Castlevania Miscellanies

[soprano1]

It seems ripe for a C&D, though.

According to the developers, Castlevania: The Lecarde Chronicles 2 is moving forward with Konami’s blessing as long as it releases for free.

Well, at least Konami is doing something admirable these days, even if it just involves sitting on their tuchus and staying out of the way.

I didn't read that, my bad.

[e_tank]

i just played the psx port of castlevania x68k for the first time and wow, what a turd port! i have a lot of exp with the x68k version, i can clear loop 6 no prob, but on my first attempt on the port i lost my credit to medusa on loop 1! to be fair, medusa is the boss i find the hardest, but her patterns are subtly different on the psx, enough to completely throw me off. there's just soooo many things about this port that are off. pretty much every enemy i've seen so far different, ranging from massively (the frogs) to more subtly (skeleton dragons). but most noticeable is how the bosses are all different. medusa as i already stated, the bat reacts to hits differently, it doesn't rubberband back as smoothly to hits, and the worst one so far is that gargoyle gives you no warning when he's going to breath fire, so my strategy to hit his head away before he attacks no longer works at all. i got knocked off the platform my first try. walking on stairs is all kinds of fucked up and it's not just the animation, the transition between getting on and off feels even more sticky and sluggish than on the x68k (which i always felt was the orig game's biggest flaw). i'm gonna be playing this port a lot more over the coming days, so if ppl are interested in other differences i think i've found i might start listing them.

so far this looks to me like this is prob a far worse port accuracy wise than ddp on either the saturn or psx. now that's not to say that any of these 3 games are bad on their own (well, psx ddp is debatable since you can't chain bees, i mean wtf), if you've never played the originals they're all prob fine, but if you have... stay the hell away.

[BrianC]

Not really, the developers changed the name "Castlebania" in their cover art, because they will be sued if using the original name. Weird.

I'm pretty sure that's just the stylized "v" from the logo, they spell the name with a V all over the site (not to mention in the files for the downloadable demo), it'd be weird if they only made the change in one place.

Reminds me of PoR's game over screen when people thought it said "game ober".

[Blinge]

Nice to see Lecarde getting some love anyway, boy did he have a hard nerf in PoR. I suppose the title refers to his face during dialogue too. The hell is up with that hat.

So I've started Aria. It feels like I'm finally getting the game that was promised since SotN.

[Sumez]

All of the "artwork" in PoR is embarassing beyond belief.

At least the soundtrack is amazing! Yuzo Koshiro and Michiru Yamane on the same game. Dream team!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV3EJjxMKeI

[soprano1]

All of the "artwork" in PoR is embarassing beyond belief.

At least the soundtrack is amazing! Yuzo Koshiro and Michiru Yamane on the same game. Dream team!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV3EJjxMKeI

Yeah, i wish they had Ayame Kojima or Masaki Hirooka (from OoE) do the artwork for the DS trilogy.

[copy-paster]

Got a chance to play Rondo of Blood, love the brisker and sleeker controls, no wonder why the "critics" rated it as the best in the series. Some people say it's one of easier CV, isn't it right? I only have reached stage 2 now.

Btw when I played XX and pause during Reaper's fight, I accidentally found something neat :

Spoiler

I don't know but this is such a beautiful scenery, two men have a duel to the death on the top of clock tower... and both have a "ready to attack" pose. Cool!

[Sinful]

i just played the psx port of castlevania x68k for the first time and wow, what a turd port! i have a lot of exp with the x68k version, i can clear loop 6 no prob, but on my first attempt on the port i lost my credit to medusa on loop 1! to be fair, medusa is the boss i find the hardest, but her patterns are subtly different on the psx, enough to completely throw me off. there's just soooo many things about this port that are off. pretty much every enemy i've seen so far different, ranging from massively (the frogs) to more subtly (skeleton dragons). but most noticeable is how the bosses are all different. medusa as i already stated, the bat reacts to hits differently, it doesn't rubberband back as smoothly to hits, and the worst one so far is that gargoyle gives you no warning when he's going to breath fire, so my strategy to hit his head away before he attacks no longer works at all. i got knocked off the platform my first try. walking on stairs is all kinds of fucked up and it's not just the animation, the transition between getting on and off feels even more sticky and sluggish than on the x68k (which i always felt was the orig game's biggest flaw). i'm gonna be playing this port a lot more over the coming days, so if ppl are interested in other differences i think i've found i might start listing them.

so far this looks to me like this is prob a far worse port accuracy wise than ddp on either the saturn or psx. now that's not to say that any of these 3 games are bad on their own (well, psx ddp is debatable since you can't chain bees, i mean wtf), if you've never played the originals they're all prob fine, but if you have... stay the hell away.

I'm interested in a list of differences.

[Austin]

Got a chance to play Rondo of Blood, love the brisker and sleeker controls, no wonder why the "critics" rated it as the best in the series. Some people say it's one of easier CV, isn't it right? I only have reached stage 2 now.

It's not particularly difficult, but it's still fun as hell.

[Rupert H]

Can anybody that owns the US hard case version of Castlevania Bloodlines on Genesis do me a quick favour? Can you check the paper cover and tell me if it feels incredibly thin and low quality? I just picked a copy up and I think the cover has been reprinted but I've nothing to compare it to.

