Fulfilling that itch that Castlevania created is hard for gamers, especially if your favorite platform is the Game Boy Color. There simply are not many games in that genre available, well we can add one more now and it is called Dawnrazor. Skilled used of “less is more” black shading expands the details on the screen as you traverse level after level of deadly creatures and harrowing jumps on your mission to destroy the ultimate evil.
So Much Like Castlevania It Almost Hurts
Dawnrazor is playing it close to the source material, working that gothic, challenging gameplay in its favor. You even use a whip as your main weapon in Dawnrazor but the enemies are more original as is the level design.
Another area that Dawnrazor steps away from Castlevania is among those very enemies and powerups you collect. Things here are more bio-mechanical than just undead coming after you. It is a soft touch, but it is a welcome change considering all the similarities elsewhere to Konami’s classic franchise.
Designed from the Floor Up for Game Boy Color
Itch.io member, sbtalbain has crafted Dawnrazor from the start for the Game Boy Color and the Analogue Pocket. This means sprites are the right size to easily be seen, levels are designed with the smaller screens and limited resolution in mind, etc.
All the available buttons on the Game Boy Color are pulling their weight in Dawnrazor as well. Some have alternate actions when used in conjunction with pressing Up on the D-Pad as well.
I played Dawnrazor but do not have footage due to my only capture method being via Virtual Boy Advance and, well, it produces crap AVI files.
There is an interesting story to pull you onward to the next set of levels with captivating teasing by the bad guy. Just be ready for slight disappointment whenever you die, you will be traversing the same sections repeatedly till you reach a check point/new set of levels.
You are in for a tough run here, no one is holding your hand and things can get tough. Particularly jumping and trying to use your whip in mid-air, this will cause a bit of frustration as it causes your character to fall short of where they would otherwise land.
Special thanks to YouTube channel Hack Games Longplay for their video showing off Dawnrazor.
Grab your copy over on itch.io now.
Are you a fan of Castlevania? Which one is your favorite? Mine has to be Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, even though it is the black sheep of the franchise.
It looks like a good game, but I've never had the chance to play it, it looks spectacular
They have a version you can play in your browser, or you can download the ROM file for free. It is a tough game but it looks great.
I think this game is really admirable for presenting gothic action and challenging gameplay within the limitations of the Game Boy Color. I think this is definitely a great option for anyone looking for a similar Castlevania experience. I enjoyed your blog.
I agree, it captures the intended feel quite well considering how limited the Game Boy Color is.
Thank you for the support, it is greatly appreciated.