Castlevania Miscellanies

[Blinge]

Oh, I was trying to go for a clear without cheesing bosses with holy water.
I've already thrown my toys out the pram though and may just resort to that.

fanx guize ^O^

[Skykid]

Oh, I was trying to go for a clear without cheesing bosses with holy water.
I've already thrown my toys out the pram though and may just resort to that.

fanx guize ^O^

Good luck with your holy water free pursuits. I'd just like a solid strat for crossing that fucking bridge.

I think you've inspired me to go back to this (at some point. bizzy).

[BIL]

Cross is more than enough for Creature and Death, really. It won't outright stop them from moving like Holy Water, but it'll still wipe out most of their HP before that. Death will get to summon some sickles but hey, picking them off with your own missiles is kinda fun! Remember, spot his summons then act - commit blindly to a corner or jump attack and you might get hosed!

Dracula's second form is where HW cheese really comes into its own, but again Cross is more than sufficient if you don't mind a brief scrap. Basically HW's only needed if you want these bosses totally incapacitated. 3;

I'd just like a solid strat for crossing that fucking bridge.

Haul ass muhfucka! I hold up/left from the map screen and stop only if disaster is imminent (typically a trailing fireball on-course to knock me into a pit). Also

-> get stopwatch, efficiently as possible. losing my nice x3 subweapon sucks, but stopwatch is a vital safety net here (if a bat decides to be an asshole) and in the clock tower (safe passage through the first fleaman room). Also you can easily level up the fresh Cross found in the keep by 1) shooting Drac's projectiles for a bit then 2) shooting the candles for II and III icons.

-> don't sweat taking a hit or two, there's a wallmeat in the clock tower (which you'll need the stopwatch to get without risking an eagle/fleaman gangbang - it's in the alcove just to the right of the stairs down). If I've taken just one hit, I won't bother with this.

The bridge is masterable, but pretty poor compared to the general excellence elsewhere... there's little middle ground between hauling ass, possibly with damage taken, and being roped into a pointless battle. AFAIK, there's no room for storming bat-smashing exploits, just get outta there pronto.

If it's of any help, my typical bridge method over three runs. I don't think there's a "pattern of death," but the bats do act differently from run to run. Exactly what's going on with their AI is probably a question for TASers.

1) first loop
2) second loop (same run)
3) first loop, another run

[FinalBaton]

BIL, I got no problem challenging the 2nd form of Drac with the Cross on a 1 continue clear. But on a no-death run... yeah I'm not gonna take that risk ­ >w>
Dying at the very end of the game and wasting half an hour of gameplay of an otherwise great run? Not worth it!

On the other hand, I agree that it's more fun to not cheese bosses, and that's the route I choose (not cheesing them, that is) 95% of the time

[BIL]

TBH Dracula II's stomp is a bit cheesy anyway (if you don't know how to bait him into high jumping), so he deserves whatever the player throws at him.

I actually don't know how to HW Dracula. It might look like I was showing off in those runs but I'd probably get killed if I tried!

[FinalBaton]

TBH Dracula II's stomp is a bit cheesy

Agreed

[BIL]

For those unaware of what we discuss - clck the spoiler to discover BERUMONDO OUGI S6B2A: emergency Dracula II high jump ^_~

Spoiler

[FinalBaton]

I'll still go holy water on him in a no-death run lol
I wouldn't feel confident enough to pull this every time I need to

[BIL]

I'm still not sure if it's possible to consistently make it underneath his low jumps, tbh. I can only remember doing it once, but I was completely guessing, I had the help of interfering Crosses, and I still squealed in terror while doing so!

[Blinge]

Man, getting through the flea man tower killed me 3 times today on a 1cc attempt =[.
Also draccy keeps clipping me by teleporting on me, I can't seem to get out of the way in time.
Is there a trick to that or is my reaction speed piss poor?

[FinalBaton]

Don't move! wait for HIM to re-appear, and be prepared to move at a nano-second's notice! (train your eyes on your character, stay focused, and as soon as you see Drac, get the F out!)

Are you playing on a CRT and on an actual NES?

[Blinge]

I try man. I get bummed.

Nuh. Nestopia
(inb4 millions of people warp into the thread and tell me I'm using the wrong emulator, that i'm a filthy fucking waste of space and I should be using X instead)
Actually it froze on stage 6 for me today which was really quite annoying.

