Released last year for Xbox 360, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair introduced 6-player co-op play and the ability to choose between different characters from the Castlevania universe.
Players can choose to be Alucard, Jonathan Morris, Shanna, Soma Cruz, Charlotte Aulin and Shannon, all with their own unique abilities and skills. The Playstation 3 version of CHOD also includes two additional characters — Julius Belmont and Yoko Belnades. Playstation 3 gamers who waited patiently for Harmony of Despair will be pleased by the free map pack entitled “Beauty, Desire, Situation Dire”, included when the game is installed. This additional map pack increases the number of stages to seven.
The Playstation 3 release of CHOD plays identical to the Xbox 360 version. The single-player campaign still offers the same great features that made the original release a unique experience. The ability to shop for items and armor, and to equip them before, during, and after a chapter is still a very important aspect of gameplay.
The items collected from chests and creatures during gameplay can be equipped at golden pedestals that are located in every stage. Even offensive gear like axes, knives, ricochet rocks, and other throwing weapons can be assigned to the joypad at these locations.
The stages are massive and they contain various traps and trademark Castlevania creatures. These creatures include Fleamen, Mermen, Zombies, Medusa heads, and other monsters related to the series, just to name a few. At the center of each stage is a boss. While most of the bosses are new to Castlevania, Death and Dracula (who is the final boss) are present.
The gameplay still adheres to the classic Castlevania formula. Fans will appreciate the classic platform-style gameplay, the combat, and the item collecting to improve their characters. The leveling system also adds to the replay value. Stages that may pose a challenge at first will become easier as the player’s character advances. Plus, equipping new armor also helps to improve your character’s stats. Basically, CHOD plays very similar to Symphony of the Night.
The in-game controls feel rock-solid, and controlling your vampire hunter of choice feels no different than any recent 2D Castlevania game. The Square button attacks and the X button jumps. Pressing the X button twice will make your character double-jump. The Circle button throws projectiles. If more than one projectile is equipped, press the directional pad in the direction the projectile is assigned to. The R2 button is used to interact with certain items like chests. It can also be used to activate special moves with teammates during co-op play.
After completing a stage, your character’s progression is recorded at the Select Character screen. Your kills and play time are displayed underneath the name of the last character played. During online co-op play, you are ranked based on your overall performance against other party members.
Online co-op play happens to be Castlevania: Harmony of Despair’s biggest strength. A total of six players can work together to destroy the Prince of Darkness. The gameplay stays the same during a co-op match and server latency never seems to be a problem.
Teamwork is essential to completing every chapter, especially in defeating the bosses. Since item hoarding has been an issue with online games in the past, anything that is collected from a chest will be equally shared with the team. For example: if a chest contains an item, the entire team will receive a random item. Where gold is concerned, each player will receive the same amount. This eliminates the hoarding issue and makes playing online less frustrating.
As a game, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair for Playstation 3 is every bit as good as the Xbox 360 version. While it may not be a true sequel to the franchise, it offers enough core elements from the series to keep hardcore fans satisfied. Newcomers will find the experience challenging, but also rewarding at the same time. If you’re looking to experience classic 2D gameplay, then look no further than Castlevania: Harmony of Despair.
Mike Pittaro
Platform: Playstation 3 (Available on PSN / Also available on XBL)
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
ESRB: T (Teen)
Price: $14.99
Read our Xbox 360 review of Castlevania: Harmony of Despair by click (Here)
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |   |
| While the graphics look sharper in HD, they have remained identical to the Xbox 360 version. | |
| Sound | |
| The music is a mixture of hard rock and classic Castlevania. | |
| Gameplay | |
| Castlevania: Harmony of Despair offers countless hours of enjoyment. The leveling system alone adds to the game's replay value. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Castlevania fans will not be disappointed. | |
