5/5 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

a platformer that really stuck out the formula & brought rich graphics to addicting gameplay, this game is surely a part of the exciting movement to bring back retro style gaming!!

being a huge lover of castlevania SOTN [like 'having a crush on alucard' huge] i really enjoyed this game from start to finish. at first blush the game was almost disorienting because although my character only functions on a linear 2D plane, the environment is almost a seamless 3D image.. kind of confusing when you're used to being able to go anywhere in modern games. i thought the graphics were spectacular, but of course all i could think was 'konami needs to remake castlavaniaSOTN' n_n; i did find the lack of soundtrack a bit disappointing, especially since the very few BG tracks littered SPARSLEY throughout the game aren't really that great... it was too short also, but that's just because i would have enjoyed playing it more! the story left a little to be desired as well, because [& i'm certailnly not the only one] i figured out the plot twist RIGHT at the beginning of the game, & the voice acting was... well, it was definitetly video game calibur acting, let's just say that. i really got a kick out of shooting guys & making them scream, & the game almost doubled in fun-factor when i got the ability to super punch people - their reactions were priceless! or maybe they were worth 15 dollars. is that even what i paid for this game? maybe it was 25... but it was definitely well spent because i got a solid game. i really don't like DLC though... that's right, i said it!! i can't stand the thought of losing games i paid for, or not having a physical collection of games... [altough i do have a few roms & MAME]

best item:

hookshot BY far. if this item had not been in the game, i would have lost my damn mind

best moment:

the ending scene. right as it started, the fusion helmet glitched & left my character with patchy, plastic-looking white & royal purple hair! & it stayed that way through the whole sequence. i kept having to laugh at it - if there was supposed to be anything mysterious, cliff-hangy or climactic happening i missed it, it was IMPOSSIBLE to take the game seriously in any way. awesome.

most annoying thing:

knowing there was something in the room i couldn't get to because i didn't have the right item yet >___<