The other three women are just there for story purposes, but the ending can be altered based on whether or not you rescue them. The boss encounters in Rondo of Blood are some of the most fun and intense I have ever seen in a 16-bit game. What makes them interesting is that not only are they challenging, but some have a suicide attack. Just when you think you defeated that darn wolf in the second level, he performs a move where he slams the ground, and, if you get caught in this, you could lose a significant amount of health or even a life. Be sure to keep on your toes at all times.
As far as the difficulty goes, the game is much easier than the previous NES Castlevania games, but is still far from a cakewalk. Do not think for a second that Richter’s added mobility will get you through Rondo of Blood easily. You will probably lose several lives during your first playthrough, especially during some of the later levels. Despite the difficulty, it never feels unfair. Every time I died I felt like it was my fault and not because of some silly game mechanics. This motivated me to keep coming back to try to overcome that boss or level that gave me trouble.
If you get tired of playing as Richter, you can play through the game as Maria. You can rescue her in the second level, and she controls in a completely different way than the Belmonts. She can double jump, slide and use animals to attack enemies. Her default weapon is a pair of doves, and, I have to say, those doves are some bloodthirsty beasts! They can completely and effortlessly destroy certain enemies and bosses. Maria can also pick up other sub weapons in the form of animals such as cats, birds, a turtle or dragon. All of these are very powerful and useful. The only downside to playing as Maria is that she takes more damage than Richter. Despite that, Maria is often considered to be the easy mode of the game.
If you keep dying and have to replay levels, at least you can listen to the incredible soundtrack. Stage 4, in particular, has a fun song. One thing I liked to do while playing this level is have Richter face the other way, hold down the attack button and press right on the d-pad and watch as he tries to imitate the King of Pop, and moonwalks through the level. That comment I made about Billie Jean should make a bit more sense now. Just be sure not to get hit by any of the enemies while performing it.
I really like the art direction for this game. The animated cutscenes look really nice, and are well-animated for the time. The sprite work is also really good. I am going to assume that the people at Konami felt these were some of the most definitive sprites they have ever come up with, because, for some reason, Rondo of Blood seems to be the game from where sprites are recycled the most. Symphony of the Night and Portrait of Ruin have so many enemies and bosses taken directly from this game it is not even funny! It sort of makes sense that Symphony of the Night has a few because it is a direct follow up, but Portrait of Ruin!? I know I have commented on this before, but it is something that really bothers me.
The only really negative thing with this game is that it took them so long to bring it outside of Japan. Getting a physical copy of the original game can cost you about $100. The Virtual Console release, on the other hand, is 900 Wii Points or $9. This is your best option if you want to play the game at an affordable price. Rondo of Blood was actually officially translated and remade on the Playstation Portable under the name Dracula X Chronicles. Check that out if you want a more modern version of the game. If you like 16-bit action games this is one of the best out there, and is highly recommended!
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Overall |   |
Review copy purchased by Author
