Castlevania Miscellanies

[Steven]

Aside from the intro of Bloody Tears sounding like R2-D2 having a seizure, I do prefer the FDS audio on Dracula II over Castlevania II's audio.

I'd be curious to compare loading times on FDS games between a real FDS, which I have never used (never used a real FC or even seen a real NES either, though), and stuff like the MiSTer or the newest FC Everdrive, but I've never minded the short loading times on the Nt mini Noir with the Everdrive or on the MiSTer. It wouldn't surprise me if each FDS had different loading times based on its condition, especially now that the oldest ones are almost 40 years old. I wanted to get a real FDS at one point, but after so many horror stories about maintenance and stuff, I decided to stick to emulators instead.

It's still disappointing that the audio capabilities of the FDS were never really used to their maximum potential, though.

[Sumez]

Load times can rely heavily on the condition and calibration of the drive.

After fixing my FDS Drive, Metroid started loading much much faster. That said, FDS loading is still generally very slow.

[BrianC]

Since I started with FDS Dracula as my first game in the series, I was very surprised when I played the cart version for the first time. I figured they'd use the FDS for enhanced audio, but nope. It's exactly the same audio on the cart version. That was disappointing.

IIRC, the FDS exclusive save menu theme uses it, but that's it. A similar thing happened with SMB2J. Only one tune uses the expansion audio, the ending theme.

Edit: The save menu song doesn't use the FDS expansion audio and still exists on the NES cartridge version (though unused).

[Steven]

Load times can rely heavily on the condition and calibration of the drive.

After fixing my FDS Drive, Metroid started loading much much faster. That said, FDS loading is still generally very slow.

That sucks. A win for emulation, in that case, especially given that the FDS can break down easily from what I understand. The apparently significantly faster loading is nice, but having a working game system really helps.

Since I started with FDS Dracula as my first game in the series, I was very surprised when I played the cart version for the first time. I figured they'd use the FDS for enhanced audio, but nope. It's exactly the same audio on the cart version. That was disappointing.

IIRC, the FDS exclusive save menu theme uses it, but that's it. A similar thing happened with SMB2J. Only one tune uses the expansion audio, the ending theme.

Edit: The save menu song doesn't use the FDS expansion audio and still exists on the NES cartridge version (though unused).

Yeah, I was going to say that I thought it was on the cart version but unused, but I didn't remember until you mentioned it.

I generally don't play the FDS version because I like the FC cart version just because it counts hearts at the end of the stage faster than all of the other versions... except I don't know about VS. Castlevania. Maybe that one counts fast too, but somehow I doubt it.

[SuperDeadite]

I switched to the FDSTICK years ago. It's super cheap and uses the real Fami RAM adapter so you are getting the real deal hardware without the old disks and drive. Highly recommended. There is also the FDSKEY as well which is fancier, but costs a lot more.

[copy-paster]

New page posts so might as well put these achievements I did in the span of a month:










I've put all the descriptions and what I think of the games in the vid so I'm not going to post here. Really grateful to get these nomisses in the bag, especially for the Big 3 titles in the series (also my top 3 as well). Bloodlines took far longer than I expected, part of it because of the absence of HP restore in the final stage thus makes the inverted fuzzies a complete nightmare, and I died too much over dumb things like the inconsistent gliding with John. This is enough classicvania for now and the next time when my interest of the series regain, I'd like to play CV2 with the retranslation patch and Belmont's Revenge.

[BIL]

Expertly done.

For those stage 3 swings in Bloodlines, and the similar one in stage 5, I just go balls to the wall. Aim to snatch the candles, then hold [down/forward] to the very end, no remorse. Perfect every time. Might've jinxed myself saying that though.

(balls to The Discolored Wall ♫ even!)

[it290]

I have a Sharp Twin Fami and the load times for Akumajou Dracula are not long at all. Maybe 15-20 seconds to load the game and 5 seconds if that between levels. None of the other 7 or so FDS games I own have significant loading either. IDK, maybe that's long-ish compared to a cart, but I feel like it's snappier than most CD-based games and certainly blazing fast compared to something like a C64 or Neo Geo CD.

