Overview

In 2006, Konami celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Castlevania series with the release of Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (aka Akumajo Dracula: Gallery of Labyrinth). Those who pre-ordered the game in North America received a bonus music collection featuring tracks across the Castlevania series' history.

Body

The first third of the collection is dedicated to the original Castlevania titles on the NES, SNES, and GB. The majority of these scores feature upbeat chiptunes influenced by pop and rock music. This collection reflects this by including classic Castlevania anthems, such as "Vampire Killer", "Bloody Tears", "Beginning", and "Theme for Simon". These tracks may have been overarranged over the years — including in this colleciton, where "Beginning" appears in four different forms — but they still endear in their original chiptune forms and "Bloody Tears" is particularly encompassing despite its simplistic nature. Nevertheless, there are some more ambitious ambient tracks on the collection too, notably the medley from Castlevania III, though dubiously the collection omits the most mature and historic tracks on Super Castlevania IV.

The collection otherwise places a strong focus on the music of Michiru Yamane. Two of the most enjoyable pieces from Castlevania: Bloodlines are represented, "Reincarnated Soul" and "Iron Blue Intention". In addition, there is an impressive four track selection from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, including "Dracula's Castle" with its anthemic rock stylings and "Golden Dance" with its majestic classical influence. Most series' followers won't be able to resist Castlevania: Lament of Innocence's "Leon's Theme" and Castlevania: Curse of Darkness' "Abandoned Castle", both of which blend contemporary and gothic influences into exuberant and memorable compositions. Though these tracks don't capture the more experimental approach of Yamane's console music, they are still very impressive and accessible selections.

There is also quite a lot of music presented from Castlevania's portable instalments. The series' portable music has often failed to impress as much as the main console games, with Castlevania: The Adventure's "Battle of the Holy" and Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance's "Successor of Fate" among the weaker selections here. Fortunately, Michiru Yamane rescued the scores for Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow and Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow with familiarly styled yet beautifully presented tracks such as "Ruined Castle Corridor" and "Demon Castle Pinnacle". The four selections from Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin are enjoyable too, particularly "Hail from the Past" with its Arabian grooves and "Behind the Gaze" with its haunting waltz influence, though still leaves listeners desiring Yuzo Koshiro's creations.

The compilation ends with two bonus arrangements taken from Akumajo Dracula Best 1. "Beginning" is given an upbeat arrangement by the Kukeiha Club's Motoaki Furukawa in his characteristic jazz fusion sound. While it sounds dated now, this style was important for defining the music of Konami during the 1990s and fits the original quite well. However, it suits the harder remixes featured in Perfect Selection Dracula Battle better. The arrangement of "Bloody Tears" is actually taken straight from the score of the Arcade's Haunted Castle, so is therefore straightforward, brief, and synthesised. It's a minor disappointment, but this release still has lots to offer.

Summary

Overall, this compilation is an above average pre-order bonus for Western consumers. The selections here cover a wide range of games, both old and new, home and portable. However, they tend to focus on the most accessible tracks on the series rather than the most ambitious. This will be excellent for those looking for catchy rock anthems, but may disappoint those wanting some of the series' deeper entries.