Castlevania Advance Collection

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,129 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Castlevania Advance Collection Game Cover
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Castlevania Advance Collection includes three legendary Castlevania games that were first released in the early 2000s: Circle of the Moon, Aria of Sorrow, and Harmony of Despair. In addition, this collection also includes Castlevania: Dracula X and some never-before-seen sketches and artwork from the games! All four games are enhanced with newly added modern features such as Rewind, Save/Load, an…

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Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,129 reviews
music110 positive mentions
grinding94 negative mentions
  • The collection includes three of the best GBA Castlevania games, with Aria of Sorrow being a standout title.
  • Quality of life features like save states and rewind functionality enhance the gameplay experience.
  • The nostalgic value and the ability to play these classic titles on modern platforms make this collection a must-have.
  • The keyboard controls are poorly mapped and cannot be customized, making it difficult to play without a controller.
  • Dracula X feels out of place in the collection and is considered a weaker title compared to the others.
  • There are no graphical options or fullscreen settings, which limits the overall experience on modern displays.
  • music278 mentions

    The music in the Castlevania series, particularly in the GBA titles, receives mixed reviews. While some tracks are praised for their composition and nostalgic value, others are criticized for their lower fidelity and grating sound quality, especially in "Harmony of Dissonance." Overall, the soundtracks are seen as a significant aspect of the games, with many players appreciating the inclusion of a music player and galleries in the collections, despite some limitations in audio quality due to the hardware.

    • “The pixel art is beautiful and the soundtracks are timeless.”
    • “Great exploration, amazing music, unbeatable atmosphere and ever-evolving movement and combat are found throughout these gems.”
    • “The music is phenomenal.”
    • “Harmony of dissonance lives up to its name... the soundtrack did not withstand the test of time...”
    • “The presentation is by far the weakest of the trilogy in both graphics and music.”
    • “But the music is very forgettable, being a mix between the game being rushed out, and the GBA just not having good sound output.”
  • gameplay188 mentions

    The gameplay across the Castlevania titles is generally praised for its rich mechanics, tight controls, and engaging combat systems, particularly highlighting the unique soul collection and card systems in "Aria of Sorrow" and "Circle of the Moon." While some games, like "Harmony of Dissonance," offer fast-paced action, they can suffer from frustrating navigation and ease of play once strategies are learned. Overall, players appreciate the blend of classic and modern gameplay elements, though some mechanics may feel outdated or require refinement.

    • “The controls are tight, and the gameplay feels smooth and responsive – perfect for dodging enemies and executing those classic whip combos!”
    • “It perfectly captures the essence of what makes Castlevania so special and offers hours of thrilling gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly enjoyable with a nice pacing to it, being the regular whip from the classicvania games, it feels like they took some slight inspiration from the classicvanias while still making it a post Symphony of the Night quality game as a metroidvania.”
    • “Castlevania: Dracula X - this one is like Rondo of Blood but with way worse level design and frustrating gameplay - 2/5.”
    • “It really locks you behind farming enemies for drops or XP for a while, which was probably done to pad out gameplay length, but in modern designs just feels like a slog at times.”
    • “No boss mechanics will pose any challenge because you can just use spells that deal damage while your character is invulnerable for a good 10-15 seconds at a time.”
  • graphics182 mentions

    The graphics in this compilation of Castlevania games receive mixed reviews, with some praising the well-crafted sprite work and smooth animations, particularly in "Aria of Sorrow," while others criticize the overall aesthetic and color choices as outdated or garish. Many players note that the visuals, although impressive for the Game Boy Advance era, do not hold up well against modern standards, and the lack of graphical options limits customization. Overall, while the art style has its fans, it may not appeal to everyone, especially those accustomed to contemporary graphics.

    • “The graphics are a perfect balance of pleasing sprite work and smooth animations, and the soundtrack is great for GBA standards.”
    • “Aria of Sorrow is the best game in this compilation; it visually looks great despite the low resolution thanks to its well-done sprite artwork using the Game Boy Advance color palette to its best.”
    • “The visuals are stunning, and I dare say they put too much money into the visuals that some of the other areas fell behind.”
    • “The presentation is by far the weakest of the trilogy in both graphics and music.”
    • “The graphics are horrible and the game stutters.”
    • “The controls are clunky, movement is awkward, and the visuals don't seem to have aged well at all in my opinion.”
  • grinding98 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and overly reliant on RNG for item and soul drops. While some appreciate the optional nature of grinding for certain weapons and souls, others feel that the low drop rates and the necessity of farming can significantly detract from the overall experience, making progression feel artificially prolonged. Features like the rewind system offer some relief, but many still consider the grinding to be a major flaw in the game's design.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “I'm not really sure if that's a bug or not, but considering it means no farming for the last 2 cards, I'm fine with it. But I really have to ask: why and how is beating magician mode the rarest achievement for this game collection?”
    • “The movement is clunky, the story is pretty uninteresting, and it is overall very grindy, with healing items being drops and rates for drops being very low at times.”
    • “It really locks you behind farming enemies for drops or XP for a while, which was probably done to pad out gameplay length, but in modern designs just feels like a slog at times.”
    • “Some souls just have an incredibly low chance of dropping, even when the resulting soul is barely useful, if at all, and even with all possible boosts, you can spend hours grinding to get it.”
  • story86 mentions

    The story across the Castlevania games is generally viewed as inconsistent, with some titles offering intriguing narratives and twists, while others are criticized for being shallow or campy. "Aria of Sorrow" is frequently highlighted as having one of the best stories in the series, featuring engaging characters and a unique premise, while other entries like "Harmony of Dissonance" are noted for their more simplistic and sometimes ridiculous plots. Overall, while the story may not be the primary draw for players, it varies in quality and depth, with some games providing a more enjoyable experience than others.

