Castlevania Miscellanies

[copy-paster]

Played Akumajo Dracula X68k through emulation for the first time and ended my credit on half stage 2, it plays like the first NES game with better graphics.

It's weird that the damage scale is lowered down with 1 block each hit by every enemies, but it has a lot of tricky level design traps, the hilarious one is the "never-end spawning Hunchbacks instead of roasted chicken."

[SuperDeadite]

The chicken is actually still in that room, but they moved it to the blocks on the opposite side from the fleamen. Meaning the ones below the door you first entered the room from.

[Blinge]

Just finished a casual playthrough ^.

My 16 bit era journey is over!

[FinalBaton]

Didn't have much planned today, so I poured meself a big mug of hot tea, and started a new game of SotN.


Goddamit...


It's so... so damn nice.


Really having a wonderful moment. Such a tight game. So elegant, smooth and precise. Majestic as fuck it is!

With the console's audio cables plugged into my good hifi system, rich and succulent sonatas emanate from my acoustic enclosures and dance around the room, swirling around my head, intoxicating me with wonderfulness. The RGB video signal sent to my NEC XM37 Plus, spoiling me with crisp and rich visuals to lay my eyes on, stimulating my mind to near orgasmic levels. A true feast for the senses.
This is life. This... is art.
(excuse the poetic language : I'm currently hearing the Library BGM and I feel like 15th century bourgeoisie right now)

[BulletMagnet]

You'd darn well better be drinking that tea with your pinky up! And speaking everything like a particularly unmotivated phone-in voice-over actor!

[FinalBaton]

Haha! You bet

[Blinge]

I've probably said this a few times but a nice challenge is to play it again soon after completion but take the most direct route possible. Something like a glitchless speedrun.
My best time's an hour, 20

After many many continues I've finished Castlevania: The Adventure.
Well that suucked. Stage 3 did some interesting stuff and Stage 4's where it finally started to feel like Castlevania.
Of course everyone knows how much it's marred by awful controls.
I've found that it actually eats your inputs too, you can't spam jump button if you want to make quick successive directional jumps because a neutral jump will happen instead. This caused me a good few deaths.

Also Stairs are so last-gen. This time we do awkward ropes!

[FinalBaton]

Good suggestion, will try this.



In this very run I did do a couple things differently,

-went to get the Jewel Knuckles ASAP. that weapon is quite strong at that point, and stays a good weapon for quite a while. Plus it's satisfying to use.

-I had never really messed with the Shield Rod much. But dammmmn Shield Rod + Iron shield unleashes a powerful spell, considering how early you get them. Two huge swords spinning and hacking everything in their path, lol. Deals very good damage and covers a lot of ground too.

-a minor thing but I make a point to use the wolf form and bat form's special move a bit more now(wolf charge and wingsmash). Althought I've been using the weapon's special moves and the spells forever, I never really used the transform moves except the wolf dash.


That's what I love about this game : there's so much variety and so much little things to try, to spice up your gameplay experience. This is the 6th or 7th or so time I'm playing it through and I'm still having fun.

[Austin]

Over the weekend I finally completed the second loop on Castlevania III (USA release). It's definitely a legit challenge with those unpredictable skulls, the extra bats, and the tougher zombies on Death's stage.

[Sumez]

Second loop in CV3 is srz bsnzz! I love the game, no-missed it a bunch of times, played it to death. I never once completed the second loop, it frustrated me too much to even try. Congrats.

[Shoryukev]

That's what I love about this game : there's so much variety and so much little things to try, to spice up your gameplay experience. This is the 6th or 7th or so time I'm playing it through and I'm still having fun.

Agreed! It's fun to watch friends play the game for that reason too, different people tackle things in different ways. Fantastic game

[copy-paster]

Over the weekend I finally completed the second loop on Castlevania III (USA release). It's definitely a legit challenge with those unpredictable skulls, the extra bats, and the tougher zombies on Death's stage.

Wow that's awesome! I'm still unable to clear CVIII until now (only cleared Akumajo Densetsu).

Anyway, still sticks with AD x68k (reached clock tower stage), really great game with tons of tricky platforming and great boss fights, though the damage scale is bit unfair.

Serious question : what do you guys think of Rondo of Blood? I haven't played that game myself, I see some reviews and they said the game is good.

[BIL]

Over the weekend I finally completed the second loop on Castlevania III (USA release). It's definitely a legit challenge with those unpredictable skulls, the extra bats, and the tougher zombies on Death's stage.

Nicely done. CVIII's loop is the nuclear option among the traditional series, haha. I like to think those skulls are in fact Medusas... they've just been flayed/decayed and driven irretrievably insane with b.b.b.br▌o█k▓en rhythm to match. Nobody who survives them will bat an eyelid at "normal" Medusas ever again! Those who can't handle normal Medusas will run screaming and weeing!

