Castlevania Anniversary Collection

 PlayStation 4
Castlevania Anniversary Collection Image
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 38 Ratings

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  • Summary: Classics that defined the Castlevania series.

    This KONAMI Castlevania Collection is designed to be a collection around the origins of the historic franchise. Included is a unique eBook that has details provided by developers, artists and other inspired by the Castlevania legacy. Released as    Classics that defined the Castlevania series.

    This KONAMI Castlevania Collection is designed to be a collection around the origins of the historic franchise.
    Included is a unique eBook that has details provided by developers, artists and other inspired by the Castlevania legacy.
    Released as part of the KONAMI 50th Anniversary celebration, now the best time to relive these timeless classics that helped define the platformer genre.

    Game List:

    Castlevania (1987/US, 1988/EU)
    Enter At Your Own Risk! If you think it's scary on the outside, wait till you see the basement.
    You're in for the longest night of your life. Ghosts, goblins, demons, wolves, bats creatures lurking around every corner. Better pick up a weapon or two, because when you finally meet the Count, you know he'll be going for the jugular.

    Castlevania Simon's Quest1988/US, 1990/EU) NES
    This title tells the tale of Simon's subsequent adventures following the events in Castlevania.
    Unlike the previous installment, this one was developed as an action RPG. It maintains the action elements of its predecessor but mainly focuses on exploration and puzzle solving within a far more expansive game world.

    Castlevania Dracula's Curse (1990/US, 1992/EU) NES
    Led by the immortal Count Dracula, the greatest army of evil ever assembled is poised to bury mankind in a tomb of terror. Destroying His legions will be the supreme challenge for the mightiest warrior.
    100 years before Simon Belmont's birth, Dracula is young at heart and it will take more than a stake to penetrate his evil. Luckily, you command the role of Trevor - Simon's forefather and the original vampire slayer.

    Super Castlevania (1991/US, 1992/EU) SNES
    A century of Transylvanian tranquility is about to come to a shocking end. Once again the mortifying screams of helpless villagers shake the ground as they shrink from new horrors unleashed by the Duke of Darkness, Count Dracula. And this time he has a tombstone with your name on it, Simon Belmont.

    Castlevania The Adventure (1989/US, 1991/EU) GB
    This is the first title in the series to be released on the Game Boy handheld game console.
    The variety of power-ups available for the whip added depth to the strategy of the gameplay.

    Castlevania Belmont's Revenge (1991/US, 1992/EU) GB
    Fifteen years after vanquishing the evil Count Dracula, Christopher Belmont now faces a vampire swearing vengeance. Drac's back. And he's turned your son, Soleil Belmont, into a deadly demon to do his dirty deeds. To rescue him from the Count's clutches, you must first track him down through four creep packed castles.

    Castlevania Bloodlines (1994) GEN
    Unlike the medieval setting of the other titles, this installment takes place during World War I. It introduces new elements to the series, such as the ability to choose one of two characters when starting the game.
    Huge bosses with dynamic, multi-jointed limbs that move erratically are just one of the many examples of the cutting-edge effects the game had for the time.

