The enchantment of Konami’s just lately launched Castlevania assortment is, in idea, that it’s a new method to play three meaty Castlevania adventures from the Nintendo DS period (Castlevania: Daybreak of Sorrow, Portrait of Break, and Order of Ecclesia). However the spotlight for me, an avowed and longtime hater of the 1987 game Haunted Castle, is one thing new: Haunted Fort Revisited, a remake of Konami’s terrible try and convey Simon Belmont’s battle in opposition to Dracula to arcades.
Konami launched the unique Haunted Fort about a yr after the unique Castlevania got here to Nintendo’s Famicom Disk System in 1986. A reimagining of Simon’s unique journey, Haunted Fort sends our hero on a mission to rescue his new bride Selena from her kidnapper Dracula. Armed with a whip and different collectible weapons, Simon faces acquainted threats like Medusa, Frankenstein’s monster, and a large rock golem.
The unique Haunted Fort did have a few issues going for it — specifically massive sprites and catchy music. However Haunted Fort was punishingly troublesome, awkward to manage, and poorly animated. The unique Castlevania was difficult, too, however Haunted Fort’s problem spikes had been brutal and infrequently unfair, seemingly designed to steal quarters from harmless younger gamers who beloved the NES unique and had been lured in by fancy graphics. (This harmless younger participant is me.)
Haunted Fort Revisited takes the fundamental framework of the unique Haunted Fort and transforms it into a traditional Castlevania motion side-scroller. Developer M2 and Keisuke Koga, who designed Castlevania: The Journey Rebirth, a slick remake of the primary Game Boy Castlevania game, are chargeable for turning Haunted Fort round in 2024. The developer has streamlined the issue, redesigned ranges and enemy encounters, and given Haunted Fort a main graphical glow-up with Revisited. Simon is now properly animated and far simpler to manage.
On the game’s regular problem setting, Haunted Fort Revisited is fairly simple to finish, partly due to beneficiant checkpoints, continues, and an choice to pick out ranges from the primary menu. There’s a arduous problem setting, too, which remixes enemy layouts and introduces new enemy variants that aren’t within the regular setting. The arduous model is extremely enjoyable — difficult, however not punitively troublesome.
The largest improve in Haunted Fort Revisited is the game’s bosses. They’ve all been reimagined ultimately, however two of the (six) boss fights stand out among the many relaxation: the Stained Glass Knight and the ultimate battle in opposition to Dracula himself. I received’t spoil them, as a result of they’re value experiencing for your self, however they’re now creative and thrilling spectacles.
M2 has even given Simon’s whip an improve. Like different traditional Castlevania video games, Simon can energy up his iconic weapon from customary leather-based bull whip to morning star by gathering orbs. Haunted Fort Revisited provides an additional layer to this; As soon as Simon’s whip is upgraded, any orbs he collects will give him a non permanent energy up, giving it larger attain and a wider hurtbox. It’s a small element, but it surely provides a sense of urgency to play — you’ll wish to get probably the most out of your super-charged whip when you can.
Haunted Fort Revisited is probably not the most important attract Konami’s new Castlevania Dominus Assortment, however for fellow Castlevania lovers who performed and despised the unique Haunted Fort, the remake is value taking part in. It has reworked a blight on the franchise into a fresh-feeling, traditional Castlevania game, the likes of which we haven’t seen in a few years.
Castlevania Dominus Assortment was launched Aug. 27 on Nintendo Change, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, and Xbox Sequence X. The game was reviewed utilizing a pre-release obtain code supplied by Nintendo. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These don’t affect editorial content material, although Vox Media might earn commissions for merchandise bought by way of affiliate hyperlinks. You could find further details about Polygon’s ethics coverage right here.
