Dinsun Review
I grew up with Symphony of the Night, so I have high standards for this franchise. Grimoire of Souls is a weird one. On one hand, seeing all these legendary characters in high-definition 2D-ish art is a treat. The music is, as always, top-tier. But you can still feel the 'bones' of a gacha game underneath. The missions are short and bite-sized, lacking the sweeping exploration of a true Metroidvania.
To be fair, Konami did a decent job stripping out the pay-to-win elements for Arcade. You actually earn your gear now through play, which makes it feel like a real game again. The controls are okay on a screen, but if you're serious, you need a controller. It’s a bit grindy, and the story is nonsense even by Castlevania standards. It’s good enough for a fan, but it's a pale shadow of the 32-bit classics. It feels like a museum tour rather than a new adventure.
Overall Stats
Pros & Cons
- Incredible roster of playable characters
- Phenomenal soundtrack
- Polished visual presentation
- Repetitive, short mission structure
- Still feels 'grindy' despite no IAP
- Clunky touchscreen controls
Technical Report
Performance: Occasional framerate dips during intense boss fights; long loading times between menus.
- Full Controller Support
- Auto-battle options
Audience Fit
Buy if: You are a die-hard Castlevania fan who wants to see all your favorite heroes in one place.
Skip if: You are looking for a deep, interconnected 'Metroidvania' map to explore.
- Dead Cells
- Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
- Castlevania: SotN
Reviewer Context
- Reviewer: Dinsun, 40yo Male, Conservative Professional Critic
- Hardware: iPad Pro with DualSense Controller
- Playtime: 22 hours
- Status: Finished Main Story
