Castlevania Miscellanies

[FinalBaton]

Agreed. CV1's Drac 1st form requires you to be focused and is just the right amount of challenge. It's a fun fight - doesn't feel like a "*sigh* I guess I need to get through that 1st form first" formality like in some other games.

[Squire Grooktook]

I'd also like to note that I've come to really appreciate the aesthetics and atmosphere in that fight. The shadowing of the room and Dracula's flicker (rather than pillar of light) based teleports make it look like he's melting in and out of the shadows like a true paranoia inducing night predator.

Like the fight itself, it's a classic example of doing a lot with a little.

[BIL]

Yes - shadow night terror > Saturday Night Fever

Certainly from a tactical perspective! Spotting most later Dracs is "TOO EASEH", to quote Howard.

[Shoryukev]

Like the fight itself, it's a classic example of doing a lot with a little.

That is a good way of describing CV1 itself as a whole. The enemy layout, level design, and the character movement are all very deliberate and create an experience that stays with you forever. CV1 just might be my all-time favorite video game for that reason.

[FinalBaton]

I'd also like to note that I've come to really appreciate the aesthetics and atmosphere in that fight. The shadowing of the room and Dracula's flicker (rather than pillar of light) based teleports make it look like he's melting in and out of the shadows like a true paranoia inducing night predator.

Like the fight itself, it's a classic example of doing a lot with a little.

very well said

[Austin]

I'd also like to note that I've come to really appreciate the aesthetics and atmosphere in that fight. The shadowing of the room and Dracula's flicker (rather than pillar of light) based teleports make it look like he's melting in and out of the shadows like a true paranoia inducing night predator.

Like the fight itself, it's a classic example of doing a lot with a little.

very well said

I second that.

[Shoryukev]

Played through Bloodlines this weekend, it was some good fun! It definitely doesn't seem as hard as CV1 (or nearly as hard as CV3), but I am fairly new to the game so not having things memorized it provided a decent challenge. I somehow missed this one when I was a kid, despite being a sega fanboy.

I thoroughly enjoyed the bat boss battle in particular. The way it circles around you and the pillar looks like it's spinning is just flat out awesome for a Genesis game. My least favorite boss is probably the robot/gear thing, it was just kinda annoying...but not particularly difficult. The boss rush aspect of fighting death was cool, it made you feel tough for having gotten better at the game since you last encountered those bosses when you slaughter them a second time.

The most frustrating part for me was probably the section in the final stage where it splits the screen up in sections and offsets them. The visual illusion of it got me several times, I'm so used to planning my jumps by looking at the next platform....and here it is not quite where it seems. One thing I will say is while it was frustrating when it happened, I always laughed at myself when I died. Oh Kev you idiot, you forgot about the screen-shift again! LOL

Overall I had tons of fun playing through it with the whip character. Not sure if I'll replay it with the spear guy or not.....probably won't feel as vania-esque.

[Sumez]

Bloodlines is the one big missing piece of the CV puzzle for me. Been playing it a ton of times, but never "for real", and I never got far (except for when I've been "cheating").

Apart from some genuine bullshit, like the screen split-up section that you mention, it's really Castlevania at its best, and my limited experience with it definitely places it higher on my appreciation list than Super Castlevania IV, which I always felt was pretty overrated. Bloodlines on the otherhand somehow still manages to be criminally underappreciated. A fate it had to share with the similarly excellent Dracula XX on SNES. I gotta dedicate some time for some real mano a mano sessions with this thing sometime soon.

[Shoryukev]

The screen mix-up and upside down sections kinda add to the atmosphere in my opinion. They are annoying and a little cheap, but the trickery employed is something you often see in horror movies involving the hunt for a mysterious foe such as Dracula.

I will probably play through Super CV4 next weekend. I never had it as a child either (or a SNES at all for that matter), so I need to give it the proper attention required before I give any sort of judgement on it. I've played it a small handful of times, but I've always written it off as too-easy and shut it off after playing through the first 4-5 stages. From what I've read in this thread, it does ramp up the difficulty and get interesting towards the end....I need to give it a more legitimate chance.

Dracula X on the SNES looks fun as well, but I've never played it. It's an expensive one to find here in the states, and honestly not at the top of my list (Megaman X2 holds that spot for SNES at the moment LOL). One day I'll give it a try though!

In unboxing everything for the new house we just moved into, I found a working GBA and a copy of Circle of the Moon in one of my random boxes I had in storage. I wish it was an SP model since it's hard to see the screen (no backlight), but I'll probably start playing that one soon.

[Sumez]

The screen mix-up and upside down sections kinda add to the atmosphere in my opinion. They are annoying and a little cheap, but the trickery employed is something you often see in horror movies involving the hunt for a mysterious foe such as Dracula.

