Castlevania Miscellanies

[To Far Away Times]

Finished up my annual Castlevania IV romp.

Shamefully, I forgot a few parts on Stage 8. Though I cruised through the final stage.

[Sumez]

How's that Haunted Castle revisited?

I still haven't had the chance to play it yet either due to being ultra busy as of late, but will probably be able to do so this week and then post my impressions here. For the record, I'm familiar with the original and have already beaten it multiple times.

There are plenty of posts here with detailed impressions of Haunted Castle Revisited already.
For some reason Blinge just found it easier to post a question than read a bit of backlog

[Sengoku Strider]

I ordered the Konami store version of Dominus Collection. They're saying it'll ship February, but if it's a co-op with LRG a 6 month turnaround seems a little too good to be true.

[ryu]

I ordered the Konami store version of Dominus Collection. They're saying it'll ship February, but if it's a co-op with LRG a 6 month turnaround seems a little too good to be true.

They don't sell to customers outside the americas. What is this, the middle ages?

[Sima Tuna]

I ordered the Konami store version of Dominus Collection. They're saying it'll ship February, but if it's a co-op with LRG a 6 month turnaround seems a little too good to be true.

They don't sell to customers outside the americas. What is this, the middle ages?

Spoiler

"Prithee, good sire, hath thou mine copy of the 'Castle of Vanity'?" Upon my troth, I did render unto the merchant mine good silver in advance, and now await receipt."
"Fine maiden, nay. Thou mayest not have from me any of thine goods. This trusty steed before you carries only "Shadow of the NInja Reborn" in his saddle-bags."

[BIL]

Welcome to 3RD WORLD A.D. motherfucker, where brutal custom regimes force your Dad to pantomime Castlemanier in the yard. (｀w´メ) Don't stay long, if the dogs don't get you the pigs will!

A Fight To Continue Eternally ~ Berumondo vs Dorakyura (NSFW)

[Hazuki]

There are plenty of posts here with detailed impressions of Haunted Castle Revisited already.
For some reason Blinge just found it easier to post a question than read a bit of backlog

Should have said "opinion" instead of "impressions".

So, I finally played the thing now. It's nice, and arguably a better game than the original, especially on the boss department since they learned some new moves. A little easier than the average castlevania even on hard, though. But that can be remedied by doing self-imposed challenges like no damage or no subweapons. The real challenge from castlevania games come from that anyway, as they're usually not so difficult if you're just playing normally. By the way, I couldn't figure out how to dodge Franken's running attack so just tanked it.

I ended up getting a 2cc like some other people here. Could probably have been a 1cc if I had not lost 3 lives at the beginning of stage 6 because of that stupid harpy, but oh well.

[Steven]

Doesn't change the fact the game is slower than the typical castlevania. Compare it with Dracula Densetsu II or the FDS/FC trilogy which are also 8-bit games. The speed is perfect in them.

Also doesn't change the fact that all of them are more fun to actually play and are paced better due to the movement speeds suiting their respective games better.

Figures. Your posts here suggest that you may not be a zoomer, but someone who only got into the world of video games as an adult rather than a child. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Wrong. Very very wrong.

But if that's the case, then playing the game for the first time only in the 2020s is definitely a huge factor in the lack of impressiveness it caused on you, when there are already a zillion other better or worse options existing at the same time (many influenced by it). But back in 1997, if you wanted a similar enough "metroidvania" (I don't like the term, but am using it retroactively here for convenience) experience, your only other option was Super Metroid.

In 1997, I had never heard of Nintendo, Metroid, or Castlevania, and I thought that PlayStation was a TV station that let you play super ugly 3D games that were all very dark and needed the brightness turned up a lot. These things happen when you live in one of the most remote and least populated places in the entire USA.

Why wouldn't it? Timer is just a standard feature that started getting added to games around that era. It's there to show how much time you spent playing the game and nothing else. Stuff like RPGs, Simulation/Strategy games and such also have it, and they're certainly on the slow-paced side. It doesn't necessarily mean the devs want you to beat them as fast as possible. Unlike the Metroid series that's obviously made with speed in mind since it rewards you with better endings, the ending from SoTN is the same no matter how fast you clear it.

