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1470500cookie-checkCastlevania Anniversary Collection’s Final Games Announced, Launch Date Is May 16th
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2019/04

Castlevania Anniversary Collection’s Final Games Announced, Launch Date Is May 16th

Konami has finally pulled back the curtain on the full game list for its Castlevania Anniversary Collection, as well as announced a final price and launch date. If you’re a fan of old-school, whip-cracking action, you’re probably going to dig this.

First up, the game was initially teased with an “early summer” release date, and Konami is definitely making good on that promise with a May 16 arrival on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Steam. The collection will include eight classic games with all sorts of extra background information for each, and the final price is $19.99. In case you’re feeling especially nostalgic, a Contra Anniversary Collection is also on the way as well as Anniversary Collection: Arcade Classics.

But we’re talking about Castlevania today, and the final rundown of games for its collection is looking pretty sweet. If you are expecting any of the GBA or Nintendo DS, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. Then again, Konami said from the start that this was all about the earlier games in the series, so anyone expecting those later entries was just setting themselves up for disappointment. Also, neither Symphony of the Night or Rondo of Blood are part of this collection but, seeing as how they were released as a two-pack like six months ago, that also shouldn’t come as a surprise. Finally, Konami has made a point of stating this will be the “first” Castlevania collection so, if this one does well, maybe we’ll get some of those other games in round two.

When this collection was first announced, only half of the titles were revealed including Castlevania and Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse for the NES, as well as Super Castlevania IV for the SNES. That initial roster was capped off by Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge for the Game Boy.

Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest for the NES has now been announced, alongside the only straight-up stinker in the lot, The Castlevania Adventure for Game Boy. At least history will be preserved, I guess?

The final two games are the ones that really have me excited. First up is the Genesis game, Castlevania: Bloodlines, which has so far never been released outside of its original run. Finally, a game I actually said I wanted but never thought I would get, Kid Dracula. I have fond memories of playing the Game Boy version of this game and the NES version, which will be included, was never released outside of Japan. It’s a much more lighthearted approach to the series but it’s a lot of fun and just a nifty oddity to boot.

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