Castlevania: Harmony of Despair Review

The newest Castlevania puts a unique multiplayer spin on the classic 2D action-platforming formula.

The Castlevania series has been around for nearly 25 years and seen over two-dozen entries.  With an emphasis on fighting monsters, tricky platforming, and trap-dodging action, scads of games in both the 2D and 3D realms have pitted players against the evil Count Dracula.  After players have defeated the Prince of Darkness countless times, how can Konami, the company behind Castlevania, possibly keep things fresh?  The answer, it seems, is Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, (currently) an XBLA exclusive.  For the first time, players can join forces through the online community and tackle the denizens of the underworld together.

The story, sparse as it is, revolves around a cursed book known as the Grimoire.  Within its pages the entire history of the demon castle Castlevania, along with an entire manifestation of the evil fortress, is contained.  Luckily the histories of the heroes who have defeated the castle and its master, Count Dracula, have also been recorded in the book.  Players control the manifestations of these heroes in an effort to destroy Castlevania once again.



The heroes include Soma Cruz from Dawn of Sorrow, Jonathan Morris and Charlotte Aulin from Portrait of Ruin, Shanoa from Order of Ecclesia, and Alucard from Symphony of the Night.  Each hero has their own personalized set of weapons, armor, and items that can be collected or bought and often times traded between your other characters.  Each also possesses unique abilities, such as Shanoa’s power to absorb the magical abilities of some foes, and Jonathan’s martial arts techniques.  Sub-weapons and spells take magic to use (the magic meter refills gradually on its own), and new ones can be acquired and then assigned to various button inputs.  Each hero plays uniquely, and each playthrough, including multiple forays through the same level and regardless of failure or victory, nets new pickups that can be spread across your character set.

The game consists of several massive map-like stages.  An HD TV is a must (hence the title’s playful abbreviation of Castlevania: HD), as the entirety of a stage can be displayed on the screen at one time.  Viewing a stage at this full size reduces all player and monster sprites to miniscule proportions but gives an overview of the stage’s overall layout.  At the touch of a button the camera can zoom in on the player (in a beautifully smooth transition) as they navigate the multitude of platforming-heavy routes through the level.  The goal of each stage is to reach and defeat the boss within the time limit, but getting there will not be easy.  Scattered throughout each maze are tons of classic Castlevania enemies, traps, and other dangers, as well as switches that must be hit to open up routes.  Fortunately, there are helpful treasure chests abound containing items like armor, money, and health-replenishing food.  At strategic points players will find the Grimoire, the only place they can access their inventory and equip or rearrange weapons, armor, and abilities.