maybe this sucked to play on original hardware but on a modern screen this game hasnt aged a day. its just so fucking good. the soul system is super fun to play with. every area is well thought out making every place refreshing and unique. one of the best metroidvanias ever created. symphony enjoyers are huffing that copium cuz this shit is so much better. its setting is so much more unique and the art by kojima for the character portraits and boxart is littered throughout and its all so fucking mesmerizing. an absolute classic and the best ive ever seen from this series.

this shit is so fucking good. it really is the best classicvania. cheesey 90s cutscenes, fun and unique shortcuts and hidden paths, it really has it all. the controls are tight and precise, the bosses and levels are varied and memorable. the secrets are fun and bountiful. a really solid dracula fight for once. the two playable characters made my second playthrough fun and varied and the difference in cutscenes are cute and charming. the music is so fucking good too. easily one of the best 2D platformers ever made.

this is really that good. all of the weapons, familiars, and unique items are super fun and a blast to discover and use. it really is a genre defining chapter. however the upside down castle while a neat idea makes repeat playthroughs feel like a drag. still a really good time and i love its story ties to rondo of blood.

all game and no lame. this one kicks ass. the two weapon types and sub weapons are fun. this one is just a really solid arcadey game. this one paired with super are such fun a evolution of those original nes games.

super good! the directional whip is fucking good and its a shame they never use it again. though it kinda kills the game's balance as it makes some of the classic enemy types trivial. still an insanely creative and good time

idk if this is a hot take but this is just a shallower version of aria. lots of fluff with the ds rune drawing shit and overall the art direction is a lot less unique with the anime aesthetic. still a solid vania but not the best by far.

this is where the games start getting gooder. a little too linear for my taste but the character swapping is a neato idea if a little shallow. if the story was actually good i could excuse the flaws but the only thing interesting about the story is the fact that it connects to a better castlevania game.

extremely solid if a bit dated. they really had the fundamentals down so early. still the controls feel not the greatest so i cant really put this any higher.

i tried this one cold turkey without a guide at first and jesus christ is this shit cryptic. really cool ideas but ideas alone did not save this