The worst Castlevania recreation simply acquired lots higher

The enchantment of Konami’s not too long ago launched Castlevania assortment is, in idea, that it’s a brand new method to play three meaty Castlevania adventures from the Nintendo DS period (Castlevania: Daybreak of Sorrow, Portrait of Smash, and Order of Ecclesia). However the spotlight for me, an avowed and longtime hater of the 1987 recreation Haunted Fort, is one thing new: Haunted Fort Revisited, a remake of Konami’s terrible try and convey Simon Belmont’s battle towards Dracula to arcades.

Konami launched the unique Haunted Fort a couple of yr after the unique Castlevania got here to Nintendo’s Famicom Disk System in 1986. A reimagining of Simon’s authentic journey, Haunted Fort sends our hero on a mission to rescue his new bride Selena from her kidnapper Dracula. Armed with a whip and different collectible weapons, Simon faces acquainted threats like Medusa, Frankenstein’s monster, and an enormous rock golem.

The unique Haunted Fort did have just a few issues going for it — specifically giant sprites and catchy music. However Haunted Fort was punishingly troublesome, awkward to regulate, and poorly animated. The unique Castlevania was difficult, too, however Haunted Fort’s issue spikes had been brutal and infrequently unfair, seemingly designed to steal quarters from harmless younger gamers who cherished the NES authentic and had been lured in by fancy graphics. (This harmless younger participant is me.)

Haunted Fort Revisited takes the fundamental framework of the unique Haunted Fort and transforms it right into a basic Castlevania motion side-scroller. Developer M2 and Keisuke Koga, who designed Castlevania: The Journey Rebirth, a slick remake of the primary Sport Boy Castlevania recreation, are accountable for turning Haunted Fort round in 2024. The developer has streamlined the issue, redesigned ranges and enemy encounters, and given Haunted Fort a significant graphical glow-up with Revisited. Simon is now properly animated and far simpler to regulate.

On the sport’s regular issue setting, Haunted Fort Revisited in all fairness simple to finish, partly because of beneficiant checkpoints, continues, and an possibility to pick ranges from the primary menu. There’s a tough issue setting, too, which remixes enemy layouts and introduces new enemy variants that aren’t within the regular setting. The laborious model is extremely enjoyable — difficult, however not punitively troublesome.

The most important improve in Haunted Fort Revisited is the sport’s bosses. They’ve all been reimagined indirectly, however two of the (six) boss fights stand out among the many relaxation: the Stained Glass Knight and the ultimate battle towards Dracula himself. I gained’t spoil them, as a result of they’re price experiencing for your self, however they’re now creative and thrilling spectacles.

M2 has even given Simon’s whip an improve. Like different basic Castlevania video games, Simon can energy up his iconic weapon from normal leather-based bull whip to morning star by amassing orbs. Haunted Fort Revisited provides an additional layer to this; As soon as Simon’s whip is upgraded, any orbs he collects will give him a short lived energy up, giving it higher attain and a wider hurtbox. It’s a small element, nevertheless it provides a way of urgency to play — you’ll need to get essentially the most out of your super-charged whip when you can.

Haunted Fort Revisited might not be the most important attract Konami’s new Castlevania Dominus Assortment, however for fellow Castlevania lovers who performed and despised the unique Haunted Fort, the remake is price enjoying. It has remodeled a blight on the franchise right into a fresh-feeling, basic Castlevania recreation, the likes of which we haven’t seen in a few years.

Castlevania Dominus Assortment was launched Aug. 27 on Nintendo Swap, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, and Xbox Collection X. The sport was reviewed utilizing a pre-release obtain code supplied by Nintendo. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These don’t affect editorial content material, although Vox Media could earn commissions for merchandise bought by way of affiliate hyperlinks. You’ll find extra details about gamerlifemedia’s ethics coverage right here.