[Perikles]

I always wander around the inner 60 percent or so when fighting against the first form of Dracula to avoid getting cornered (if you're on the leftmost or rightmost side of the screen and Dracula appears a few pixel ahead of you it might lead to an unavoidable hit), just walking from left to right and back, that usually works. I also have no shame using Holy Water against his second form and then just passing through its hulking body since stunned enemies have a disabled hitbox - you can move out of a corner with no hassle at all. I'm astonished you're hesitant regarding that strategy, BIL, considering your timeless advice in alio loco.

[FinalBaton]

I try man. I get bummed.

Nuh. Nestopia
(inb4 millions of people warp into the thread and tell me I'm using the wrong emulator, that i'm a filthy fucking waste of space and I should be using X instead)
Actually it froze on stage 6 for me today which was really quite annoying.

playing on a CRT with a console will definitely make the difference here.

It's one of those cases where you need to be able to react right away. And not be hampered by 2 frames (or higher) of lag

I'm telling you : once playing on the console and on a CRT you will have NO problem avoiding him


Also forgot to say : get the clock subweapon at the beggining of the clocktower segment! This will be a big help against the eagle/flea man orgy

[FinalBaton]

I always wander around the inner 60 percent or so when fighting against the first form of Dracula to avoid getting cornered (if you're on the leftmost or rightmost side of the screen and Dracula appears a few pixel ahead of you it might lead to an unavoidable hit)

That's why I always position myself in the center against Drac's 1st form

And not taking a single hit against that form is definitely feasible ^_^

[Blinge]

Alas Monsieur Baton, there may come a day when I have enough money and space to be getting hold of old consoles and physical games.
But it is not today.

edit: got that 1cc.

[BIL]

Dracula's first form you say?!

Spoiler

It's actually not too tight a window - my own reaction speeds aren't stellar, AFAIK, but I can no-damage him every time on my cheap bastard setup (FCEU with crummy LCD monitor + USB pad). A brisk test of nerves every time, but far from unreasonable imo.

It is absolutely punishing of wrong inputs, or attempts to hide. There are no safespots and as Perikles says the corners can trap you, so stay well towards the center. I strongly recommend standing still, too. If moving, you might escape with a lucky miss, or he might inescapably cross you up. And even if you see the crossup coming, having to let off one direction and hit the other is obviously not ideal. Jumping won't save you from getting hit, and will bias his projectiles upward regardless, complicating your own attack and prolonging the affair.

Use controlled reaction, basically. Otherwise you're just gambling.

I'm astonished you're hesitant regarding that strategy, BIL, considering your timeless advice in alio loco.

Gawd, probably my best ever post. Although he's no Rootmars, it's definitely not conscience that has me favour the cross - more an insidious mix of familiar comfort, mild showboating and fear of my own incompetence.

[Blinge]

I was trying to hide in the corner and then rush out as soon as he appears - the logic being I don't need to choose which way to run.

However that just bit me in the posterior because he might spawn a few too many pixels towards the centre for me to escape the hurtin' zone in time.

After following the Perikles Pugilistic Positioning Protocol I had a much easier time.

[BIL]

Oh lawd that sounds scary. Good to hear you got a grip on things.

Basically, provided you're safely near the center, the only thing you should be doing as Dracula appears is determining where he is, then walking left or right as required. Obviously you need to hit him too, but as soon as he vanishes you need to resume spotter detail.

[FinalBaton]

BIL, loved the LTIBC gif

[BIL]

[Obscura]

HoD also has some pretty neat music.

It also has some of the worst music in all of Castlevaniadom.

HoD is definitely one of - if not the weakest - of the Metroidvanias.

Not just worst Metroidvania, I'd say it's only saved from being the weakest 2D Castlevania because of those atrocities on the original Game Boy.

Yes, it's worse than Castlevania 2.

[FinalBaton]

Alas Monsieur Baton, there may come a day when I have enough money and space to be getting hold of old consoles and physical games.
But it is not today.

edit: got that 1cc.

Good job on the 1cc man!

Hey if you want I can give you my spare NES if you pay for the shipping.
All that'd be left for you to do is to go get a small consumer CRT (people get rid of these so you will most likely get one for free, or at worst for $25, and the picture is better on those than on their larger model counterparts) and an NES Everdrive, or to buy a couple of carts. Loose copies of common NES games aren't terribly expensive on E-bay.

