The Most Hated Castlevania Game Just Received a Major Upgrade

Michael McWhertorMichael McWhertor is a reporter with greater than 17 years of experience covering video clip games, modern technology, films, TELEVISION, and home entertainment.

The charm of Konami’s just recently launched Castlevania collection is, theoretically, that it’s a brand-new means to play 3 meaningful Castlevania experiences from the Nintendo DS period (Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia). But the emphasize for me, an avowed and long time hater of the 1987 game Haunted Castle, is something brand-new: Haunted Castle Revisited, a remake of Konami’s horrible effort to bring Simon Belmont’s fight versus Dracula to galleries.

Konami launched the initial Haunted Castle concerning a year after the initial Castlevania involved Nintendo’s Famicom Disk System in 1986. A reimagining of Simon’s initial experience, Haunted Castle sends our hero on a goal to save his brand-new bride-to-be Selena from her abductorDracula Armed with a whip and various other collectible tools, Simon encounters acquainted dangers like Medusa, Frankenstein’s beast, and a huge rock golem.

The initial Haunted Castle did have a couple of points going all out– specifically huge sprites and appealing songs. But Haunted Castle was punishingly hard, uncomfortable to manage, and badly computer animated. The initial Castlevania was tough, also, however Haunted Castle‘s trouble spikes were harsh and typically unjust, apparently created to take quarters from innocent young gamers that liked the NES initial and were tempted in by elegant graphics. (This innocent young gamer is me.)

Simon Belmont stands on a ledge surrounded by skeletons, bats, and a zombie in a screenshot from Haunted Castle Revisited
The feared Red Skeleton just appears on tough setting
Image: M2/Konami

Haunted Castle Revisited takes the standard structure of the initial Haunted Castle and changes it right into a traditional Castlevania activity side-scroller. Developer M2 and Keisuke Koga, that created Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth, a glossy remake of the initial Game Boy Castlevania game, are accountable for transforming Haunted Castle around in 2024. The programmer has structured the trouble, revamped degrees and opponent experiences, and offered Haunted Castle a significant visual glow-up withRevisited Simon is currently perfectly computer animated and a lot easier to manage.

On the game’s typical trouble establishing, Haunted Castle Revisited is sensibly very easy to finish, partially many thanks to charitable checkpoints, proceeds, and a choice to choose degrees from the major food selection. There’s a difficult trouble establishing, also, which remixes opponent designs and presents brand-new opponent variations that aren’t in the typical setup. The tough variation is unbelievably enjoyable– tough, however not punitively hard.

The most significant upgrade in Haunted Castle Revisited is the game’s managers. They have actually all been reimagined somehow, however 2 of the (6) manager battles attract attention amongst the remainder: the Stained Glass Knight and the end of the world versus Dracula himself. I will not ruin them, due to the fact that they deserve experiencing on your own, however they’re currently innovative and interesting eyeglasses.

Simon Belmont faces an Ax Knight in a clockwork stage from Haunted Castle Revisited
Flea Men, Axe Armors, a clock tower degree– it’s all right here!
Image: M2/Konami

M2 has actually also offered Simon’s whip an upgrade. Like various other traditional Castlevania games, Simon can power up his renowned tool from common natural leather bull whip to early morning celebrity by accumulating orbs. Haunted Castle Revisited includes an added layer to this; Once Simon’s whip is updated, any kind of orbs he gathers will certainly provide him a short-lived power up, offering it higher reach and a broader hurtbox. It’s a little information, however it includes a feeling of seriousness to play– you’ll wish to obtain one of the most out of your super-charged whip while you can.

Haunted Castle Revisited might not be the most significant attract Konami’s brand-new Castlevania Dominus Collection, however, for other Castlevania enthusiasts that played and detested the initial Haunted Castle, the remake deserves having fun. It has actually changed an affliction on the franchise business right into a fresh-feeling, traditional Castlevania game, the similarity which we have not seen in years.


Castlevania Dominus Collection was launchedAug 27 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows COMPUTER, and Xbox Series X. The game was evaluated utilizing a beta download code given byNintendo Vox Media has associate collaborations. These do not affect editorial web content, though Vox Media might gain payments for items acquired using associate web links. You can discover extra info concerning Polygon’s principles plan right here

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Source: Polygon

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