Indeed, if the game had been influenced by Metroid more, there is a chance that it wouldn't have turned out impossibly boring. The timer and item completion percentage are obviously there so that the player can see how they are doing so that they can attempt to do better next time, which in this case means going faster and finding more shit. It's no different from playing arcade games for score.

[Sumez]

Figures. Your posts here suggest that you may not be a zoomer, but someone who only got into the world of video games as an adult rather than a child. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Wrong. Very very wrong.

In 1997, I had never heard of Nintendo, Metroid, or Castlevania, and I thought that PlayStation was a TV station that let you play super ugly 3D games that were all very dark and needed the brightness turned up a lot. These things happen when you live in one of the most remote and least populated places in the entire USA.

So that's at least two "very"s too much on the wrong at least.

[Blinge]

The whole point is to 100% the game as fast as possible, or to low% as fast as possible.

lol what the hell

seconded

hey, read backlog? i'm too famous for that now mate sorry

[Sumez]

Never heard of you!

[Steven]

Figures. Your posts here suggest that you may not be a zoomer, but someone who only got into the world of video games as an adult rather than a child. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Wrong. Very very wrong.

In 1997, I had never heard of Nintendo, Metroid, or Castlevania, and I thought that PlayStation was a TV station that let you play super ugly 3D games that were all very dark and needed the brightness turned up a lot. These things happen when you live in one of the most remote and least populated places in the entire USA.

So that's at least two "very"s too much on the wrong at least.

At least I had heard of and played both Nintendo and PS1 at my friends' houses within the next year. None of them had Metroid or Castlevania, though, so I never heard of Metroid until Smash released. I don't remember when I first heard of Castlevania, but it was probably after that. I also retroactively won all of the arguments at school in which I argued that the 2D graphics of the Genesis look way better than the 3D of the PS1!

[To Far Away Times]

I ordered the Konami store version of Dominus Collection. They're saying it'll ship February, but if it's a co-op with LRG a 6 month turnaround seems a little too good to be true.

They don't sell to customers outside the americas. What is this, the middle ages?

Spoiler

"Prithee, good sire, hath thou mine copy of the 'Castle of Vanity'?" Upon my troth, I did render unto the merchant mine good silver in advance, and now await receipt."
"Fine maiden, nay. Thou mayest not have from me any of thine goods. This trusty steed before you carries only "Shadow of the NInja Reborn" in his saddle-bags."

Beautiful.

[copy-paster]

The real challenge from castlevania games come from that anyway, as they're usually not so difficult if you're just playing normally.

Whip only sounds lame, and not what real Belmonts do in a battle. In-universe they will do whatever it takes to defeat night creatures and Drac, and with the right weapon and strat they would defeat them in a quick and fashionable way.

[BIL]

The real challenge from castlevania games come from that anyway, as they're usually not so difficult if you're just playing normally.

Whip only sounds lame, and not what real Belmonts do in a battle. In-universe they will do whatever it takes to defeat night creatures and Drac, and with the right weapon and strat they would defeat them in a quick and fashionable way.

CPS you are a man after my own heart ;w;7

Yeah, I was never big on going without. Of course I respect the superior endeavour of specialised runs (like your recent NG1 triumph!). But aesthetically, messrs Berumondo, Hayabusa and Rossi et al = Beowulves.

Spoiler

"No-one is able to do anything..."
"I WILL, THEN!" He leapt up and heard himself shouting.

"I WILL, THEN!"

Get the job done son. Or put another way... ;3

"Grandson, I am gravely disappoint in your sensible trousers."

Spoiler

"Distract it with your flamboyant dance moves while I jump on its back and hack its head off."

Spoiler

[Blinge]

I have a line from beowulf inked on me, in anglo saxophone

It's because i'm coming to the rescue of the spear-dane, sumez

[BIL]

;w;7 Wiglaf = OG 2P, patron Saint of messrs Lecarde, Bean and Roving et al

[Sima Tuna]

Is there among all retro gamers a love for epic poetry? It would seem to be a common thread. The same stir of blood which calls a man to exult in Beowulf's overcoming of Grendel, verily it rejoices no less to see Rastan slap a flying monster to death with his meaty axe.

