that offers looks at design documents and other assorted ephemera. It makes for a great museum piece, in other words, whether you're looking to rekindle fond memories of wondering what exactly it is that made Castlevania so beloved.
The really exciting thing, though? Konami's pledged to patch the Castlevania Anniversary Collection soon to add regional variants for all owners of the game, addressing one of my major complaints about last month's Arcade Classics Collection. A small gesture, perhaps, but it suggests something far more exciting is happening: Konami is listening, taking on feedback and working to implement changes. There are signs of life, and maybe - I hope and pray - the comeback starts here. We'd long assumed the Konami we all once loved was dead, but this collection shows there are signs of life beginning to shine through.
The most surprising thing about the collection is the inclusion of SNES classic title Castlevania: Dracula X. This is more of a direct port and the only notable inclusions are the ability to save anywhere with the fancy new menu brought up by a left trigger squeeze. This game is not for the faint of heart, it is BRUTAL. The classic knockback mechanics of Castlevania are present here, as is the return of the classic Morningstar whip of the Belmont clan.
It is worth note that although the title was released after its former Super Castlevania IV, many of the gameplay improvements were excluded from this title. The whip only swings in one direction, Richter has a very irritating recovery when hitting the ground after jumping, crouch walking is no longer available, and the classic whip dangling by holding the attack button has not returned. Simon Belmont was a more skilled hunter it seems.
This is all in design, however. The game is meant to challenge the player and is a true return to form for the classic fans of the Castlevania series. Stairs are still the players most dangerous adversary Richter goes up against, especially when Medusa heads and fireballs fly at you. This is ironic considering the player faces many creatures of the night. Dracula X is an amazing addition to the collection, although it was never featured on the GBA system.
The other three titles were directly ported from the GBA, with bestiary functions, and collectible lists that make documenting progress a breeze. Circle of the Moon is hands down my favorite Castlevania title, and the dark backgrounds limited by the horrible lack of a GBA screen light are a non-issue due to the clarity a television screen brings.
Nathan Graves, the non-canon non-Belmont protagonist of this entry brings the heat with a brand-new magic system, the first entry of the series that features running, and one of the most slamming soundtracks to date. The satisfying crack of the Vampire Killer whip when it strikes an enemy never gets old, and different enemy types make different death noises upon being struck. Skeletons sound like bones falling in a pile when destroyed.
Although the card drop rates are still ridiculously low, this title fixes the documentation issue, with monster lists, items that can drop and their rates from monsters, and most importantly if they have already dropped a card or will. I formerly had to use a pen and paper as a kid with the GBA version. This quality-of-life improvement fixes the most jarring issue the game had. Tight controls and precise platforming make this a must play for Metroidvania fans.
The worst title in the collection, Harmony of Dissonance, returns players to the shoes of the Belmont clan, with Juste Belmont and the classic Morningstar whip of his ancestry. The crisp Castlevania controls are still present here, but the music still misses the same beat the GBA title did. Out of all the Castlevania titles, the music here would be potentially the worst. The whip functions superbly, and Juste has many abilities at his disposal. The map is smaller than CotM and less gameplay variety is introduced here.
The music slaps (as usual) for a Castlevania title, and the movement through the castle is a delight. All the Metroidvania elements are here, RPG level-up elements, enemy looting, and a whole new magic system to be implemented. Soma can defeat monsters and obtain souls, which grant him new abilities.
The same quality of life fixes are implemented here as well, the detailed bestiary, item drops, etc. The severely low drop rate of enemy souls is also present straight from the GBA, which is cumbersome. Luckily, the player can utilize the rewind feature right before defeating an enemy to farm these quicker, but I believe running back and forth through rooms bears more fruit as the Soma becomes more powerful with each kill.
This collection features four classic titles in the Castlevania Advance Collection package that are true ports with some much-needed quality improvements. This is the perfect opportunity to scratch that nostalgia itch for this beloved series. Old players and new, have a plethora of content to explore here, as well as a fantastic option to listen to the killer music the series has to offer straight on the title screen.
Although the port is true, more improvements could have been made to the collection, such as a new mode or extra content for enthusiasts. If this re-release is successful, Konami should seriously consider bringing the franchise back to life as Dracula has been time and time again (without pachinko machines please).
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So I'm really plowing through the Anniversary Collection by year and noticed that GB Castlevania Legends was missing. I know it isn't canon anymore but I remember enjoying it BITD. It doesn't look like it is on the Advanced collection either.
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