I think they're great for the time. They're much better 3D Castlevanias than what Igarashi developed for the PS2. People were too busy comparing it to Symphony of the Night to give it the credit it's due. That said, I think the Lords of Shadow trilogy is an even better 3D Castlevania than these two. But these were good games.
I honestly really loved Castlevania N64 I'm not sure why it gets so much hate, I played this game and the second one growing up it was fun and really good gameplay and music and boss battles!
I had this game when I was 17 and even then I thought the skeletons on motorcycles was a little weird for a Castlevania game. Other than that I thought it was ok for a 3D Castlevania but the series has just been sooooo good as a 2d platformer and that is hard to live up to.
Mike well it is the mid 19th century in this storyline and science and technology has advanced a little. You can can see the gondola transportation. The gears in the clocktower. The tower of science with all those electrical devices. First car was made in 1885 so i wouldn't be surprised if the castle had advanced machinery. Oh yeah the gardener (Frankenstein monster)in the Villa had a chainsaw too lol
Castlevanis is severly underrated the music is fantastic and once you get used to the camera issues the game is good and the intro sends chills down my spine.
N64 Glenn Plant but Glenn plant , if you have the retro fighters controller you know it's amazing for the console, I think you should do a controller review , it actually is better designed analogue then the original n64 controller and the game shark controller tests show that
the moment I heard that sweet intro music and saw the awesome castle intro, I knew I was in for something good. I will never understand this games bad reputation.
I'm just glad Castlevania 64 is finally getting some love, it's literally a 3D version of the 2D classics, it's not trying to be Symphony of the Night in 3D it never was. It depressed me when people think my love for this game is wrong in the game isn't any good I'm going to say that they're wrong it's okay to like what you like and hate what you hate, but it shouldn't be a crime for me to be in love with this game.
God damn nitroglycerin let's be honest that little quest part was the worst and what was otherwise an awesome game I sunk so many hours into that game that it's not even funny I had that game and only that game for almost 2 years and I played it everyday happily playing it then well then I got given starcraft that I never went back
The problem come because it come after Symphony of the Night, so the people have very high expectations from what next Castlevania gonna be (too hyped); I love SOTN style of gameplay, but i like this one too, it have his thing and really immerse the player in the atmosphere of adventure
Castlevania 64 unfairly gets a bad rep but it's a fairly decent title. Super Castlevania IV/Rondo of Blood Dracula X are tied for my favorite linear Vanias and Symphony of the Night is my favorite "metroidvania". Awesome review Glenn, can't wait for your Legacy of Darkness review. 🤘
I like the metroidvania style personally, had a blast with the DS even though i could only get Spanish copies as I lived on a Spanish island at the time
Minus the awful triple back-peddling clock tower level I concur. It suffers from bad camera but to be honest other than Mario 64 EVERY 3D game at that time had terrible camera control. The year later update was a much better release. It could do for a modern overhaul. Some of the scenes would be fantastic with updated graphics for better ambiance.
It's a great game. Was reviewed rather well with a general 8 out of 10. Definitely worth playing this and the follow up. Several big differences between the two and worth your time for fans of the series.
@@n64glennplant LOD improved on several things and left out some of my favorite parts from the first one. The level changes for the first two characters were neat, but I preferred the originals. Taking Dracula's and another regularly voiced Vampire sequences out was also very odd choice.
@@n64glennplant I have trouble understanding, what is the difference between this castlevania and Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness? Wikipedia shows more or less similar date release but say its a different game?
@@TheAlphaOmegaX3 Also the game added way too many save crystals. It was perfectly balanced before. The long jump was removed and made platforming too easy. There was less momentum and sliding after running/jumping is gone. A lot of what required you to be precise was removed. I prefer C64.
Got an eerie nostalgia I enjoyed while watching this! And yes I agree it has elements of survival horror. One thing I never forgot about this game was its ability to create a quiet yet creepy atmosphere. Gr8 review!
Big K it’s a good first game to play in the series because after this many games you’d have played in Castlevania series will have been stronger titles 👍
Couldn't agree more. I did a gaming marathon with this game and somehow beat it in 10 hours 10 minutes with no guides. Sure people have done faster i was happy to beat it especially starting on normal and having to up the difficulty lol
Yes! So happy you’ve done this review. This game gets such a bad rap these days because it’s such a departure from a traditional Castlevania but when viewed as its own thing it always had, and still has, a lot to offer. Glad you talked about the soundtrack too as I think it’s fantastic throughout. The title music is really beautifully creepy and haunting and sets the scene perfectly. The whole game has atmosphere in spades, and it even gave me my first jump scare in a game (The scene which you showed briefly in the dining room with the villager.) I think a lot of younger people don’t realise that this game was pretty well reviewed and received at the time so I’m glad you mentioned that too. People act as if it’s on par with Superman 64 but it’s a really solid game.
People would castrate it without even playing it. And the whole, it's not 2D argument, is absurd. Glad to see more people appreciating this game still.
I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this game when I played it for the first time last year for Halloween. I've still yet to do a Carrie playthrough, but I really enjoyed the playthrough I did with Reinhardt. I really liked your point about SOTN, and if it didn't exist, than this game would be remembered a lot more fondly. I really feel like if this game was just a bit better, it would have been an instant classic!
I haven't technically played this game (I own legacy if darkness so I played it there) but I reeeeeaaally enjoyed LOD a lot, one of the things I liked a lot about it was that there were more vampires than just Dracula, that made for very cool boss fights
Very fair review, not many understand that this is actually a good game, sure it isn’t the best in the franchise but it was such a good 3D vania That should have been improved on but instead once the ps2 games hit we got generic dungeon crawlers.
Legacy of Darkness is so good. This one is okay, but it really does feel like a beta version. Legacy of Darkness is just really good :) The Soundtrack to this was also released in Europe. Love the soundtrack, let me tell you^^
Oh my God, I played the shit out of that game when I was younger! And, yes, I personally prefer Reinhard. Not only does he make the game more challenging, but I like the character and his story compared to Carries. Plus, you can unlock Simon Belmont's armor as a secondary costume. As a Simon fan, that made playing the game a second time even more enjoyable.
