Three of the best Castlevania games are launching on the Switch very soon — Nintendo just revealed the Castlevania Dominus Collection, which will be available on August 27th. The bundle brings together the trilogy of Castlevania titles that originally debuted on the Nintendo DS; that means Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia. As a bonus, the 1987 arcade game Haunted Castle is also included. Konami says that the games have been updated with “extra features such as save states or rewind.” That might make up for the lack of a second screen for displaying the map.
With the launch, the Switch is slowly turning into the ideal Castlevania machine thanks to a number of other bundles, like the Castlevania Anniversary Collection, along with the Castlevania Advance Collection, which similarly gathered together a trilogy of beloved GBA games. Now we just need a port of Castlevania Requiem with Symphony of the Night and Rondo of Blood to complete the set.
And if you don’t have a Switch, the Dominus Collection is also coming to other platforms, including PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.
However, there's a catch. Along with the three action adventure games from the Castlevania series, Haunted Castle Revisited, an redesigned version of the very first Castlevania arcade game, makes its debut! And you can also play it in its original format! While the three core titles are widely considered to be some of the best in the franchise, Haunted Castle is not so well-regarded. In fact, it's often considered one of the worst games in the Castlevania series.
Originally released in 1987, Haunted Castle came dead last in our user-generated franchise ranking and is infamous for its unfair difficulty and ropey design. “For the most part, Haunted Castle is a pretty miserable experience, and in a strong contest with Castlevania: The Adventure (the first Game Boy game) for being one of the worst in the Castlevania series,” said Nintendo Life in their review of the Arcade Archives version. “The options in this collection help allay some of the issues – or at least allow you to cheat through them – and it’s still (begrudgingly) worth struggling through for its unusual place in the Castlevania series. However, in the cold light of day, there's no denying that this is a pretty poor video game and one that most people will want to ignore.”
It will be interesting to see how Konami can brush up this particular entry – but we won't have to wait long, as it launches later today. The Castlevania Dominus Collection is available now on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.
The Games
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
The adventures of Soma continue! Discover a completely new way to create countless weapons by combining souls, in stunning 2D graphics. One year after the events of Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, a boy named Soma Cruz is once again put at the center of a plot to resurrect Dracula led by a mysterious cult.. Will he finally be able to face his own destiny and put an end to all this?
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Not one but two heroes join their forces to fight the evil this time! Switch between Jonathan and Charlotte with a single button press and make the best use of their unique abilities. Dracula's Castle has suddenly resurfaced, but something doesn't add up. Jonathan Morris and Charlotte Aulin make their way in to investigate, they soon discover that the mind behind all this is not who they thought...
Castlevania Order of Ecclesia
The enigmatic Shanoa is the only human capable of using the glyphs, symbols full of magic. Gather glyphs by exploring the Castle and its surroundings and absorb the power of the mighty foes you fight! The three most powerful glyphs, thought to be able to even defeat Dracula himself, have been stolen. Can Shanoa bring them back to the Order, and finally destroy the Dark Lord?
Haunted Castle Revisited
Haunted Castle Revisited, an redesigned version of the very first Castlevania arcade game, makes its debut! And you can also play it in its original format!
Why Is the Worst Castlevania Game Getting a Remake?
It's a question many are asking, and the answer is not entirely clear. Some believe that Konami is simply trying to capitalize on the recent resurgence of interest in the Castlevania franchise. Others believe that the company is trying to make amends for the original Haunted Castle's shortcomings. Whatever the reason, it's clear that Konami is putting some effort into the remake. The game has been redesigned with new graphics and features, and it's said to be a much more polished experience than the original. It remains to be seen if the remake will be successful, but it's certainly an interesting gamble. It's clear that Konami is trying to do something different with the Castlevania franchise, and the release of the Dominus Collection is a sign that the company is taking the series in a new direction.
What's Next for Castlevania?
The release of the Castlevania Dominus Collection is just the latest in a string of new releases for the franchise. Konami has been steadily releasing new Castlevania games and collections in recent years, and it seems clear that the company is committed to the series. With the recent success of the Castlevania Netflix series, it's clear that there is a renewed interest in the franchise. What does the future hold for Castlevania? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: the series is not going anywhere anytime soon.
