My first Castlevania... It rocks!!
So, of course, I cannot compare this one to previous Castlevania. But I can compare this one, with what I played. My first impression... Hey! A platformer. Becoming rare stuff these day. Been a while since I really play a lot of those. Well... Maybe not so long. New Super Mario, Paper Mario, Yoshi's Island... Wait, that's just a lot of Mario, right? Well, guess time for something else.
But unlike those kids game, which are sadly too easy, this one isn't. If you're for a cake walk, forget this game. You will have to sweat, you will DIE. A lot.
First, the graphic on this game are truely amazing. The player and monster animation are smooth. The level are all 2D, but you often see 3D background that move in perspective as you move around. Quite nice. Graphicly, I haven't seen better on the DS... And even most PSP game doesn't come close to that. So let's say, it's not this game that will hurt your eyes. :)
Now gameplay... You play with 2 characters at once. Some fight are for one, others are for the other one. And some fight are just easier if you use both. But you got to learn that by yourself. Seriously, while most monster are normal on difficulty, the boss fight are just amazing. At first, I tought it would be hard and not so userfriendly to manage 2 character at once. But the control are just smooth and perfect. I feel like playing World of Warcraft, poking Ragnaros... But just in ten time better. Insteed of just casting a single spell, I got to dodge like hundred of different well designed attack, while trying to find the weakness of that particular boss. When you beat a boss, it's REALLY rewarding, as you probably died ten-twenty time to learn how the attack come and when to hit, and how to hit. No boss like God of War where it's just button smashing. Nobody tell you to smash, when, how, with what weapon, and what attack. Figure it out! Love that.
While the gameplay and the graphic are just amazingly smooth, the sound are ok. Well, most music are great, but the some are a bit annoying... Up to the point your brain tell you that you don't want to go back in that level because it doesn't like the music. Not a big deal, as probably 1 and maybe 2 level are like that. Others has sweet music. But sadly, most aren't a true symphonic hit. Some metal music in some level would have rock!
Aside for the hundred of hidden thing, the thousand of items, the millions of possibility to pass this game... What else remain? GOD MODE!!! Once you passed the game, you can replay it with other character, or the same one as before... But wait! You can replay the game in hard mode... What? It let you choose a level cap. 50, 25... and 1! Let me tell you, my hat to the guy who pass this game at level 1. It's just plain nuts. 1 hit = you die.
Look, if you got a DS... And you're a gamer, you MUST have this game. It's a no brainer here. This one go in my top 10.