Honestly my favorite of the series. I love the lonely dark feeling of it. Cool bosses. Great sound design. Some great cutscenes. Yes the camera is a big issue especially when you're trying to make precise jumps in platforming sections. The worst part is carrying explosive nitro while avoiding the clock gears and enemies. That segment always gave me terrible anxiety. Not to mention the intro is absolutely epic with beautiful violin music. I honestly prefer this over legacy of darkness though i had both. This game is one of the things I miss most about the console
Love the N64 castlevania games, have the pal and NTSC versions lol. I recently played through this with some quality headphones and the soundtrack is fantastic. Great review as always!
Thanks for this video. Been telling people for years that this was just a rushed out version of legacy of darkness with content that wasn't finished yet.
I never had a chance to played it back in the 90s but I gave it a try a few months ago. All i have to say is that it kept me busy for weeks and it was fun as hell!
Great review. You have swung it for me. Next time I have a chance to get this at a reasonable price, I will. Unfortunately, Legacy of Darkness is quite pricey these days...
Awesome video and review! I'm a fan of the Castlevania games. I love Castlevania 64, but I love Castlevania 64: Legacy Of Darkness the most, but anyway great review and keep up the awesome work! :)
Great review for an underappreciated game. Thank you. Hopefully more people are able to enjoy this game. I actually really love Castlevania Blood lines and it was one of the games that made me want to pick up another Sega Genesis after I sold my original. Again, great work!
Vampirerockstar Many N64 Games had great camera controls and what do you expect: this console introduced a free camera adjustment from begin with, so one more gaming quality of life standard you have to thank Nintendo for.
This was my very first CastleVania game i ever played and i liked it back in the day. I didn't get why people hated on it so much. The game was hard and clunky and poor camera, but the levels, puzzles, atmosphere and suspense were good, especially maze with the frankenstein dude, the music was fantastic, that music was DOPE.
Just found your channel and I’m loving it. Castlevania 64 is actually a good game I think. It has its flaws but it does have great atmosphere. Can’t wait for a Legacy of Darkness. Awesome channel and great content.
It's great to see a balanced review of this game. It gets rather unfairly torn apart and I too wonder if the average individual would look upon it more favorably if SOTN wasn't a thing. Even with SOTN, I think it's a solid game on its own and it fits in nicely with other N64 3D platformers. It's undoubtedly got some issues (as many 3D titles did back then), but it's still a well made game and an enjoyable experience when you know what you are doing.
That's the sad thing; most of the handheld titles, compared to the contemporary 3d titles, were so much better. The cotrast was staggering. Curse of Darkness really switched things up...hasn't happened since lol
Would love to get your review on legacy of darkness!! I’ve watched all your videos at least twice lol. Really takes me back to a better time, and I still absolutely love my Nintendo 64!!
As weird as this might come off, Castlevania 64 reminds me of Resident Evil-isolated on a giant map, puzzles, survival horror elements, and arguably “bad” controls. Also, the status bar reminds me of RE’s health status. I think it’s a shame this game gets a bad rep-it definitely is a unique installment in the Vania series. Is it SotN? No, but it never wanted to be, and I think that’s what fans/gamers need to understand. Not every installment is trying to be the best of the best in the franchise. Anyway, I love your reviews. You don’t just criticize games and focus on the bad. Instead, you inform your audience of the unique qualities each game has. Great review!
A lot of people jumped on the hate wagon about this game. While it has issues, the game excels at atmosphere, music, and characters. I have fond memories for this one, because it was the 1st Castlevania game I had beaten at the time. It was no picnic, the game will challenge and frustrate you. I still love SOTN and all of the DS Castlevanias, but I have enjoyed all of the 3D releases over the years and think their is reason for both styles of games
I love both Symphony and this one. To me this one was more memorable. May be the music and the ambience. It felt more realistic. Like if being inside a Victorian horror movie. What I love about symphony is the RPG equipment system. But still this one was more memorable to me, and much more dareing to finish.
Hi Glennplant, will you please do the Legacy of darkness review? It improves so much from this game and I think to few people know about this. Thank you.
@@n64glennplant It is! Can't wait for your Legacy of Darkness video. I've been wanting to return to the 64 Castlevania games for while but I don't know if I should play both 64 and Legacy or just Legacy. I've heard that Legacy is kind of an expanded version of 64 but also not quite the same? Hopefully your next video can clarify that?
Hey Glenn, are you planning to do a video on Legacy of Darkness some day? It kind of is the 'Definitive Edition' of that game and I think it deserves the content you could make for it. People, including myself, looked down at this game back then but nowadays I think it's a pretty solid action game for the N64. The Castlevania name and the expectations that came with it dragged the game down more than the game by itself in my opinion. Cheers!
ill be dusting off my copy Glenn! I acquired it for the collection quite a while back but i never got around to playing because of all the hate the game gets. awesome video as always man please keep it up :)
always best to try and forge your own opinions, especially when bad reviews are mostly just following AVGN opinion because to go against that is asking for people to hate on your video
I love the castlevania anime on Netflix and I have a n64 so I’m happy to see you review these games to let me know which one is worth a playthrough. My favorite is symphony of the night simply because alucard is my favorite character. I know the belmonts have always been the focal characters of the series but who is a more poetic choice to stand up to Dracula than his own flesh and blood and tell him his mother would be disappointed
N64 Glenn Plant you should definitely give season 1 a watch it’s only 4 episodes long so you’d breeze right through it. For me it was far too short and waiting for season 2 was torture
After finishing this game both with Reinhardt Schneider as well as Carrie Fernandez (bad ending w R and good ending w C), have to say this is one of the most under appreciated games out there. While the platforming isn’t perfect, there are enough save points where a fall here and there isn’t going to set you back. Not to mention with practice you get better at it. Having also played legacy of darkness w all 4 characters, I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on that game. Finally, on a separate note, I hope you eventually review Hercules game on N64. I always thought it was a laughable game, but I’m genuinely surprised as I’ve been playing it and it’s a fairly decent game, especially in the visual department, as some points just look amazing. Have a good one!
