Castlevania: Harmony of Despair

 Xbox 360
Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 62 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 62
  2. Mixed: 38 out of 62
  3. Negative: 6 out of 62
  1. Console Monster
    46
    It's clear that Harmony of Despair tries to be something different but it's almost impossible to do when the contents of the game are recycled. It's like a horrible person trying to turn over a new leaf...by being a horrible person.
  2. The A.V. Club
    42
    Igarashi has given the series another infusion, but unyielding maps married to middling combat amounts to drudgery, whether players are going it alone or en masse.
  3. Game Revolution
    42
    Let's be straight here: Harmony of Despair is a frustrating game. What should have been a step forward into new territory seems to have landed in some sticky bat guano.
  5. Giant Bomb
    40
    Castlevania: Harmony of Despair has some neat ideas, but a lot of it's hidden behind a bevy of poorly explained menus and user-unfriendly mechanics. The expectation that you'll grind your way through the six chapters over and over again, only to do it all over again in hard mode is kind of ridiculous, and there just isn't enough of a reward there to make all of that grinding feel like anything other than, well, a grind.
  6. Metro GameCentral
    40
    The corpse of Symphony Of The Night proves far too putrefied to work as a co-operative platformer.
  7. Eurogamer
    40
    Harmony of Despair isn't a failure of concept but a failure of ambition, one that leaves Koji Igarashi still waiting for his next great discovery.

Awards & Rankings

93
#93 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2010

User Reviews

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User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 53 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 53
  3. Negative: 11 out of 53
  1. Yakuul
    Aug 16, 2010
    7
    An interesting idea for a game. I give it a 7 versus a lower score due to it being a relatively novel idea and working well in what itAn interesting idea for a game. I give it a 7 versus a lower score due to it being a relatively novel idea and working well in what it attempts to accomplish (i.e. being a multiplayer metroidvania style game). However, it can feel sluggish at times, and the feeling of exploration and discovery is noticeably absent once you've finished the paltry 6 levels. Granted, finding new items is always exciting, but it seems like there is too much grinding to be done. Overall, I find HoD to be a positive experience and worth a try, but perhaps only for those who are fans of the series. Playing a game like this really makes you thirst for a real Castlevania 2-D adventure on an HD console, though...… Full Review »
  2. RealMcCoyViews
    Aug 10, 2015
    10
    Although it may be hard to get into, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair is a fun and extremely addicting game. The first level is sure to get anyAlthough it may be hard to get into, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair is a fun and extremely addicting game. The first level is sure to get any one frustrated with its difficulty, but as the player gains powerful items it becomes much easier to get through. Because of this, many players will likely beat certain chapters over and over in the attempt to get a good item. With the addition of many different characters to play as and level up, the replay value is quite high. The online multiplayer proves to be very smooth and requires teamwork to beat a level. Castlevania: Harmony of Despair is therefore a hidden gem in the cluster of old Xbox Live Arcade games with great gameplay, replay value, and multiplayer.… Full Review »
  3. JudgeMental
    Aug 27, 2010
    3
    Whoever decided to put an 8-bit graphics style game on XBLA is a bit out of touch. Now I'm not saying 8-bit is bad, but let's be honest. ThisWhoever decided to put an 8-bit graphics style game on XBLA is a bit out of touch. Now I'm not saying 8-bit is bad, but let's be honest. This game came out in the same month as LIMBO, a game that managed to look gorgeous with only two colors, and Lara Croft GoL, a combat platformer with very nice graphics. The game was unoriginal, offered a terrible navigation and menu setup, and looked like it was from the 1980s. Not worth the money.… Full Review »
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