Spoiler

[BIL]

Is there among all retro gamers a love for epic poetry? It would seem to be a common thread. The same stir of blood which calls a man to exult in Beowulf's overcoming of Grendel, verily it rejoices no less to see Rastan slap a flying monster to death with his meaty axe.

Untrammelled Do/Die, and a healthy appreciation of escapism based upon. No quippy quips or gutless irony. Do a heroism or join the vanquished.

This is largely why I find survival play so charming, the sense of a miniature epic. Berumondo didn't get distracted by a bat and slip off the raft, sinking like a rock with all his gear weighing him down! He twatted the pest with a well-flung missile and forged ahead to Eaglemania. Rastan, with authentic roguish frankness, says "Holy fuck! I wish I hadn't taken this contract! Too late though!" halfway through the job. He's gotta get it done, whether you read him as professional (merc's only as good as his last hit!), or pragmatic (ARMY OF DEAD has cut off all escape!), or somewhere between (get BOOTY or die tryin').

This is also why I put Strider Hiryu, despite it being an easy trip by arcade standards, on par with ranking killers like Daimakaimura and Saigo no Nindou. Any one of the five stages would make rousing pulp novellas; acing all five back-to-back is riveting playable theatre every time.

See also Musashi's understatedly rugged trans-atlantic odyssey, hopping planes and trains and dodging automobiles to save his woman and put his foot up Master Of The Flying Barnet's ass. Does this tale end with a Japanese ninja master trekking to the heart of Detroit, slaying ZEED's T-800 in single combat, then getting ran over by a Toyota? That's up to you son

[Hazuki]

Also doesn't change the fact that all of them are more fun to actually play and are paced better due to the movement speeds suiting their respective games better.

For you. You're the only person I've seen who prefers Dracula Densetsu over SotN, but to each their own I guess. Not gonna argue about this any further because you've already made your mind into thinking the former is more fun, while the opposite is true for me. Any arguments beyond this are useless because we'll never be able to change each other's minds.

The real challenge from castlevania games come from that anyway, as they're usually not so difficult if you're just playing normally.

Whip only sounds lame, and not what real Belmonts do in a battle. In-universe they will do whatever it takes to defeat night creatures and Drac, and with the right weapon and strat they would defeat them in a quick and fashionable way.

I normally don't go whip only either for the same reasons I don't do buster only in Rockman games. It's a lot more fun to make use of everything at your disposal and using each weapon efficiently/cleverly depending on the situation, which also adds to gameplay variety. Just mentioned that challenge because some people like doing it, and could also be easier than no damage.

[Steven]

I want to like Symphony. I really do. I wouldn't have attempted over 40 playthroughs, the most recent of which was last week, if I didn't. I wonder how many people that actually like it have attempted more than 40 playthroughs. It's just not a fun game at all. The logic behind making the game in this style is flawless; the series (probably) needed to evolve because it was doing the same thing over and over and becoming repetitive. The execution, however, could have been better.

I never played this series until 2019 and this particular game until 2020, so I went into this whole series with no expectations at all. I'm glad I started with FDS Dracula, which is still one of the best games in the series. If I'd started with the later games, I might not have played the earlier ones at all.

[Sumez]

It's just not a fun game at all.

[BIL]

I don't take SOTN very seriously as an action game, or even a search action game. Perhaps by that token, I came away from my last revisit unexpectedly impressed. Was in the thick of H4RDCOR3 K1LLING, and not in the mood for skinnerbox horseshit!

Hardcore Killing (NSFW)

It's a sumptuously produced and uniquely relaxing toybox with considerably strong undergirding. Used to make me wish they'd created a conventionally strong action game from its mighty, lazy bones. These days I have more action games than I can reasonably get competent at. It sounds ridiculous to call a game "relaxing," this is all indulgent leisure, ultimately. But that's what it's for in my book.

