Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness

Journey back in time and witness the rebirth of Dracula’s evil empire.

NA release: 39th November 1999
JP release: 25th December 1999
EU release: 3rd March 2000
Developer: Konami Kobe
Publisher: Konami
AKA: Akumajō Dracula Mokushiroku Gaiden: The Legend of Cornell (Japan)
N64 Magazine Review: 75%
Platforms: N64
Version Played: N64

Less than a year after Castlevania 64 came this updated version of the game. It very much feels like a patch plus DLC. It features two new campaigns using some of the same levels but also includes Reinhardt and Carrie’s stories from the first version. It’s generally seen as the definitive version of the game.

The main new campaign features Cornell, a man-beast that can turn into a werewolf. His sister has been kidnapped to be used for the resurrection of Dracula, although he has his own dark secrets. It’s set 8 years before the previous game, and explains why Dracula’s resurrection was different in it.

The game has been tweaked, most notably how quickly characters turn, meaning fewer instances of accidentally jumping backwards. You also have camera control, but it’s assigned to the D pad, so not very accessible on the N64 unless you’re staying still. There’s also a high resolution mode with the expansion pak.

Cornell is quite powerful, with a long range projectile and a close range slash and is very strong – more powerful than Carrie, making him a good introduction to the game. His werewolf transformation is even more powerful, but uses up red gems – and keeps going until you run out, so you need to make sure you need to use it. The subweapons have also had an upgrade – pick up the same one again and it will level it up.

The game starts with a new level on a boat, and other levels have been radically altered, such as the forest and most of the end game towers – with Cornell going through all of them. He does get to skip the castle centre and the nitro explosion trek, though. These alternate versions of levels seem to flow better than the ones in the previous game, but at the same time also feel a bit more like corridors, and he has a couple more of his own levels. Even the villa level, which has the same level layout, feels different due to other objectives.

Once you beat Cornell’s campaign, you get to play as Henry, a child you save from the mansion. He’s now older, with his campaign being set at the same time as Reinhardt and Carrie’s. While they’re off to stop Dracula, Henry is tasked with a mission to rescue six children. He starts off in the forest, and most doors are unlocked and puzzles completed. He has a pistol and a sword, with his gun being quite powerful – and you don’t have to worry about ammo at all.

Henry’s campaign is more of a bonus addition. You have seven in-game days to complete your task and it features six levels. After the Villa, you travel to the other three character’s unique levels. You can also backtrack to previous levels, so if you miss one, you can return later. There’s no story or anything, but a fun little challenge. Doing this will unlock Reinhardt and Carrie.

Their campaigns have all the cutscenes from the original game, but any altered level layouts are replaced with Cornell’s versions of levels. Areas like the villa and castle centre still play like their originals. The better turning and movement, as well as upgrading sub-weapons, are also added to their versions of the campaigns. It makes for an improved version of the game, with a lot more to do.

Fun

So, we’ll wager, unless you really, really enjoyed Castlevania, you’ll be passing this one by. However, if you missed out on the first time around, this could be your chance to own the proper, completely finished, definitive version of this fun but undeniably flawed game. And as for us? We’ll just keep our fingers crossed and wait for the Dolphin version to be announced. Now that should be something…
Jes Bickham, N64 Magazine #38

Remake or remaster?

A remastered version would be great. Refined controls, fixed jumping/climbing, widescreen, proper camera control. I’d use this version of the game as the base, but give Reinhardt and Carrie their original versions of the levels.

Official Ways to get the game

There’s no official way to get the Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness.