The best Castlevania game never to hit these shores...
Graphics: Dracula X looks very nice, and is easily one of the better looking titles on the PC Engine hardware. Animation, while limited compared to, say, Symphony of the Night, is a major upgrade from previous titles. You'll notice lots of little details, from burning embers and the flutter of Richter's coat in the opening sequence, to the town area lifted straight from Castlevania II. The sprites are larger than in previous games, though on average are not as large as those seen in Super Castlevania IV, which was going for a decidedly different, almost prerendered look. While quite colorful, some areas have a decidedly drab about them, which is obviously by design. Do you really expect lush and colorful in the middle of Transylvania? That being said, there are some HUGE sprites, from the Rock Golems in the early levels, to the Reaper and Dracula later on. Richter himself is also well-animated, and looks almost identical to his later SotN representation. All-in-all, Dracula X pushes the PC Engine/Turbo hardware to a level not often seen in many of the 16-bit systems at the time, which is also all the more impressive when you remember all the criticism levelled at the TurboGrafX-16 for being 'underpowered.'
Sound: When speaking soundtracks, Symphony of the Night has received the accolades of just about anyone who played through it. Unfortunately, due to its Japan-only release, Dracula X: Rondo of Blood has not. If SotN's soundtrack has an equal among the other Castlevania games, it is Dracula X, and frankly, in some ways, it's actually better. The remixed versions of Vampire Killer & Bloody Tears come crashing down upon you featuring a new, harder, guitar-tinged sound. While there are few new pieces here, all the great Castlevania tracks from previous games are here, and in full force, and thanks to the CD format, sounding better than you've ever heard them. Aside from the outstanding music, the voice-overs (in the intros and cinemas) seem to be generally well-done, but since I know neither Japanese nor German, that's about all the comment I can make on them ;) If there is a weak point, and I'm stretching here, you'd have to point at the sound effects, which while good, don't sound all that far removed from its cartridge-based brethren.
Gameplay: Dracula X adheres to the classic school of Castlevania gameplay, D-pad for direction, and two action buttons, one to jump, the other to whip. Not much else to comment on, right? Not quite, as Rondo of Blood manages to throw a few wrinkles that really add to the overall game. First would be the "Item Crash," which basically creates a unique and powerful special attack whenever activated. It can take up quite a few hearts, so you'll more than likely use it sparingly, but for a giant flaming whip (no item), 'Purifying Rain' (Holy Water) or 'The Holy Cross' (cross/boomerang), it's often worth it, if only for the coolness factor. In a Ghosts 'n Goblins-like move, the second wrinkle, and this is a big one, is the sidequest to rescue several young ladies kidnapped by Dracula's underlings, including his fiance, Annette. What makes it such a big deal is not the concept of having to rescue someone, that's been done before, but rather, in the addition of a second playable character, Maria Renard, the same Maria in SotN, albeit much younger. She is a much different character than Richter, and perhaps more powerful, despite her diminutive size. Unlike Richter, she has a completely different repertoire of weaponry. Instead of a whip, Maria uses...doves? Yup, and aside from that, all of her special weapons are, ahem, "animal-related." Birds, cats, dragon, etc. all with their own item crash. It's strange to be sure, but it's also something fresh, and that's a good thing. Maria even has a Metroid-like double jump, as well as a very hadoken-esque 'alter-ego attack.' This adds some much-needed replay value to a game that could have grown tired through repeat plays. Combined with the game's multiple paths, optional bosses and secrets, there is quite a bit that will keep you playing, long after Vlad has been impaled...
Theme: Once again, Castlevania's theme is what makes the game. It's not that the control and game design are not at the top of the heap, they are, but it is setting, the gothic, classic horror movie feel of the game that allows it to stand out. Dracula X takes everything its predecessors possessed, and adds to it a bit more of that movie feel, complete with an animated intro (narrated in German no less, with Japanese subtitles), cut scenes, some NPC's and Maria, a second playable character, and a unique one at that. Thanks to these cinemas (which almost come across as sickeningly sweet thanks to Maria), Dracula X has a much different "feel" than many of the other games, which are almost overly brooding (SotN is a good example, but the best by far is the alternate ending in Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, where Simon, despite defeating Dracula, succumbs to the curse and dies anyway...quite uplifting). It's still a Castlevania game, and it's still dark and ominous, so everything you expect is in place, but Maria adds a quirk to it that's quite positive...humor.
Overall: What is left to be said? Dracula X is easily among the best Castlevania games on any platform, and plays incredibly well, refining the tried-and-true gameplay seen in the original Castlevania & III on the NES. It is a tough title to find, particularly at an affordable price, but keep looking around, and you just might be able to grab one at a decent import game shop or eBay. With any luck, that might be a non-issue in the coming year, with a direct port to the Playstation being a real possibility.
Final Grade: 92%