Serious question : what do you guys think of Rondo of Blood? I haven't played that game myself, I see some reviews and they said the game is good.

Rondo is excellent. It tends to attract a lot of fanwankery, both for and against; suffice to say it's neither the untouchable apex of the traditional series, nor a pretty trinket lacking substance. Just another superb, distinctive 16-bit Dracula sequel from the same golden age that produced X68k and Vampire Killer. Seamlessly marries classic methodical CV stage design and action to nonlinear pathfinding. Play with confidence.

You mean the PCE-CD game, right? Just checking. The SFC pseudo-sequel Dracula XX has its merits, but it's not as easy a recommendation (and it's absolutely not the same game, or even very similar).

[Blinge]

It's definitely a legit challenge with those unpredictable skulls, the extra bats, and the tougher zombies on Death's stage.

The understatement ever =o

Nice job dude!

[Austin]

I've been playing a lot more Densetsu lately and it's interesting seeing the differences. The vertical stair sections littered with bone pillars are so much easier because the projectiles are noticeably slower. Also, the second loop for instance is a bit of a joke compared to the NA release. As I mentioned earlier, the skulls are gone, but I'm surprised the harder zombies on death's stage aren't there either. Without enemies like that, you just have a few more bats and medusa heads (something I never felt was as threatening in this game as they were in the first Castlevania), and a few extra skull knights here and there, nothing special. The challenge boost is negligible at best and so I think players are best completing Densetsu once without looping it, there's little point to keep going.

Oh, and it's pretty fun to play with Grant in this version. Unlimited daggers! Just don't find yourself in this situation like I did last night. Oops.

[Sumez]

Second loop in Densetsu is a joke?

Damn

[Blinge]

^ just the regualar internet hyperbole I'll wager.

So, we've had Magical Vacation Doracula, Bank Holiday Dracula..

What's HoDiss? A stay at the in-laws' Dracula?

[Mortificator]

He's comparing Densetsu's second loop to the incredibly vicious one in Dracula's Curse and pointing out specific differences that make it easier. I haven't tried the Japanese version's second loop, but its first loop is much easier than the US version's, so this is believable.

[BIL]

Yeah, as far as 1:1 difficulty comparisons go Densetsu's loop is indeed nothing compared to CVIII's. It's probably nearer CVIII's first loop.

It's for this reason I consider CVIII the game's definitive version... not that Densetsu is overly easy, in its own right. Along with the snazzy VRC6 sound it's quite satisfying. But I want the option of morale-shattering cruelty! That and CVIII's much more interesting Grant. JP is a dull peashooting sniper, US is an addictively high risk/high yield ninja stabber. Fleadude can't take much abuse, but he's agile as fuck and not even big bruisers can withstand a brutal knifing flurry. Now that's erotic violence.

So, we've had Magical Vacation Doracula, Bank Holiday Dracula..

What's HoDiss? A stay at the in-laws' Dracula?

Castlevania: Off School With The Flu No Nazo. It's not great per se, but there is some small measure of relief amongst all the irritation. Annoying game tbh. I love it. 3;

[Squire Grooktook]

Your next line is: why does my walk speed feel so shitty?

[BIL]

I love JoJo Part 2's OP, but I'm still surprised at how incredibly well that suits Rondo's OST. In that soundfont it totally recalls Opus 13 and Cross A Fear. Could easily see that playing in XX's last stage.

"Your next line is... fuck! They cut all our lines to save ROM space!"

[Perikles]

Ah, splendid time to see this thread all the way up. I've been playing a bit of Castlevania ReBirth since it represents one half of my capacious Wii library. What will follow is unfortunately mostly a list of complaints - keep in mind that even a deficient Castlevania game is better than most of its action platformer kin, 'tis just the surcease in quality by comparison with other games in the series that makes me plaintive.

- Revenge of "boney-kun" (BIRU-sama)
One of the most striking aspects of this game is just how many skeletons there are in it. Scant are the mermen, the armoured knights are only there in burly poise, yet function as weak pike wielders, medusa heads and flea men are also decimated in numbers, in fine, it is the rise of osteoporosis prevention in ReBirth (mayhap an implicit pun on the title?). Unfortunately, there is not much thought put into the positioning of these, they serve as ignoble pebbles on your way to the end most of the time, even on later stages. There's also a ponderous apparatus as an enemy in the final stage which does nothing but waste time - you have to hit it twice so that it falls over, then you have to whip it some more so that the defenceless automaton finally resolves.

- Size doesn't always matter
You fight some bosses that are of gigantic scope, alas, it doesn't make for exciting battles. Death in particular is in a mortifying state - he carries with him some of the most impractically large scythes you'll ever see in a Castlevania game and is also intent on accosting you with self-confident malice, yet he is incredibly weak. The final form of Dracula is some colossal face that has you jumping on platforms in order to hit it (you could say he's testing the limits of the l'esprit de l'escalier in quite a literal sense ). This fight is actually rather demanding, it nonetheless looks a bit silly. There are a lot of inanimate bosses in general in this game which I don't care much for.

