Help a Castlevania Virgin

[Kumo]

So I've only really ever played a little bit of Castlevania 64, and one of the Castlevanias for the SNES. I've always been intrigued and wanted to buy one, but never got around to it. So now as the games' prices skyrocket through the roof, I'd like to pick up some of them (try to find them cheap of course.

Of the current game systems available (That I own or *might buy): GBA, DS, *PSP, PS1, PS2, *PS3

Which Castlevania games would you recommend? If you could tell me the TOP 7, I'd appreciate it. I'd like to know what to invest my money into, and what to stay away from.

[NorthernChaosGod]

SYMPHONY OF THE NIGHT

Greatest one ever.

[XxSephirothxX]

Symphony of the Night (PS1) and Dawn of Sorrow (DS) are both great and easy to pick up and get into. Symphony of the Night is also on PSN, and therefore easily accessible since you have a PS3.

[Kumo]

Are those the only TWO I should buy? Are the ones on PSP and DS total crap, as well as the GBA games? I was hoping I'd get at least a list of 5 games to buy. Thanks for the PSN heads up though. I'll definitely be getting it.

[JKTrix]

Aria of Sorrow (GBA) is the game that leads into Dawn of Sorrow (DS). Aria's beautiful character art style is cheapened with the generic anime designs of Dawn of Sorrow (and later Portrait of Ruin, also for DS. Don't get Portrait). If you can't find Aria of Sorrow on its own (or if it's too expensive), it is part of the 'Castlevania Double Pack' that also comes with Harmony of Dissonance (which you can otherwise ignore).

Order of Ecclesia (DS) is fantastic, and does not have the cheap anime character art. Also features a lady witch.

The handheld games are all basically 'Symphony of the Night' over and over again, but it's not really a bad thing. So to reiterate my recommendation: Aria of Sorrow (GBA) first if you can get it, then its direct sequel Dawn of Sorrow (DS) and Order of Ecclesia (DS).

When you get a PSP, there's a game called Dracula X Chronicles which is a remake of an older game, but also includes Symphony of the Night as an unlockable.

[XxSephirothxX]

Are those the only TWO I should buy? Are the ones on PSP and DS total crap, as well as the GBA games? I was hoping I'd get at least a list of 5 games to buy. Thanks for the PSN heads up though. I'll definitely be getting it.

Unless you can play 7 games at once, no need to rush into buying a ton at the same time.

[Ramza Beoulve]

If you can get yourself to *cough*emu*cough*late*cough*, you could play Super Castlevania 4 to see the maximum level of castlevania's classic style.

Symphony of the Night is a must, but play it after others, because SotN becomes the one you compare every other Castlevania against.

Aria of Sorrow is also very good, and one of the best next to SotN.

You could also get Lament of Innocence or Curse of Darkness if you want to know the 3D games, even though I haven't played the last one.

If you get yourself a PSP, get Dracula X Chronicles. It is a game similar to the classics in style (besides how weird the movement of the character looks like on 3D). It also has 3 other games as extras (Symphony of the Night, Rondo of Blood -the game that became 3Dfied on Dracula X Chronicles-, and Akumajo Dracula X Peke -a minigame-).

For the DS, get yourself Dawn of Sorrow if you liked Aria of Sorrow, because DoS its the sequel, and Portrait of Ruin.

You can also get Order of Ecclesia, but I haven't played the last one neither, and I can't really qualify it. The same goes to Curse of Darkness.

[Kumo]

Sounds like I should buy Dracula X chronicles for the PSP so I get SotN! Two games in one is nice. And Order of Ecclesia is stand alone right? So I could get it right away. I think I have my top 5 ^_^

Dracula X (with Symphony of Night), Dawn of Sorrow, Aria of Sorrow, and order of Ecclesia. I'll start looking for these at the local game shops immediately! Maybe Ebay will have some good deals too.

[Vyk]

Dracula X Chronicles blows. I got it and couldn't wait to unlock SotN so I could play a castlevania that's actually playable. The graphics are interesting, but the controls and gameplay are horrible. You can get SotN on PSN or XBoxLive. Totally worth it either way. But don't justify Dracula X Chronicles with it. You're not getting two games in one. You're getting a chore and an old game

The GBA games are pretty good. If a little dated now. The Sorrow ones are the only ones I'd compare to SotN, though I haven't played Aria. But I imagine its just as good. Portrait of Ruin was interesting. Not amazing. But good. Just a smidge better than the other two GBA games. Worth a look at. But no matter what anyone suggests or likes. Everyone's going to say SotN is a must either way

[krissy]

symphony of the night
aria of sorrow

[Ramza Beoulve]

Dracula X Chronicles blows. I got it and couldn't wait to unlock SotN so I could play a castlevania that's actually playable. The graphics are interesting, but the controls and gameplay are horrible. You can get SotN on PSN or XBoxLive. Totally worth it either way. But don't justify Dracula X Chronicles with it. You're not getting two games in one. You're getting a chore and an old game

The GBA games are pretty good. If a little dated now. The Sorrow ones are the only ones I'd compare to SotN, though I haven't played Aria. But I imagine its just as good. Portrait of Ruin was interesting. Not amazing. But good. Just a smidge better than the other two GBA games. Worth a look at. But no matter what anyone suggests or likes. Everyone's going to say SotN is a must either way

I forgot about the PSN version.

First check some videos of Dracula X Chronicles on youtube, because it is a love-hate situation. I got it because of the chance to play Rondo of Blood outside of a computer, and to have SotN at hand. I liked the normal game, but as you can see, it isn't liked that much due to the controls.

If you don't like it, you can get SotN on the PSN as an downloadable game for your PSP/PS3 instead.

[black orb]

>>> Lament of Innocence and Curse of Darkness, everyone hate these but if you were able to deal with Catlevania 64 these PS2 ones are probably good option for you..

[Vyk]

I actually liked Lament of Innocence... Go figure :}

[black orb]

I actually liked Lament of Innocence... Go figure :}

>>> Same here, Joachim and his "I`ll beat you to a PULP!" amuse me to no end..

[Ramza Beoulve]

I actually liked Lament of Innocence... Go figure :}

>>> Same here, Joachim and his "I`ll beat you to a PULP!" amuse me to no end..

QFMsT