Castlevania: Bloodlines

Europe through a cracked mirror

Bloodlines is at its best when the scenery stops behaving. Reflections and fractured views disturb the careful positioning on which its combat depends. John Morris’s whip and Eric Lecarde’s spear give the same stages different rhythms. The backgrounds demand attention even when every instinct says to watch the next enemy.

Konami’s 1994 Mega Drive entry places its horror story during the First World War and offers two protagonists. It is a separate game from Super Castlevania IV on the SNES. Comparing their approaches to movement and spectacle tells you more about the two libraries than treating either as a substitute for the other.

Choose your weapon

The stages are short enough to encourage another attempt, but limited continues make a full run demanding. Try both characters before deciding which one suits you. Modern saves provide a practical way to learn the later sections.