When this game was out I was hyped, but its difficulty and gameplay makes this game deserve only an 8...
I played the original Castlevania about 1 1/2 hour, it had a nice story, great concept, challenging, good gameplay and graphics by its time because was the 80's. But I never "played" totally a castlevania game, so basically this is my first experience with one. And simply, the game is great.
But by this year in august I bought this game. For starters, the graphics where good but not so much and don't think because it is a PSP game, look at God Of War Chains of Olympus, It had more graphics and was a game a year older than Dracula X.
Konami games were always benefit of having an amazing soundtrack. The soundtrack in this game was amazing, had something that made me wanna play Dracula X and all Castlevania series, the "divine bloodlines" remake its excellent and the dracula's theme are by far my favorites. The only song that I had mixed feelings was that recycled song from CV 3 "beginning" now "Dreams of Triumph".
I remembered when I reached stage 2 *annoyance time* the werewolf imitating samus aran, the behemoth, the mermen in the sewer, and other levels also, that's the problem with this game, as gamespot said "its steep learning curve, and difficulty isn't for everyone". Some bosses and levels will put you so mad that even will make you cry, for real. The gameplay also, some people put a 9 but in my opinion this game doesn't even deserve an 8.1
My only question in this game is: why it doesn't have the playstyle of super castlevania 4?
Something that we all gonna love is that this game has rondo 2D and SOTN, Damn!! 42 hours was the time I used to clear SOTN and worth every minute, SOTN was so damn good IMO that became one of my favorite games, Rondo Of Blood became my favorite castlevania with the linear platforming.
Graphics: Good by its time
Soundtrack: Amazingly well done
Difficulty, Punishing but has something that keeps you still playing
Gameplay: Well Done, just I minor complain with the gameplay in Dracula X
Replay Value: Very High
So, Dracula X is a great example of how to do a Collection of games, has the nostalgia factor, and its one of the most enjoyable yet frustrating games I've seen. Great game none the less.