I'll have to check out a Speedrun on this. I distinctly remember playing this game in the dark as a kid and the labyrinth chainsaw chase frightened the crap out of me haha
I don't know man. Like James, I came up in the mid-80s. My first Nintendo console was the NES. So I grew up with Castlevania I, II, III, and Super Castlevania for the SNES. I was pretty disappointed when I played this back then, and was jealous of the PS1 guys having SotN. Maybe it comes down to what you expect from a series. Several games made a successful transition to 3D. Mario and Zelda are two obvious examples, but I didn't enjoy this then or now. That's why I feel they went back to the 2D format, because it suited the series so much better.
this waz actually my 1st castlevania game ever. like others here on the comments why does this game have a bad rap. i get it through your review and thanks for the great job too. idunno i like it
For the Reinhardt and Carrie modes I think this game is better than Legacy of Darkness. Especially if you play on hard mode. A lot of the intense, almost unreasonable aspects of the original hard mode (which any slightly masochistic long-time Castlevania fan would appreciate) were removed from the Legacy of Darkness version. The later title also removed the Rondo of Blood alternative outfits for Reinhardt and Carrie. The advantage of LoD is that it looks slightly sharper even with the expansion pack hi-res mode off (this mode on makes the game near unplayable due to terrible framerate). LoD in any case is still worth playing for the Cornell mode.
I agree, its weird that they solved so many problems with LOD but also took away some of the things that the hardcore castlevania fans really wanted and appreciated
@@n64glennplant Yep, a particular example I remember is they removed the scary gardener as an actual boss fight in hard mode on that long passage on the side of the garden maze in the Villa section. Since he kills you in one or two of his chainsaw swipes you're pretty much screwed if you don't save right before. It stuck in my memory as one of the scariest moments in the game and it was a disappointment when I realized it was gone in LoD.
@@Izquierda That is true. The gardener, and the final boss form can one-hit kill you in hard mode. Also dracula's final form in Cornell mode felt really cheap in LOD. Very little space to maneuver at and a lot of cheap attacks.
I enjoyed the hell out of this game, and to be frank it has to be my favorite Castlevania game just because of the memories attached to it. Yeah, there are objectively way better games in that series but I will never forget being a boy booting it up for the first time on a dark, snowy night and hearing the haunting violin intro and just getting lost in smashing skeletons apart with a whip, seeing the big giant one with the axe pop out....oh man. Magical. It certainly had problems (I do still remember falling to my death like 8 times trying to jump across that first chasm) but I guess I didn't care. I guess it was still a time when games were new to me and it was easier to get lost in the world and the vibe of it even when it was frustrating at times. Also man I just found your channel and I'm really into it, talk about a trip down memory lane! Keep it up dude, great stuff!
That title screne is so great. I love it. I still haven't played this game even though I own it.. I am a huge castlevania fan and I find these 3D games very intriguing. It's awsome in the last couple months we finally get a glimpse at what Castlevania would have looked and played like on the Dreamcast with Castlevania Ressurection which was for so long just a opening cutscene and a Story that went under verified. I just wish it was finished by devs, it would have been such an epic edition to the Dreamcast Library as well as the Castlevania Series. Anyways I have to pop this game in my N64 soon and play it
I loved this game as a kid. I made my dad rent it for me a couple of times so I can beat it(which I never did). It was pretty scary to me at that time, it had a very creepy atmosphere. I wish they would release it on current consoles.
Castlevania 64 was the first Castlevania game I played and despite it being frustrating at times I really enjoyed it. Later in life I was surprised to find out that fans actually hated it, but it's still one of my personal favourites.
I think thats the problem with the internet in some ways, often you can be put off when you hear a lot of people hating on something that it puts you off trying it.
This was my first Castlevania game and it was a very enjoyable rental for me around it's time of release. I never have played Legacy of Darkness, I really need to get on that. I agree on the OST, what they went with for this game is a better fit than the usual series tracks.
For an N64 game the cutscenes are surprisingly cinematic. They are used very well. I honestly do hope that in the near future they either port this(along with it's enhanced port/special edition) for the Switch or they make a 3d remaster(a la Spyro reignited, Crash N sane trilogy, Halo remastered and the hd remaster of wonder boy dragon's trap) of Castlevania Legacy of darkness while fixing some of it's camera related issues. But that's just me. Also my favorite castlevania games are the Advanced trilogy, the DS trilogy, SOTN, Rondo of Blood and Super Castlevania.
Massively underrated. Captures the challenge- and frustration- of the original 2D platformers very well into 3D. Also atmospheric and spooky, especially the music.
Thanks for the review Glenn, I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to playing Castlevania on the N64 soon, I have both titles but I'll start with the first seeing as it tends to be overlooked in preference to the second title Legacy of Darkness, I look forward to your review of the second game in the future. I don't know why I've waited so long to play the N64 Castlevania titles, but I think it's high time I played them finally, along with the other entries in the series I've missed.
Owned it. Loved it. Like most early 3D titles, it's got its fair share of technical issues that have become more apparent as gaming as evolved, but it's still a solid title that got overshadowed by SOTN on PSX. I'll always appreciate this game.
This was my first Castlevania and I played it a lot 20 years ago.Controls and camera are a big problem, but it has a great atmosphere,grafic and sounds.
@@n64glennplant yes, I played Symphony of the night and the three 2d games on the DS. I was waiting for the release of Bloodstained, but I don't like the animations, it would have been better in 2D.
CV64 and LoD are one big game in my eyes. With LoD being more polished but changing some levels and missing the others voice acting. It's also my favorite CV entry in the franchise. It's way more well received than a lot of detractors would have you believe. People often forget that. AllGame 4/5 stars GamePro 4.5/5 stars GameSpot 8.2 out of 10 IGN 8.2 out of 10 Nintendo Power 7.9 out of 10 Gaming Maxx 7.1 out of 10 Archive 64 3.9 out of 5 EGM 8.75 out of 10 Game Rankings 73% Metacritic 78/100
Played this for the first time just this year, and I was blown away at how much fun I was having. It's a bit sticky in places, but the overall package is absolutely worthy of the Castlevania name. LOD is probably better though, although you get stuck with the werewolf for far too long before you finally get to play the almighty Reinhardt.