Good point At the time though I felt like it was just a stupid attempt at showcasing more effects. When I saw the screen cut-up thing for the first time I actually thought the game was glitching out. It does NOT look intentional XD

but I've always written it off as too-easy and shut it off after playing through the first 4-5 stages. From what I've read in this thread, it does ramp up the difficulty and get interesting towards the end....I need to give it a more legitimate chance.

CV4 is often cited as the easy one, which is confusing to me. I'm pretty consistent at beating CV1 and 3 for the NES, commonly known as the "difficult" ones, and I have a way harder time with CV4.
Sure, if you're fine with using continues, you'll get through it eventually, and probably without hitting nearly as many walls as you would your first time through CV3. But while CV3 is fairly easy to learn and patternize, CV4 still gives me a tough time after being through it many times, so I think people tend to judge the games based on their initial experiences with them. There are way more cheap shots than in any of the NES titles, the whip swinging mechanics are awkward and IMO don't add anything to the game apart from the novelty, and especially the dungeon stage with the one-hit-kills and the randomly disappearing bridge right before the boss is just infuriating.

I do love the final bit of the game, though, with the boss gauntlet leading up to one of the most atmospheric Dracula battles ever.

But I prefer SNES Dracula X to CV4, personally. It's classic Castlevania the way I like it. Sure, it's no Rondo of Blood, but it was never intended to be a port, and is an amazing game in its own right.

[Shoryukev]

It definitely could be just a showcase of effects. CV4 and Bloodlines are stuffed full of new shiney "look at what 16 bit can do" antics. Either way it does kinda fit stylistically, but it is annoying to play through it LOL.

For me CV1 seems easy, but I've been playing it for years on end. Everything is programmed into my brain almost as much as SMB1 is (which I can damn near beat blindfolded LOL). I mainly mentioned CV4 in my post to say that I don't have a whole lot of experience with it, and need to give it another look before I judge.

[Squire Grooktook]

Not sure if I'll replay it with the spear guy or not.....probably won't feel as vania-esque.

I highly recommend you do. Eric feels CV through and through, and despite his attacks seeming slower at first, his greater range and on-command invincibility frame move lets him be even more aggressive than John. He's incredibly fun to play.

[Shoryukev]

Not sure if I'll replay it with the spear guy or not.....probably won't feel as vania-esque.

I highly recommend you do. Eric feels CV through and through, and despite his attacks seeming slower at first, his greater range and on-command invincibility frame move lets him be even more aggressive than John. He's incredibly fun to play.

That is great to know, sounds like there is still more fun to be had! I always enjoy high risk/high reward agro characters in videogames.

[FinalBaton]

The split screen thing in the last level of Bloodlines is great IMO. It fits with the castle's clear established theme of "Messing with your senses", along with the upside down part, and the corridor where you can hear the knights approaching real fast, but without giving you stereo sound to help you guess wich side they'll be coming from(done on purpose).

The split screen messes with your distance perception, the upside-down one messes with your hand-eye coordination and the corridor messes with your hearing.

I think it's a great theme. I also straight up like the idea of having a gameplay theme, with variations on it, for a whole level. it makes the level feel extra special(yet consistant) so it's fitting for an end level.

[Sumez]

I always felt Eric was the "beginner" character, with access to cheaper moves, jumping up on high platforms and the huge range that Squire mentions. John being the classic "hardcore" Castlevania character.
Of course, having never gone indepth with the game though, I couldn't tell you if Eric really makes anything easier once you get into it. Either way, he's really fun to play as, but John just makes it feel more like Castlevania, just like Ray is the way to go if you want Hard Corps staying true to Contra

[Squire Grooktook]

I always felt Eric was the "beginner" character, with access to cheaper moves, jumping up on high platforms and the huge range that Squire mentions. John being the classic "hardcore" Castlevania character.

The way I see it, the game is fairly easy either way. The real joy however is not just clearing it, but learning to utterly brutalize and speed kill everything the game throws at you in a blaze of glory. Aside from x68 (for it's perfectly devious level designs and rng that keeps you twitching every time), Bloodlines is my favorite to replay again and again for its agressive tactics.

For that reason, I find Eric the most fun to replay with. As he has the most tools and options to play with in bulldozing the game.

[BIL]

The visual distortion in Bloodlines' st6.2 is a favourite little cruelty of mine, both aesthetically and mechanically, though I won't deny I absolutely dreaded it for many years.

I think it's supposed to imply watching a reflection in a shattered mirror. Goes great with the understatedly macabre effect of blood dripping from above onto the crimson carpet. Is it truly a luxuriant vermilion, or has it merely been stained that way as the Madonnas gaze from the shadows? Brr!

Mechanically the trick is to keep your character's feet in sight at all times. There's at least one jump where you'll appear to have walked off the edge, going by the "middle" shard, but the lower one will confirm you're on safe ground. If you jump too early, bam, into the pit you go.

The inverted room immediately following is cool too - far from an empty setpiece, the platforming arrangement itself is a rush every time, the inversion just adding a smidgen more nerviness.