[Blinge]

That's a really kind offer dude, but I'll have to pass. Keep that spare handy incase your main one breaks!

[BrianC]

HoD also has some pretty neat music.

It also has some of the worst music in all of Castlevaniadom.

HoD is definitely one of - if not the weakest - of the Metroidvanias.

Not just worst Metroidvania, I'd say it's only saved from being the weakest 2D Castlevania because of those atrocities on the original Game Boy.

Belmont's Revenge/Legend of Dracula II is definitely no atrocity and Adventure/Legend of Dracula at least has some killer music. I don't know about it being an "atrocity", but Castlevania Legends/Akumajō Dracula: Shikkoku Taru Zensōkyoku seems to be mediocre all around and has inferior production values compared to the earlier GB Castlevanias.

[Obscura]

I'll admit unfamiliarity with Belmont's Revenge, but The Castlevania Adventure and Castlevania Legends are both unbelievably terrible games. If you thought Richter was slow in XX...

[BrianC]

I'll admit unfamiliarity with Belmont's Revenge, but The Castlevania Adventure and Castlevania Legends are both unbelievably terrible games. If you thought Richter was slow in XX...

Ugh. More opinions as fact...

Castlevania Adventure is flawed (slow controls being the main flaw), but it still has some merits, the music being one of them. Graphics are impressive for an early GB game too.

I found the sound in HoD mostly underwhelming with a handful of decent tunes. The first two GB Castlevanias have a much better sound engine to HoD and make the latter sound like AM radio. Gradius Galaxies does a much better job with good tunes at low sound quality. At least the sound was improved with AoS, though CoTM has the best sound quality of the GBA games.

I actually found HoD somewhat enjoyable, though I agree with much of what was said about it. It has some of the dumbest bosses in the entire Castlevania series, too many repeated environments, magic system is unbalanced, and Juste gets super powerful way too soon.

[BIL]

Dracula Densetsu II is a decided improvement over the first game where level design is concerned - much denser and more varied than the threadbare original. Sadly it's only marginally less trudging. If the first game's movement feels intolerable (it is absolute borderline for me), the sequel will at least grate occasionally. Not quite as bad as it could've been, given DD2's tendency for Rockman-ish individual challenge rooms, but a necessary caveat. Outstandingly rich, catchy OST takes some edge off too.

Whoever started the idiotic, objectively incorrect "oldschool CV means slow walk d00d!" thing, it's unfortunate it survived DD1 to afflict DD2 and XX (DD1 possibly suffered from launch issues... but DD2 contemporaries Contra and Nemesis II are super-quick, and this ROMhack speeds DD2 right up). The original Castlevania's move speed is brisk, easily on par with everyone's favourite rootin' tootin' guerillla warfare simulator Contra. If it weren't, Dracula's teleportation would stove your stupid fucking face in. (uh... maybe it does, but that's on you gramps! CMON STEP IT UP)

Bumbling internet scrubs are one thing, but that actual devs partook in the slow walk shitshow just burns my ass. (・｀W´・) HOD's Simon walks slowly too, bahaha. But you can only use him in Boss Rush, and HOD Boss Rush is a goddamn sawdust sandwich, so oh well.

I tried out CV Legends and was appalled by its interminable second stage. KCE Nagoya were some chumps, apparently. I wonder if COTM's Scary Candle was a sly reference to CVL's very, very silly "you whipped this random candle, now you are in the zombie dungeon" feature.

[copy-paster]

some of the dumbest bosses in the entire Castlevania series

Yeah, I cleared the boss rush hard mode using Simon yesterday and after the end I thought "That was HARD mode? Really?", but it has a neat ending with an BG ending in original NES Castlevania.

this ROMhack speeds DD2 right up).

I tried this patch on my Konami GB Collection Vol 4 and holy shit..!! Ranked this game 10/10

Edit : CV Adventure also has a same patch. Don't miss this!

[Obiwanshinobi]

Gradius Galaxies does a much better job with good tunes at low sound quality.

Flawed gameplay (ship speed), but the presentation hard to find fault with indeed.

On topic, I'm liking this picture...



Drawn by a dude, isn't it?