My favorite Castlevania game in the series is, hah, Castlevania. Egoraptor's Sequelitis episode goes into greater detail, but I like it for its spot on difficulty. Simon's Quest was too easy, Dracula's Curse was too difficult. For me Castlevania 1 was just right. I have never played Castlevania on the N64 because I heard it was bad. Your review has got me interested now!
You should have played Castlebania Legacy of Darkness because it is a more complete version of this game. Legacy of Darkness has new characters, features, and levels
Castlevania 64 was great and i loved it as a kid. Never quite understood the hate, it was a good action adventure title for it's era, and a great Castlevania game with an awesome soundtrack.
I still love this game, and wish Konami would remake this game in HD on the switch. This was such a great experience. Ya there is obviously some hiccups but even ocarina of time has hiccups. Please remake Konami
I was never a big fan of Castlevania games, having grown up in the 80's/90's without a subscription to Nintendo Power, but I can say that the Castlevania anime is damn good and well worth the watch.
I use to own this game in the 90s and I have pretty good memories of it. I do remember getting mad at the cam at the time. It always seemed to mess up right when you had to do a platform jump. I didn't find out about the second version till years later. I was thinking about buying it again but I'm not sure if I should get this version or Legacy.
I think Castlevania 64 and Legacy of Darkness are very underrated games.
*stands his ground*
+timmer919hep
I agree.
I agree with you both too haha
You have my sword
timmer919hep I’m now picturing that cat in your pfp standing his ground over this lol
I think they're great for the time. They're much better 3D Castlevanias than what Igarashi developed for the PS2. People were too busy comparing it to Symphony of the Night to give it the credit it's due.
That said, I think the Lords of Shadow trilogy is an even better 3D Castlevania than these two. But these were good games.
I honestly really loved Castlevania N64 I'm not sure why it gets so much hate, I played this game and the second one growing up it was fun and really good gameplay and music and boss battles!
Yeah the bosses were really something special!
N64 Glenn Plant I beat the first one and found legacy of darkness super hard to beat.
I had this game when I was 17 and even then I thought the skeletons on motorcycles was a little weird for a Castlevania game. Other than that I thought it was ok for a 3D Castlevania but the series has just been sooooo good as a 2d platformer and that is hard to live up to.
Mike well it is the mid 19th century in this storyline and science and technology has advanced a little. You can can see the gondola transportation. The gears in the clocktower. The tower of science with all those electrical devices. First car was made in 1885 so i wouldn't be surprised if the castle had advanced machinery. Oh yeah the gardener (Frankenstein monster)in the Villa had a chainsaw too lol
Rachel Anderson why was it hard for you? It was just a bit longer but almost the same dear lol
Castlevanis is severly underrated the music is fantastic and once you get used to the camera issues the game is good and the intro sends chills down my spine.
Taeyang Metal Reloaded I'm 17 and have a retro fighters 64 controller so I'll give it a go man!
I always loved the intro too
N64 Glenn Plant but Glenn plant , if you have the retro fighters controller you know it's amazing for the console, I think you should do a controller review , it actually is better designed analogue then the original n64 controller and the game shark controller tests show that
I recently bought both version of the 64 Castlevania and honestly they aren't as a bad as people make them seem
I honestly dont get the camera complaints if you use the action camera you can just reorient when it gets all fucky with the R button
Glenn we don't deserve you. Amazing work as always
Haha thanks Jim 👍
Easily my favourite game for the n64, love malus’s violin intro
Yeah tune hey
N64 Glenn Plant yeah love the sound of it
the moment I heard that sweet intro music and saw the awesome castle intro, I knew I was in for something good. I will never understand this games bad reputation.
hard to see why sometimes isnt it
I'm just glad Castlevania 64 is finally getting some love, it's literally a 3D version of the 2D classics, it's not trying to be Symphony of the Night in 3D it never was. It depressed me when people think my love for this game is wrong in the game isn't any good I'm going to say that they're wrong it's okay to like what you like and hate what you hate, but it shouldn't be a crime for me to be in love with this game.
I remember liking this game. Sure the part where u cant jump was kinda frustrating. But it was a fun game. Dont understand the hate.
I was just thinking of that no jumping part.
God damn nitroglycerin let's be honest that little quest part was the worst and what was otherwise an awesome game I sunk so many hours into that game that it's not even funny I had that game and only that game for almost 2 years and I played it everyday happily playing it then well then I got given starcraft that I never went back
The nitro part was hell! Haha
The problem come because it come after Symphony of the Night, so the people have very high expectations from what next Castlevania gonna be (too hyped); I love SOTN style of gameplay, but i like this one too, it have his thing and really immerse the player in the atmosphere of adventure
That damn nitro
Castlevania 64 unfairly gets a bad rep but it's a fairly decent title. Super Castlevania IV/Rondo of Blood Dracula X are tied for my favorite linear Vanias and Symphony of the Night is my favorite "metroidvania". Awesome review Glenn, can't wait for your Legacy of Darkness review. 🤘
I like the metroidvania style personally, had a blast with the DS even though i could only get Spanish copies as I lived on a Spanish island at the time
Minus the awful triple back-peddling clock tower level I concur. It suffers from bad camera but to be honest other than Mario 64 EVERY 3D game at that time had terrible camera control. The year later update was a much better release.
It could do for a modern overhaul. Some of the scenes would be fantastic with updated graphics for better ambiance.
N64 Glenn Plant living on a Spanish island? That sounds soo cool
It's a great game. Was reviewed rather well with a general 8 out of 10. Definitely worth playing this and the follow up. Several big differences between the two and worth your time for fans of the series.
Exactly! LOD improves pretty much all the errors of this game
@@n64glennplant LOD improved on several things and left out some of my favorite parts from the first one. The level changes for the first two characters were neat, but I preferred the originals. Taking Dracula's and another regularly voiced Vampire sequences out was also very odd choice.