[Sumez]

The loading in FDS games is threatened more by the frequency of it moreso than the length of each loading screen.
I'm impatient with these things so 5-10 seconds is pretty bad to me, but when it only happens between stages it's not that bad. Even though I think the load times themselves are bad, it hasn't straight up bothered me in any of the FDS games I own, which is actually quite a bunch. But it's enough to make me favor a a cartridge version if one exists.

[Blinge]

I'm a ways into Bloodstained Classic II

Man, who'd have thought I'd be playing and loving an homage/sequel to Simon's Quest.

[NYN]

There is a new Gal Guardians incoming, approaching fast, with the highly metal tag: Servants of the Dark. All trappings included. Well. I don't think I will start a separate topic on this. Demon Purge was OK-ish, the player echo here not enthused. And now we would have to "rebuild a castle", which sucks the life from my stern face. And the boss design... gasp/choke. I'm just not that kind of guy!

[SuperDeadite]

Castlevania 2 is probaly the worst FDS game for loading, as it makes you eject and flip the disk over and over again. Around 20 times on a normal playthrough... These days, I just use FDSSTICK with og RAM Adapter. Real hardware and sound, none of the disk fuckery.

Anyway, MSX2's new CV style game is looking totally rad: https://youtu.be/7kq25II0oYs?si=4aTQU5Uand9XdYO0

[1KMS]

I just watched a playthrough of the Grim Guardians demo and wasn't impressed by anything. It's strange when Inticreates seems to still design based off GBA limitations, e.g. sparsely placed immobile enemies. That screen real estate is begging for some semi-random zako spawns or attacks coming from higher/lower areas, maybe even making you manage 2-3 enemies at once.

[Steven]

Castlevania 2 is probaly the worst FDS game for loading, as it makes you eject and flip the disk over and over again. Around 20 times on a normal playthrough... These days, I just use FDSSTICK with og RAM Adapter. Real hardware and sound, none of the disk fuckery.

Yeah, FDS is pretty much the only system where I'm outright going to say fuck real hardware and use an emulator (software, FPGA, or otherwise) or FDSSTICK... the latter of which requires real hardware because you still need the RAM Adaptor, but you know what I mean lol.

[Sengoku Strider]

I got the DS collection, and spent the past week beating Dawn of Sorrow. I had it back when it first launched, when it was one of the only good games on the system for a good while. But I don't recall finishing it, I believe I got stuck at some point that I died too many times at and eventually ended up trading my DS in for a PSP (great call at the time).

Playing it now, I can't imagine what I might've gotten stuck at, only that I must not have done much grinding as it was fairly easy overall. I can't believe how brutal the drop rates are though, I read that they're bugged, as is luck. I can believe it, getting through all the weapon upgrades took hours upon hours. Even with the soul ring there were enemies who took 100+ kills to get their soul, and there's over 100 souls to collect. There were common enemies I was killing the entire game who never dropped a thing despite maxing my luck out the whole time.

So all that grinding meant that for most of the game I was overlevelled, only a couple of sections really put up a fight. Navigation was mostly a breeze too, there were some parts that were tricky to figure out but I got the good ending without having to look a single thing up. Maybe there are secrets still waiting to be found, and I might well enjoy Julius mode a lot, but while I had a good time by the end I was really excited to get onto the other two, which I've never played.

I'm still just in the first hour or two of Portrait of Ruin and...I dunno, I might end up quite liking it, but so far it feels kind of bootleg. I respect that they needed to change things up after making Symphony 5 times in a row, but Sonic & Tails with their weird boppy run cycles hopping through the plot of Mario 64 is...a little jarring, with all these partner gimmicks so far it's feeling like the Knuckles Chaotix of Castlevania. I'm clearly meant to be in the middle of Europe, but everyone has a flat midwest American accent for some reason. The ghost just sounds like a regular guy sitting in his living room. It's 1944 in the middle of World War II but somehow nobody thought to bring a gun and I'm running around with a sword I picked up off the ground. And the game's layout seems like it's been simplified a bit with the split-out painting stages? I'll see how I feel as things progress though.