    • “The story is also the best of the three, and in my opinion one of the best stories of any Castlevania I've played.”
    • “This game also has a good story with a twist that I was not expecting the first time I played through it.”
    • “In terms of gameplay, it is easily one of the best, with area designs and gameplay mechanics being unbelievably amazing for the Game Boy Advance, and the story being easy to follow yet also interesting and how it explains the main character's abilities is also very well done.”
    • “The story is surprisingly similar to Circle of the Moon with the rivals plot point and a little bit of the classic damsel in distress thrown in.”
    • “Well, I know that Castlevania games aren't played for the story, but you can't expect me to take seriously a game in which a castle from Romania randomly materializes in Japan and the main protagonist is a supermodel high-schooler that randomly gained the power to absorb souls.”
    • “The story sucks, but plot never mattered much in Castlevania anyway.”
  • replayability24 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability, featuring multiple unlockable modes and character builds that encourage players to revisit it. While some titles in the series may not have as high replay value compared to others, the inclusion of various modes and secrets keeps the experience engaging for fans. Overall, the GBA Castlevania games are praised for their replayable content, making them worthwhile for players seeking depth and variety.

    • “In 2002, Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance hit the stores, and indeed polished up on the clunky controls, and though the music was slightly wonky at times, was still an amazing game with tons of replayability, having both 'Maxim Mode' and a boss rush mode.”
    • “Circle of the Moon feels a bit slow and stiff to play, but the DSS system allows for some pretty entertaining possibilities, and the alternate game modes you unlock by beating the game are interesting and add replayability to the game.”
    • “The replay value isn't as high as other games, but they're classic so I'm a little easy on it.”
    • “I'm 8 hours almost into my favorite title, Circle of the Moon, which for leaving established lore behind was a very interesting title both for its card system and the replayability if you didn't achieve 100% the first time through.”
    • “The game is very replayable, with four additional modes to unlock which are different character builds for Nathan.”
  • atmosphere20 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its dreamlike quality, enhanced by charming translations, vibrant colors, and a haunting soundtrack that complements the gothic horror theme. Players appreciate the meticulously crafted environments, which invite exploration and evoke a sense of nostalgia for classic Castlevania titles. Overall, the combination of excellent art design, atmospheric stages, and engaging music creates an immersive experience that elevates the gameplay.

    • “I find the cast to be likable, the questionable translation charming, and the use of colors and style of music gives the game a sort of dreamlike atmosphere.”
    • “The gothic, horror atmosphere of each game provides a nice atmosphere for tackling baddies and maxing out each character.”
    • “Harmony of Dissonance is severely underrated and it has a unique, creepy soundtrack that complements the haunting atmosphere perfectly.”
    • “Yes, there are ways to speedrun most igavanias if you are really into that sort of sport, but I believe doing that robs people of the 'experience' of simply exploring many lovingly crafted areas, each with their own decor, dark secrets, and haunted atmosphere.”
  • stability20 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with frequent crashes and system freezes, particularly when using special save files, leading to a rating of 6/10 for standard play. However, players utilizing glitches and speedrun techniques report a more favorable experience, rating it as high as 8.5/10. Overall, while the game retains its original glitches, which can be fun for speedrunners, the frequent bugs detract from the overall experience.

    • “Sometimes buggy and crashes.”
    • “However, the system freezes constantly if you start to overuse the built-in special save files for quick reload.”
    • “As the issue exists in its current state, just play the emulator; I didn't pay money for a buggy experience.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a self-aware charm, often poking fun at the player's struggles and the game's mechanics. Players appreciate the comedic elements, such as character quirks and pop culture references, which enhance the overall experience, particularly in the metroidvania genre. Juste Belmont stands out as a humorous character, adding to the game's lighthearted tone despite its challenging moments.

    • “There's a special kind of charm that metroidvanias in particular bring, and it helps that there's some good humor in them as well!”
    • “Juste Belmont is my favorite Belmont just because of how funny he is!”
    • “It sucks, which makes it very funny that it's the game they use for the store art.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game collection is generally well-received, with smooth gameplay and customizable controls. However, some users have reported performance issues, particularly on the Steam Deck when the framerate is locked at 40, which can cause stuttering. While audio problems have been noted by some, many players have not experienced these issues, indicating a mixed but mostly positive optimization experience.

    • “You can change the controls to fit your needs, the games run smoothly, the collection of artwork and music is very good, I'll recommend this game to anyone.”
    • “Childhood nostalgia optimized and with way more options than an emulator.”
    • “And performance-wise it's clean.”
    • “There's some performance issues, but overall this collection is worth picking up.”
    • “For anyone having issues on Steam Deck, make sure to set your framerate to 60, as having it locked to 40 will create stuttering and issues.”
    • “I have never experienced any input delay, and although some people have reported audio-related problems such as stuttering, audio not playing, buzzing sounds, etc., I have not encountered any such problem.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a sense of sacrifice and vulnerability, as players experience a continuous loss of health while engaging with certain elements, creating a poignant tension between risk and reward.

  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for feeling like a "reused assets cash grab," but the inclusion of a mini-game play movie during the credits provides a redeeming experience that helps alleviate this negative perception.

    • “The monetization strategy feels like a blatant cash grab, relying heavily on reused assets.”
    • “The game is riddled with microtransactions that detract from the overall experience.”
    • “It seems like the developers prioritized profit over player enjoyment, making it hard to progress without spending money.”
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Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Critic Reviews

94% average critic score

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