@Diabeto Kills lol! Your opinion.
@@n64glennplant I have trouble understanding, what is the difference between this castlevania and Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness? Wikipedia shows more or less similar date release but say its a different game?
@@TheAlphaOmegaX3 Also the game added way too many save crystals. It was perfectly balanced before. The long jump was removed and made platforming too easy. There was less momentum and sliding after running/jumping is gone. A lot of what required you to be precise was removed. I prefer C64.
Glenn plant going hard on the video drops!
@Metropath27 Glenn Plant is the best game reviewer on the internet. I'm glad to be a part of the community before he gets the 200K subs he deserves!
Thanks for the positive vibes 💪🏻
Glenn Plant: unrivalled N64 expert!
The next Castlevania game on the N64 to review is Castlevania: Legacy Of Darkness.
The only other Castlevania game for the N64??? Na, there is much more for this great reviewer to cover.
@@anonconspicuous6910 lol such negativity
Really looking forward to that review!
Castlevania 64 specially Castlevania Legacy of Darkness is the most criminally underrated 3D Castlevania game ever made.
👍 comments section here is so divided on this one!
Got an eerie nostalgia I enjoyed while watching this! And yes I agree it has elements of survival horror. One thing I never forgot about this game was its ability to create a quiet yet creepy atmosphere. Gr8 review!
Agree !
Creepy, isolated and a even a sad atmosphere.
I thought I was the only one that loved the n64 castlevania games. Please do lod next :-).
I’ll do t early 2019 👍
This was The first castlevania game i ever played,while it's not the best one it will always hold a nostalgic place in my heart.
A good game to play firsts as most others the stronger so up and up from here 😬
@@n64glennplant I'm sorry what?
Big K it’s a good first game to play in the series because after this many games you’d have played in Castlevania series will have been stronger titles 👍
@@n64glennplant oh absolutely. I like it mostly for nostalgia because it doesn't come close to symphony of the night or super castlevania 4.
Couldn't agree more. I did a gaming marathon with this game and somehow beat it in 10 hours 10 minutes with no guides. Sure people have done faster i was happy to beat it especially starting on normal and having to up the difficulty lol
I love this game, in fact, this might be my favorite Castlevania game ever. Castlevania 64 was also my first Castlevania game.
Glad to see other enjoyed this too 👍
Yes! So happy you’ve done this review. This game gets such a bad rap these days because it’s such a departure from a traditional Castlevania but when viewed as its own thing it always had, and still has, a lot to offer. Glad you talked about the soundtrack too as I think it’s fantastic throughout. The title music is really beautifully creepy and haunting and sets the scene perfectly. The whole game has atmosphere in spades, and it even gave me my first jump scare in a game (The scene which you showed briefly in the dining room with the villager.) I think a lot of younger people don’t realise that this game was pretty well reviewed and received at the time so I’m glad you mentioned that too. People act as if it’s on par with Superman 64 but it’s a really solid game.
People would castrate it without even playing it. And the whole, it's not 2D argument, is absurd. Glad to see more people appreciating this game still.
Yeah I know what you mean, ever since AVGN have his 2 cents you see nothing but trashing it most of the time
Wow, I've been
Waiting for a decent detailed review for this game for a while. Cheers buddy 👍
thanks for watching Jeb!
I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this game when I played it for the first time last year for Halloween. I've still yet to do a Carrie playthrough, but I really enjoyed the playthrough I did with Reinhardt. I really liked your point about SOTN, and if it didn't exist, than this game would be remembered a lot more fondly. I really feel like if this game was just a bit better, it would have been an instant classic!
It’s much more cooler to play as Carrie as the combat is more fluid I feel so give t a try!
Carrie has a lot cooler levels I think. You definitely should jump back in!
I haven't technically played this game (I own legacy if darkness so I played it there) but I reeeeeaaally enjoyed LOD a lot, one of the things I liked a lot about it was that there were more vampires than just Dracula, that made for very cool boss fights
LOD is really great, the same that this really should have been
Very fair review, not many understand that this is actually a good game, sure it isn’t the best in the franchise but it was such a good 3D vania That should have been improved on but instead once the ps2 games hit we got generic dungeon crawlers.
Yeah and all the problems with this were pretty much solved with legacy of darkness
Legacy of Darkness is so good. This one is okay, but it really does feel like a beta version. Legacy of Darkness is just really good :)
The Soundtrack to this was also released in Europe. Love the soundtrack, let me tell you^^
That’s a great way to think of this!
I'm sure others exist, but this is the first review I've come across to not blast the game and really appreciate it for what it is. Thanks!
I think many are often too quick to hate, sale as with earthworm Jim 3D. Sure they’re not perfect but they do have their moments
I've just started playing Castlevania on N64 and it's great, I really don't mind the camera but I am quite use to 3d N64 games
Oh my God, I played the shit out of that game when I was younger! And, yes, I personally prefer Reinhard. Not only does he make the game more challenging, but I like the character and his story compared to Carries. Plus, you can unlock Simon Belmont's armor as a secondary costume. As a Simon fan, that made playing the game a second time even more enjoyable.
Good reviews of the N64 games, good work, dude.
Honestly my favorite of the series. I love the lonely dark feeling of it. Cool bosses. Great sound design. Some great cutscenes. Yes the camera is a big issue especially when you're trying to make precise jumps in platforming sections. The worst part is carrying explosive nitro while avoiding the clock gears and enemies. That segment always gave me terrible anxiety. Not to mention the intro is absolutely epic with beautiful violin music. I honestly prefer this over legacy of darkness though i had both. This game is one of the things I miss most about the console
Love the N64 castlevania games, have the pal and NTSC versions lol. I recently played through this with some quality headphones and the soundtrack is fantastic. Great review as always!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the music too - I agree good audio set up is a must! 🍻
I absolutely love your channel!! The review you did of the Ocarina of Time was incredible!
Thanks for this video. Been telling people for years that this was just a rushed out version of legacy of darkness with content that wasn't finished yet.