Animated GIF "NOW THAT IS INVERTED DANCIN"

Spoiler

Dare you to the... DRACULA SECURITY GRID

BTW speaking of gory deets: I am of course glad to see awareness of the scourge of Cyber VAWG, but as a feathery birdkin I wish to direct your attention to Cyber VARC.



Cyber Violence Against Ravens and Crows. You especially should know that, FFS!

Animated GIF "THE BIRDS II: ATLANTIS NO NAZO"

Spoiler

Teach 'em to shit on my windscreen.

[soprano1]

BIL, that's a blackbird.

[BIL]

You're right. Offhand I thought it was a Ching-Ching

[FinalBaton]

Haha, those birds really get trashed real good. I love how monsters expode/catch fire as they die in Bloodlines, that's damn satisfying

[Sumez]

Violence, what?

I have that EU version

[Skykid]

Ok, Bloodlines is a little more challenging than I may have given it credit for.

Picked it up again yesterday and made it to Dracula, but didn't have the memory or lives to dispatch him. Although I actually remember the last stage bosses being fairly easy to pin down, it's stages 5 and 6 that are a little more taxing.

I've never actually played the game with Eric ever. I'm into whips. How much easier is it with Eric, and are there any regional differences in difficulty (I'm on VK).

[Squire Grooktook]

^^^Yeah. Versailles is great and the final stage is a bit of a let down in comparison imo.

I personally feel that (besides lacking a higher survival challenge difficulty mode) one of the main things holding Bloodlines back from the same level of perfection as x68 akumajo dracula is the last stage.

It feels very rushed in terms of the uber short stage layout (mostly consisting of recycled hallway backgrounds from versailles) and the boss rush of repeats and push overs. I like the upside down section, but the stage lacks meaningful combat as a whole.


Anyway, Eric: I think he's easier. But I also think he's deeper and more fun. Learning to space yourself just right to constantly tackle enemies with the spear is great fun. And his invincible pole vault special opens up a lot of creative options for staying close to enemies without backing up from their attacks.

[Skykid]

Just got the 1CC with Morris.

It's a lovely game, certainly the true arcade Castlevania. I'm still not sure if it's harder than Rondo, but I suppose I can't remember Rondo too well.

I personally feel that (besides lacking a higher survival challenge difficulty mode) one of the main things holding Bloodlines back from the same level of perfection as x68 akumajo dracula is the last stage.

It feels very rushed in terms of the uber short stage layout (mostly consisting of recycled hallway backgrounds from versailles) and the boss rush of repeats and push overs. I like the upside down section, but the stage lacks meaningful combat as a whole.

Not sure, there's some beauty in the last stage. I love the opening against the blood red moon and the sudden upheaval of the bridge you're walking over. The double layered room would actually ruin nearly all early runs if it didn't have a 1up on repeat right at the beginning, essentially making it unlimited attempts to get through. But what the last stage is essentially is big boss heavy. It's weighed down with battles, which is nice, even if they're all fairly easy (and Elizabeth fairly tedious).

I suppose that kind of final stage setup echoes the game entire: it really is a set-piece laden adventure from one crafty room and screen-tall enemy to the next.

The question: is it a better game than CVIV? I'm not sure about that, but I'm yet to put IV properly through its paces, so I should probably get around to it at some point.

[BIL]

I've never actually played the game with Eric ever. I'm into whips. How much easier is it with Eric, and are there any regional differences in difficulty (I'm on VK).

VK is significantly easier than Bloodlines on Normal, but only marginally easier on Expert. Check out my riveting expose! :O

Violence, what?

I have that EU version

It's the 50hz that spoils New Generation for me. Censorship I can handle but this game, of all traditional CVs, is about the momentum.

It does still have the series-exclusive Bird Step mechanic though! ;3

[Volteccer_Jack]

Sliced up screen section is pure genius, fuck haters. Just needs a few Axe Armors thrown in to be perfect. The boss rush part isn't as good, the only CV with a good boss rush was Rondo IMO.

[Sumez]

It's the 50hz that spoils New Generation for me.

What, it's optimized for 50hz? I always played the game in 60hz, as that seems to go for almost every non-Sonic PAL game on MegaDrive.

[BIL]

No idea. If it behaves at 60hz then cool - the censorship is a shame (best zombies of the whole series imo, authentic rotting puce!), but that's not such a big deal.

[Skykid]

I've never actually played the game with Eric ever. I'm into whips. How much easier is it with Eric, and are there any regional differences in difficulty (I'm on VK).

VK is significantly easier than Bloodlines on Normal, but only marginally easier on Expert. Check out my riveting expose! :O

Right, well that probably explains why I feel it's fairly easy then. Since I only ever play the region of copies I actually own (because I like to make headway!) I doubt I'll play through Bloodlines.

But I might have a crack with Lacarde while it's still fresh to see if he's as fun as you all say.

[Obscura]

You won't be disappointed. LeCarde is the real Bloodlines.