The new DLC is a treasure trove of content and a must-have addition.
While that might be a bit of an overstatement, Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania delivers far more than its $3.99 price tag suggests. It's not just a nod to 30 years of Castlevania games; it's a thorough tribute to the very inspiration behind Vampire Survivors.
Ode to Castlevania introduces a huge new area to explore, shaped loosely like Dracula's Castle. It draws inspiration from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, featuring recreated boss arenas and teleport rooms that let you zip around the vast map. However, exploring on foot is the best way to appreciate developer Poncle's homage to the Metroidvania-style maps that revitalized the Castlevania series. Poncle advertised "20-plus new characters," including various Belmonts, Belnades, Alucard, and many deep-cut characters. Without spoiling anything, "20-plus" greatly understates the number of new playable characters in the DLC.
The core gameplay remains largely unchanged. Seasoned Vampire Survivors players will easily fall into the familiar rhythm of dodging enemy swarms, gathering XP, and planning their random builds. However, Ode to Castlevania is packed with secrets, new weapons (including eight new whips), and several surprising twists on standard Vampire Survivors gameplay. Players will easily spend dozens of hours uncovering everything the DLC has to offer.
Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania goes beyond just adding more content. It's a significant upgrade for the game, featuring enemy sprites inspired by 2D Castlevania games that are visually superior to Poncle's previous offerings - some of which seemed like off-brand versions of Konami's designs. For Castlevania music fans, nearly every memorable tune from the series is included in some form. The expansion's title, Ode to Castlevania, is truly fitting. It's evident that the passion for Castlevania that sparked Vampire Survivors' creation shines through here. With this DLC, the game's makers are sharing their love for the franchise with all of us.
Vampire Survivors and its Ode to Castlevania expansion are available on multiple platforms: Android, iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. This wide availability allows almost everyone to enjoy a slice of Castlevania nostalgia.
