Castlevania has been around for as long as I can remember on consoles, one of my best gaming memories is playing the SNES version and being amazed at how cool a platform game could be, since then I have followed the series through its many incarnations on almost every format, and now it is the turn of the PSP. >>

> >

Rather than a totally new game, Konami have gone for a re-mastering of the very rare Rondo of Blood (the lost chapter, only ever released in lace w:st="on">Japanlace>). This is based on the story of Richter Belmont, a descendant of Simon Belmont, who takes up his family tradition of destroying Dracula. Richter brings with him his trusty whip and a selection of alternative weapons like the knife, holy water and axes.

>>

> >

Rondo is your typical side scrolling action with plenty of enemies to take out, tricky and infuriating platforms to jump to and a good bunch of end of level bosses. There are only 9 levels to play through to get to the end, but at certain points of the game the level branches, allowing you to choose a different approach. Through it ends up at the same place. >>

> >

The main game itself is entertaining and looks good enough to keep you coming back for more, there is also an alternative character to save and play as who uses their own weapon style.  Now you may have heard on the net that this game also has two other tricks up its sleeve, the first is the original version of Rondo of Blood and secondly it also has a full version of the classic Symphony of the Night.

Both of these games are unlockable whilst playing the main game and it is well worth your time looking up how to do this as Symphony is still one of the best platform games out there. They have kept everything as it should be and it even looks better on the small PSP screen.>>

> >

All of the games on this compilation are old school platformers through and through, there will be truly devastating moments where you lose most of your lives, messing up a jump, only to be taken back to the start of the game rather than a checkpoint. The difficulty may even scare some people off, but this is really worth the time and effort so persevere, as you will be in for a treat if you do.

>The graphics on all of the games look fantastic, a lot of work has gone into recreating the look and feel of the original version while also bringing the kind of gloss you would expect to see in 2008. The original soundtrack has also been included which only helps to add to the atmosphere of the game.>

> >

Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles combines three games into one and this is where the real value lies, and while Rondo of Blood is not the greatest Castlevania game you will ever play, the addition of the other two games really make this a package that any fan on the series should own.>>