I never had a chance to played it back in the 90s but I gave it a try a few months ago. All i have to say is that it kept me busy for weeks and it was fun as hell!
This game was a good portion of my grade school days. Appreciate the review.
Thanks Jordan
Great review. You have swung it for me. Next time I have a chance to get this at a reasonable price, I will. Unfortunately, Legacy of Darkness is quite pricey these days...
Yeah that’s the reason because LOD is the better game. Is perhaps worth skipping this and saving for LOd if you only plan on getting one of the games
FINALLY, Now legacy of darkness please. That game was so awesome and is so good.
soon enough, should be 2019
N64 Glenn Plant really looking forward 🤗
I loved this game,I had a lot of fun with it and really liked the puzzle solving and the use of time.
one of my favorite game of all time thank you for doing this review
And thank you for tuning in!
Symphony, Dawn, Aria, and IV are probably my favorite Castlevania games. Such an awesome series of games! One of my favorites franchises ever.
I loved the DS ones 👍
Awesome video and review! I'm a fan of the Castlevania games. I love Castlevania 64, but I love Castlevania 64: Legacy Of Darkness the most, but anyway great review and keep up the awesome work! :)
I’ll be doing LOD early next year I think 👍
Cool. I'll be looking forward to it. :)
Great review for an underappreciated game. Thank you. Hopefully more people are able to enjoy this game. I actually really love Castlevania Blood lines and it was one of the games that made me want to pick up another Sega Genesis after I sold my original. Again, great work!
Thanks commander! 🍺
N64 game with camera issue say isnt so
Vampirerockstar Many N64 Games had great camera controls and what do you expect: this console introduced a free camera adjustment from begin with, so one more gaming quality of life standard you have to thank Nintendo for.
Huh?
N64 had the worst camera control ever. But the games were so good that it made up for it
This was my very first CastleVania game i ever played and i liked it back in the day. I didn't get why people hated on it so much. The game was hard and clunky and poor camera, but the levels, puzzles, atmosphere and suspense were good, especially maze with the frankenstein dude, the music was fantastic, that music was DOPE.
That’s a very cool memorable part of the game, scares so many players
Im so happy to see that you put out so many videos, Thank you really Thank you.
No, thank you for taking time to watch it means a lot
I remember getting castlevania 64 the day it came out.
Don't know why this game gets so much hate it's a amazing game
This style of castlevania would be outstanding today on a modern console these games were highly underestimated need a remake
Just found your channel and I’m loving it. Castlevania 64 is actually a good game I think. It has its flaws but it does have great atmosphere. Can’t wait for a Legacy of Darkness. Awesome channel and great content.
thank you so much and welcome! LOD will be 2019 :)
It's great to see a balanced review of this game. It gets rather unfairly torn apart and I too wonder if the average individual would look upon it more favorably if SOTN wasn't a thing. Even with SOTN, I think it's a solid game on its own and it fits in nicely with other N64 3D platformers. It's undoubtedly got some issues (as many 3D titles did back then), but it's still a well made game and an enjoyable experience when you know what you are doing.
Couldn’t agree more with that assessment 👍
To me my personal favorite castlevania would be aria of sorrow on the gba, for how addicting the soul mechanic is.
That's the sad thing; most of the handheld titles, compared to the contemporary 3d titles, were so much better.
The cotrast was staggering.
Curse of Darkness really switched things up...hasn't happened since lol
I love this channel so much!!! Glenn always brings back great childhood memories 😁😁😁 still waiting on the 2 hour ocarina of time review! 😍😍😍
thank you Charlie, its positivity like that which keeps me working!
@@n64glennplant it's channels like this that keeps me on TH-cam! I feel your the best N64 reviewer on TH-cam! Keep up the great work!
Would love to get your review on legacy of darkness!! I’ve watched all your videos at least twice lol. Really takes me back to a better time, and I still absolutely love my Nintendo 64!!
Hope to be well enough to finish off the last few reviews I have left soon!
I hope you get well soon, best wishes! Looking forward to them if you get to it
Game was great especially the remake that came later. Needs a remaster
I think so too
I was so excited for this game when I was little and when I got it, I loved it!
What was your fav part
Hey great channel, still waiting for the legacy of darkness review! Cheers keep up the good work.
Castlevania 64 was my first Castlevania and my favorite, I played this game through so many times.
Did you get all the endings?
As weird as this might come off, Castlevania 64 reminds me of Resident Evil-isolated on a giant map, puzzles, survival horror elements, and arguably “bad” controls. Also, the status bar reminds me of RE’s health status. I think it’s a shame this game gets a bad rep-it definitely is a unique installment in the Vania series. Is it SotN? No, but it never wanted to be, and I think that’s what fans/gamers need to understand. Not every installment is trying to be the best of the best in the franchise. Anyway, I love your reviews. You don’t just criticize games and focus on the bad. Instead, you inform your audience of the unique qualities each game has. Great review!
@D core The chasing in the garden with a chainsaw freaks me out.
A lot of people jumped on the hate wagon about this game. While it has issues, the game excels at atmosphere, music, and characters. I have fond memories for this one, because it was the 1st Castlevania game I had beaten at the time. It was no picnic, the game will challenge and frustrate you. I still love SOTN and all of the DS Castlevanias, but I have enjoyed all of the 3D releases over the years and think their is reason for both styles of games
See I loved the DS castlevanias too, great games
I love both Symphony and this one. To me this one was more memorable. May be the music and the ambience. It felt more realistic. Like if being inside a Victorian horror movie. What I love about symphony is the RPG equipment system. But still this one was more memorable to me, and much more dareing to finish.
Hi Glennplant, will you please do the Legacy of darkness review? It improves so much from this game and I think to few people know about this. Thank you.
I've been waiting for this episode since I suscribe the channel... so. like 3 years :D
Haha glad I could finally deliver
I will always love Castlevania 64 and Legacy of Darkness!
do you like LOD?
