Within this box your fate may be sealed.
- NA release: 1990
- JP release: N/A
- EU release: N/A
- Developer: Novotrade International
- Publisher: Konami
- The Inverted Dungeon Review: 5.9/10
- Platforms: Amiga
- Version Played: Amiga
The Commodore Amiga was an interesting platform, a 32-bit machine matching the power of later consoles like the Mega Drive and SNES, although without the full power for games, as it needs to run the operating system. Even with this, the system is fully capable of a full on enhanced remake of the game – and fans have even proven this with their own Amiga port, but that’s not what we got here.
Technically, this is a remake, it just doesn’t feel like one. The graphics have been completely designed, but not in enough “enhanced way”. Instead, it’s like someone played the NES Castlevania, had a drug-induced fever dream about it and created this version based on what he saw in the dream. Everything just looks strange, from the women in dresses pretending to be zombies right up to the bizarre version of Dracula’s second form.
It’s not all just odd, as the starting and ending cutscenes along with the levels themselves do look quite nice, and the music is also quite interesting, it’s like a moodier version of the original soundtrack and fits quite well with the graphics of the level (just not the monsters).
As for how it plays: not bad. But with a single button, it has the same problem of accidentally using your subweapons all the time, but not to the same degree as the other two home computer ports, making it an interesting novelty to play though
Fine
Remake or remaster?
While it doesn’t play well, it would be nice to have this version playable for its unique look and music.
Official Ways to get the game
There’s no way to get the Amiga version of Castlevania
For the average player, despite a gorgeous presentation, you’re better off avoiding the Amiga release and sticking to the original NES Castlevania for your classic vampire hunting fix. This game has style in spades but just doesn’t live up to the legacy in any other respect.
Mike Finkelstein, The Inverted Dungeon