[beer gas canister]

Portrait of Ruin loosens up a little bit after the first painting. Lots of fun and variety comes from messing with different builds. It's my favorite of the 3 DS games. Awesome visuals all over the place too. It's worth it to stop and take a look at the environmental art from time to time.

[NYN]

Portrait of Ruin and...I dunno, I might end up quite liking it, but so far it feels kind of bootleg.

Um, yeah. I am re-visiting the game now on hard mode, just to see how it all plays under more strain. Haven't done that before, for obvious reason. I don't judge game narrative hard, for I can't make out the point. A game is for fun, I don't take kindly to scratching that on surface with silliness or melodrama. DIE, M0NSTER! That said, how Portrait ruins the solid narrative frame of Bloodlines is bloody tears inducing for too many eye-rolls. It's as if IGA couldn't do any other thing then using the C3 template over and over again ( Belmont, Belnades, Alucard ), and when he doesn't in Portrait it's jarring fan-fiction. H0LY CR0SS 0N A B00MERANG! And now with the next Bloodstained he will do it again and again. 'twill be a nother horrible night...

[copy-paster]

I can't believe how brutal the drop rates are though, I read that they're bugged, as is luck. I can believe it, getting through all the weapon upgrades took hours upon hours. Even with the soul ring there were enemies who took 100+ kills to get their soul, and there's over 100 souls to collect.

People had examined the game's files and it turns out the maxed luck only increase the percentage to 0.003%

After beating the vanilla game, I'll never look back on it and play with the fixed luck patch instead. It feels very good I almost get all the souls with it.

[Sengoku Strider]

I can't believe how brutal the drop rates are though, I read that they're bugged, as is luck. I can believe it, getting through all the weapon upgrades took hours upon hours. Even with the soul ring there were enemies who took 100+ kills to get their soul, and there's over 100 souls to collect.

People had examined the game's files and it turns out the maxed luck only increase the percentage to 0.003%

After beating the vanilla game, I'll never look back on it and play with the fixed luck patch instead. It feels very good I almost get all the souls with it.

I'm surprised M2 didn't fix that (unless there was an option somewhere that I missed). I kind of wondered if part of the reason they listed the games in plot order rather than release order was to avoid burning people out on DS first.

[Sumez]

Castlevania 2 is probaly the worst FDS game for loading, as it makes you eject and flip the disk over and over again. Around 20 times on a normal playthrough... These days, I just use FDSSTICK with og RAM Adapter. Real hardware and sound, none of the disk fuckery.

This is actually very common among FDS games, and a part of it is due to saving only being possible on one side of the disk. It's quite annoying

I just watched a playthrough of the Grim Guardians demo and wasn't impressed by anything. It's strange when Inticreates seems to still design based off GBA limitations, e.g. sparsely placed immobile enemies. That screen real estate is begging for some semi-random zako spawns or attacks coming from higher/lower areas, maybe even making you manage 2-3 enemies at once.

This is a correct observation. Enemy placement and behavior is incredibly unengaging, and the game is very boring as a result. I've done several playthroughs of it (it's designed for that, forcing you to take somewhat different routes in order to face a new final boss), and it never managed to be not boring.


EDIT: Oh sorry, I didn't realise how old the posts I responded to were

[Steven]

How are the PS2 Castlevania games? I am rather interested in playing them and know almost nothing about them. Seems one of them has an Xbox version that I am assuming is better than the PS2 version. This Xbox version is also one of those おま国 situations, so that's annoying. I could go look at reviews or whatever, but I trust the people here way more than elsewhere.

I'm planning on going to Book Off in about an hour, so I'll check availability and prices when I get there. I wonder if they have them, but I always forget they exist whenever I am there. They had two copies of all of the DS games last time I was there. Only price I remember was Order of Ecclesia at 19,000 yen. I really like that game for some reason, so although I do have it on PC, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't very tempting.

[Sumez]

Ah yes, damn おま国 situations

[BIL]

How are the PS2 Castlevania games? I am rather interested in playing them and know almost nothing about them. Seems one of them has an Xbox version that I am assuming is better than the PS2 version. This Xbox version is also one of those おま国 situations, so that's annoying. I could go look at reviews or whatever, but I trust the people here way more than elsewhere.

I'm planning on going to Book Off in about an hour, so I'll check availability and prices when I get there. I wonder if they have them, but I always forget they exist whenever I am there. They had two copies of all of the DS games last time I was there. Only price I remember was Order of Ecclesia at 19,000 yen. I really like that game for some reason, so although I do have it on PC, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't very tempting.

My side hustle thread continues to prove handy!

[Xan]

I finished Castlevania 64 recently and believe it's nowhere near as bad as people online say. I got stuck years ago in the Duel Tower level as I couldn't figure out where to go, finally got back to it and in the end it was just a jump that seemed too far but was actually possible. Only thing that's a bit BS is having to collect those jewels for the good ending and not getting any indication as to what levels have them, and it involving invisible platforms, but it's par for the course really and also adds some replay value.

Important note about this game that not everyone may be aware of: only the Japanese version has a save function on the cart, but instead of doing the switching thing they just removed rumble altogether from the English releases. That was a big letdown as rumble is done well in this game and really helps to "feel" the game when hitting enemies and grabbing onto ledges. So the Japanese version is 100% the way to go and I would recommend people that didn't like the game to try it again with rumble. Unfortunately it doesn't seem that it's possible to play it in English with rumble as of right now, but it's hardly a text intensive game anyway.

I didn't really mess with the sequel yet, but could already tell the hi-res mode is a complete waste as it already bogs down the menu and the framerate ingame is even more abysmal than some other hi-res games on the N64.

[BIL]

Yeah I don't think I ever tried the hi-res mode. IIRC, even the (otherwise quite striking) opening cinema chops up.

As a fan of both games, LOD's a fine complement to the rougher-edged original take. You can tell the returning stage designs were deliberately streamlined; Duel Tower's the example I always recall. LOD's take is a much smoother trip, and more visually coherent, too. But I find the original's more oblique layout inimitably charming. It's such a passively hostile place, deathfalls abound, no refuge.

The new stages are generally excellent, following the same user-friendlier trend. The OG's weakest bit in my estimation, the opening forest, is entirely more charming in LOD.

That's good info on the JP rumble feature! It's been so long since I played any other version, I'd even forgotten the overseas revs lack onboard memory.

[Xan]

I think it is due to Japanese developed games usually having onboard saving. The vast majority of Controller Pak games are by non-Japanese developers.

AFAIK Nintendo sent out some code to devs for those switching screens, but that was in 1997, much earlier than this game released. They could have surely done it even if they wanted to skimp on the save feature for the international releases.

[Sumez]

Castlevania 64 is in my opinion a pretty bad game, but there's a lot to like there. It really has the DNA of what I'd really want from a 3D Castlevania game but ultimately never got after the total change of direction in the PS2 gen.

Legacy of Darkness, while still a janky mess, fortunately fixes most of my issues with the game. I actually think it's pretty good. The lock-on is much less likely to miss its target, and the camera is improved to make the platforming much less of a nightmare. Like you said, don't bother with the hi-res mode. It looks better, but make the game so unresponsive it's unplayable. Without the hi-res mode though, the game does run better than the original iteration. Cornell feels better to control, but even the Reinhardt mode does better as well.

The only thing I think the game is missing in order to make the first CV64 completely obsolete is the original design of the Villa stage. Since it was completely changed for Cornell's quest (you can just go straight through it without needing to explore), that's also the version you get when playing as Reinhardt or Carrie.
However, those of their stages that didn't make it to Cornell's quest are still playable in their original form when playing theirs, and they get a bit of new content as well. The Castle Center stage is probably the biggest one I'm missing in the Cornell mode, but at least it's still in the game.