- It's the economy, stupid!
For some inexplicable reason there is a strong emphasis on money bags while you don't find many hearts hidden in candles. What's so ironic about this is that most sub-weapons require two hearts to use while the extend scheme is not generous at all. As a result you get points that don't reward you many lives and little hearts which also get drained faster. It's not that the use of a secondary weapon is necessary most of the time (rather the opposite), but it is very unsatisfactory having to be avaricious with your resources to such a degree.

- Match wits with the Riddler
There is one section in the game where you have to amble through a sequence of doors in the right order. If you go to the wrong door it teleports you back from whence you came. I have no idea what motivated the developers to do such a thing. If it were implemented in a visually/artfully interesting manner I could see potential. Suppose there be an eery sound effect or ghastly flickering, producing a fitful, unsettling emotion? Some nightmarish laughter or even a demonic hiss when you pick the wrong door? None of that happens. You just start anew as if nothing ever happened.

- Constructing fatigue
I'm also not fond of the length of the stages, including mini-bosses and such. There's no reason to have the Tatsujin Ou syndrome in a Castlevania game that is marred by excessive amounts of skeletons, I'd much rather have more succinct stages with some deliberation put into them. This is less of a critique than the other points for it is a preference, but I'd argue that a long stage has to rectify its existence - which was never an issue in other Castlevania games.


Overall, it is certainly an irretrievably compromised game. There are strong sections throughout, it has a snug whip hitbox that extends above the head and even a good portion behind our protagonist which allows for some neat stunts, the classic threats (pits, instant deaths) are ever present, especially some of the traps are vulpinely crafted. It's not nearly as much of a worthy entry to the series as Gradius ReBirth is to its series, though, it's rather weak in the grand scheme of things.

[Squire Grooktook]

^^^Quick question: were you playing on normal or hard?

I went straight to Classic/Hard because I was told "the entire game is a cakewalk up until the inexplicable difficulty spike of the last stage". I never managed to 1cc past stage 4, but my impression of it from the first 3 stages was much more favorable. Skeleton and trap placements (which I know are altered radically for hard down to the layouts of rooms) actually did feel rather smart, with stage 1 and 2's platforming being fairly tight, and stage 3's mix of combat and mechanical spike trap nightmares on par with some of the better moments of x68k Dracula. I don't know if it dips in quality in the long run, or if there are some cheese-out strategies for the exciting problem areas in stage 1-3 hard, but I was enjoying it quite a bit before I gave up

[Austin]

I never found Adventure ReBirth to be a cakewalk on Normal ("cakewalk" to me is SCIV, and even there mainly for seasoned players). It had quite a few sections I had trouble with for a short while. But, like with any other game in the franchise, you can tear through it when you really know it.

Hard mode on the other hand is really challenging. Possibly one of the hardest in the series. I do not recommend playing it on that difficulty first. Get used to the game's level progression and flow first before you try that.

I completely agree with Perikles' complaints. However, the more I play it and warm up to it, the better I get at it, the less I really care about them or the less they stand out to me (like the money bag issue--that was a big issue for me when learning the game; now, not so much).

[Shoryukev]

How faithful is Adventure Rebirth to the original GB game? The reason I ask is.....to be frank I'm not very fond of the GB game. I played it a lot as a kid and was incredibly underwhelmed with it.

[Austin]

How faithful is Adventure Rebirth to the original GB game? The reason I ask is.....to be frank I'm not very fond of the GB game. I played it a lot as a kid and was incredibly underwhelmed with it.

It features some of the same enemies, but asides from that it's basically a new game.

[Sumez]

They have rolling huge eyeballs. Other than that, almost no similarities.

[Blinge]

Castlevania: Off School With The Flu No Nazo. It's not great per se, but there is some small measure of relief amongst all the irritation. Annoying game tbh. I love it. 3;

The relief is that you can just blast and skid your way through those halls (ew) super fast.
But man, I'm so lost atm. So my next few sessions will probably be spent scouring every inch of ground already traversed to try and find something I missed or a new path.
(Also Akumajou STEEL BALL RUN x2)

Haha Perikles what's with the verbosity man? I had to look 'surcrease' up
You saying the quality completely stopped?

[Shoryukev]

It features some of the same enemies, but asides from that it's basically a new game.

They have rolling huge eyeballs. Other than that, almost no similarities.

That's good to hear. I've tried many times over the years to force myself to like CV Adventure, but I just....don't... The gameplay is just so slow, my thinking is they were worried about motion blur on the screen...but the game really suffers because of it. A lot of the GB TMNT games have the same issue.

[Skykid]

Enjoyed CV Adventure when I finished it on GB. Balls tough final stage and not the most creative Vania, but it has a distinct personality.