What happens when you fuse a determined Italian plumber sporting an iconic moustache with a world of vampire hunters, ghouls, and demons? LetsTalkGames has answered that question in their newest Super Mario World x Castlevania ROM hack ‘Castlemania’, and it looks incredible.
I love mash-ups; there’s something about a collaboration between artists and forms of media that usually wouldn’t go together that I find incredibly interesting. Danger Mouse’s The Grey Album featuring mash-ups of Jay-Z and The Beatles is fascinating to listen to, and hacks that put characters into unfamiliar scenarios and games create that same level of interest for me.
Take a look at Mario in the YouTube clip below; why does it feel so normal even though these are two completely different games? A castle rising up from beneath the Mushroom Kingdom definitely isn’t something that Princess Peach would tolerate, especially the imminent threat of (this is the best bit) Count Koopula.
In truth, it feels like an elongated level set inside Bowser’s Castle and is set up very much like a typical Super Mario World level, albeit with haunting music and some extra spooky features thrown in. LetsTalkGames has stipulated that the hack is ‘inspired by the early Castlevania series and attempts to channel the spirit of ‘NES difficulty’. It’s designed to be a throwback hack of sorts- with instant-death blocks, secrets, and familiar enemies to fans of the franchise.’
As is usual with many of the ROM hacks I cover, the levels in Castlemania have custom-made soundtracks and graphic sets, showing how much hard work goes into the making of these new and exciting mash-ups. Still, the hardest work of all to undertake is for you, the player, because this game won’t save until you have completed all of the levels. We’re talking old-school NES difficulty here, folks, and if you die, you have to start from the very beginning! Not one to play while on a short train journey or when you’re feeling stressed then, huh?
Time and a thorough playthrough will determine whether it heads into our list of the greatest Super Mario World ROM hacks, but for now you, can head over to the Castlemania listing on ROMhacking.net to find out more
