Castlevania : Dracula X Chronicles.

Castlevania finally arrives on the PSP, and it’s a marriage made in heaven.

If you’re not already a fan of old-skool scrollers then look away now, because this probably isn’t for you. In an age of sixaxis controllers and free-roaming gameplay it’s sometimes easy to forget the simple joys of two directions, one weapon, and a driving 16-bit harpsichord solo ringing in your ears as you attempt to kill Dracula and rescue the girl. Set a century after the last Castlevania, its business as usual, returning as the latest Richter in the bloodline to discover that not only has your beau has been nabbed but that Drac’s back too, and this time, its handheld. The gameplay is basically the same side-scrolling whip-frenzy seen in previous Castlevania games, making it perfectly suited to the PSP due to it ‘pick up and play’ nature and its fast-paced action. As a genre, the side-scroller works really well in handheld format, and yes, whipping skeletons while on the bus is as fun as it sounds, although the real shame is that people may be put off by the apparent simplicity of such a great game. The in-game graphics and backgrounds are polished but familiar and include some welcome additions, such as foreground and 3D looking traps to add a sense of depth. One of the stars of the game however is the opening cut-scene, which shows Draculas rebirth and really illustrates what great graphics the PSP can deliver. This re-Vamp of an old classic is as welcome as garlic bread in Transylvania, although unfortunately for them, the youth of today will probably never know its simple pleasures. Their loss.