Monster Mash Memories: Castlevania 64

This was written for Eat Your Serial/Maglomaniac on July 30th, 2013

Now, we move on to my next Castlevania memory: Castlevania 64.  This would be one of the first times the “video game collector” in me came to light, for the game is not exactly the most desired N64 game on the market.  In fact, it’s been given very mixed reviews, mostly on the negative side.  However, this is a landmark game when it comes to Nintendo, as it marked the first time in years that Castlevania would return to a Nintendo console, after great success on Sony’s PlayStation, Sega’s Saturn, and even a run on Sega’s Genesis.  For the N64, there are actually two Castlevania games that made it to the system.  I only obtained the first, while the second is even harder to find, and according to reviews, has more positive reviews.  In fact, the second game was a rehash of the first one, with improvements here and there.    Sadly, again, this is another Castlevania that I didn’t finish.  But, the memories remain…

When I was in my first years of college, I remembered very clearly where I could find some rare games for my older systems: FuncoLand.  It was simple: more video games than any retailer for half the price.  What was the skinny?  They would sell new and used games based on what they get back and own.  To put it short, it was a video game store that doubled as a pawn shop.  Ironically enough, I found Castlevania in the same vicinity of FuncoLand at a local retail toy store.  Sometimes, if you want that special video game, you have to look anywhere.  The local retailer can be your best friend to that effect.  So, I popped into that store and saw Castlevania in stock, along with Conker’s Bad Fur Day.  Now, when you have your own money for video games for the first time, you have a few opportunities to find that special game.  So, I bought both for affordable prices and went home satisfied to the gills.  Now, I knew what I was getting into with Conker’s Bad Fur Day, but Castlevania…that was a different story.  I did careful research with reviews and thoughts about the game online and in magazines.   It seemed as if this version was the better version to get, if not the more available version.  So, what does this game entail?

Castlevania 64 was an attempt by Konami to bring a 3-D version of Castlevania to a Nintendo system.  I believe this was their very first endeavor into doing so, but I could be wrong.  In any case, the game focused on Reinhardt Schneider and Carrie Fernandez trying to vanquish Dracula, who had re-awakened due to humanity’s descent into evil.  What makes this game very interesting is the inclusion of time, and a day/night feature.  Now, I know it was done before in Castlevania 2, to varying forms of opinion (see the Angry Video Game Nerd’s review of that game, and EgoRaptor’s Sequelitis on Castlevania as well, and you’ll see what I mean).  However, it really works to an advantage here, as it alters the course of the game in a sense if you take a while to get where you have to in a certain amount of time.   Both heroes have divergent paths that cross every now and again.  The music, as always, was very good and there are various callbacks to different Castlevania games.  Sounds like a fun title, right?

So, why didn’t I finish this one?  Firstly, if you’re a gamer, you make it a point to balance out your gaming based on how much you do in life.  I wasn’t doing much, but I did have one too many games that needed finishing.  With Conker’s Bad Fur Day being one amazing yet crude title, and with Mischief Makers also tickling my fancy, Castlevania didn’t stand much of a chance.  Secondly, the problems this game had started to get the better of me.   The visuals weren’t perfect, but were pretty good as it was an N64 title.  However, when you have a game like Castlevania that deals with platforms to jump on, and it’s a 3-D environment, you can either have Super Mario 64 or you can have Tomb Raider, when it comes to varying degrees of quality.  Castlevania falls with Tomb Raider, although probably slightly better.  The camera is almost always out of control, and the controls are very cumbersome.   This can make for a very frustrating experience, especially if you’re used to games that have much better mechanics.  If you can weather the storm, somehow, then the game shouldn’t be too troubling.  But, it is a lot to deal with.  Sadly, I didn’t have the time to deal with it.

Castlevania 64, although I haven’t finished it, is definitely a game to own for the collector in you.  It’s an honest attempt at a 3-D Castlevania game that didn’t go as perfectly as planned, on a system that had its own issues with sales as well as game development.  But, for what it’s worth, it was a pretty good shot.  Although there are camera issues and control problems, the game is still playable to an effect. 

Next up on the monster mash: Nintendo DS gaming with Castlevania