High Score's Castlevania week is unfortunately over. Thankfully, their latest video of Dracula X Chronicles is the best yet. You can see some of Richter's more capable moves in today's video, and a hint at an upcoming boss battle. High-Score is promising even more content next week, so don't put your whips away yet.
As this player from High-Score continues to go deeper into the Dracula X Chronicles, he reveals some of the castle's more challenging dangers. See all sorts of traps attempt to (successfully) kill the player not once ... but twice.
The latest video from High Score's week-long Castlevania series highlights some of the incredible animation featured in the game. Take particular note to the way the spear-wielding skeleton moves. It's quite articulate. However, we're concerned about Belmont: does he have arthritis? He seems really stiff, don't you think?
Does the Castlevania theme ever get old? (The correct answer is no.) Here's your second serving of your daily Dracula X Chronicles videos for this week.
It might have sexy, modern 3D graphics, but its gameplay is decidedly old-school. High Score's week-long Castlevania feature goes through the first five levels in the game. Bust out the old whip, and get ready to destroy everything in your sight.
The Dracula X Chronicles is bringing classic Castlevania gameplay to PSP ... in style. In celebration of their upcoming "Castlevania Week," High-Score has uploaded the opening cinematic to the upcoming PSP exclusive. Certainly looks atmospheric, no? High-Score is promising even more great stuff next week, including interviews, and a look at the remastered Symphony of the Night that's included on the UMD.
When you're done watching the intro, don't forget to check out some of the screenshots from our updated gallery.
Konami's Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is just one of the many third-party software titles coming to PSP later this year. This Rondo of Blood remake looks nothing like its predecessor -- and for good reason. The graphics on this game are incredible. Certainly, this will move a good number of PSP systems to Castlevania fans that have long played on Nintendo handhelds. Check out the new images below:
You may remember a little title that got everyone talking a few weeks ago: Castlevania. Ever since its incredible debut, Konami has remained silent on this hotly anticipated revival of Rondo of Blood, the only Castlevania title never to be released in the States. The upcoming Castlevania X Chronicles not only includes a 3D remake of Rondo of Blood, but includes the fan-favorite Symphony of the Night as well. Games Radar has an incredible interview with Koji Igarashi from GDC available, and here are some highlights:
After years of working on GBA/DS games, the power of the PSP has been startling: "It's better than what I expected, actually. I'm very happy about the quality. Especially with the graphic quality. The PSP hardware system allows a very high resolution."
Symphony of the Night will be getting a few enhancements: "So basically, it's mostly a straight port from the original SOTN on PlayStation. I wasn't happy about the quality of the PlayStation SOTN voiceover, so I'm trying to do something about it on the PSP."
Don't forget to check out Games Radar for the rest of this brilliant interview.
Some gamers may feel jaded about the lack of improvements the PSP version of Symphony of the Night will feature. If Rondo of Blood can get the full 3D makeover, certainly this beloved PS1 classic can also receive some extras? Well, more isn't necessarily better, as seen by the Saturn version of this beloved adventure game.
1UP showcases the horrors of the Saturn version, filled with unnecessary extras that actually detract from the experience more than add to it. This episode of Retronauts shows you the horrors of a great game ruined by an overly ambitious port design. Let's be glad that our version of Symphony of the Night won't be as horrific as this.
Ever since Castlevania was announced for PSP, many people have been asking a few questions. Firstly, why remake Rondo of Blood? Easy: it's the only Castlevania game to never have met a US release. As revealed in an IGN interview with Castlevania's producer, Rondo of Blood is the crucial "turning point" in the series. While many loved the changes made in Symphony of the Night, most gamers have missed out on many of the finer details of the classic's story, simply because Rondo of Blood was never released. (Castlevania X for the SNES was a "port" of sorts. However, it strayed significantly from its origins.)
Rondo of Blood takes place 5 years before Symphony of the Night, and explains many origins of the characters found in the revered PS1 classic. Players will be treated to seeing Richter Belmont, "the last Belmont," fighting Dracula himself. Who is Shaft and how does he control Richter in Symphony of the Night? Who is Maria Renard? These questions will be unearthed through Rondo of Blood.
While Nintendo's handhelds have met great additions to the Castlevania franchise, the future of the series may stay on the PSP. When speaking to IGN, Koji Igarashi revealed his love of the platform. "If the PSP version of Castlevania does great ... [doing sequels] is something I'd love to take a look at."
You like-uh the Castlevania, yah? Good! Here's more video from the fine folks at 1UP. Hey Konami, where was my invite to your awesome Konami Gamers' Day? Join me as I feel neglected by Konami, and watch these videos: it'll feel like you're actually at Konami Gamers' Day!
After the break, you'll see tons of Castlevania footage, Coded Arms, and Brooktown High.
Remember that awesome game that 1UP was talking about? It's finally revealed! Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles is a completely remastered version of Dracula X: Rondo of Blood. This long-forgotten entry in the Castlevania franchise was only available in Japan on the PC Engine Duo, a system I can't even remember existing. The PSP version features a brilliant graphical overhaul, which looks lightyears ahead of any of the DS Castlevania games.
Oh, and if that weren't enough, the game comes with a port of Symphony of the Night, considered by many as the best Castlevania of all time.
Go past the cut to see a video of the game in action. Expect to see even more of this new PSP-exclusive Castlevania on The 1UP Show tomorrow.
NeoGAF forum goers are wondering if PLAY magazine has confirmed Dracula X: Rondo of Blood for PSP. In the Letter from the Editor page, Dave Halverson says "Can you say Dracula X meets Symphony of the Night". Later on in PLAY's Most Anticipated games of 2007 page Dave lists Dracula X: Rondo of Blood for PSP as his #3 choice.
Why would Dave put Dracula X as a PSP game if it wasn't coming to the portable? Especially on a list of anticipated games of 2007. That still doesn't explain his comment about Dracula X meets Symphony of the Night. Maybe Symphony of the Night is coming to the PSP as well, or some new game that combines elements of both. Of course the less exciting prospect could be that he was just referring to Symphony of the Night coming to Xbox 360 and Dracula X to PSP.
I suppose we'll just have to wait for an official announcement to find out for sure, but this info is interesting none the less.
We've been reviewing the PSP playable PS1 games that have been released thus far, but are they what we really want? We listed what we'd like to see from the PS1 library last month, but Modojo has their own list now. The list includes the predictable like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, but it also includes more cult games like Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (the ending of which made me cry).
To see the rest of the list you'll have to go read the article. After you've done that though, come back here and let us know what games that you'd like to see make the leap from PS1 to PSP.
[Thanks Justin ]
[Update 1: Linked to our previous list of Most Wanted PS1 games]
We have faith that one day, the PlayStation Store will be accessible via PSP without the need for a PS3, and will flourish into a glorious realm of classic games, one that will be untouched by the competition. Of course, homebrew users will rip their own games ... but for the rest of us, this is my personal wishlist of PSone games that I'd like to see available for download.
NeoGAF