    Kid Dracula (1990/Japan exclusive) NES
    With its laugh-inducing content and world full of gags, this spinoff is unlike anything else in the series. Players take control of Dracula's son (or so he says...), Kid Dracula, as he goes on a hilarious adventure filled with laughs that also satisfies as a full-fledged action game.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Video Chums
    May 16, 2019
    93
    With 8 classic games from an iconic series, Castlevania Anniversary Collection is a must-play compilation for any gamer whether you're a retro junkie or you simply want to explore the roots of gaming. If you'll excuse me, I have to slay Dracula for the umpteenth time.
  2. Digital Chumps
    May 28, 2019
    80
    Overall, Konami Castlevania Anniversary Collection is a solid release, even without the best of the bunch, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Getting authentic ports of the classic series, while adding some small save features, and graphical options help to sell the package. The bonus book might be the best part of it, though, so that’s something to look forward to if you’re going to purchase it.
  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Jun 27, 2019
    80
    The trilogy ends with Dracula’s Curse, which adds four playable characters and multiple routes, taking us even closer to the metroidvania approach we love. Arguably the best game in this collection, it demonstrates why director Hitoshi Akamatsu is one of the unsung heroes of the 8-bite, erm, -bit era. [Issue#164, p.96]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. IGN Italia
    May 17, 2019
    72
    Castlevania Anniversary Collection is a rock solid collection of (some) great old school games. Anyway, the lack of real extra features, apart from the ebook, the absence of a masterpiece as Rondo of Blood and some odd choices by Konami make the collection feel a little bit pedantic.
  5. Eurogamer Italy
    May 28, 2019
    70
    A bunch of old-school vampire-hunter adventures that made history, but Konami could have done more to satisfy our blood thirst.
  6. The Games Machine
    May 22, 2019
    70
    Another Anniversary Collection which, like the Arcade one released a short time ago, leaves a bitter taste for the choices made by Konami in both quantitative and qualitative terms.
  7. Everyeye.it
    May 18, 2019
    60
    The Castlevania Anniversary Collection has great historical value, and it would be a mortal sin to ignore it. Unfortunately Konami pursues the philosophy of "maximum results with minimum effort", setting up a collection that is so rich but also not very refined.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. 666Game666
    Oct 5, 2019
    10
    Excellent games, just as you remember them. Perfect emulation with save anytime feature.
  2. Steyraus
    Feb 3, 2021
    10
    Whats not to love , it some of the best side scollers of all time in one place and a real treat to us that grew up with these games. StranglyWhats not to love , it some of the best side scollers of all time in one place and a real treat to us that grew up with these games. Strangly the emulation between the Xbox and ps4 version are different, ps4 is bettet cause it uses the whole screen, except for game boy which is better on Xbox cause it look more like the real OG gameboy screen.… Expand
  4. Alex_Pilgrim008
    Mar 2, 2023
    8
    An impressive collection of classic Castlevania titles. It includes Castlevania 1 - 3, Super Castlevania IV, Castlevania: Bloodlines, twoAn impressive collection of classic Castlevania titles. It includes Castlevania 1 - 3, Super Castlevania IV, Castlevania: Bloodlines, two Gameboy titles and Kid Dracula. This also features a behind-the-scenes e-book and the Japanese version of every game (except Part II). You have the option to change the ratios and add scanlines. "Anniversary" is worth buying since every title is hard to find and very expensive. They're all challenging fun. I would rate this compilation with an 8.3 out of 10.… Expand
  5. President_Evil
    Jun 5, 2019
    8
    A collection of eight absolute classics! Not every one of them is a masterpiece. 'The Adventure' is actually a pretty bad game but still kindA collection of eight absolute classics! Not every one of them is a masterpiece. 'The Adventure' is actually a pretty bad game but still kind of interesting to play these days since you can see how they tried (and failed) to master the Game Boy Hardware.
    In the second Game Boy Game of the collection you can see how they succeeded.
    Most games are simply fun to play even at todays standards.

    The emulation is nearly perfect. Everything feels, looks and sounds like back in the days.

    When it comes to extras there could have been more.
    You got some Screen-Filters, an anywhere-save-option and a nice bonus book - That's it.

    Overall a must buy for Castlevania Fans of the 'Pre-SOTN era'.    … Expand
  6. MaxGamer1977
    May 21, 2019
    5
    Sorry but this is not the game we expected. I bought this edition because I played the original one a long time ago, but I was a bitSorry but this is not the game we expected. I bought this edition because I played the original one a long time ago, but I was a bit disappointed. Unfortunately, Konami has not put all his effort into bringing forward a splendid edition, and has been limited to playing with nostalgia to sell us this game.… Expand

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#96 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2019

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