There are very few titles
that can pull off what the Castlevania series has done for
the world of video gaming. With the exception of Castlevania 64
for the Nintendo 64, Konami, the series’ developers, has stuck to
the original 2-D formula since the debut back in 1986. We all
realize that the 2D generation is becoming a passing phase, but
Castlevania will never die, at least no time soon.
The newest game to the
series, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow for the GameBoy Advance,
takes the classic story on yet another dark twist. You play as Soma,
a mysterious teenager who resides in Hakudo, Japan. He and his
lady-friend Mina gathered to watch a solar eclipse from the Shrine
of the White Horse that rested on top of a hill. During the event,
something strange happens and knocks them both unconscious. They
wake up and find themselves on the doorstep of an enormous castle
(please…don’t sound so shocked). They are both greeted by a shady
character named Arikado, who informs the two of the possible
resurrection of Dracula. In order for them to escape in one
piece, Soma has to go in the castle and uncover the mystery…and kick
a little ass in the process. Que sera sera.
Gameplay
Now, if you haven’t been
living under a rock for the past, say, seventeen years, you know the
general format of Castlevania. It's a two-dimensional platform
adventure game with one bottom-line premise--whip or cut anything
that moves. Well, nothing has changed in that aspect, but in other
areas the gameplay has been amped-up versus that of the previous
title, Harmony of Dissonance.
Ordinary movement hasn’t
changed a bit from the previous games, so getting around is just as
easy as it always has been. It all gets even easier as you progress
through the game, gaining more abilities and attributes. As always,
you will come across a few inaccessible areas that cannot be reached
until you obtain a certain skill, but like most over adventure
games, it only makes you want to go “that much farther.”
Another sweet addition
that is included in AOS is the ability to save anywhere. Yes,
there are still save points scattered throughout the game, but in
times where you really need to save, you can put the system
to sleep and the game will save from the entrance of the room you
are currently in. You health and magic points will remain the same,
as opposed to fully refilling at a regular save point, but in any
case, it is a very helpful tool.
Using magic in Aria of
Sorrow has just become more enjoyable than ever and is the
game’s biggest draw. Instead of being confined to holding one of a
few spells at a time, Soma can absorb the souls of defeated enemies
and use their skills and attributes. There are four types of souls
you can gather: bullet souls, which are you single burst attacks,
like magic arrows or throwing knives. Guardian souls assist and
protect Soma while gradually sucking away his MP (magic points). Enchanted souls boost certain attributes until it is removed or
changed and cost no MP. And finally, ability souls give Soma…well…special
abilities, like the double jump and slide techniques.
The bullet souls are what
the player will be using the most throughout the game, and since
there are tons of different enemies, there are tons of different
magic skills to collect. Each skill has its advantages and
disadvantages, and the player must know what spell would work best
for the situation. Some may use less MP, but have low attack power.
Some may pack a wallop, but the timing sucks. Some may be great for
close range fighting, but might eat up all you MP with a few
attacks.
Despite the fact that the
formula hasn’t changed much, the gameplay of AOS is still
stellar.
Graphics, Sound, and
Animation
With graphical
masterpieces in the series like Symphony of the Night and
Harmony of Dissonance, it’s needless to say that Aria of
Sorrow has some huge shoes to fill. Unfortunately, AOS
doesn’t quite carry the visual beauty of the aforementioned title,
but comes close. The overall look lacks some of that sharpness and
color we are all accustomed to playing to, but nowhere near enough
to call this game an eyesore.
The sounds are just as
original as the game itself. A player will still get that true
Castlevania feel as they play over a gloomy, orchestral
soundtrack. Alongside the classic music, the in-game sounds are
intact; everything down to the sounds your weapon makes as it cuts
or snaps the air.
Maybe this is just me
being picky, but the enemy kill animations were not nearly as
impressive as those of previous titles. In AOS, most smaller
enemies will “poof” and disappear in a flame and smoke. It’s not
till you get to the bigger ones where you’ll get a cool death
sequence. If you’re not me, you won’t look that deep into it and
just enjoy this great game for what it is.
Replay Value
As for the replay value
of AOS, it really depends on the player. The replay value is
pretty high for any player who cares well enough to achieve the 100%
completion percentage. As with many of the other Castlevania
games, there are all types of spells to collect and rooms to turn
over, so to get the full feel, not to mention bragging rights, go
all the way with it.
In Conclusion:
My final analysis is
this: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is worth the purchase, no
question about it. It may hold a few minor flaws that may make is a
notch or two below Harmony of Dissonance, but none are vital
enough to force you to leave it on the shelf. And more importantly,
it ain’t that same ol’ thing.
