Graphics(9/10):
For being a machine that can’t handle 2-D graphics as good as the competition, the Playstation exceeds at brining this game to life. One of the cool effect in this game are the transparencies, like the way you can see right through some of the enemies. Another thing to note is when you leave a room and come back, it’s filled with fog. Cool. It’s the tiny details in this game that count, such as Alucard’s cape flapping in the wind, and the movement of bats through the sky, and it’s even cool watching bosses explode after you defeat them. I might zone out once in a while just to watch the clouds move in the background. It would take months just to describe every little, wonderful graphical detail in this game. I might add that there is one very short FMV in the beginning. Short but sweet.

Sound(9/10):
Good stuff. As you can tell by my score for the sound, I like the music in this game. It contains a medley of music. From Pop to Rock to Classical, this game has it all. Yet it is not perfect. Forgive the comparison, but if this were a Castlevania IV review, the Sound category would have a 10 out of 10. I just wish that Konami would have remixed some of the old Castlevania tunes like they did with Castlevania IV. Another thing that bothers me about the music is that there are no chilling songs, or songs that really make you wanna kick vampire butt (ala stage 1 – Castlevania IV). Instead the songs are more reminiscent of Beethoven, or Mozart – both of which I enjoy. And there is that ONE rock tune I like. Now on to the voice acting. GASP! It isn’t that bad! It’s something unheard of in a Japanese translation. Sad to say though, there isn’t much voice to even notice. Too bad. Maybe we could of known a little more of the story.

Content(9/10):
Without gameplay, a game just isn’t a game, right? Right. This game contains gameplay allright. The thing that sets this game apart from the rest (of the Castlevania games) is that it adds RPG elements to the story. You play as Alucard, Dracula’s son, and you can equip Alucard with all sorts of different swords, armor, and various other items. Along his quest, Alucard will face many enemies (naturally) and if he defeats an enemy, he will gain experience points, like in a RPG, or Action RPG. If he gains enough EXP, he will go up a level and become stronger. Alucard has HP (Hit Points, or Health Points, whichever way you wanna look at it) and MP (Magic Points). They both get bigger in numbers when you gain a level. Also, the standard Castlevania “auxiliary weapons” return, such as the Battle Axe, Holy Water, and Dagger. You still need to earn hearts to use them. Your number of hearts available for use also goes up every time you gain a level, so say you only have 20 hearts at level 1, by level 2 you should have 25 heart maximum. Each unit, HP, MP, and Hearts have a max of 9999 points, so it should take a while to gain that much experience, although it should only be neccesary to have about 500 – 700 HP for the final battle. Gaining life doesn’t stop at experience, you can also get “Life Max Containers” that extend your maximum HP. Along with that, you can get “Heart Max Containers” that (you guessed it) extend the maximum amount of hearts you can have.

And what is the MP for? Well, you do get spells in this game, at a cost. You can buy them from the Librarian later in the game. You preform the spells by doing combinations of buttons, ala Street Fighter. Also each sword that Alucard equips has a similar special move attached to it. Try to figure them all out. Gameplay also includes “familiars” special spirits that help Alucard along the way, such as a Faeirie, Ghost, Bat, and Sword. The familiars can gain experience too, unlocking ablilities later in the game. Another nice thing is that Alucard can morph into different forms such as, mist, wolf, and bat. You need to find these forms, and they are neccesary to beat the game. Then there are relics. Relics “enhance” Alucard, so if he finds the Leap Stone he can do a double jump, and if you find the Cube of Zoe, items will materialize from candlesticks afte they are destroyed. There are many, many relics to find, and each with a different effect. Before I end this section, I might mention another thing: There is a way to unlock another half of the game…

Story(7/10):
It seems that Richter Belmont has been missing since his last escapade with Dracula – missing into the depths of the ever changing Castlevania. A close relative of his, Maria, sets out for Castlevania to search for him. At the same time, Alucard (remember him from Castlevania 3?) senses danger and wakes from his grave after hundreds of years to find evil lurking again. Alucard sets off into the depths of Castlevania to stop the evils of his father…

Control(8/10):
The control is very nice with this game. There has never been a moment that I haven’t been able to get Alucard to move or do something I wanted him to do. Doing Spells is another thing. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the D-Pad on the PSX controller is not fit for doing special moves in fighting games, and games like it. After doing spells so often, my poor thumb is in a world of hurt. Also morphing Alucard into his many forms is a cinch. Just tap one of the shoulder buttons to morph.

Challenge(8/10):
This game will give you a whirl the first time though (yes, you will want to play a second time). Beating many of the bosses is a task in it’s own, but finding out where exactly to go, and what items you are supposed to find isn’t easy. I recommend for a second time through the game to get a 200% complete on your save – it’s a blast! (Sort of…)