Action and survival roguelike Vampire survivors this is already one of the best offers in the gaming industry. For five bucks, you get an endless time-waster that you can play endlessly, filled with characters to unlock, dozens of weapons to experiment with, and clever secrets to discover. The newest addition to the game, From Castlevaniahe somehow manages to make the original offer seem anemic in comparison.
Maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but Vampire Survivors: An Ode to Castlevania it doesn’t promise what it actually offers for an extra $3.99. It’s more than just a love letter to three decades of Castlevania games; it is an exhaustive tribute to inspiration itself Vampire survivors.
From Castlevania features a huge up-to-date stage to explore, reminiscent of Dracula’s castle. There’s some inspiration Castlevania: Symphony of the Night to its structure, as the map contains reconstructions of boss arenas and teleportation rooms that allow you to move around its extensive surface. But exploring on foot is one of the best ways to appreciate what developer Poncle has created here, paying homage to the Metroidvania-style maps that re-popularized the Castlevania series.
Poncle ad From Castlevania with “over 20 new characters”, including various Belmonts, Belnades, good aged Alucard, and plenty of deep cuts from the series. Without spoiling any surprises, “20 plus” hilariously understates the number of up-to-date characters players can unlock and play in the DLC.
The action itself has not changed much. Veteran Vampire survivors players will fall into a gameplay routine of dodging hordes of enemies, earning XP, and strategizing on a random build. But From Castlevania includes a huge amount of secrets, up-to-date weapons to equip (including eight up-to-date whips), and more than a few surprising variations of the standard ones Vampire survivors game. Players will easily spend dozens of hours in the DLC to experience everything.
Vampire Survivors: An Ode to Castlevania offers more than just more. It’s also something of a refresh for the game, as enemy sprites borrowed and inspired by 2D Castlevania games are prettier than what Poncle has offered in the past – some of them felt like knockoffs, legally distinct versions of graphical elements made by Konami. And for Castlevania music enthusiasts, virtually every memorable song and theme from the series is represented here in some form.
From Castlevania is a fitting title for Poncle’s latest expansion Vampire survivors. It’s obvious that it’s the love for the series that led to this Vampire survivors“Creativity” is showcased here. WITH From Castlevaniathe game’s creators now share that love with all of us.
Vampire survivors AND From Castlevania are available on Android, iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X, giving almost everyone the opportunity to enjoy a piece of Castlevania nostalgia.
