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For being a sequence about immortal vampires, Castlevania certain has been useless within the gaming house for a very long time. It even went out on a bitter observe, too, as 2014’s Lords of Shadow 2 was stricken by inconsistent fight, degree design, and storytelling, in addition to irritating stealth segments that had no enterprise being in a Castlevania title. Since then, it has been as much as different builders like Movement Twin to fill that void with video games that had been closely influenced by Konami’s Gothic sequence. Its roguelite, Lifeless Cells, felt like a contemporary reinvention of the sequence, one thing that was made much more clear with its Return to Castlevania growth. And whereas already a superb roguelite on the style’s pinnacle, this DLC not solely makes Lifeless Cells higher, however can be a good way to kick off Castlevania’s oft-reported revival.
Return to Castlevania improves Lifeless Cells as a result of it’s fan service with tangible advantages. Its new lineup of weapons recall Castlevania staples just like the boomerang-like cross and the Belmont clan’s whip, all of which add one thing new to The Beheaded’s fight repertoire. That legendary whip is a mid-range beast because it crits if foes join with the very finish of it, whereas Loss of life’s scythe turns the souls of the slain into momentary allies. Maria’s cat additionally looks as if a humorous joke at first, however the ferocious feline can each passively swipe at foes and likewise be actively summoned for extra direct harm. The references inherent to the lineup of latest instruments is a pleasant contact that provides taste, however their effectiveness in fight and utility means there’s all kinds of latest methods to experiment with Lifeless Cells’ expansive and ever-evolving arsenal.
Not each callback has such a direct influence on the gameplay, however it’s all there to extra totally douse the sport within the sequence’ signature blood. The Beheaded pokes enjoyable at some extra well-known moments of the sequence just like the flesh ball boss battle in Symphony of the Night time and the crashed carriage at first of Rondo of Blood. They usually’re largely foolish goofs which are consistent with Lifeless Cells’ surprisingly strong humor.
However it’s not a takedown and solely finished out of reverence due to all the opposite references elsewhere. There are Rondo of Blood-esque title playing cards that introduce the degrees, killer remixes of traditional Castlevania tunes, characters from video games like Order of Ecclesia, notorious dialogue traces, recreations of well-known cutscenes, and small degree design touches that every one evoke a good number of Castlevania titles, though it’s closely skewed towards the preferred ones.
It’s a loving collage of Castlevania that works so effectively right here due to the staff’s outstanding consideration to element and talent to create attractive retro visuals and soundtracks. Evil Empire even goes a bit additional by implementing a couple of dastardly secrets and techniques which are intelligent references in and of themselves. Inputting the Konami Code isn’t a brand new Easter egg, however it has extra weight right here as a result of it enhances each different element and is in a homegrown Konami franchise.
Return to Castlevania is a reference-heavy growth, however it’s additionally a Trojan Horse for a brand new Castlevania recreation because it provides gamers the possibility to play as Alucard and Richter Belmont (amongst many different acquainted faces) via quite a lot of costumes. Whereas Lifeless Cells made it straightforward to think about how a brand new Castlevania would play, these additions are a visible trick that make that feeling extra concrete, even when these skins are solely beauty. Lifeless Cells’ impeccably clean controls would translate completely to a Castlevania recreation, and that’s much more apparent when slaying Lifeless Cells‘ model of Dracula because the nimblest model of Alucard.
Its Richter Mode, a callback to comparable modes in different installments, goes one step additional by locking gamers to a self-contained degree with Richter’s extra conventional transfer set that must be unlocked over time. It’s not actual one-to-one replication of Lifeless Cells — Richter’s bounce arc is locked, his signature again flip takes the place of the double bounce, he can’t carry well being flasks, and his weapons are restricted to his traditional package — however it’s a tantalizing tease of what a extra conventional Castlevania would seem like with a Lifeless Cells-level of fluidity.
Konami has a few outdoors groups making Silent Hill video games, so giving Movement Twin and Evil Empire the keys to the fortress doesn’t appear as implausible because it did 5 years in the past. Evil Empire even famous that Konami was surprisingly very open with this DLC, giving the staff a powerful quantity of freedom. The groups have proven that they’re able to making slick 2D motion video games, and that contemporary perspective could be a superb strategy to reinvent and modernize the ageing sequence. It might use some form of revitalization, as Konami has not confirmed any plans to tug Dracula out of his coffin.
Unofficially, nevertheless, studies have been swirling of Dracula imminent reawakening. Video Video games Chronicle reported in October 2021 that Konami was planning to resurrect Metallic Gear Strong, Castlevania, and Silent Hill. The Silent Hill revival got here to fruition, and the outlet adopted up with one other report earlier this yr saying {that a} 3D Castlevania was set for a summer season reveal. And given how Silent Hill’s arrival in Lifeless by Daylight foreshadowed its return, it wouldn’t be out of the query for this Lifeless Cells DLC to play an identical position for Castlevania.
Though it performs splendidly and provides extra instruments to Lifeless Cells’ ever-growing merchandise pool, Return to Castlevania can be a superb reminder of why the Konami sequence was so beloved within the first place. Putting environmental and character design, thumping regal music, and quick motion had been all key components of the sequence which were lovingly recreated (and thoughtfully expanded upon) right here by groups with irrefutable respect for the supply materials. Whereas additionally an unbelievable utility for a full-fledged Castlevania recreation, this DLC, if the studies are correct, could be a becoming forebear for a sequence resurgence since it’s simply the contemporary blood Castlevania has been ready fairly a while for.
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