 |
| You shouldn't even think about trying to tackle Castlevania: HD by yourself |
Of course, the single-player campaign isn't really the point. The big feature of the game is its six player co-op, so naturally it works best when played with friends.
But is the multiplayer good enough to get you to drop $15 bucks on the game. Read on and we'll give you our take.
We've had a copy of Castlevania: Harmony of Despair since before it was released and had the okay to run our review for a week now. But when playing the game prior to its official release, there was no one online to play with and we simply couldn't review it without checking out the multiplayer. Because, like we said, the single-player mode stinks. Basically, playing solo is like playing an online deathmatch with no one else in the game - when playing alone, you can't even pause the game, just like you can't in an online match.Whether you're playing alone or with friends, Harmony of Despair isn't the Castlevania game you're expecting, and not just because of the co-op gameplay. Everything about the game has been stripped down to the bare basics - you run through simplified versions of familiar levels, kill some enemies, and fight your way to the boss. You'll grab better gear along the way, but leveling up has been completely removed, as have many of the the complex pathways of traditional Castlevania games. In short, it's a pretty straightforward side-scrolling action game.
But, as with almost all games, it's better with other players. Not only can you access new areas of the map, you can work together to defeat tough bosses, revive fallen comrades, and use team-based attacks. It's still filled with strange design decisions like wonky menus, items that can only be equipped at set places and reused Nintendo DS art assets. In short, it's one of those games that fun with friends, but you have to ask yourself whether you enjoy it because of the game or the people you're playing it with.
The Official Verdict: 2.5 out of 5
This review is based on a copy of the game provided by the publisher.
Join The Joystick Division!
Become part of the Joystick Division community by following us on Twitter and Digg and Liking us on Facebook.