Love the soundtrack in this game...
its pretty cool isnt it
@@n64glennplant It is! Can't wait for your Legacy of Darkness video. I've been wanting to return to the 64 Castlevania games for while but I don't know if I should play both 64 and Legacy or just Legacy. I've heard that Legacy is kind of an expanded version of 64 but also not quite the same? Hopefully your next video can clarify that?
Hey Glenn, are you planning to do a video on Legacy of Darkness some day? It kind of is the 'Definitive Edition' of that game and I think it deserves the content you could make for it. People, including myself, looked down at this game back then but nowadays I think it's a pretty solid action game for the N64. The Castlevania name and the expectations that came with it dragged the game down more than the game by itself in my opinion. Cheers!
One day when I return I shall 🤞
ill be dusting off my copy Glenn! I acquired it for the collection quite a while back but i never got around to playing because of all the hate the game gets. awesome video as always man please keep it up :)
always best to try and forge your own opinions, especially when bad reviews are mostly just following AVGN opinion because to go against that is asking for people to hate on your video
I love the castlevania anime on Netflix and I have a n64 so I’m happy to see you review these games to let me know which one is worth a playthrough. My favorite is symphony of the night simply because alucard is my favorite character. I know the belmonts have always been the focal characters of the series but who is a more poetic choice to stand up to Dracula than his own flesh and blood and tell him his mother would be disappointed
I still need to watch that series, heard great things
N64 Glenn Plant you should definitely give season 1 a watch it’s only 4 episodes long so you’d breeze right through it. For me it was far too short and waiting for season 2 was torture
After finishing this game both with Reinhardt Schneider as well as Carrie Fernandez (bad ending w R and good ending w C), have to say this is one of the most under appreciated games out there. While the platforming isn’t perfect, there are enough save points where a fall here and there isn’t going to set you back. Not to mention with practice you get better at it. Having also played legacy of darkness w all 4 characters, I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on that game. Finally, on a separate note, I hope you eventually review Hercules game on N64. I always thought it was a laughable game, but I’m genuinely surprised as I’ve been playing it and it’s a fairly decent game, especially in the visual department, as some points just look amazing. Have a good one!
That’s on my to do list still although I’m really not a fan of it. Happy new year also 👍
N64 Glenn Plant thank you. You as well.
I'll have to check out a Speedrun on this. I distinctly remember playing this game in the dark as a kid and the labyrinth chainsaw chase frightened the crap out of me haha
Yeah that part was 😧
This game got a lot of hate due to the AVGN episode, this game was decent back then and fun to play through
DictatorDario it got hate long before AVGN. I love the game. Not perfect but does not deserve all the flack it gets
I don't know man. Like James, I came up in the mid-80s. My first Nintendo console was the NES. So I grew up with Castlevania I, II, III, and Super Castlevania for the SNES. I was pretty disappointed when I played this back then, and was jealous of the PS1 guys having SotN. Maybe it comes down to what you expect from a series.
Several games made a successful transition to 3D. Mario and Zelda are two obvious examples, but I didn't enjoy this then or now. That's why I feel they went back to the 2D format, because it suited the series so much better.
this waz actually my 1st castlevania game ever. like others here on the comments why does this game have a bad rap. i get it through your review and thanks for the great job too. idunno i like it
I really enjoyed this and its "sequel" back when they were released. Great video!
Legacy will be uploaded in 2019 I think
@@n64glennplant Awesome, Looking forward to it. Did you ever play Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage?
"The Villa" is one of the best Castlevania level.
Yeah man. Haunted house vibe.
With my honor as a Belmont i MUST watch this review of a Cult Classic!
😍👍
For the Reinhardt and Carrie modes I think this game is better than Legacy of Darkness. Especially if you play on hard mode. A lot of the intense, almost unreasonable aspects of the original hard mode (which any slightly masochistic long-time Castlevania fan would appreciate) were removed from the Legacy of Darkness version. The later title also removed the Rondo of Blood alternative outfits for Reinhardt and Carrie. The advantage of LoD is that it looks slightly sharper even with the expansion pack hi-res mode off (this mode on makes the game near unplayable due to terrible framerate).
LoD in any case is still worth playing for the Cornell mode.
I agree, its weird that they solved so many problems with LOD but also took away some of the things that the hardcore castlevania fans really wanted and appreciated
@@n64glennplant Yep, a particular example I remember is they removed the scary gardener as an actual boss fight in hard mode on that long passage on the side of the garden maze in the Villa section. Since he kills you in one or two of his chainsaw swipes you're pretty much screwed if you don't save right before. It stuck in my memory as one of the scariest moments in the game and it was a disappointment when I realized it was gone in LoD.
@@Izquierda That is true. The gardener, and the final boss form can one-hit kill you in hard mode. Also dracula's final form in Cornell mode felt really cheap in LOD. Very little space to maneuver at and a lot of cheap attacks.
I enjoyed the hell out of this game, and to be frank it has to be my favorite Castlevania game just because of the memories attached to it. Yeah, there are objectively way better games in that series but I will never forget being a boy booting it up for the first time on a dark, snowy night and hearing the haunting violin intro and just getting lost in smashing skeletons apart with a whip, seeing the big giant one with the axe pop out....oh man. Magical. It certainly had problems (I do still remember falling to my death like 8 times trying to jump across that first chasm) but I guess I didn't care. I guess it was still a time when games were new to me and it was easier to get lost in the world and the vibe of it even when it was frustrating at times.
Also man I just found your channel and I'm really into it, talk about a trip down memory lane! Keep it up dude, great stuff!
Thanks dan - that’s how most people find this channel and nostalgia is a wonderful thing 👍
That title screne is so great. I love it. I still haven't played this game even though I own it..
I am a huge castlevania fan and I find these 3D games very intriguing. It's awsome in the last couple months we finally get a glimpse at what Castlevania would have looked and played like on the Dreamcast with Castlevania Ressurection which was for so long just a opening cutscene and a Story that went under verified. I just wish it was finished by devs, it would have been such an epic edition to the Dreamcast Library as well as the Castlevania Series. Anyways I have to pop this game in my N64 soon and play it
I loved this game as a kid. I made my dad rent it for me a couple of times so I can beat it(which I never did). It was pretty scary to me at that time, it had a very creepy atmosphere. I wish they would release it on current consoles.