[BIL]

Unfortunately it's back home on the other side of the ol' pond, but I don't recall my hardcase copy of Bloodlines varying noticeably from my dozens of other Genesis games (like its close contemporary Hard Corps). These were bought reasonably near release, like 1995.

I've also heard of Majesco being involved in Genesis reprints - didn't look into it further, but perhaps that may have something to do with it? Assuming it's not just a quickie printoff, ofc.

In case you're unaware of them, I would ask around the Sega Age forums - specifically the Collector's Corner subforum. They tend to specialise in such details.

[Blinge]

At any rate Roop, tell us what you think of the game when you play it =]

As for me, Man Aria was awesome! Just what the doctor ordered.

Spoiler

The Julius battle might be my favourite metroidvania boss ever

[SuperDeadite]

Little known fact, besides FM, LA, and GS, X68k Drac also supports GM, making it compatible with other modules, using this feature with my new Akai SG01k here.

https://youtu.be/NRi9HDV6ewE

[Blinge]

I tried that Simon's Quest Revamped fan remake.

It's cool, i guess. Except there's no continues, and you have to save at churches. Which means if you finish a mansion then get back and save with one life remaining, then it's a 1 life game from then on.
Sooo... not playing that. =/

[Sinful]

I still haven't beat Simon's Quest, or made much progress in it at all. The last time I tried was with that improved patch, and beat a dungeon or two, then... yeah. I really like that added in game Nintendo Power map a lot. I'm a sucker for old school in game maps like that (ie. Ghouls N Ghosts, Castlevania III, Mario World, Final Fight, etc), wish more games had this. As it greatly adds to the immersion. Especially for back when we were kids and had more of an imagination.

[Austin]

I've also heard of Majesco being involved in Genesis reprints - didn't look into it further, but perhaps that may have something to do with it? Assuming it's not just a quickie printoff, ofc.

They were, but all of their Genesis re-releases were in cardboard boxes.

[BIL]

Ah, I'd wondered - couldn't quite recall if they'd ever done snapcase stuff. Thanks!

[Austin]

Ah, I'd wondered - couldn't quite recall if they'd ever done snapcase stuff. Thanks!

It would have been nice! Those cardboard boxes seem like they will crease even with so much as a look in their direction. That, and the print quality is sub-par on the Majesco releases.

[FinalBaton]

Wish my copy of Bloodlines was a clamshell one. Oh well. My cardboard box copy is actually in pristine condition, so things could be worse. I can't say the same for my Phantasy Star IV copy however >w<

[Rupert H]

Thanks BIL. Unless I hear otherwise I'm going to have to assume this insert is a copy. This is going to be a ballache to resolve.

Blinge: Yeah, Castlevania is one of my favourite series and I've played through them all. Bloodlines and Legends were the only two games I didn't own and it looks like I held of on buying for too long as the prices are getting really silly now. US Bloodlines was still doable but I haven't seen a a boxed US copy of Legends for less than £300.

[Shoryukev]

My bloodlines copy is a loose cart so I'm not of any help here. Wish I had the clamshells for most of my genesis stuff!

[mirkvid]

I can check mine tonight.

Btw, I was at a slot gaming trade show in Sept and got some Konami swag including a deck of Castlevania playing cards to promote the new CV themed slot machines. I'll try to post some pics later. I have two extra decks that my friends at Konami gave me as well, which I'll probably give away when I dig them out of the box.

[mirkvid]

Yes the Bloodlines insert feels a little flimsy, semi glpss on both sides. I've had this cart since it was new, so it's original. Hope that helps.

[Rupert H]

Thanks very much for checking. I'm glad I got a definitive answer before raising it with the seller.


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[mirkvid]

These are the cards I got from the Konami booth at the G2E trade show this year.



After I found out these were in the swag bag, I got a few extras from a friend who works there. One I gave to a buddy already.

They aren't laminated or anything, but cool anyways. I have one more sealed pack - first one in the US that quotes me can have it.
(give me a week or so to send it)

[Sinful]

Thanks BIL. Unless I hear otherwise I'm going to have to assume this insert is a copy. This is going to be a ballache to resolve.

Blinge: Yeah, Castlevania is one of my favourite series and I've played through them all. Bloodlines and Legends were the only two games I didn't own and it looks like I held of on buying for too long as the prices are getting really silly now. US Bloodlines was still doable but I haven't seen a a boxed US copy of Legends for less than £300.

I personally wouldn't pay 5$ for Legends. Even as a big Castlevania fan. Total trash of a game not worthy of the Castlevania name. Feels like is was developed by a Western team of amateurs.

[Sumez]

Legends is also still pretty cheap in Jap

[Skykid]

Legends is also still pretty cheap in Jap

Pointless to buy any other region anyway, JP has the nicest overall box/manual arrangement, and it's very humdrum in CV terms.

[Rupert H]

I know Legends is drab, but I'm a sucker.


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[Skykid]

I know Legends is drab, but I'm a sucker.

Well I got a new one in JP on my last visit for about £10, and finished it too, so I guess I'm also a sucker.