HeroOfTim
2002
This game has a lot of things I do like about it but it's just kinda mid overall. It's a fun game (and has easily the best bosses in the series pre-Mercury Steam) but I really have no desire to replay it at all for obvious reasons. I totally get why the gameplay style is a part of the story, it just doesn't make for that interesting or well designed of a game. Not to mention the actual design flaws like the little NES progression moments or the map design. I respect what the game is trying to do, I just don't really care about a Metroid game that isn't replayable.
One of the quintessential examples of a perfect remake. My only large complaint is the game telling you where to go at almost every point, but honestly if you ignore those pointers the game is actually a lot more open than it seems to be. Still lots of sequence breaking opportunities, still replayable as hell. Easily one of the best Metroid games.
1986
One of the rare first NES games for a series that absolutely still holds up. By far my most replayed game ever (I mean you can beat it easily in like 20 minutes what do you expect).
I do have a soft spot for it but I will not defend (most of) its design choices. Some of them suck. If you play with a guide it's fun, but the fact that a guide is 100% required to get anywhere or do anything (yes, it absolutely is required) is a core flaw in itself. Great music, but that goes without saying for Castlevania. I do like some things about it though.
Still an okay game, but it's significantly less polished than CV1 in pretty much every way besides the music and visuals. Literally over half the levels suck. There's stuff to like but every time I replay it I feel like it was a waste of time.
1991
The gameplay itself is really janky at times but everything else about this game slaps. The music is close to being one of the greatest soundtracks in gaming, the atmosphere is immaculate, and it has my favorite moment in the series (if you've played it, you probably know what it is). And since atmosphere is my favorite thing about Castlevania... yeah I love this one.
I've flip flopped on my ranking of this game many times for various reasons. But after my last replay, I am setting in stone that normie take or not, this is my favorite game in the series.
Yes, the combat/difficulty is hilariously incompetent, which was the main thing holding it back for me before now, but honestly it's just one blemish on an otherwise amazing game. When it comes to gameplay, the map design is great (only topped by Aria and Dawn of Sorrow) and the movement mechanics are not only the best in the series but the best in the entire genre as far as I'm concerned. As for the rest of the game, it's a visual masterpiece with one of the greatest soundtracks in the entire medium of video games. Outside of the combat, this game perfectly appeals to why I personally love this series more than any of them.
Ecclesia, Dawn, the original Castlevania 1, I fully believe these are all better games. But I am satisfied saying that SotN is my personal favorite.
Yes, the combat/difficulty is hilariously incompetent, which was the main thing holding it back for me before now, but honestly it's just one blemish on an otherwise amazing game. When it comes to gameplay, the map design is great (only topped by Aria and Dawn of Sorrow) and the movement mechanics are not only the best in the series but the best in the entire genre as far as I'm concerned. As for the rest of the game, it's a visual masterpiece with one of the greatest soundtracks in the entire medium of video games. Outside of the combat, this game perfectly appeals to why I personally love this series more than any of them.
Ecclesia, Dawn, the original Castlevania 1, I fully believe these are all better games. But I am satisfied saying that SotN is my personal favorite.
1991
Eeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhh. Starts off with one of the best opening levels in any game but it falls off so hard. Some truly garbage level design all throughout the rest of the game, and terrible special stages to boot. Marble Zone is one of the worst video game levels I've ever played. It has its moments but overall bleeegh.
1992
Marred by some very bad levels at the very end (shudder Metropolis Zone) but before that, it's very good. Great example of the skill mastery that is the main appeal of 2D Sonic's design.
2017
Amazing music and wonderful level design all around, with the caveat that that wonderful level design is mostly just recycled from the good levels of the old games. If it was entirely just original levels (like Titanic Monarch), it would be one of the best platformers ever made easily.
2015
Loved it a long time ago, a bit more mixed on it now. Going back to it several years later, you can tell Toby wasn't quite as experienced. Don't know how unpopular of an opinion this is, but I definitely think Deltarune is vastly better than this game so far. Not to say Undertale is bad-- it still has tons of merit. Great bosses, phenomenal music, great humor, some good characters and endings, etc. The cringey stuff (everything about Asriel, the overly edgy Genocide ending, the graphics) is too hard to ignore for me though.
2018
Great fun. In terms of being a story, it's better than chapter 2, though I like chapter 2 more for being peak comedy. Great bosses and music, and much better graphics than Undertale.
2021
The second funniest game I've ever played. Had a blast with everything about this game. Absolutely cannot wait for the coming chapters and will drop everything to play them immediately.
Hands down the funniest game I've ever played. Pure charm and hilarity in every aspect. The story is really nice as well, fantastically goofy but emotional when it needs to be. Only loses a star for its gameplay. I find the battles very lackluster and a few dungeons are flat out bad. After the halfway point it gets better though.
2016
Best fourth wall breaks gaming has ever seen when it comes to the puzzles. I used to love the story but my opinion has gone down over time. Still worth a playthrough at the very least.