Hassle Castle- Castlevania: Harmony of Despair Review

In concept, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair should be nothing short of a rousing success. The title blends the proven combat and platforming of the enduring franchise with a vigorous amount of loot grinding as well as the return of a several  series protagonists. Augmenting the traditionally solo exploration, Harmony of Despair allows up to six online players to engage in a series of co-operative quests. When I first heard of these design decisions, I imagined sharing the exhilaration of 1997’s Symphony of the Night with a team of cohorts.

Regrettably, Harmony of Despair does its best to keep players perpetually frustrated. Gamers looking to annihilate the game’s six bosses by themselves will likely to be ground into mincemeat by the hordes of grating foes which are intended for a full party of adventurers. Subsequent attempts into the strongholds won’t augment the player’s statistics, but rather reward gamers with money and items. Since the variety of equipment relinquished by fallen foes is limited, players are forced to pawn duplicate gear if they desire anything more than standard issue weapons or armor. As such, Castlevania: HoD channels all the exhilaration of scouring a neighborhood for recyclable cans and bottles.

Nearly as exasperating in Harmony’s inhospitable attitude toward new players. Although the title offers an in-game manual which covers rudimentary mechanics, many of the game’s nuances are left unexplained. Want to change your weapon, or use one a potions you just purchased? Don’t rely on Castlevania HoD for assistance.  Most mechanics will be learned by trial and error or by asking others, as evidenced by frequent pleas in the game’s voice-chat channel.

By now, readers might assume that Castlevania: HoD‘s potency is found within multiplayer expeditions. Journeys with a group of XBLA familiars have the potential to foster a sense of camaraderie as players pull switches, allowing teammates access to otherwise inaccessible areas. As squads descend upon the level boss, colleagues may stand together, to initiate a devastating  dual attack. Yet multiplayer matches (even those with acquaintances) often end up becoming wild dashes though the castle, with groups converging on the stage’s epic enemy. When each area’s beast is eventually confronted, battles are frequently little more than uncoordinated hack-slashes, despite the Monster Hunter-esque aspirations of the title.

Franchise fans might take solace in the game’s visual presentation, which affectionately amasses Castlevania‘s enchanting sprites. Memorable foes from demonic maids to skeleton soldiers have been culled from past entries, allowing Harmony of Despair to appear (much like Mega Man 9 and 10) like a lost iteration in the series.  Undoubtedly the title’s greatest graphical achievement is the ability to zoom out, allowing players to see each castle in its entirety. Gamers may choose from five players characters, ranging from Soma, Alucard, Shanoa, Johnathon and Charlotte, with each adventurers having  unique skills and access to specific weaponry.

Post-Symphony of the Night Castlevania‘s have generated captivation from the exploration of maze-like fortresses, as player’s gradually reveal the cartography of the game’s moniker. For Harmony of Despair there is little sense of discovery. When the whole map is a click of a thumbstick away, a once glorious title is reduced to a time-attack mode. Although Castlevania aficionados might briefly revel in the charm of Harmony’s recycled art or whipping at the familiar fishmen, minotaurs, and harpies, ultimately the title feels as lifeless as old vampire, himself.