Castlevania, an old way that works.

Practically all of new videogames are made in 3D. This situation has made that many companies tried to renew their classics, and in most cases spoiling great titles. Castlevania is one of them.

Castlevania is an old saga from the times of the MSX. I didn’t really like any of them, maybe because of its gameplay or perhaps by its difficulty, until the acclaimed Castlevania: Symphony of the Night appeared for PlayStation, the best one to date. A game that was developed in 2D, unlike the tendencies.

I already have finished it 10 times, is not difficult, once you get use to it, you walk across the game easily. Despite I have played that much, I do not even get tired of it even its repetitive gameplay: walk across the screen, gather objects, finish the bad guys, and go to the next stage. But within a simple game a jewel with precious 2D graphics, smooth animation, wonderful music, and perfect control appears. In spite of that "flaw", criticised by videogame sector, they had to surrender to this masterpiece.

This tendency pro-3D continues at the moment and the last incursion of Castlevania in PS2 has been in 3D. A game that is just correct in no way better than the games appeared on Gameboy Advance which are in 2D.

I think that games, visually, do not have to be in one way or another. 3D shouldn’t be an aim by itself, it’s just a design option as any other could be. It would be great to see a new Castlevania that uses classic 2D but takes advantage of the power from the new machines making this new much better.

PD: A new 3D Castlevania is on its way. Castlevania: Curse of Darkness. They say it’s better than Lament of Innocence. I hope so.