We just played a couple games of Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, the new six-player Castlevania game coming to Xbox Live Arcade this summer. Harmony of Despair is a 2D side-scrolling Castlevania that looks quite similar to the post-Symphony of the Night games we've been playing on the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS for years. Apart from its looks, though, this is a pretty unique spin on the Castlevania formula. It's designed as a co-op game for up to six players that works like raids in World of Warcraft.

There are six levels, each guarded by a boss that must be hunted down and murdered. The maps are expansive, full of traps, shortcuts, and dead ends. Here's the thing: these levels and bosses are designed to be attempted many times over. Not only are the bosses powerful, but you only have 10 minutes to find them. You are more than likely to fail the first couple times you try. Luckily, you retain all the items and monies you collect on a "raid." So the formula goes: try a level, fail, buy and equip better items, and make it a little farther next time. You don't earn experience points and level up your character, but you are constantly finding new items and earning money that can buy you cool stuff. The next time you try that level, you'll be better equipped for it.

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The Symphony of the Night-style Castlevania games are typically very pretty 2D affairs, and Harmony of Despair is no different.


The more players you have the easier it will be to complete each level, but you can always fly solo if that's more your style (or if you're just unpopular). Five characters are available to choose from, each pulled from a previous Castlevania game. Alucard, from Symphony of the Night, is bound to be a popular choice. Shanoa, from Order of Ecclesia, is another option I noticed. Each character behaves as they would in their own game. Shanoa, for instance, can use her magnetic abilities to cling to certain hooks in the environment and gain access to new areas. The character you choose will determine the path you take to the boss. But they all have the same core abilities like slide, double jump, and backwards dash. Yes, with only five characters, you will be playing with twins in a six-player game.

On my first try playing level one I ran around looting treasure chests and slicing up familiar skeleton enemies (I was Alucard). But I ended up running into a dead end and time ran out before I could make it to the boss. On my second try I had a better idea of where to go and eventually came face to face with the guardian: a two-legged, no-armed behemoth that shoots a giant laser and sprays poisonous blood. There is a nice bit of foreshadowing in this level, as you can see the laser blast piercing through the halls of the castle long before you reach the boss. When you whittle the boss's health down enough the floor will cave in and you'll plummet to a platform below – where a mess of enemies await. The whole gang was too much for me to handle and I met my second demise. This is where more players would come in handy. It's also possible to make it to the monster party ahead of time and clear out the enemies so that when you fall down with the boss it doesn't have any henchmen left.

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Now you don't have to venture into Dracula's spooky ass castle alone.


To get your bearings and plan your route through a level, you can zoom way, way out. You'll be able to see all enemies and other players in the castle, but you're so small on the screen it's probably not possible to play this way. Each level will have a few special areas where you can switch your equipment, but you'll need to do it fast because the clock won't stop counting down. Enemies won't stand around waiting for you to finish, either.

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair is a fun new take on this long-running franchise and we can see why Microsoft picked it to be included in Summer of Arcade. Summer of Arcade starts in July so you won't have to wait long to posse up and go after those bosses.