Introduction to the Castlevania DS Revival
It took nearly three years for Konami to bundle the next set of Castlevania games, originally released on the DS in the late 2000s, and bring them to PC. But what’s a few years in the life of Dracula? He only awakes to throw a party in his castle once a century or two, making the wait for Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia seem like a mere power nap for ol’ Vlad Tepes.
The Joy of Revisiting the Classics
It’s a delight to see these games join the Game Boy Advance titles and the Anniversary Collection on Steam. This milestone brings the total number of classic 2D Castlevania games now easily playable on PC to sixteen. This significant selection provides fans of the franchise a valuable opportunity to relive or discover these iconic titles.
What’s Still Missing?
Despite this good news, there is an unmistakable omission. With much of Konami’s back catalog now available on Steam, fans can’t help but ask: where is our Castlevania Judgment port? Released for the Nintendo Wii in 2008, the 3D fighting game, despite its poor reception, remains a part of the series’ history. The waggle controls for whip attacks and a story mode that disappointed many could still find a niche audience on PC.
Other Noteworthy Absences
It is not just Castlevania Judgment that’s missing. Other significant titles are absent too. The legendary Symphony of the Night, which ported to PlayStation 4 in 2018, has yet to grace PC. The cooperative Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, stuck on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, also deserves a modern PC version. Additionally, the subpar port of Dracula X in the Advance Collection made many wish for the superior Rondo of Blood.
Conclusion
While the inclusion of the DS classics is a significant win for Castlevania fans, the absence of these other noteworthy titles leaves some hopes unfulfilled. Dawn of Sorrow remains a personal favorite, but the call for the missing gems in the series quietly echoes. Here’s hoping Konami addresses these gaps, bringing even more of Castlevania’s rich history to the modern PC gaming landscape.