[Steven]

How are the PS2 Castlevania games? I am rather interested in playing them and know almost nothing about them. Seems one of them has an Xbox version that I am assuming is better than the PS2 version. This Xbox version is also one of those おま国 situations, so that's annoying. I could go look at reviews or whatever, but I trust the people here way more than elsewhere.

I'm planning on going to Book Off in about an hour, so I'll check availability and prices when I get there. I wonder if they have them, but I always forget they exist whenever I am there. They had two copies of all of the DS games last time I was there. Only price I remember was Order of Ecclesia at 19,000 yen. I really like that game for some reason, so although I do have it on PC, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't very tempting.

My side hustle thread continues to prove handy!

Hell yeah thanks dude! A... pancake, huh. That's not very promising lol. Well, I didn't find either PS2 game.

I did find something interesting that I have not been able to find the answer to yet, however. Edit: I may have found my answer. Japanese Order of Ecclesia has an early version and a late version, but it seems that the only difference might be the product code on the front of the box and the removal of an error on the back of the box that says that the game is a rerelease of Rondo of Blood... which it obviously isn't, as cool as that would be. The product code on the late version seems to be the same as the original version, so it's probably not a ROM revision like I thought it might be.

If anyone knows otherwise, let me know because I really want to know. Still no idea why some of the early version copies have a blue CERO B label instead of a green CERO B label though. CERO ratings have color-coded markings on the spine and B is supposed to be green, not blue. CERO C is blue, but it's dark blue while Order of Ecclesia's weird blue CERO B label is light blue. I checked the Dominus Collection's gallery to see which one is in there and it has only a disappointingly low resolution scan of the early revision green CERO label version.

Nobody cares, but for reference, here is the later version: https://jp.mercari.com/item/m72631312590
and the blue CERO version: https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/u1178144857

[Xan]

Castlevania 64 is in my opinion a pretty bad game, but there's a lot to like there. It really has the DNA of what I'd really want from a 3D Castlevania game but ultimately never got after the total change of direction in the PS2 gen.

I think the controls take a little to get used to, a bit like Mario 64 or Tomb Raider, but not even quite as much (the only thing is really having to push the analog stick in the right direction when grabbing onto a platform). It kind of made me think how starting with PS2 the controls in every platformer were streamlined so that nobody would put down a game for bad controls, but there can be an element of fun to mastering difficult controls as well.

The game was probably made easy deliberately, which helps to conceal some of the flaws. I got to Dracula with almost full health items at the end which definitely helped. Just the Duel Tower stage was really bad with those moving spike things and not being able to see what's behind you screwing you up at times. Otherwise I don't recall having real trouble with any of the stages.

The only thing is for some reason I always kept thinking this is a 1997 game, but it's two years newer. It really has that feel with some of the camera flaws. Maybe if it actually was released in that year its reputation wouldn't be quite as bad. I think the graphics and framerate are certainly solid enough for N64, even in the first game.

[Sumez]

I think the controls take a little to get used to, a bit like Mario 64 or Tomb Raider, but not even quite as much (the only thing is really having to push the analog stick in the right direction when grabbing onto a platform). It kind of made me think how starting with PS2 the controls in every platformer were streamlined so that nobody would put down a game for bad controls, but there can be an element of fun to mastering difficult controls as well.

I think you really need to play Legacy of Darkness - If you already like CV64, there's no way you won't like the improved version of CV64!
It's not like they changed the controls as such, they just fixed some flaws which I felt were quite objectively flaws. In the original game, platforming always felt like a gamble. Like every time you made a jump you were taking a chance that it would fail. I don't feel this is true in LOD at all - the new stages have a lot more platforming, and I think it works pretty much problem-free in that game, much like any decent 3D platformer should.
The biggest improvement is that the camera is actually able to communicate much better what you are doing and where you are going to land, so you can make informed decisions - the core design remains the same! The slow turning still feels like an obstacle in terms of platforming, but I wasn't really bothered by it in LOD compared to OG CV64.

As a result, like you also said, the game actually isn't that difficult. And LOD is arguably an even easier game because when you're failing it's much more likely to be entirely your-own-fault(tm).
There's a hard mode though. Can't remember if the original game had that as well.