Editing Castlevania: Harmony of Despair

{{GameInfobox
|developer = Konami
|publisher = Konami
|series = Castlevania
|producer = Koji Igarashi
|artists = Kozima Yoshihumi
|ww_rel = {{Release|2010|August|4|WW|Xbox 360}}
|na_rel = {{Release|2011|September|27|NA|PlayStation 3}}
|eu_rel = {{Release|2011|October|12|EU|PlayStation 3}}
|jp_rel = {{Release|2012|March|29|JP|PlayStation 3}}
|genre = Action, Adventure, Fantasy
|features = Single-player, Multi-player,Co-op
|ratings = CERO-B,OFLCA-M,ESRB-T,PEGI-12+
|platforms = PlayStation 3,Xbox 360
|dplatforms = Xbox Live Arcade
}}
{{nihongo_title|Castlevania: Harmony of Despair|悪魔城ドラキュラ Harmony of Despair}} is a 2D action-adventure game for the [[Xbox Live Arcade]]. The game features a new map system that allows players to see the current quest map's entire setup, as well as up to six players at once over Xbox Live. The game was first leaked as an OFLCA Rating on May 27, 2010,<ref name="OFLCA Classification">[http://www.classification.gov.au/www/cob/find.nsf/d853f429dd038ae1ca25759b0003557c/c1fee180eb5d760aca257730005dabd0!OpenDocument OFLCA Classification]</ref> then  officially announced for Xbox Live Summer of Gaming 2010.<ref name="Geek.com">[http://www.geek.com/articles/games/xbox-live-summer-of-arcade-games-announced-20100615/ Geek.com]</ref><ref name="Joystiq">[http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/14/castlevania-harmony-of-despair-announced-via-xbox-live-summer/ Joystiq]</ref> Later in the year, the game was unveiled as a playable demo in the Konami booth at the [[E3 2010|E3 Convention of 2010]].<ref name="1up">[http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/30070/ 1up]</ref> It was released on August 4, 2010.<ref name="G4tv.com">[http://e3.g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/63970/castlevania-harmony-of-despair/index/ G4tv.com]</ref>

Pointed out by [[1UP.com]], ''Castlevania: Harmony of Despair'' may be released on Sony's [[PlayStation Network]] if the game sells well on Microsoft's [[Xbox Live Arcade]].<ref name="1UP">[http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3180101 Castlevania: Harmony of Despair Could Go to PSN]</ref>

==Gameplay==
Gameplay includes a Co-Op mode, which plays like previous 2D Castlevania game's "Boss Rush Mode", but with several rooms and items to find, culminating in a boss to fight. It also includes a Versus Mode, with battle occurring between players. Some bosses are able to attack players on their way to the fight.<ref name="Computer and Video Games">[http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=252300&skip=yes/ Computer and Video Games]</ref> The game features playable characters such as [[Alucard (Castlevania)|Alucard]], [[Soma Cruz]], [[List of characters in the Castlevania series#Jonathan Morris|Jonathan Morris]], [[List of characters in the Castlevania series#Shanoa|Shanoa]] and [[List of characters in the Castlevania series#Charlotte Aulin|Charlotte Aulin]], all from previous 2D Castlevania games.

All of the characters include eight palette swaps to accommodate players that wish to be the same character.<ref name="Destructoid">[http://www.destructoid.com/e3-10-hands-on-with-castlevania-harmony-of-despair-176694.phtml/ Destructoid]</ref> They will be joined by other characters through downloadable content, when released. The characters have their own signature attacks and skills to use in battle. An all-new map system allows real-time zooming in and out of the current stage, which will not stop gameplay and even allow players to play with the map zoomed out.<ref name="Destructoid" /> The game can also be played in high definition (alluding to the initials of the title: Castlevania HD.)

Other features in the game include a Book placed in certain parts of a level, which is the only way to change items and equipment mid-game. Consumable items such as potions, however, will be scrolled through and consumed using specified buttons on the controller. Also, the experience point system from most newer 2D Castlevania games has been taken out, reducing players to finding weapons and equipment as the only means of assisting the character, and levelling up sub-weapons and spells as a means of character growth.<ref name="GameTrailers">[http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-2010-castlevania-harmony/700391/ GameTrailers]</ref>..

==Development==
{{Empty section|date=August 2010}}

==Reception==
{{VG Reviews
|Edge = 8/10<ref>Edge 218, p97</ref>
|EuroG = 4/10<ref name="EuroGamer">http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/castlevania-harmony-of-despair-review?page=2</ref>
|GSpot = 7.5<ref name="GameSpot">http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/castlevaniaharmonyofdespair/review.html</ref>
|GT = 7.8/10<ref name="GameTrailers">http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-pod-castlevania-harmony/702498</ref>
|IGN = 7.5/10<ref name="IGN">http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/110/1109803p1.html</ref>
|OXMUK = 7/10<ref name="Official Xbox Magazine UK">http://www.oxm.co.uk/article.php?id=21545</ref>
}}
''Harmony of Despair'' was met with varying reception.<ref>http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/castlevaniaharmonyofdespair?q=castlevania</ref> Scoring it a 7.5, [[GameSpot]] praises the multiplayer where it's "the best way to experience this new Castlevania, and it's the optimal way to experience what may be a new and fun potential direction for the series to take."<ref name="GameSpot"/> GameTrailers commented on the exploration in comparison to previous games menitoning that "the thrill of discovery is gone, and in its place is the compulsive drive to acquire loot. Oddly enough, it works, and it can actually be a lot of fun with friends."<ref name="GameTrailers"/>

Resolution Magazine was disappointed with its "somewhat fiddly gameplay" and for only having six different stages. They concluded their review with a score of 6/10.<ref>http://resolution-magazine.co.uk/content/review-castlevania-harmony-of-despair</ref> [[Destructoid]] also awarded the game 6/10, stating that "ultimately it feels like Castlevania Lite -- a stripped down version of a real Castlevania game with none of the depth or clever design."<ref>http://www.destructoid.com/review-castlevania-harmony-of-despair-180442.phtml#ext</ref> Eurogamer criticised the multiplayer, mentioning that "''Harmony of Despair'' strips Castlevania down to its lowest common denominator in order to make multiplayer function, rather than reinventing the game to make multiplayer thrive". It was given a final rating of 4/10.<ref name="EuroGamer"/>
{{-}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.konami.jp/products/dl_xbox_dracula_hd/index.html Official site]

{{Castlevania}}
{{XBLA Summer of Arcade}}
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