Ok now you got me interested in the next Castlevania game.
Worth checking out, I’ll try to do soon
Castlevania 64 was the first Castlevania game I played and despite it being frustrating at times I really enjoyed it. Later in life I was surprised to find out that fans actually hated it, but it's still one of my personal favourites.
I think thats the problem with the internet in some ways, often you can be put off when you hear a lot of people hating on something that it puts you off trying it.
This was my first Castlevania game and it was a very enjoyable rental for me around it's time of release. I never have played Legacy of Darkness, I really need to get on that. I agree on the OST, what they went with for this game is a better fit than the usual series tracks.
If you enjoyed this then you should love LOD 👍
For an N64 game the cutscenes are surprisingly cinematic. They are used very well.
I honestly do hope that in the near future they either port this(along with it's enhanced port/special edition) for the Switch or they make a 3d remaster(a la Spyro reignited, Crash N sane trilogy, Halo remastered and the hd remaster of wonder boy dragon's trap) of Castlevania Legacy of darkness while fixing some of it's camera related issues. But that's just me.
Also my favorite castlevania games are the Advanced trilogy, the DS trilogy, SOTN, Rondo of Blood and Super Castlevania.
I too would love that, although I just cant see Konami ever doing it - but never say never
Massively underrated. Captures the challenge- and frustration- of the original 2D platformers very well into 3D. Also atmospheric and spooky, especially the music.
I too felt this had a cool atmosphere, glad you feel that way too
Actually if you get to the end too quick the ending isn’t as good. You need to take at least 15 day cycles in the game for the epic ending.
Thanks for the review Glenn, I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to playing Castlevania on the N64 soon, I have both titles but I'll start with the first seeing as it tends to be overlooked in preference to the second title Legacy of Darkness, I look forward to your review of the second game in the future.
I don't know why I've waited so long to play the N64 Castlevania titles, but I think it's high time I played them finally, along with the other entries in the series I've missed.
see I would perhaps say skip this one and play LOD instead
My all time favourite Castlevania game is Symphony of the Night.
Hard to argue as that’s one of the best for sure 👍
One classic track does return but in a different style, art tower = old sinking sanctuary
An ear for the audio too I see 😬
Thx. I do also however like the original tracks as well there's only so many times you can use the same songs you know what I mean
Owned it. Loved it. Like most early 3D titles, it's got its fair share of technical issues that have become more apparent as gaming as evolved, but it's still a solid title that got overshadowed by SOTN on PSX. I'll always appreciate this game.
love your positivity! I agree with your point 100%
I loved this game, and the followup with the werewolf. Cheers.
Cool to hear, yeah Cornell was badass 🤘
I love this game to death.
Can't wait to see your Legacy of Darkness review
This was my first Castlevania and I played it a lot 20 years ago.Controls and camera are a big problem, but it has a great atmosphere,grafic and sounds.
Have you continued to enjoy the series since?
@@n64glennplant yes, I played Symphony of the night and the three 2d games on the DS. I was waiting for the release of Bloodstained, but I don't like the animations, it would have been better in 2D.
CV64 and LoD are one big game in my eyes. With LoD being more polished but changing some levels and missing the others voice acting.
It's also my favorite CV entry in the franchise.
It's way more well received than a lot of detractors would have you believe.
People often forget that.
AllGame 4/5 stars
GamePro 4.5/5 stars
GameSpot 8.2 out of 10
IGN 8.2 out of 10
Nintendo Power 7.9 out of 10
Gaming Maxx 7.1 out of 10
Archive 64 3.9 out of 5
EGM 8.75 out of 10
Game Rankings 73%
Metacritic 78/100
Played this for the first time just this year, and I was blown away at how much fun I was having. It's a bit sticky in places, but the overall package is absolutely worthy of the Castlevania name. LOD is probably better though, although you get stuck with the werewolf for far too long before you finally get to play the almighty Reinhardt.
Yeah that’s one down point of LOD for sure
My favorite Castlevania game in the series is, hah, Castlevania. Egoraptor's Sequelitis episode goes into greater detail, but I like it for its spot on difficulty. Simon's Quest was too easy, Dracula's Curse was too difficult. For me Castlevania 1 was just right. I have never played Castlevania on the N64 because I heard it was bad. Your review has got me interested now!
I would recommend that you play legacy of darkness which is really the better of the 2 N64 castlevanias to play
You should have played Castlebania Legacy of Darkness because it is a more complete version of this game. Legacy of Darkness has new characters, features, and levels
....as was discussed in the video
I love Castlevania 64 warts and all, my favorite is Bloodlines for the Genesis and my favorite character to play in this game would be Carrie.
Not played bloodlines for years but remember enjoying it but not as much as 4 on SNES
Castlevania 64 was great and i loved it as a kid. Never quite understood the hate, it was a good action adventure title for it's era, and a great Castlevania game with an awesome soundtrack.
I agree, a lot of people forgot that it got generally 8/10 scores on its release
I still love this game, and wish Konami would remake this game in HD on the switch. This was such a great experience. Ya there is obviously some hiccups but even ocarina of time has hiccups. Please remake Konami
I don't think Konami ever will but we can live in hope
I was never a big fan of Castlevania games, having grown up in the 80's/90's without a subscription to Nintendo Power, but I can say that the Castlevania anime is damn good and well worth the watch.
I watched the first episode but it never clicked with me sadly
Awesome review! Really underrated game.
Glad you agree Adrian!
I use to own this game in the 90s and I have pretty good memories of it. I do remember getting mad at the cam at the time. It always seemed to mess up right when you had to do a platform jump. I didn't find out about the second version till years later. I was thinking about buying it again but I'm not sure if I should get this version or Legacy.
Another Glenn plant review yeeeesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Keep them coming Glenn 👍
Already have next week uploaded 👍
N64 Glenn Plant awesome. Great job mate. Love the foreword in the n64 anthology btw.
Great review Glenn!
thanks foolio