Castlevania: Rondo of Blood is often regarded by message boards and some fan sites as they best entry (and surprisingly last) in the Classicvania style of gameplay, before Symphony of the Night showed up and the series switched to Metroidvania style. I am honestly finding myself to believe that the game does live up to the hype surprisingly enough.

While the game still controls and plays like the NES entries of Castlevania with limited maneuverability and attack range, it does make for a strong game because it does have minor improvements that make it better than some of its predecessors like the ability to control your fall after you jump. The old games have always been about spatial awareness, rewarding players who are willing to stop, observe, and then battle instead of just mindless heading right as quickly as possible.

The coolest feature of the game is that it's the first entry to have multiple endings and even though it still uses a level system of progress, each stage has an alternate path which leads to an alternate boss and even to alternate levels. There are seven stages in the game but really there are fourteen. Throw in the fact this game lets you use an alternate character with a different play-style who can access sections of levels Richter cannot, and you have one hell of a time sink.

The level designs are also fairly strong even if the game takes the kiddie gloves off by stage four (almost a Castlevania tradition) and the boss fights have actually been really strong. Especially amusing how the Werewolf is a boss in this game when he gets relegated to one of the deadlier mooks in later Castlevania titles thanks to his mobility.

So yeah, having a blast with this one. I'm still unlocking stages and trying to rescue all the maidens and I haven't even touched Maria. Even better, since I'm playing the Dracula X Chronicles remake, I have the opportunity to play the improved Japanese version of classic Symphony of the Night and I can unlock the original Rondo of Blood.