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Old? Yes. Instant classic? Been that way since 1993.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 13 / 16
Date: April 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The main issue people take with Castlevania Chronicles is that it's "old." Well, it's actually the newest CD-ROM format Castlevania game to date besides the Castlevania and Contra collection. Har har, very funny. Despite the new packaging, though, it is indeed a game released in 1993 for a system that very few people outside of Japan own, the Sharp x68000 series computer. It is not just any old game, though: it is generally acknowledged by gamers inside Japan as "Game of the Year" for that system.

There are two basic modes for the game: Original and Advanced (nevermind that an interview with the developer, Igarashi, is included here in the US and European PAL version but not in the Japanese release from a short while before ours).

Original is just what you expected it to be (until I change gears, assume I'm talking only about Original mode). The game plays just as it did on the original system, with the same graphics, three different MIDI soundtracks (each with their own, uh, style) and the same incredibly challenging difficulty. The difficulty in Original mode approaches or even surpasses that of Super Ghouls n' Ghosts...I haven't gotten past level 5 in the original game without some serious use of, ahem, some serious savestates. On the plus side, the game saves after each level so you don't have to go over it again.

These graphics are extremely good for the era. The Sharp x68000 series had arcade-perfect translations of many classic arcade games from Alien Syndrome to Strider and beyond, so if you're a fan of that era's graphics you should certainly at least look up some screenshots. There is a good deal of original music here--a really funky remix of Castlevania's Stage 1 music (Vampire Killer) follows the great intro cutscene, "Something Loopy" as a great name entry tune, and then the new stuff. Completely new compositions mixed in with older tunes are found here: we see "Thrashard In the Cave" [seen as it was originally spelt, crazy people], a really moody piece, "Creatures in the Depth" for boss music, "Tower of Gears," "Moon Fight," "The Tower of Dolls," and "Etude for the Killer" are seen for the first time. It's not every day you get to see "Wiched Child" [again, sic] in the sound test, but be assured this is an excellent and moody rendition of the song.

Now Arranged Mode improves dramatically on the music for the most part at the cost of introducing a lot of "noise." There is now an increased use of reverb and true instruments, but here we also see some excessive use of twinkly little sounds and other musical tomfoolery as well. The "noise" and sometimes overbearingly dramatic style of the remixes may drive you off at first. Overall, it's a lot less pleasant on the ears than the original MIDI music, but regardless of volume shifts you may get used to it.

Make sure you get to the last level in Arrange mode, though! The final boss music is among the best reworking of an original Castlevania score seen yet. Getting there shouldn't be too hard either, thanks to the improved difficulty level and different difficulty levels.

There ARE a couple dramatic reworkings of the game's design, however:

The original game had a brown-shaded Simon in keeping with the visual style of the original game's, and Dracula looked right out of an old 1930's Universal picture. In THIS game, these character designs have been reworked by Castlevania's current character artist, Ayami Kojima--a bit too serious and odd looking for my taste, especially with Simon's apparently pink hair ingame (the cover art shows him with very red hair, as you see here in the game's icon--before he bleached it, apparently).

Also, the original game was played on a square screen. When this is emulated, people seem to try to stretch it out to a rectangle--rather fat looking characters result. From the screenshots I've seen of Chronicles, this same problem is evident.

That said, Chronicles originally was a steal. If you're into collecting, be assured that this game will eventually command high prices thanks to the limited run. If you just want to play one of the last old-school Castlevania games, I can't think of a better place to look. Yes, even with LoI out, I still say that.

Classic gameplay, but needs a little work in some areas

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: October 11, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Unless you have been a fan of the Castlevania series since the first release on the original NES, you may be disappointed with Castlevania Chronicles. The gameplay and graphics are quite primitive compared to today's 2D games (so don't expect anything nearly as spectacular as in Castlevania SOTN)...but perhaps it was intended to be that way. Castlevania Chronicles is basically a remake of the first Castlevania, with remixed music and slightly updated graphics and gameplay. It was clearly intended to be for long time fans of the series, so younger game players may be confused by the lack of graphical quality. My only major gripe is that I think since Konami bothered to go back and alter this version, they should have at least included the ability to whip in all eight directions (via Castlevania 4 for SNES). Hardcore Castlevania fans should love this one regardless of it's short-comings though, because in the end the entire presentation is pure "old school" and packed with nostalgia. If you can't get enough of Castlevania, Chronicles is certainly worth picking up. Hopefully Konami will release a true sequel to the series soon.

Old School Gaming Buffed UP

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: October 10, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Long ago in Japan there was a person computer system called X68ooo, it had a title called Akumajou Dracula. Now after a decade Konami has rereased it. Playing as Simon Belmont of the Belmont clan you must stop Dracula. It contains the original NES Castlevania with improved graphics, better music, selectable difficulty level and a new Arrange mode. With some original Castlevania in it most of this game is actually quite new. For example: The werewolf atop the clock tower in Level 5 tears the numbers off of the giant clock face and throws them at you, and when they are gone, tears off a clock hand and attacks you with that! In Level 7, you travel through a truly bizarre hall of possessed paintings.This variety in this game makes it fun and less monotonous. Furthermore, after beating Arrange Mode, you gain access to Time Attack, in which you select a level, and try to beat it as quickly as possible.
Though there are some problems in this game like, music skipping in levels for up to 5 times, perhaps one of the biggest problems is the difficulty of this game. This game is for true Castlevania vets and shouldn't be taken lightly. Even tho

Get this now!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: October 11, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I'm a huge fan of the Castlevania series. I've been playing since the days of regular nintendo. Now, with Castlevania Chronicles some a new, awesome addition to the series. Never before released in America, comes a game that every fan of the series will love. Get ready for a wild ride back to Drac's Lair.

You play as Simon Belmont, on a quest to stop Drac. There are 8 levels in the game, each having 3 stages. You have a whip, and a sub weapon that you pick up, and you alone face the evil of Castlevania. What are you Waiting for?

The game is good ol' sidescrolling action. The control is quick and responsive, and the action is intense. It's so much fun. The only problem with it is it's shortness. The levels go by fast, depending on how good you are at it. It's a tough game. Still, once you finnish it, you'll go back again, as the castle beckons you to.

You have no excuse not to buy this game, It simply Rocks!

Whoever can't respect this game Doesn't know Castlevania!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: April 08, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game is the orginal Castlevania released in Japan only until now. Rare and out of print, this edition bring to light the inspiration for the old 8-bit NES classic that we all grew to love. Anyone who doesn't see this is too young to know that Castlevania and probably has no respect for that old 2-D game. Anyone who loved it or grew up playing it will find the orginal Japanese and even the UPdated Arranged Mode (there are 2 versions on the CD) refreshing. You get the oringal with all the orginal aspects and the updated with breathtaking opening and closing movies. A true Gem for the Belmont in every True Castlevania fan. Everyone else step aside and let the true gamers of the old school enjoy something grand.

[...]

poor quality game

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 3 / 23
Date: March 04, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I have been a castlevania chronicals fan from the beginning and I was very disappointed by this game. Past games - even on sega genesis - were better looking and more difficult to play. I was surprised that they would release a game these days which was such a poor quality of graphics and design. It looks more like a mock up of idea's for the castlevania SOTN rather than it's own game. Dont waste time with this one.

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