# Castlevania vs SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad at 100% against Castlevania's 54%. SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.9). Castlevania's advantage is ratings volume (1.8K vs 6) and chart position (#10 vs #196). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Castlevania costs $2.99 and SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Castlevania has 1.8K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Castlevania's written reviews are positive against 100% of SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad's.

Castlevania ships an update every 29 months, SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad every 27 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Castlevania | SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $3.99 |
| Rating | [3.9 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/castlevania-sotn/id1435456830/reviews) | **[4.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shock-troopers-2nd-squad/id1601559837/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 53.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 29 months | **Every 27 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#10** | #196 |
| Size | 326 MB | 158 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [KONAMI](https://appshunter.io/developer/299580230) | [SNK CORPORATION](https://appshunter.io/developer/343539874) |

## What reviewers say

### Castlevania

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/castlevania-sotn/id1435456830)

**Currently charting:** #10 Top Paid · Adventure, #24 Top Paid · Action, #64 Top Paid · Games, #101 Top Paid (US App Store)

Experience a classic action RPG on mobile. Explore a vast castle, battle unique enemies, and uncover secrets as Alucard. This port features updated controls and achievements.

**Highlights:** Direct port of the console classic, Play as Alucard, Jump, dash, and slash combat, Vast castle exploration, Game controller compatibility, New continue feature, Unlockable achievements

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Faithful port of a classic game
- 🎮 Works well with controllers
- 💰 Great value for the price

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎮 Unresponsive touch controls
- 🔍 Small action buttons
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches (clock room issue, save system issues)

**Reported bugs**

- Clock room not functioning properly
- Save system issues (not saving, losing progress)
- Audio issues (no sound, pitch/speed problems)

**Requested features**

- Customizable controls and button layout
- Original voice acting option
- Improved cutscene quality
- Cloud save support


### SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shock-troopers-2nd-squad/id1601559837)

**Currently charting:** #196 Top Paid · Casual (US App Store)

Experience a classic military action game from 1998, featuring mercenaries battling a massive corporation. Enjoy branching paths, vehicle combat, and modern conveniences like quick saves and customizable controls.

**Highlights:** Military action gameplay, Branching paths for player choice, Vehicle combat integration, Quick save/load functionality, Virtual pad customization, Online ranking modes

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Castlevania free?

Castlevania costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad free?

SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Castlevania or SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad?

SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad is rated higher. Castlevania averages 3.9 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad averages 4.8 from 6 ratings.

### Do Castlevania or SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad have ads?

Neither Castlevania nor SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Castlevania or SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad?

Castlevania ships an update every 29 months, and SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad every 27 months. Most recently, Castlevania was updated on November 1, 2026 and SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad on October 31, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Castlevania or SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad?

Castlevania currently peaks at #10 in the App Store charts, and SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad at #196. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*