Castlevania Legends for the Game Boy is the third portable entry on the console, yet it falls short in nearly every way compared to the last entry from seven years prior. Released in 1998, it arrived later in the Game Boy’s lifespan, a time when gamers had grown accustomed to more polished experiences on the handheld console.
Castlevania games are known for a few key features. Even before the ‘Metroid’ aspects entered the vocabulary of the games, the heart of each release really needs to feature challenging gameplay, some banging music, and an awesome atmosphere. However, Legends feels like a relic of an earlier era. Its simplistic design and sluggish pace really feel like something that would have been fitting for the Game Boy’s earliest works, which might have been forgivable in earlier releases but feels out of place given the advancements in handheld gaming technology by 1998. Consider that by this time we already had the likes of Donkey Kong Land 2 and 3, Kirby’s Dream Land 2, the entire Mario Land trilogy, and so many other amazing platformers.
One of the most frustrating aspects of Castlevania Legends is its jumping mechanics and the punitive death from falls. These elements feel cheap and almost deliberately inserted to artificially extend the game’s length. Combined with the overall slow pace, they contribute to a sense of tedium rather than challenge. It’s as if the developers attempted to compensate for the simplicity of the gameplay by introducing frustrating mechanics, resulting in a disjointed and unsatisfying experience. I know we know this was a fairly normal practice, but considering that this was a handheld game and not for a home console, I feel like we don’t expect that as much. Playing this using Switch Online made this a much easier experience, one that I didn’t feel the need to continue using the actual cartridge. While the music in Castlevania Legends serves its purpose adequately, it lacks the standout compositions that defined previous installments in the series. Just like the artwork, there’s nothing incredibly terrible or off putting about it, but nothing really stands out either.
Despite its flaws, Castlevania Legends isn’t entirely devoid of merit. The core mechanics remain true to the series’ formula, offering familiar whip-based combat and monster-slaying action. It’s still recognizably a Castlevania entry, I wouldn’t say it would please all fans, but there’s still that core loop to be played with.
Castlevania Legends feels like a missed opportunity for the series to evolve. The first GB entry felt like a proof of concept, with the follow-up really getting it down for the handheld. This could have been such a great way to end a trilogy. While it may hold nostalgic value for some fans, its shortcomings prevent it from standing alongside the classic entries in the Castlevania franchise.
D’Arcy is an educator and gamer from BC, Canada. He’s been gaming his entire life and enjoys both new and retro games. His consoles of choice are Game Boy, PS3, and Switch.You can follow his gaming online @darcyska_gaming
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