It looks like Castlevania fans gaming on the PlayStation 4 might have a treat lined up for the holiday season, as a collection containing two classic games in the series recently popped up on the ESRP website. The collection is called Castlevania Requiem: Symphony of the Night & Rondo of Blood, and you only get one guess as to which Castlevania games are part of the bundle based on the name.
We're still calling this one a "rumor" for the time being, but only because Konami hasn't made an official announcement themselves. It's possible this rating was for a game in the works that, last minute, is being pulled. Obviously, that seems very unlikely considering the official listing but, again, we don't want to say anything is definite until we get that official announcement trailer to drool over.
According to the ESRB rating, the game only has PlayStation 4 listed under platforms, which seems like a missed opportunity if it doesn't also pop up elsewhere. Not to sound like a broken record but, seriously, this game would probably kill on the Nintendo Switch.
The last time these games were packaged together was for a PSP bundle, so it's nice to think they might finally be playable on more modern hardware. You should read through the entire rating summary if you've got a minute, because some of the descriptors are pretty funny. It talks about "pixelated blood" being depicted, as well as the potential to run into female creatures with, gasp, exposed buttocks. They also reference topless monsters with no discernible details, then add an extra note to make sure everyone understand that means "no nipples," just in case it wasn't crystal clear.
Obviously, the rating does not include information about a price, but I figure it's a pretty good guess that the game will be a digital download only. As for the games included, you'll want to start with Rondo of Blood, which was originally released way the heck back in 1993. Playing as Richter Belmont, you'll be fighting through Dracula's undead hordes in an effort to rescue your lady love, Annette. Fun note, Richter Belmont was recently announced as an echo fighter for Simon Belmont in this December's Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Also, this game was much more difficult to get your hands on in the States so, if you haven't played it yet, this potential collection is basically a must-buy if you're a fan of the series.
And then there's the sequel, and arguably the best game in the entire series, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. This game set the bar for Metroidvania games, boasting a massive castle to explore, fun abilities to utilize, light puzzles to solve and a whole bunch of weapons to smite your enemies with. I'd be remiss if I did not also give a nod to Symphony's fantastic soundtrack.
So, again, assuming the ESRB hasn't gone crazy, that's certainly something to look forward to, hopefully in the not-too-distant future.
