Castlevania Miscellanies

[BIL]

On a side note my 3 year old daughter saw that I could select Maria, and from then on Rondo was her "princess castle game" lmao.

Aww.

Akumajou Neko Daisakusen:

Spoiler

Although Maria's more of a gag character than a serious alternative, I actually think she wasn't too far off the mark for superhuman protagonists in traditional CV - certainly more interesting than the prospect of CTRL+Ving in SOTN's Alucard (or indeed its Richter). Higher but not unlimited maneuverability, lower DEF, gamebreaking tricks that can still blow up in your face... dial back the blatantly OTT stuff, and I'd like her elf/cleric alternative to traditional Belmont tactical bludgeoning almost as much as CVIII's absolutely killer ninja/thief mode (aka Grant). Still worth experimenting with now and then - nobody should avoid her like I did for years expecting total fluff.

[Sumez]

I love freestyling over that bridge as Maria. She has so many funky "secret" moves, you wonder why they even bothered to put them in there for a "joke" character. Rondo just oozes of that kind of excess, and it's what makes it such a classic.

Spoiler

[niall]

What consoles do you guys recommend for Castlevania games?

Genesis for Bloodlines/VK alone may seem excessive but it's easily as good as its SFC/PCE/X68k contemporaries with a uniquely fast-paced, destruction-fixated style, and the machine has dozens of other great action games besides.

If you're into sidescrolling action games a NES/FC is most definitely worth getting anyway. Perhaps the definitive console for that genre - Konami, Capcom, Sunsoft, Tecmo, Natsume and Irem's best stuff is still absolutely first rate. I always go for real hardware anyway, but even without CV1 and CV3 I'd have an FC.

I really like both of the N64 games. Their action sequences actually play very much like oldschool CV with perilous platforming and infernal pests, and they have neat downbeat atmospheres and great soundtracks. The first's opening stage is bland but it improves hugely afterward. My N64 is primarily a Sin & Punishment / EAD / Rare adaptor but them there Mokushirokus are welcome too!

I'm only pursuing real console hardware on CRTs

Now we talkin' In that case PCE-CD is definitely a good addition - besides Rondo it has an excellent port of Ninja Spirit on HuCard, and lots of other cool stuff besides.

EDIT: in answer to dude's question: if you can only pick one console, get a Famicom, or at a pinch, a NES. Three CV game (two good ones!) plus a bunch of similar and not-similar-but-still-awesome action games that isn't matched by the other consoles, IMO.

I definitely recommend picking up a JP FC, though I feel both versions of CVIII are worth picking up.

Well Drac X doles out far more extends than you need when you include all hidden ones dotted about the place. Don't get me wrong, it may have felt a little too quick to get the clear but it's a beautiful piece of work. I savoured it.

Thanks for all the recommendations guys, my setup has gotten pretty crazy now just added JP PS1 and MegaDrive2 to the collection which so far includes Super Famicom Jr, AV Famicom and PCE Duo-R on a whole bunch of Sony tubes and projectors via Extron Crosspoint RGB switch, and all the controller ports feed a 24-port ethernet patch panel for MC Cthulhu arcade sticks over cat5 I have to get a decent photo up when I've racked and cable-tied everything down it's turning out pretty sweet I just have to add a C64 and an A1200 and I think I'll be set for retirement

I'm really looking forward to giving SotN some attention after I get through the rest of the series: finally finished Akumajou last year, Rondo the other week (wow), I just couldn't stick with Dracula X due to the walking sprite disconnect but looking forward to coming back to it later. Castlevania Chronicles was a laugh at first, but actually started to like it after a few levels..

I haven't started Metroid series yet, and I've never played PS1 before, but I'll ask around in other threads for more 2D platformer recommendations

[Sinful]

On a side note my 3 year old daughter saw that I could select Maria, and from then on Rondo was her "princess castle game" lmao.

Aww.

Akumajou Neko Daisakusen:

Spoiler

Although Maria's more of a gag character than a serious alternative, I actually think she wasn't too far off the mark for superhuman protagonists in traditional CV - certainly more interesting than the prospect of CTRL+Ving in SOTN's Alucard (or indeed its Richter). Higher but not unlimited maneuverability, lower DEF, gamebreaking tricks that can still blow up in your face... dial back the blatantly OTT stuff, and I'd like her elf/cleric alternative to traditional Belmont tactical bludgeoning almost as much as CVIII's absolutely killer ninja/thief mode (aka Grant). Still worth experimenting with now and then - nobody should avoid her like I did for years expecting total fluff.

Maria is the Mary Sue of Castlevania. Game could have used a character that added more of a challenge to make up for no second loop. Really wished the PSP remake added an extra difficulty, but that wasn't the case.

[Squire Grooktook]

Don't bully Maria

[Sinful]

Don't bully Maria

Or she'll Mary Sue your @$$, I know, I know.

[Marc]

My god, Haunted Castle is utter shit.

[BIL]

I'm not the biggest fan of the arcade game, but it's worth noting the original JP version ("Akumajou Dracula") is the more respectable version. The overseas "Haunted Castle" was screwed around with, specifically Version M and its ridiculous damage scale.

As with a few other lesser CVs the soundtrack delivers, at least.

[Marc]

Playing on PS4 so guessing iyltself the original. It's just so stiff and clunky. I mean, it's Castlevania so I'll persevere, but...

[copy-paster]

Playing on PS4 so guessing iyltself the original. It's just so stiff and clunky. I mean, it's Castlevania so I'll persevere, but...

