castlevania games ranked

[UPDATE] I should’ve put Super Castlevania IV in the Legendary rank, guess I was just caught up in putting everything in the Excellent spot lol. Easily one of the worst in the series, Castlevania 64 was one of the worst games on the console. For the last couple of years, GameXplain has been playing every single Castlevania game on their live stream. Super Castlevania IV is one of the last old-school Castlevania games. RELATED: Smash Detail: Luigi Being In Dracula's Castle Has Been Castlevania Canon Since 2013. However, that doesn't lessen Dawn of Sorrow's value in the Castlevania series. PREVIOUSLY: Devil May Cry Animated Series is Coming, Set in the Same Multiverse as Netflix's Castlevania. Castlevania is one of the most iconic names in video games, so to honor the long-running, vampire-ridden series, we decided to put together a guide to the best Castlevania games of all time. However, before the glyphs can be applied to the hero Shanoa, she is betrayed, forcing her on a quest full of twists and turns. 1. Definitely don't play the second one, just use that as a coaster or frisbee for your dog instead. Start collecting hearts, grab holy water, and get ready to crack the shit out of your whip. Unfortunately, the game has many shortcomings that make Belmont’s Revenge, released six years earlier, superior. Start collecting hearts, grab some holy water, and get ready to crack the shit out of your whip. The game is a fun adventure that was a worthy follow-up to Rondo of Blood and Super Castlevania IV but never surpassed them in terms of quality. The 10 Best Games In The Castlevania Franchise Ranked (According To Metacritic) Every gamer knows the Castlevania series. I know that some of the game’s weaker points are due to the limited hardware and development practices when the game was released, but in the scope of the series, it’s pretty bad. However, the story is a bit muddled and the protagonist becomes forgettable after a time. No RPG elements. 3. It's also the first Castlevania I ever played. No real upgrades. With some of the most beautifully designed environments and most devastatingly brutal enemies, Dracula’s Curse is the epitome of why gamers used to worship Konami before they became the industry’s mustachioed villain. While the story made little to no sense at all, the level design was top, the visuals were great, the music was inspired and the difficulty was tough but fair. Following yet another descendant of the Belmont clan, this one being particularly whiney, Lament Of Innocence sees more whip wielding action in a castle as you take on a lackluster story with forgettable characters. From the first couple seconds of the animated opening, you know that Dawn Of Sorrow is going to be something special. If you think the coolest Castlevania game to play isn't as high as it should be then make sure to vote it up so that it has the chance to rise to the top. Released just a year after Circle Of The Moon, Castlevania: Harmony Of Dissonance is another Game Boy Advance exclusive release in the series. The game is effectively crippled by a few of its integral mechanics: the day night cycle is announced by a lengthy in game message that pauses gameplay, progression is cryptic thanks to nonsensical items and misinformation fed to you by the town’s people, and an incredibly underwhelming battle against Dracula easily make Simon’s Quest the worst game in the Castlevania series. That said, if you're looking for a third person action game for the previous era's consoles packed with vampires, monsters, and other crazy Castlevania fodder, this series will definitely do. Abandoning the platform-heavy gameplay of prior game, this plays like Devil May Cry meets God of War, barreling through the forces of darkness. WHAT A HORRIBLE NIGHT TO HAVE A CURSE. The series' apparent swan song is also arguably the best entry. The Best Castlevania Games, All 30 Ranked From Worst to Best 30. The addition of effect cards made the combat that much better, as did the sub weapons and item’s available for use. For that reason, it never gained the cultural significance of many of the games that rank above it. Combine this with the crappy enemy design, awful boss fights, and just general, “Oh my God why did I pay money to put myself through this” and you can plainly see why Castlevania 64 scores so low. Following the events of Symphony of the Nights, a group created to combat Dracula upon his eventual return, the Order of Ecclesia, creates a trinity of glyphs to defeat Dracula. Intricate details in the background, a full scale of movement with the whip for maximum monster killing ability, and the second best soundtrack in the series all this the ultimate Belmont disciple simulator. Teaming up with the vampire's son Alucard, Sonia set out to destroy the monster and save her homeland. Some are among the most noteworthy games in existence, while others are obscure gems with a fierce cult following. The fact that it also started the Belmont clan’s endless battle against a fictional shape shifting vampire and his many loony cronies makes it doubly rare in the world of video games. In Japan. There are no redeeming qualities for Legacy Of Darkness. However, Igarashi’s Game Boy Advance work succeeded the PlayStation classic on a … Most notably, interesting NPCs add to the cryptic feel of the game. Overall, a good game. It’s a largely forgettable third person action game with fixed cameras, lackluster enemies and bosses, and the Castlevania name pasted to the cover. Polygon ranks every Castlevania game to date — with more than 30 games released over the past three decades, including fan favorite Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Following the tradition of previous handheld entries, Portrait Of Ruin came out a year after Dawn Of Sorrow. Starting as some of the most successful sidescrolling platformers ever made, turning into some of the worst third person action games ever made, and then ending up as some pretty okay third person action games, the franchise has definitely seen its share of ups and downs. An unfortunate decline into mediocrity for a once legendary series. The Gameboy Advance is not a console often associated with great original RPGs, but Aria of Sorrow may be the best of the Metroidvania-games to follow Symphony of the Night. The soundtrack is okay, although some of the tunes start to really ware on the ear after you hear them on loop for a while. A descent soundtrack and excellent graphics (for the time) make Bloodlines a welcome addition to the Castlevania family. It was praised for its difficulty, gameplay, soundtrack, and visuals. Simon Belmont, an heir to the Belmont family, has come to follow the path of his ancestors by driving Dracula to the grave once again. Super Castlevania IV - Game is just a piece of art.One of the best total packages ever in gaming. It's slick and stylistic without losing the challenge of the original game. Castlevania Judgement. Although it had some revolutionary ideas for the time, Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest is actually one of the worst games ever made, period. Dracula has taken his girlfriend. Considered by a majority of fans to be the best entry in the series, Symphony Of The Night is an excellent game in all respects. Best avoided, even with a ten foot pole. It feels uncharacteristic of the series. The only one who can stop him is the descendant of the Belmont and Morris line, John Morris. Oh, and you better prepare for the final boss. The gameplay is superb, the adventure epic, and it even takes elements that didn't work in prior entries and does them right. The last Castlevania to be released on the Game Boy, you’d figure that Legends would probably be the best. Plus, the bosses are a downright joy to topple, meaning that multiple playthroughs are almost guaranteed, just to get another shot at battling them. The Castlevania series has a rich history on Nintendo consoles ever since the original game came first to the Japanese Famicom Disk System way back in 1986, and then to the NES a year later. The third and final Castlevania game released for the original Game Boy was 1997's Legends, which followed the non-canonical adventures of Sonia Belmont.Sonia was the first of her family to battle Dracula as he rose to power and threatened Transylvania. I understand that some players prefer beating their heads against the wall when they get stuck by revisiting the same areas over and over, but I’d rather progress through the excellent level design that Konami used to be so well known for. This DS sequel to Aria of Sorrow isn't exactly the most beloved entry in the franchise. God Of War would come a few years later and become one of gaming’s most popular franchises; Lament Of Innocence was the continuation of the decline of a once proud series. Still a solid DS game, but not the best on Nintendo’s two screened handheld. It is one of the hardest games for the original NES, but not due to poor gameplay mechanics or level design. Not to mention, it really does serve as a breath of fresh air to take place this far in the series's future. The Best Castlevania Games, All 30 Ranked From Worst to Best 30. In addition to the awful controls, clunky combat, and nonsensical storyline, the camera is just awful. RELATED: Castlevania Collection For PS4 Has Been Leaked By Korean Board. The soundtrack is vastly inferior to most of the series, the level design is bland and uninspired, and the gameplay feels boringly flat. GameZone ranked it as the eighth best Castlevania game. 4. The story is interesting, gameplay is tight and engaging, and the game looks gorgeous for the era of consoles that it was designed for. And, yes, the Netflix series is based on this game. Castlevania Judgement sounded like an interesting game, at least on paper. Quincy Morris has put Dracula down following the events of Bram Stoker's Dracula (yes, that's canon in the Castlevania universe), which grants Dracula's niece, Elizabeth Bartley, a chance to revive her uncle to his throne of darkness. It’s good, but it’s not 2D Castlevania good. PREVIOUSLY: 30 Hidden Details in the Castlevania Franchise Rel Fans Completely Missed, Richter Belmont, son of Simon Belmont, has a problem. Still, this game … It introduces multiple playable characters, all with a unique gameplay mechanic to make each one useful in different situations. She only needs to trigger World War I to do it. Konami may have left Castlevania in the lurch recently, with the latest game being released back in 2014, but that's no reason not to revisit the venerable series. 31. The first 3D Castlevania on the last generation of systems, Lords Of Shadow is a standout third person action game wearing the Castlevania insignia. Dracula is dead. Konami’s best attempt to cash in on Capcom’s success with Devil May Cry, Castlevania: Lament Of Innocence is a poor substitute for Dante’s dual pistol, sword swinging action. He has to use his wits and whip to bring Dracula back to Hell. Still, this game remains a masterpiece. Top 10 Best Castlevania Games of 2020? Slot machines and “erotic pachinko” (yes, really!) However, the open world structure made the game feel lacking at some points as the series took a step away from its expertly structured levels. The Castlevania series has a long, storied legacy. Well don't worry, we did all the work for you. It demands you understand precise timing, the precise way to play it. It beats out its brethren with the feeling of love that seems to be present in every aspect of the game; Konami really put a lot of feeling into crafting this one and it shows, even today. Legends may have been unfairly judged, being released just a few years after the incredible Symphony Of The Night, but the fact that it’s predecessor released multiple years before it is a better game, Legends will always remain one of the series’ biggest follies. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. After many gamers were dissatisfied with Mirror Of Fate, the series decided to jump back to third person action, and what a wise decision it was. It's probably too hard for its own good, but it really does feel like the culmination of the entire franchise. But in the future, a new castle emerges during a solar eclipse. A huge improvement over its predecessor, Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge is one of the finer action games on the Game Boy. While not as fanservice-y and over the top as the later multi-player extravaganza of Harmony of Despair, it served as an impressive entry in the series and a worthy 20th Anniversary release. Easily the best of the NES Castlevania games, this game is fan favorite. However, by drawing on gameplay components of earlier entries like Rondo of Blood, this game refined and honed what made the original game a masterpiece. The Belmonts have gone. The Sega Genesis’s foray into the Belmont family, Bloodlines takes what was right about Super Castlevania IV and mixes it with its own slew of oddities and problems. This is one of the last games to depend on pure skill. Definitely not the worst you can do when picking a Castlevania game, but not the best by a long shot. He — wait, haven't we heard this before? As I mentioned above, the series is really pretty great for what it is, generic third person action with a recognizable name that'll bring in the bucks, but in the grand scope of a series as storied as Castlevania, you can do better when youi're looking for a Belmont lineage simulator. He also enjoys horror movies, good books, and writing (duh). Regardless, the best Castlevania games out there are vital parts of gaming history that you need to play. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (Game Boy Advance) Symphony of the Night revived the open-world 2D gaming genre (Super Metroid was first, FYI) and made it a viable game design template for many. To date, it remains something of a swansong for the franchise. Castlevania is a horror centered, Metroidvania game which began off on the NES. 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