[PS5] Vampire Survivors: A Homage to Castlevania Review

Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania introduces a wealth of new content for fans to enjoy, drawing heavily upon the cherished elements of the franchise. We took a closer look in our Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania review!

With this new DLC, Vampire Survivors offers a delightful homage to the series that originally sparked its creation, inviting players back to its auto-attack arcade gameplay. Although vampires remain absent from the action, questions about Alucard often arise. But remember, Alucard is actually a Dhamphir, thanks to his dad, Dracula, and his human mom, Lisa. So, while traditional vampires might not be present, maybe Dracula is lurking in the shadows, just waiting for the right moment to make a surprise entrance?

If you’re eager for a sneak peek into this expansive DLC, here’s a rundown of what to expect:

Over 20 New Characters

• The Belmonts are here, with their iconic whips, spanning Simon, Richter, Trevor, and even Sonia.
• The Belnades also join the fray, featuring witches like Sypha, Yoko, and distant relatives like Charlotte Aulin and Maria Renard, all ready with their magic.
• And don’t forget other heroes such as Jonathan, Charlotte—and wait—both Jonathan Morris and John Morris are in? Quite an impressive roster, complemented by allies like Shanoa and Eric Lecarde.

More Than 40 New Weapons

• Whips abound—more than you can shake a stick at (there are eight, to be precise).
• A diverse range of spells inspired by titles like Portrait of Ruin and Harmony of Dissonance makes a magical debut.
• Magic weapons galore, with Alucard’s Sword, Spear, and Shield among them.
• Remember when the Morris duo wielded javelins and iron balls? Those projectiles make a return.
• Finally, glyphs like Confodere, Vol Confodere, and Melio Confodere add variety, alongside non-Confodere options.

Over 30 New Music Tracks

• Dive into an array of remixed Castlevania tracks, crafted by renowned composers Daniele Zandara and Filippo Vicarelli, alongside fan-favorites Evelyn Lark and Keygen Church.

In keeping with the core of the game, the gameplay mechanics remain unchanged, so newcomers should check out our original Vampire Survivors review if they’re curious about the basics. This DLC doesn’t add any new trophies, which aligns with expectations since the base game already has a hefty lineup: 26 Bronze, 10 Silver, and 4 Gold trophies. Plus, with the additional trophies across numerous DLCs and updates, the grand total reaches a staggering 221. Suffice it to say, there’s no shortage of in-game challenges to tackle.

Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania is out now for PlayStation 5, priced at $3.99. Packed full of new characters, weapons, and music, it promises to enrich your auto-attack sessions significantly.

Disclaimer: This review of Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania is based on a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Poncle.