The only thing you should like HC is the soundtrack alone, imo all tracks are good and this one is my favorite.

[SuperDeadite]

So over on the NFG X68000 forums, the stereoscopic 3D patch for Dracula has finally been found. Just need to rewire a Famicom 3D System Adapter to a minidin6 (only 3 wires) to use it. Dracula in 3D looks incredible, parallax heavy areas like Stage 2 Cave are jaw-dropping in 3D. Absolutely worth it. A must have for anyone with the original hardware.

[BrianC]

Playing on PS4 so guessing iyltself the original. It's just so stiff and clunky. I mean, it's Castlevania so I'll persevere, but...

Does it have the option for different versions on the title screen? I know a few of the Konami games have multiple versions available, especially Life Force.

[CStarFlare]

So over on the NFG X68000 forums, the stereoscopic 3D patch for Dracula has finally been found. Just need to rewire a Famicom 3D System Adapter to a minidin6 (only 3 wires) to use it. Dracula in 3D looks incredible, parallax heavy areas like Stage 2 Cave are jaw-dropping in 3D. Absolutely worth it. A must have for anyone with the original hardware.

Can this be recorded for youtube, or can it not be captured? It sounds really interesting; 3D isn't something I associate with the X68k and it sounds like you feel it's really well done.

[davyK]

Love Castlevania. But I only like it linear. I don't mind an alternative path, but when it went Metroid I lost interest. I was deeply disappointed with Symphony of the Night. Abandoned it. Haven't played any modern entry since.

SCIV was my first and that will always be my favourite. Rondo of Blood is superb and Chronicles on PS1 (the X68000 remake) is also on my list of favourites. I also really enjoyed the short but sweet Castlevania Rebirth on WiiWare. I'd have loved to have seen a full game made of that.

[SuperDeadite]

So over on the NFG X68000 forums, the stereoscopic 3D patch for Dracula has finally been found. Just need to rewire a Famicom 3D System Adapter to a minidin6 (only 3 wires) to use it. Dracula in 3D looks incredible, parallax heavy areas like Stage 2 Cave are jaw-dropping in 3D. Absolutely worth it. A must have for anyone with the original hardware.

Can this be recorded for youtube, or can it not be captured? It sounds really interesting; 3D isn't something I associate with the X68k and it sounds like you feel it's really well done.

It can be recorded, but unless you are viewing on a CRT at the correct refresh rate with a pair of LCD shutter glasses plugged in and synced, you are just going to see a double image I'm afraid.

[Marc]

Playing on PS4 so guessing iyltself the original. It's just so stiff and clunky. I mean, it's Castlevania so I'll persevere, but...

Does it have the option for different versions on the title screen? I know a few of the Konami games have multiple versions available, especially Life Force.

Nope. Literally no options at all. A few of the earlier ones were the same, bought Wonder boy and Bombjack and they're both the same.

[GaijinPunch]

is this miscellanies?

[egg_sanwich]

is this miscellanies?

Wow, I'm not holding my breath. Can't think of a single video game-to-TV/movie adaptation that hasn't sucked yet.

[BrianC]

Playing on PS4 so guessing iyltself the original. It's just so stiff and clunky. I mean, it's Castlevania so I'll persevere, but...

Does it have the option for different versions on the title screen? I know a few of the Konami games have multiple versions available, especially Life Force.

Nope. Literally no options at all. A few of the earlier ones were the same, bought Wonder boy and Bombjack and they're both the same.

The configuration options are accessed by pressing the slide pad button. The option for different versions is only at the title screen for some games, but Terra Cresta has a menu option for changing the music between the JP and US versions.

[EmperorIng]

is this miscellanies?

Place your bets: a "lol so 80s" take on Castlevania, a girly goth vamp take on SOTN, or a bland "dark and srs" take on CV/Aria of Sorrow.

All choices are tailor made for those 15-year-olds who don't know what the fuck Castlevania is other than that one Xbox game their older brother has in the collection.

[Sumez]

Is it me or do we see news like this constantly about other game series, and something only very rarely comes out of it?

[GSK]

The CV series is absolutely going to happen.

It's an animated series based on CV3, written by Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan) and produced by Avi Shankar (producer of the recent Dredd movie, the Punisher and Power Rangers viral shorts, etc) that will be, in the producers words, "R-rated as fuck".

[trap15]

That is obscenely promising and now I'm excited.

[Sumez]

The CV series is absolutely going to happen.

It's an animated series based on CV3, written by Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan) and produced by Avi Shankar (producer of the recent Dredd movie, the Punisher and Power Rangers viral shorts, etc) that will be, in the producers words, "R-rated as fuck".

Oh shit, I remember hearing about this ages ago (Adi was posting about it himself on social media). I'm surprised to see something come of it.

[Skykid]

The CV series is absolutely going to happen.

It's an animated series based on CV3, written by Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan) and produced by Avi Shankar (producer of the recent Dredd movie, the Punisher and Power Rangers viral shorts, etc) that will be, in the producers words, "R-rated as fuck".

Been reading about it. Hype.

[soprano1]

Animated, eh? Who's doing the animation?

[Sumez]

Frederator

[soprano1]

Frederator

Mmm, ok. Thanks.

[FinalBaton]

Castlevania Bloodlines 1LC now up on my channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQk0nYlaGKo

[Shoryukev]

Castlevania Bloodlines 1LC now up on my channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQk0nYlaGKo

Hell yeah, good job!