Akumajo Dracula Mokushiroku

I'm a fan of the Castlevania series, for it's bestiary, gameplay mechanics, ominous soundtrack and memorable set of heroes. Most people claim Symphony of the Night is the best one, and while I liked that one, this is my all-time favorite in the series, yet I feel it's very under appreciated. For one I like the fact that moving in a 3D environment really makes me feel like I can explore a creepy castle with plenty of jump scares, solve some puzzles, and engage in combat with the creepies. This has the true element of horror that the 2D games don't have. I will admit the controls feel just a little too loose and the camera angles are something to be desired. I also detest the infamous challenge where you have to carry an explosive from one area to the next without jumping/falling or getting hit (if you play on an emulator this frustration is lowered just a bit), but I say those are mild quibbles. I like the ability to choose between 2 characters, my favorite is Reinhardt as he's too cool and he gets two main weapons instead of one. There are some great highlights such as the hedgemaze and the final battle, which gets high points for being both challenging and original. Overall, I think this game deserves a 2nd look and Castlevania fans should at least give this a chance.