I’ve blasted through Konami’s Castlevania Advance Collection to bring you my thoughts. This set includes four Game Boy Advance hits—Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance, Aria of Sorrow, and Dracula X—all in one package. In this review, I’ll explain what the collection does well, where it falls short, and how it compares to other Metroidvania games. Plus, I’ll share speedrun tricks for players chasing faster times.
First Impressions
From the dramatic intro of Circle of the Moon to the final battle in Dracula X, this collection is both fun and frustrating. The pixel graphics still look great, and the level layouts invite plenty of exploration. However, the emulator isn’t perfect and sometimes breaks the feeling of being in the game.
Compared to newer Metroidvanias, these GBA classics feel more focused and demand quick, accurate controls. While they don’t include many modern features, they reward players who take the time to master the gameplay. For speedrunners, that’s both a blessing and a curse.
Gameplay Highlights
What Works Well
The Castlevania Advance Collection offers strong gameplay across all titles. Circle of the Moon features sharp, responsive combat where timing is key—things like canceling attacks or jumping while slashing feel smooth and natural. Aria of Sorrow stands out thanks to its soul system, which lets players build unique playstyles. For instance, using fire claws with homing souls can help defeat bosses faster.
Meanwhile, Harmony of Dissonance impresses with its compact, looping map design that encourages smart movement and replayability. Overall, each game represents the best of GBA action-platforming with tight controls and creative mechanics.
What Needs Work + a Speedrun Trick
Even with those strengths, the collection has some issues. Emulation bugs, especially when using save states, can cause crashes after about an hour. In one case, Aria of Sorrow even reset mid-run. Also, if you’re playing on console, the button icons don’t match PS4 or Xbox layouts, which can be confusing.
The menu options are also pretty basic. You get save states and a rewind feature, but there are no extras like visual filters or scanline effects. Still, speedrunners can enjoy a few tricks—like the Moon Magic glitch in Circle of the Moon’s chapel, which skips half the level and saves nearly two minutes.
Story and Characters
Unique Heroes, Shared Battle
Each game focuses on the fight to stop Dracula’s return, but every hero brings a different vibe. Circle of the Moon introduces Trevor Belmont and his spirit allies, using detailed NPC conversations to build the story. Harmony of Dissonance adds a quirky tone, with Juste Belmont’s journey blending spooky style and light humor.
On the other hand, Aria of Sorrow feels more serious, following Soma Cruz as he discovers the truth about his powers. His story—dealing with a strange past and absorbing enemy souls—has earned praise from fans, with one Steam reviewer calling him “one of the best main characters” in the series.
Stronger Lore and Character Identity
The heroes in these games have clear goals and character growth, adding more meaning to their journeys. Dracula X gives us Richter Belmont, the classic action hero, delivering a no-nonsense finale to the collection.
Notably, NPCs don’t just fill space—they often give helpful hints, like clues to secret rooms. This mix of storytelling and gameplay gives the games more depth and makes each replay feel fresh.
Visuals and Graphics
Because the GBA had a small screen and limited resolution, Konami had to get creative. Sprites look sharp, and the backgrounds keep their unique gothic look. In Harmony of Dissonance, Konami even adjusted some color choices and music displays for this version.
Colors in Dracula X stand out more than I remember from the original cartridge. Still, I wish there were display settings like scanlines or exact pixel modes. It would also help to have screen border options that keep the right aspect ratio.
Sound and Music
The music is still fantastic in all four games. Circle of the Moon opens with haunting organ tunes, while Aria of Sorrow includes high-energy guitar tracks that rank among the series’ best.
Big thanks to Konami for improving Harmony of Dissonance’s audio. On original GBA hardware, some songs sounded muddy—this version sounds much clearer. Sound effects are sharp too, though controller speakers still output mono audio. There’s no voice acting, but the music more than makes up for it.
Challenge and Replay Value
The GBA entries don’t hold back. Bosses force you to learn patterns, and enemies show up often, which makes collecting souls or upgrades a bit of a grind. But every run feels better as you learn more.
High Replay Value with Hidden Strategies
These games are perfect for players who like to experiment and improve. In Aria of Sorrow, you can skip major soul pickups for a tougher, more strategic playthrough. In Circle of the Moon, the warp glitch in the chapel lets you complete levels faster.
Meanwhile, Harmony of Dissonance is great for 100% completion—upgrading Juste Belmont gives players a checklist of goals to pursue. I’ve done over two dozen runs, yet I still find new tricks. However, without in-game guides, you might need to search online for how to pull off precise moves or find secret routes.
Extra Info and Fun Facts
GBA History and Hidden Features
All four games came out on the GBA between 2001 and 2005, during a golden age for handheld gaming. Circle of the Moon introduced the dual-card “Dokken” system—a mechanic originally made for the SNES—that let players mix magic cards for custom attacks. This idea pushed the series to try new things in later games.
Creative Design and Bonus Lore
Aria of Sorrow’s look was shaped by GBA color limits, and director Junichi Murakami used that to his advantage with Soma’s flashy “Ultimate” Soul effect. The collection also includes a bonus encyclopedia, which gives more info on enemies, bosses, and the Belmont family history. It’s a great extra for fans who want to dive deeper into the lore.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
The Castlevania Advance Collection brings together four standout GBA Metroidvania games. Tight gameplay, amazing music, and smart level design make this a must-play for fans. While the emulation isn’t perfect and the extras are a bit thin, speedrunners and long-time players will find a lot to enjoy. Whether you’re farming souls in Aria or glitching past rooms in Circle, this set is full of challenging, rewarding fun.
Add Castlevania Advance Collection to your Steam collection!
