Castlevania Anniversary Collection Review: Is It Worth Playing?

For fans of classic gaming and the series' history, absolutely. This collection offers incredible value, packaging eight seminal games with save states and a fantastic historical booklet. However, be warned: the early titles are notoriously difficult by modern standards. If you crave polished, forgiving gameplay, this may frustrate. But as a curated piece of gaming heritage and a challenge to conquer, it's a compelling purchase.

Completion time varies wildly. A skilled player could finish each of the linear, action-focused NES/Game Boy titles in 1-2 hours. The crown jewel, 'Castlevania: Bloodlines' for Genesis, is longer. The true time sink is 'Kid Dracula,' a quirky spin-off. To beat all eight games without heavy save-state reliance could take 15-20+ hours. Mastering them and seeing all endings will take significantly longer due to their high difficulty.

No, there is no native multiplayer or co-op within this collection. The included games are strictly single-player experiences from an era before online play. The closest the series came locally was the alternating two-player mode in the original arcade 'Haunted Castle,' which is included. For a multiplayer Castlevania fix, you'd need to look at later titles like 'Harmony of Despair' or the 'Castlevania: Requiem' collection, which includes 'Symphony of the Night' and 'Rondo of Blood' (the latter having a two-player mode).

The Castlevania Anniversary Collection launched in 2019 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC (via Steam). There has been no announcement of ports to newer consoles like PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, though it remains playable via backward compatibility on those systems. As of now, it is not available on any subscription service like Game Pass or PlayStation Plus. It is a standalone purchase, often going on sale digitally.

Compared to collections like 'The Disney Afternoon Collection' or 'Contra Anniversary Collection,' this set is more varied, tracing a genre's evolution. It's less about pure run-and-gun action and more about methodical combat and exploration. Versus 'Castlevania Advance Collection,' this is the foundational history, while the Advance pack contains the refined, modern 'Metroidvania' formula. Think of this as the challenging, classic roots, while later collections offer more accessible and expansive adventures.