A game which I decided to play just to "celebrate" Halloween turned out to be really great, and it is probably one of my favorite sidescroller games now! I am definitely impressed by that.
Stellar visual style and top notch soundtrack (one of my personal favorites now as well), which makes whole experience as close to arcades as possible in terms of presentation (which is impressive for fairly weak PC Engine). Really fun platforming, interesting enemy patterns. I am surprised how nearly everything can be telegraphed pretty well. I especially enjoy bosses. They can feel simplistic sometimes, but they are still challenging enough and they somewhat makes think of them as a puzzle, like any good boss fights should. The levels are also enjoyable, which can also reward your thrill for exploration (the shift from classic Castlevania to Igavania in SotN makes more sense now).
There are certainly moments which are making me extra salty. For example, I would like less short platforms with jumping enemies, which can knock you back. But this moment and the others are mostly my skill issue, not the game's issue. Also I do think Maria's a bit too busted, she is borderline auto win character, honeslty. These are the only cons I can think of, except some other nitpicks, which can not ruin the whole experience.
While writing this review I have an urge to explore other routes for levels, which tells something about Rondo of Blood. It cerainly aged pretty well, and it is actually one of the retro games which I can recommend without any doubt alongside Doom, Super Metroid and Megaman X.
Stellar visual style and top notch soundtrack (one of my personal favorites now as well), which makes whole experience as close to arcades as possible in terms of presentation (which is impressive for fairly weak PC Engine). Really fun platforming, interesting enemy patterns. I am surprised how nearly everything can be telegraphed pretty well. I especially enjoy bosses. They can feel simplistic sometimes, but they are still challenging enough and they somewhat makes think of them as a puzzle, like any good boss fights should. The levels are also enjoyable, which can also reward your thrill for exploration (the shift from classic Castlevania to Igavania in SotN makes more sense now).
There are certainly moments which are making me extra salty. For example, I would like less short platforms with jumping enemies, which can knock you back. But this moment and the others are mostly my skill issue, not the game's issue. Also I do think Maria's a bit too busted, she is borderline auto win character, honeslty. These are the only cons I can think of, except some other nitpicks, which can not ruin the whole experience.
While writing this review I have an urge to explore other routes for levels, which tells something about Rondo of Blood. It cerainly aged pretty well, and it is actually one of the retro games which I can recommend without any doubt alongside Doom, Super Metroid and Megaman X.