Two days ago, Castlevania: Requiem, a collection of two of Castlevania's best games (Symphony of the Night and Rondo of Blood) was released. Or, re-released rather.
"Requiem" is a befitting title for Castlevania. Ever since the lukewarm reception to Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 (which I played through and liked, despite some questionable game design choices) back in 2014, Castlevania has, in many ways, died, with currently no signs of resurrecting. There has been no new game carrying the Castlevania title released since then. Konami, the owner of the Castlevania intellectual property, doesn't care about making video games anymore. It's all about pachinko machines and gambling for them now. Before I proceed into a diatribe of Konami's corruption and unethical practices (another time), I will simply say that Castlevania and Metal Gear Solid deserve far better than the treatment Konami has given their flagship franchises as of late.
Will Konami ever make another Castlevania game? Who knows. They've already made too many, resulting in product devaluation and oversaturation of games, problems that plagued Mega Man and, more recently, Telltale Games. Though, I suppose I shouldn't give up all hope. Mega Man has made a comeback of sorts recently, just in time for his 30th anniversary, and I once thought he was completely dead and done for, before Nintendo brought him back for Smash Bros. The recent re-releases of Symphony of the Night and Rondo of Blood, as well as the highly regarded Castlevania Netflix series (go watch it!) that, coincidentally, also released its second season two days ago, have helped Castlevania remain relevant for the time being. Furthermore, the inclusion of Simon and Richter Belmont in Smash Bros. Ultimate helps ensure that Castlevania will maintain representation in today's modern gaming climate. Like with Mega Man, Nintendo appears to be showing more love for Castlevania than Konami/Capcom has in recent years. All of these signs and recent releases could be sparks of a renewed flame, perhaps. Or, more likely, a candlelight vigil in remembrance of Castlevania's place in video game history.
But, in reality, Castlevania will never be forgotten. Its legacy of games is unquestionable. An entire gaming genre, "Metroidvania," resulted from the genius and tried-and-tested design elements (incorporating action/adventure, platforming, exploration, and character growth) from Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Personally, I believe that Super Metroid had a greater influence, but Symphony of the Night remains one of my favorite games. Super Metroid and Symphony of the Night - two of my favorite games that helped spawn more of my favorite games, including Cave Story, Shovel Knight, and Ori and the Blind Forest.
However, unlike Dracula, Castlevania is not immortal. Dracula's centennial resurrections have assured that the Belmonts' battle against evil always continued in every Castlevania game. This was the case, until recently, when Castlevania games ceased to be made anymore. "No one wants to play another 2D Castlevania game," some believed. Fewer wanted to play a 3D Castlevania game. There have been many battles against Dracula as a final boss (I counted 27 main Castlevania titles), and perhaps it is time for the franchise to finally be laid to rest. A true requiem, indeed.
But, this doesn't feel right. I am not lamenting Castlevania as I had in the past. Though in the past I have grieved for the deaths and disrespect given to Castlevania, Mega Man, and Metal Gear Solid by their own companies, I myself now feel... empowered... by a renewed passion and recollected remembrance...
Castlevania games will live on in remembrance. I can play them over and over again. Hell, there are still a few Castlevania games I haven't played yet. I just finished Rondo of Blood, almost a decade since I played Dracula X Chronicles on my PSP. It is time to play Symphony of the Night once again, one of the greatest and most influential games ever made. Tis' a game that revitalized the franchise and helped to establish a genre in gaming. Castlevania, in fact, was on the verge of becoming stale in the mid-90's after the Castlevania formula of fighting stiff movement and jump controls; whip-lashing skeletons, medusa heads, harpies, and other monsters; throwing crosses, axes, daggers, and holy water and feeling cool; and navigating through clock towers, ghost ships, and Dracula's castle all started to get old. Then, after three Gameboy Advance games and three more Nintendo DS games, all using the exact same Metroidvania formula as Symphony of the Night (add in some demon soul collecting and other character customization and weapons/spells options), Castlevania once again started to get old.
Old. The word my friend, also an avid gamer, used to describe Castlevania when I mentioned that Castlevania characters were joining Super Smash Bros. Old. How I feel now that I am entering the third decade of my life. Old. The fact that Dracula is almost 1000 years old in Castlevania.
Many things might seem or actually be old, but it's never too late to remember or renew one's love for something precious. To me, Castlevania is precious.
I love Gothic literature. I enjoyed reading Bram Stoker's Dracula and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Authors such as Goethe, Poe, Lord Byron, Coleridge, and Shelley helped establish the Gothic and Dark Romantic literary tradition through their riveting stories and poems. In 1986, the gothic tradition found its way into gaming in the form of Castlevania. Vampires, demons, magic, macabre, horror... Everything a person could want from a work of dark gothic art.
Castlevania may be dead, in a sense, but death is just the beginning. The death of his wife is what spurred Dracula to unleash his war on mankind, therefore providing impetus to defeat him while playing as a Belmont (or as Alucard, Dracula's alluring son). Playing old Castlevania games may be like reanimating an old corpse. Playing Castlevania games can be painful, and you will die a lot. But death is never permanent in Castlevania. Dracula cannot die, not completely, and neither will Castlevania, so long as we remember Castlevania's legacy and continue to play old Castlevania games.
Or, we can just play Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, once it comes out. Curse of the Moon was fun too. Castlevania, like Metal Gear Solid, had a good run. May they rest in peace. Go to hell, Konami.
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