StarSoldier1's Full Review: CastleVania for Nintendo 64
CASTLEVANIA (Konami, January 1999)
Here is the first ever CastleVania game in 3D and if you're a true hardcore fan of the horror series than you don't wanna miss this one game. After another 100 years of enforced sleep, Count Dracula is ready to raise again in the middle of the 19th century and only two warriors dare enter the house of horrors to try and stop him. In both missions you have to travel across ten different levels (levels 4, 6, and 7 differ between the two characters) in either day or night.
The characters Reinhardt Schneider is a lone descendant of the Belmont family and has been training for this day when he learned of his doomed bloodline. Although he has trained to be an Vampire Killer, Reinhardt is bound by faith and he cannot let one women kill herself during the game, eventhough she's a vampire. He uses the traditional whip weapon to hit enemies from a distance (the whip can also be powered up) plus you can even use a small sword for close range attacks.
Carrie Fernandez is a young spellcaster who's mother was killed by a angry mob who thought she was a witch, now she enters Castlevania to prove her power isn't evil. Carrie will encounter a powerful witch named Actrisce during the game who will try to get Carrie to serve under Count Dracula but will she listen to her? Carrie uses fireball attacks than can even be charged up by holding down the button for a stronger burst (you can also power up your shots). Her short range of attack is her hand rings.
The graphics are really sharp looking especially in the empty Mansion (level 3) and in Castle Keep (level 5) plus the bosses are not only huge but they animate great too like the giant minotaur in a empty coliseum that returns to life. The first level looks the worse in the game because of the heavy use of fog or darkness and it may turn people away from the game too early.
The music was a mixed bag because in the first level there is no background music at all and in some of the other levels the music is fairly low key. However, the opening intro was simply awesome because it features the castle of Dracula in 3D with lightning in the background and eerie moody music. Then you'll see a young boy playing an violin and it sounds incredible. The sound effects were well done with all the trademark monsters sounding like they should (like the howling of werewolfs).
The game's camera has three different setting; Normal, Action, and Battle. It's up to you to set it to the right setting during gameplay but sometimes the camera will be on a fixed angel so there can be little you can do. Jumping is the most challenging part of CastleVania so learning the camera and the controls is very important. Sure, the controls are a little confusing at first but after a few plays you'll get use to all the buttons and what they do.
"ALL WHO APPROSE THE DARKLORD MUST DIE!"
There are some people who will compare CastleVania64 to the acclaimed CastleVania Symphony of the Night for the Sony Playstation but both games are so great in their own way that there shouldn't so much complaining about the fact that CastleVania64 is in 3D instead of 2D. Despite the somewhat boring first level and some dull graphics, the game easily becomes more in depth level by level, plus Reinhardt and Carrie adventure differs with two endings for each. After I finished the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, CastleVania was the next very good game I played. I personally think this game was way better than other horror games like Resident Evil in my opinion because of the better control and storyline too.
CastleVania is a very deep action game and is a great choice for adventure seekers who have an N64.
CastleVania overall rating: 82/100
*Gamepak needed to save
For 1 player only
Rated (T) for Teen
graphics: 8/10............ awesome end boss.
sound: 8/10............ love that intro.
gameplay: 7/10............ there are no RPG elements but I still love the classic gameplay.
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