Anyway I don't care about any of this shit. Rawr! (｀w´メ)

[Blinge]

SotN not fun.

you heard it here, folks
I come to chumpsfarm for all my hot takes. It never disappoints.

Try the richter mode i guess. Might be more to your taste. I once finished it in 9 minutes.
-> that's a side note, not to be used as an ultra-smug. "heh heh, see, *adjusts glasses*, you can't even advocate for the game without recommending the tacked on side-game that plays nothing like the core experience!!"

I do enjoy SotN as a lazy speedrun sometimes with alucard; if i don't feel like the full magical vacation dracula: just doing the necessary routing without exploring every nook and cranny.

[BIL]

This is reigniting my youthful anger at it effortlessly nailing the holy triad of tight (yet comfy!) collision, BEEFEH hits, and controls sharper than those cheddars marinated in ghost pepper for Xmillion years that make the roof of your skull blow off. Then hitting the cruise control and putting on Huey Lewis. :[

As usual Obscura was right though. I booted up DEEZE_ROMS.COM and went to restart my PRO LABEL hack, only to encounter BUCCI WIZARD and immediately start blasting DIE FUNKË SEXMUZIK. A fruity relax 'em up with weapons-grade fundamentals. Some things aren't to be meddled with.

[Steven]

SotN not fun.

you heard it here, folks
I come to chumpsfarm for all my hot takes. It never disappoints.

If it makes you feel better, I also dislike most bullet hell games in general, Daioujou in particular (but not Death Label; Death Label is awesome), Radiant Silvergun, N64 Goldeneye, and most Nintendo games that are not Metroid, Fire Emblem, and the occasional Mario Kart.

Try the richter mode i guess. Might be more to your taste.

I did. It isn't.

[Blinge]

I don't feel anything lol
that ship has long sailed

[Sima Tuna]

Platypus feels only contempt for humanity.



Look deep into the beady eyes. The boundless hate will swallow you. "SotN is a bad game, you say? I think you are a bad person" he says.

[1KMS]

SOTN/GNY was definitely designed with a "move fast and break things" mentality. IGA said they intended to make an easy game, but I think he also knew they had no hope of balancing it. After a while it's up to you to add tension into the game with custom rules. If you're a member of ZA HAADOKOA, I think a full no damage run is a worthwhile experience. Otherwise, you could do something like no saves or no HP items.

[BIL]

After a while it's up to you to add tension into the game with custom rules.

Yeah, definitely. Besides the realisation that Skinnerboxing can be obviated at trivial cost, a big part of that 2020 revisit I linked was a basic house rule: one save per area load-in. (easily done, with savepoints uniformly located near area entrances) It completely defused one of the game's biggest crutches, the full HP/MP restores on tap. Want a recharge? Kill the boss or break a wall. Since my usual route only revisits one area - Library, for Bat - it even gave it a nice stage-based feel, without ever crossing into self-imposed handicap mode. Obviously this isn't a traditional Dracula, but that's not what I was after. Just a little additional performance incentive.

It also reminded me that at times, SOTN has some classical design chops. Particularly fond of it putting Venus Weeds in places with low ceilings (Reverse Cavern), or supported by hordes of sniper zako (Inv. Entryway), forcing a choice between safe tit-for-tats (booo!) or riskier but far cooler FINAL BURNINGS. The Reverse Clocktower is a blast, too. Generally speaking, the Reverse Castle is good at emphasising the game's inexhaustibly entertaining Swiss Blunderbuss offensive suite. Not being able to instantly recoup a big MP-hungry demolition (that'll also cost HP if fucked up ) really changed how I felt about it, particularly disincentivising backtracks that'll resurrect all the buggers.

Ecclesia gravitated towards this, I was happy to be reminded in M2's recent triumph. Particularly in its second half; lots of long, saveless sections full of nasty enemies that left me beating a retreat back home, until I'd remembered to take them seriously. You can still escape and restore via Magical Ticket, but it's a much sterner sense of fucking up and limping back to base. Made me smile when the blacksmith oyaji gruffly said "Don't die out there. Crawl back here, if you have to."