Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles

With this UMD, you get a wonderful piece of history and two of the best action adventures ever programmed. [Nov 2007, p.82]

If you own a PSP, there is no excuse for you to not own this title. [Nov 2007, p.95]

Castlevania has never had more content packed in than it does right here, taking what many consider the two greatest games in the series and including more dialogue, more playable characters, and other nice little extras, and throwing them into a nice, convenient, must-own $30 package.

A must-buy in every sense of the phrase. A high challenge level, two games for the price of one and some very rewarding unlockables make this one of the best PSP games to date.

For anyone else who may wonder what the hubbub is all about, if you have the patience to endure many levels repeatedly in an old school side scrolling fashion, then this is a great start for you. Nevertheless, this game fills in the gaps and tells the tale before the greatest Castlevania title of all time, and includes it in the package to boot.

From the moment you power on your PSP to the moment you turn it off, Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles does a remarkable job of pulling you into the Castlevania universe and immersing you in the difficult, but ultimately rewarding gameplay.

But what really got me taking momentary breaks from the action was coming to the realization of just how much I miss this type of Castlevania game.

In Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles, Konami has finally brought the original Dracula X to North America and gave it a 2.5 D update that will have a ton of Castlevania junkies clamoring for more of the same.

An incredibly good value. [May 2008, p.106]

The Dracula X Chronicles is simply a great package for old school Castlevania fans and newcomers alike.

This is some of the best 2D platforming to ever be released.

Given the obscurity of the original PC engine origins and all the extras that play to true fans, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is an esoteric gem. [Oct 2007, p.92]

The gameplay is challenging and interesting, the content is varied and encompasses two full games, and the attention to detail is great.

A smart package of everything good about the series down to the last crumb of skeleton dust.

Classic "Rondo" alone would be a great budget title for virgin Western audiences; adding a remake and "Symphony" turns this into a no-brainer. [Nov 2007, p.120]

The Dracula X Chronicles isn't a perfect compilation; the original games suffer from some nagging issues, and the remakes aren't an across-the-board improvement. Even so, it would be a must-play for fans of classic action games even without its historical significance. As it is, fans of action games should play it simply because it plays well; fans of Castlevania should add it to their collections immediately and never let it go.

Sure, the 3D remake's a bit lukewarm, but that's only the appetizer. The main course? Two of the greatest exercises in virtual vampire slaying the world has yet seen. We'll pay $30 for that, no problem.

Besides the difficulty and somewhat finicky jumping mechanics, it’s an impressive game with a lot going for it. And if you're new to the series, this compilation may be even more worth your attention because of its strong components. Just remember the nature of the challenge, because things can get real tricky, real fast.

The real prize, though, are the game's unlockable goodies -- an improved version of the original Rondo of Blood and the best version of Symphony of the Night to date. For a $30 compilation bursting with content, Castlevania doesn't suck.

Taken together, the three games included in Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles make up a compelling package.

Castlevania fans will certainly find a lot to love about The Dracula X Chronicles for the PSP and, while the different versions of these classics are still too hard, these classics are just way too good to pass up.

As a game, the remake of Rondo of Blood would have been a worthwhile purchase through Live arcade. As a collection, the Dracula X Chronicles is a fine example of how to compile a package.

Or if you are the one reading right now and you like Castlevania and have always wanted to see what the fuss was about for Rondo of Blood, then this is a great game to go check out, I would highly recommend it.

A treat for fans of side-scrolling adventures - provided they have the stomach for the slog. [Mar 2008, p.72]

If you enjoy some side scrolling adventuring action and consider yourself a hardcore gamer then you should consider picking this up as well.

Despite some questionable design and admin decisions, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is one of the best retro gaming compilations that you'll ever find, though casuals need not apply.

This Castlevania on PSP is a gem for fans of the franchise. It includes a previously unreleased version out of Japan, but above all the remake, packed with quality.

A simple, yet timeless addition to any collection.

But the fact that it is no more than an aesthetic update hurts. [Issue#163, p.82]

The only problems lie in some load issues and poor hit detection -- while serious, they don't hinder gameplay completely. It just gives you something to blame all your suckiness on.

As a reinvented version of a 16-bit game, this looks quite nice on the PSP's sharp display, but it plays like nobody's greased the machinery since its original 1993 release. [Oct 2007, p.127]

If you're a Castlevania completist, or just a fan of old school gaming, then pick up this bloodsucker.

A good-looking, deep and engaging package that should be in any self-respecting gamer's collection, save for the fact that many who lack the skill, talent and time to succeed in it won't be able to access at least half of what's on offer.

A sometimes grim but always compelling experience. [Christmas 2007, p.96]

This is really a release made for, and by, Castlevania fans. If you don't think much of the series, this isn't going to change your mind.

It's hard. Harder than talking Dracula into a booking a beach holiday. [Mar 2008, p.80]

Demonically difficult, heart-shatteringly hard, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is a gamer's game. Solid in both respects of the word, Konami's elderly iconic franchise fits perfectly on PSP for some vampire killing on the move...even if you do feel like throwing the handheld into a wall at times.

The game is certainly rewarding and fun if you can get into it. Unfortunately we can't see the average gamer having the patience to do just that.

As long as you’re prepared to die over and over again, then Richter Belmont’s restored adventure should be considered a rare PSP treat. [Mar 2008, p.130]

Even for all the respect and love that the Castlevania series deserves, the gameplay mechanics fell completely out of date. But if you look at it as a “collection item”, it manages to deliver. New players will become desperate with its old fashion gameplay and difficulty, but that’s exactly what Castlevania fans are looking for here. [March 2008]

The problem is that while to the existing fan base the retro design and gameplay are all part of the experience newer gamers will probably view those same qualities in a far more negative light.