Castlevania HD

12 cert, Konami, Xbox Live **

An old property gets a marginal reboot for Xbox Live, but don't be fooled: You might expect that HD stands for "high def", but in fact it means Harmony of Despair. Unsurprisingly for a Konami game, Castevania HDhas both pretty design (ornate medieval backdrops and neat character work) and cheesy music. Choosing from a variety of characters with different abilities, this is a 2D, side- scrolling puzzle and platform game. Each level is an ornate labyrinth of riddles, traps and pesky villains. Unlike the DS versions, this Castlevaniaallows players to zoom in and out; you can get an overview of the layout, then quickly zoom in to where the action is. However, the game is difficult and pernickety, dependent on exquisite timing and deft manoeuvring. While some 2D classics have aged well , Castlevania HDwill likely frustrate more than enthral.