Konami finally released
Rondo of Blood to the global audience -- the one
Castlevania that eluded us (legally) for many years. It's the title that takes place four years prior to
Symphony of the Night, making the two essentially part of a chronicle. Thus the title
Dracula X Chronicles -- a 3-in-1 deal with the original
RoB, the new 3D/2D remake, and
SotN all in one place. Sounds like the definitive collection for a
Castlevania fan, right?
For the most part, it is. You get the best of both worlds -- the classic
Castlevania gameplay that veteran gamers will immediately recognize from
Rondo of Blood, and the revamped gameplay
Symphony of the Night brought to the stage with multiple weapons, skills, leveling up, and the castle map. However, getting to experience everything this game has to offer can sometimes be a chore and once done, there's little left to keep you around. That said, everything up until that point is well executed and incredibly enjoyable, if sometimes infuriating.