There is always some controversy when one game takes too much inspiration from another. With indie games modelled after well known series, this can be a serious issue unless there are mitigating circumstances. In the case of Citidale: Gate of Souls, there are many mitigating factors, since while it is no doubt a Castlevania clone, it does have enough differences. As well, the fact that Konami has taken certain actions as of late that have proven controversial, has led some to feel this game is a justified creation.
Let’s not make any mistakes, this is clearly based on Castlevania and in fact, evolved out of a fan game version of Castlevania Legends. However, I feel the game does stand on its own merits and made enough changes. The pixel art style is absolutely great, and the music is amazing. The music really reminds me of some of the best of the NES era and that is always a plus. It has a haunting nature to it, that just fits well with the setting of the game.
The gameplay is well designed and the game has an innovative hook. The game can be played entirely on the gamepad, with the TV showing an extended map that shows more areas and even hidden ones. Or if you want, you can switch the setup so the map is on the gamepad and a single screen is shown on the TV. The enemy design is good and the power-ups all work fine, but there is one issue. The game feels very slow moving at times, and I do not mean the pace. I mean the game itself feels like it is moving slowly. This can throw you off or be annoying, but it is not a major issue and you can easily adjust to it. It is just something to keep in mind.
Overall, I feel this is a game that follows the path fangames should. It changed itself just enough to stand as its own thing with its own identity. It feels different enough that I feel this is a legitimate game and should not provoke controversy. As for the game itself? Aside from the slow feeling, I liked it. It has great music, good action and enemy design, and was fun. I must recommend it.