Castlevania collected on PSP

For a handheld with latter-day gaming staples like an analog stick, 3D graphics, and online multiplayer action, the PlayStation Portable is building a significant library of games with retro appeal. Beyond compilations like Sega Genesis Collection, Capcom Classics Collection, and EA Replay, the system has also played host to remakes of Valkyrie Profile, Mega Man, and Ghosts 'n Goblins.

Now it's getting a retro collection and remake in one with Konami's Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles. Like the 2001 PlayStation release Castlevania Chronicles, Dracula X Chronicles features an older installment in the vampire-slaying series that has never before been released outside of Japan. In the former game's case, that was Akumajo Dracula for the X68000 PC. In the case of Dracula X Chronicles, the game is Rondo of Blood for the TurboGrafx-16's Japanese counterpart, the PC Engine.

Unlike Castlevania Chronicles, the main attraction in Konami's new PSP game isn't the importing of the original version of the game; in fact, players will have to unlock the original Rondo of Blood. The featured game in Dracula X Chronicles is actually a 3D remake of Rondo of Blood that retains the game's 2D gameplay. And if bloodthirsty players want a little more vampire-hunting action, Konami's also including an unlockable version of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, a PlayStation Greatest Hits title also set to appear on the Xbox Live Arcade.

The Rondo remake will let players play through more than 10 stages as one of two characters, and features new character designs by Ayumi Kojima. It will also include a sound-collection system that lets players earn songs from the original Rondo and Symphony of the Night, and then use them to make custom soundtracks.

Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is scheduled for a 2007 release.