More and more adaptations of video games are being released. Whether movies or series. Among the most well-known representatives are probably Fallout, Arcane, and The Last of Us. However, as early as 2017, Netflix showed how to adapt a game really well. MyMMO editor Niko can recommend a series to anyone.
Which series is it about? With Castlevania, an animated series was released that not only adapts the games but creates something of its own. The series started back in 2017, four years before Arcane.
Video game adaptations seem to be the new trend. Series like Arcane or Fallout are not only popular with fans of the games, but they also reach a large audience outside their bubbles. The most important thing is: They must be well executed.
This is how animation for adults works
What is Castlevania about? Anyone who knows the game series knows that, apart from the two Lords of Shadow titles, very few titles focus on the story. Usually, Dracula is the villain, and as a member of the Belmont family (or sometimes a relative of the vampire), you must defeat the prince in a castle.
This basic idea is picked up by the Netflix series and tells the story of Trevor Belmont. The vampire hunter family is now an outlawed part of history, and the world is overrun with monsters and demons. The drunken Trevor meets the sorceress Sypha, and together with Dracula’s son, Alucard, they try to stop the prince of vampires’ forces.
What makes Castlevania so good? A major factor in the animated series is Dracula himself, at least in the first season. The backstory is told, and how he came to hate humanity. The vampires are still malicious, but they gain additional layers and structures through enough screen time.
It is particularly exciting to see what intrigues and plots arise within the vampire community. But the three protagonists are also interesting characters.
All three have a different relationship
with the monsters, and the dynamic is reminiscent of an adult version of the protagonists from Avatar – The Last Airbender or Naruto. There are often quiet moments that make the characters more relatable. Anime and action fans can also have a lot of fun in the four seasons of the series, as the battles are impressive.
The fights are convincing, especially thanks to the setting
How are the fight scenes? The fights are quite good, and thanks to various monsters, weapons, and techniques, they never get boring. The setting is well incorporated. The attacks are dark, but never so brutal that they seem overly violent.
They are choreographed in such a way that they appear believable within the shown world. There is no illogical pity, which makes the animated series always adult
in nature. But humor should not be missing.
Especially Trevor likes to joke or lighten situations with cheeky remarks. It’s not quite as exaggerated as in Devil May Cry, which allows the series to find a nice balance so that the gothic horror setting remains dark.
Do you need to know the games to watch the series? No. You can enjoy the series entirely without prior knowledge; however, those who like the mood and the fight against Dracula should take a look at the game series. Another Netflix recommendation can be found here: On Netflix, starting tomorrow, you can binge 6 seasons of a fantasy series that should especially interest fans of Supernatural
