Castlevania games for pc

Still, it has a few issues. By modern standards, Castlevania has a handful of problems, especially compared to later entries in the series. Breaking from the 2D sidescrolling roots of the series, Lords of Shadow is a 3D action-adventure game originally released as an Xbox game and PlayStation 3 game in Often hailed as one of the worst Castlevania games of all time, The Adventure features dated visuals and unforgiving difficulty, both of which were fixed with ReBirth.

Following Symphony of the Night as the second Castlevania title on a Sony platform, the anticipation for Lament of Innocence prior to its release was through the roof. Although an excellent 3D action game, Lament of Innocence breaks from the platforming seen in Symphony of the Night in favor of a more traditional third-person experience.

Like many of the best PS2 games , it was one-of-a-kind. Mirror of Fate is the sequel to the original Lords of Shadow , though it was treated as more of a spinoff. Released originally for the 3DS in , Mirror of Fate tried to re-create all of the wrong parts of its console predecessor. With little in the way of exploration and a redundant combat system, Mirror of Fate feels like no more than a slightly above-par action game.

Lords of Shadow 2 , despite being six years old, is the last true Castlevania game Konami released. The graphics feel outdated, the level design is basic, and the gameplay, although fun, is mindless. The sequel to the Game Boy Advance game, Aria of Sorrow, and incorporates many previous elements from its predecessor. Dawn of Sorrow was commercially successful. It sold more than 15, units in its first week in Japan and , units in the United States during the three months after its debut.

The first installment of the series on the PlayStation 2 and the third to make use of a 3D style of gameplay. Lament of Innocence is chronologically the first game in the series. Set in , it focuses on the origins of the series plot.

It follows Leon Belmont, a legendary vampire hunter, as he seeks the vampiric castle in search of his kidnapped love, Sarah.

The gameplay in the aforementioned game is a blend of everything you would expect from a Castlevania game. Leon Belmont is equipped with his legendary whip which is capable of inflicting considerable damage depending on the materials fire, ice, poison.

In addition, Leon is also capable of performing magical attacks, but these will cost some of his heart points. However, hearts can be found by destroying stuff scattered around the game. The third installment in the series to come out on the Game Boy Advance. Michiru Yamane returned to compose the music for the game. Harmony of Dissonance was produced by Koji Igarashi. His intention was to create something that emulates the Symphony of the Night.

The gameplay is extremely similar to Symphony of the Night. Juste Belmont possesses a bunch of powers which gives him the advantage to wipe every enemy he encounters.

Circle of the Moon was published as a launch title for the Game Boy Advance back in When it seems that all hope is lost, Nathan Graves and Hugh Baldwin learn about this upcoming threat. The game sold very well and was a critical hit.

Journalists and fans praised many aspects of it including soundtracks, the level design, and the overall story.

However, this entry received criticism from Koji Igarashi himself. He additionally criticized the DSS card system which he said holds no value. The game was to focus on Sonia Belmont and a new character, Victor Belmont, an s vampire hunter who had abandoned his lineage. The reason for the cancellation of this entry is often credited to many things, including the dispute between the Japanese and American Konami teams, and the death of the Dreamcast after the official announcement of Sony PlayStation 2.

You can now get your hands on the E3 pre-demo by going to archive. You will need an emulator for it to work, tho. The second entry in the franchise to enter the 3D realm, and take advantage of the N64 technical capabilities. The overall story is a bit similar to Curse of Darkness if you ask me. It stars the man-beast Cornell in his quest to prevent his adoptive sister, Ada, from becoming a sacrifice to resurrect Dracula.

Castlevania or usually referred to as CV64 is the first 3D entry in the series. This entry took advantage of the Nintendo 64 console and tried to bring the franchise through the 3D portal. While it retained some of the aspects of the traditional 2D games, it also brought new things to the table.

However, thanks to this positive response, Konami released an expanded version called Legacy of Darkness. The third title in the series to come to the Game Boy. As a matter of fact, the latter is also one of those entries which are not canon. I think if the canceled Resurrection title came out to life, it would have acted as a sequel to this one. Throughout the course of her adventure, she meets Alucard who seeks revenge against his father as well.

Producer Koji Igarashi pulled this particular entry from the series timeline, claiming that it conflicted with the timeline of the main games. The game that introduced the Metrdoivania genre to the table, and the game that welcomed newcomers to the series.

The notorious castle rises again strangely five years later. Alucard, the son of Dracula, awakens from his self-induced sleep and seizes the opportunity to investigate what transpired during his slumber. Despite being merely a port, the contents of the game are drastically different from the original. Players take the role of one of the Belmonts, Richter, who is in a quest to rescue Annet, as well as, Maria and to seal away Count Dracula once again.

This entry in the series is the only game that came to the Sega Genesis. It is also one of the hardest, if not, one of the most brutally difficult entries in the series. Plotting a sacrificial war in order to bring her uncle back to life.

