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> Results: Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles
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The ESRB Says
Blood and Gore: GamerDad saw enemies bust into many gory pieces frequently. Violence: The entire game is about killing more and more and tougher and tougher monsters. Mild Suggestive Themes: There are some elements with sexual innuendo in both games. Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is an amazing addition to the PSP library for two reasons - it is the first North American release of the classic Rondo of Blood game, and it is the first handheld release for what many consider the best Castlevania game: Symphony of the Night. Unfortunately, what makes for a great press release doesn't always make for a great gaming experience - the games are very good in general with plenty of extras and off-shoot paths to explore, but the updated graphics and sounds seem to bog down the system and performance is uneven and the visuals really don't enhance the gameplay. All three games - the updated Rondo of Blood, original Rondo of Blood and updated Symphony of the Night - are side-scrolling action-adventure games where you explore large maps full of respawning hordes of vampires, monsters, and other undead creatures. Rondo of Blood in particular is frustratingly difficult, and neither game is all that well suited to 'pick-up and play' handheld gaming. They are fun games, but the negatives outweigh the positives - you have to plod through Rondo of Blood in order to unlock the superior Symphony of the Night as well as the original Rondo of Blood. And when you finish it all you will realize that these games are no longer the pinnacle of 2D Castlevania - the two DS games play smoother and have more rewarding experiences than these. This leaves this as something for completists or folks without a DS - just don't expect anything that will be anywhere near your 'best of all time' game lists and you can enjoy the monster destruction.  
These games carry on the traditional 2D side-scrolling world of Castlevania - a world full of dark castles and dungeons, of creepy monsters and vampires, a world that features dark and foreboding environments, loads of battles and intense fights against huge demonic enemies. There is some innuendo like most vampire games, but unlike the more recent DS releases there is no questionable language. Similar to the DS games, the eerie themes and death screens creep the heck out of my younger son, whereas my older son loves them and can't get enough. Both are under the 14+ Age Seal suggested by a T rated game - so this is another case where I will recommend a 14+ GamerDad Age Seal, but definitely suggest that parents look at their kids tolerances for everything associated with vampires and creepy music to assess their readiness for these games.
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