It has already rained since the video game saga Castlevania, which over time would define the norms of a genre such as metroidvania, was released back in 1986. Since then, the deliveries that the video game market has received are counted by tens and , among them, are some of the most complete and round works that the videogame industry has seen in its lifetime. However, the recent history of Castlevania is quite different, and it seems that Konami has relegated it to a more secondary position without relevant deliveries since 2014, where it was released without much success Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2.
And, now, when some classic franchises are trying their luck again, Konami wanted to bet to bring back not only this saga, but specifically the deliveries that have defined it and that have marked a whole genre. He already did months ago with Castlevania Requiem and now does it with Castlevania Anniversary Collection, a compilation that includes the first three installments of NES (Castlevania, Castlevania II: Simon's Quest and Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse), the fourth that came out for SNES ( Super Castlevania IV), the Castlevania Bloodlines of Mega Drive, the two games of Game Boy (Castlevania: The Adventure and Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge) and Kid Dracula, published in 1993.
An extensive and quality compilation
Something that attributed a few months ago to Castlevania Requiem was the fact of bringing back the franchise in a very fragmented, recovering only two works (although they are real gems) and bringing them only to PlayStation 4. Castlevania Anniversary Collection rectifies in this aspect and It offers a really complete compilation, with almost a dozen works that land on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. In this way, this compilation is somewhat more useful than for fans and allows people outside the IP of Castlevania to enter it in a very complete and on the platform of their choice.
I will not go to evaluate or evaluate each video game separately, since throughout these decades and much has been written about the entire series and we find works that, better or worse, have been able to define everything gender, to mark a before and after in the videogame industry, and to offer a playable proposal that, even today, continues to be original and of quality.
In addition, the adaptation to the current platforms of the classic deliveries of Castlevania includes some interesting developments. In a special menu taken from emulator, it is possible to save the game at any time, to alternate between the different games of the compilation and to change some technical settings such as the way of visualizing the work or the side frames that appear on the screen when playing.
At the same time, what is most outstanding in this compilation is the inclusion of a small digital book that includes some data, interviews and pieces of art of the different works that compose it. It would have been a real kick to have it in a physical edition, but both the book and the compilation are available only through the digital format
A very poor birthday gift
I will not deny that I enjoyed, and much, playing again some of the classic deliveries of Castlevania that more than 20 years ago played on my NES when I was little. But, however much I enjoy it, I am aware that Castlevania Anniversary Collection is an extremely poor gift to celebrate no less than the 50th anniversary of the company responsible for one of the most relevant and influential brands in the videogame industry.
In this sense, Castlevania Anniversary Collection repeats the main errors of Castlevania Requiem and returns to offer a compilation that, although now it includes a lot of content, it does so as a simple emulator. The works have not undergone a single technical retouch and offer nothing that an emulator can not offer today (beyond carrying them to platforms such as consoles). Maybe, if we take this into account, the Nintendo Switch version has the most value for being able to adapt this emulator to the portable format; but, in the case of desktop consoles and, above all, PC, Castlevania Anniversary Collection is easily replaced by an emulator.
Also, the technical aspect leaves much to be desired and, since the resolution has not been touched, we have the problem of Requiem and some texts get to look very bad due to the resolution of the source of these. On the other hand, the possibility of changing the aspect gives us three options: adjust it to the screen size by lengthening the standard image, playing in original format or the "pixel-perfect" format. None of the three offers a significant improvement and the last two leave some side frames that we can fill with some works of art and classic covers of Castlevania. None of this is especially nice or comfortable when playing.
Beyond all this, although the option to save at any time is appreciated, these deliveries Castlevania still have a few decades behind his back and that shows in the playable. They owe quality and have proposals that are still fresh, but they are far from being able to satisfy a current audience. In a market where the metroidvania has given works like Hollow Knight, the original Castlevania are simply too hard. It can please the most staunch and long-lived public, as is my case, but of course I find it difficult for someone new to decide to enter and enjoy the franchise in this way.
Missed potential
In a time when we are seeing how some classic videogames come back with complete remakes as is the case of Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, MediEvil or Link's Awakening, the return of Castlevania is very half-hearted. I will not deny that I have enjoyed Castlevania Anniversary Collection, and that the classic deliveries that have defined a genre and marked the video game industry continue to be a solid and fun bet today, but it is clear that much could have been done best.
As with Castlevania Requiem, Konami has once again bet on easy, fast and cheap work. Basically, an emulator that includes a handful of video games from the franchise and brings them to all current platforms. It's not bad, but it's still an untapped opportunity to bring a real remastering, with technical and design touches, of these beloved deliveries; or, why not dream of a new delivery that reimagine the classics in the style of Sonic Mania? Be that as it may, what we have is Castlevania Anniversary Collection and, although it still tastes good, it is the dullest of all the dishes that the franchise could have returned to our tables.
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