As a result, the three warriors vow to unite their strength and fight against impending evil. The game puts you in the shoes of Richter Belmont who goes to save his beloved Annette, who was kidnapped by Count Dracula.

Before Chronicles, Konami released an entry titled after the original which was initially released on the Sharp X back in However, after 8 years, when Koji Igarashi joined Konami, the latter decided to develop a full remake of the original.

The port incorporated several features, including an Arranged Mode, better visuals, and other extra features. Kid Dracula is many things. A brilliant hack-and-slash combat system, orchestral music, solemn tone, and Hollywood actors in the lead roles all helped it become a sleeper hit. Its sequels, both Lords of Shadow 2 and the 3DS's Mirror of Fate, weren't as successful, which is a shame considering how great the original remains today.

This is where things get a little bit confusing. There are two different versions of Castlevania: Rondo of Blood--the one we've ranked as the fourth-best in the series, and another called Castlevania: Dracula X, which came to the Super Nintendo. If you wanted the better game back in the mids, you had to have a PC Engine, which is the Japanese version of the TurboGrafx Flashy visuals with smooth animations and brilliant sound design make it feel far newer than it actually is the game was first released in and required a CD peripheral.

Rondo of Blood is an often overlooked entry that can't be missed, especially because another game on our list is actually a sequel to it. The last game in the series to release for Game Boy Advance was also the best, and it did so by moving further away from the standard Castelvania setting and premise as much as possible.

Dracula still had a role in the game, but it took things in some strange directions unrelated to the Belmonts and their seemingly never-ending battle against the vampiric lord. Soma Cruz, who returned in the sequel Dawn of Sorrow, makes his first appearance in this game, and you can use a bunch of different weapons to take down your enemies while also using their abilities to further improve your power.

If there were ever a Castlevania game meant for Hot Topic patrons with straightened hair and Hawthorne Heights shirts, this is it, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The game that changed everything, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night was a pretty radical departure for the series, moving from mostly level-based action-platforming to an open-ended action-RPG that took clear inspiration from the Metroid series. It even led to a new name for a whole sub-genre of games--metroidvania--and a template that Castlevania would mostly stick to for more than a decade.

Despite releasing on the original PlayStation well into its lifespan, Konami didn't force 3D visuals into Symphony of the Night, something it couldn't help but do in the mediocre Nintendo 64 games, and instead delivered a flashy and timeless 2D visual style.

The game's English translation also offered some unintentional humor, including the famous "miserable little pile of secrets" line. But enough talk, it's number 2! Is it controversial to have anything but Symphony of the Night or Aria of Sorrow in the top spot? Probably, but being right isn't always easy. Super Castlevania IV is the original Castlevania formula perfected, completed with some of the best action-platforming ever delivered in a 2D game.

At the same time, this robust sequel largely maintains that retro Metroidvania feel. Despite the contrast between the fluid, free-flowing Ori and the clunkier Simon Belmont , the essence of Castlevania can be felt. This comes in the form of various collectibles, upgrades, and open-world exploration. Yet it also runs with a similarly somber plot, a feeling of isolation, and some rich, dark wilderness settings.

The overlaps of Castlevania and this game's sword-wielding lead are fairly obvious, as are the vast dungeons that beckon you to search and plunder. Yet, Team Cherry's Hollow Knight also produces a similar sense of urgency and vulnerability, as the unnamed knight must hack and slash through ominous foes.

The game draws from the " soulslike-style " mechanic of gathering resources — in this case, literal Souls — along with the in-game currency called Geo. Stakes are high as an untimely death will rob you of Geo and reduce crucial Souls when all hitpoints masks are lost. With the tough progression system as well as the baddies and boss-laden areas, the parallels with Belmont's games are clear. This one's likely to satiate fans of Konami's classic, what with its bold horror themes, sidescrolling action, and grueling difficulty.

It likewise dates back to the s, specifically on the Amiga, Arcade, and Sega Genesis. Still, it's no less enjoyable to this day — provided you can get over the barrage of hazards and somewhat stiff controls.

Ghouls 'n Ghosts stresses heart-pounding action over RPG-like progression or exploration, to be sure. Yet, it captures that same darkly-tinged retro vibe. Coming out of nowhere several years ago, Yacht Club Games' sidescroller has fast become one of the more renowned indie series of the last decade. And there's perhaps no better way to play this retro-style romp than this compilation.

Not only is the original Shovel Knight included, but three additional campaigns and a multiplayer fighting game are also featured. This title channels that Castlevania charm with its old-school style and its blend of platforming and hack 'n' slash action. With so much addictive content here, this really is a treasure. It seems like a no-brainer to include this one, given one of Castlevania's most prominent figures, Koji Igarashi, helms the studio behind it.

But really, there's more to this connection than the developer himself.