Summary
If there’s one thing that the release of theMetal Gear Solid: Master Collectionproves, it’s that Konami needs to give the same treatment (or better) to its other legacy IP. Specifically, the iconic and long-running action-adventure seriesCastlevaniais more than due for its own ultimate collection of titles that need to be brought to modern hardware under one umbrella.Players already have theCastlevania AnniversaryandAdvancecollections, but both of these compilations leave some of the series' best titles out to dry. Specifically,Symphony of the Nightneeds a collection built around it to come to modern platforms, and theMetal Gear Solid:Master Collectionis a great starting blueprint for how that might take shape.
In addition to the first three games in theMetal Gear Solidfranchise, theMaster CollectionincludestheMetal Gearseries' originson the MSX home computer and NES/Famicom. Further, the collection allows players to download the Japanese and European language packs to access those regions' exclusive versions of titles on the collection, such as the Japan-exclusiveMetal Gear Solid Integral. Not only could aCastlevaniaMaster Collectionreplicate this same curation to bring rarities like the Sega Saturn version ofSymphony of the Nightor PC Engine version ofRondo of Bloodto modern hardware, it could take more definitive steps toward preserving the series' legacy.
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A Castlevania Master Collection Could Go Beyond Metal Gear’s Efforts Toward Preservation
While having the first five games in theMetal Gearfranchise (seven if counting the Famicom/NES titles included) all available on modern hardware is a boon for fans of the series, it’s hard to not view theMaster Collectionas a bit of missed opportunity toward preserving the legacy of the series. The fact thatMetal Gear Solidreceives little bonus material other than new trophies/achievements and that bothMetal Gear Solid 2and3are simply the sameversions from 2011’sMetal Gear Solid HDCollectionmakes it hard to view theMaster Collectionas fully honoring the series' history.
TheCastlevania Anniversary CollectionandAdvance Collectionalready do a great job of more than just porting classic games to modern hardware. Each collection features plenty of bonuses such as the Japanese versions of several games, a plethora of display options (such as playing the games in their original display ratio or adding CRT scanlines), and a digital book containing interviews and behind-the-scenes content.Metal Gear Solid: Master Collectionalso contains the “Master Book"with similar material, but it’s lacking in some of these other features. If Konami is going to continue theMaster Collectionseries with other IP,Castlevanianeeds an entire museum of digital artifacts, including the series' iconic concept art and soundtracks.
What a Potential Castlevania Master Collection Should Include
Conjuring up the idea of a potentialCastlevania Master Collectionbegs the question of what such a compilation should include. Taking a look at what games in the series have already arrived via theAnniversaryandAdvancecollections immediately singles out some series highlights that have yet to be ported to modern consoles. First and foremost among these isSymphony of the Night, which deserves not only a dedicated port of it’s PS1 version, but also the ability for players to experience the Japan-exclusive Sega Saturn version dubbedAkumajo Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight.
In addition to the 5th generation classic (and one half of the Metroidvania portmanteau), aCastlevania Master Collectionshould take a cue fromMetal Gear Solid: Master Collectionand include the series' PS2 entries. BothCurse of DarknessandLament of Innocenceare great games that have yet to see ports outside the PlayStation 2 hardware, and they’re both worthwhile attempts at replicating the “Igavania” formula in the context of a character action game likeDevil May Cry. And, in a move that goes beyond theMetal Gearcollection, Konami could include both original and updated versions of each title to make concerted efforts toward preserving the series' legacy.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1
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Released in 1998, this was the first 3D title in the METAL GEAR series. The game pioneers 3D stealth action against the threat of war and global nuclear weapons, using live action footage, cinematic cut scenes, interwoven with innovative gameplay.The storyline, a whirlwind of intrigue and betrayal, has been hailed as the greatest story of the 20th century and was the third title in the METAL GEAR series to become a hit in subsequent years.Also included: Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, an exclusive digital Screenplay Book and Master Book that details the story and characters in Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear & Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.
