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A thread all about Castlevania. Do you like it? Why or why not? What is your favorite? Least Favorite? Talk about the battle against Dracula here!

I've been playing Aria of Sorrow. It has a great story, and the weapon and soul system is genius. If i planed on getting a DS, I would get the upcoming Dawn of Sorrow sequel. I didn't like Circle of the Moon that much. It didn't keep me hooked that long,and I found it too hard for me. I don't know why, but I did.

Those are the only two I've played, so now it's your turn

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Dead Winter. A nice comic.

This link sums up my opinions on the Belmonts quite nicely.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php?date=2003-10-27

I haven't played a Castlevania game since 3. It was pretty good.

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"That Light has bestowed upon me the greatest black magic!"

Edit

This list is no longer a perfect reflection of my opinion.

I've seen threads like this before, but I don't mind another one about my favorite video game series of all time. I'm glad that IGA is still turning out some 2D Cv games so he can create new fans; I'll be a sad man the day that no one wants to play 2D games anymore. Castlevania is the greatest blend of action, sound, and visuals of any long-running video game series ever, in laszlow's humble opinion, and it also features some of the best music ever to be found in video games (I'm quite the Cv music geek, as you'll doubtlessly notice).

I mentioned a top five Cv games in the "favorite Castlevania games" thread a long time ago, but I've since changed my opinions somewhat. Here are my ten favorites, for the moment:

1. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1): My favorite game of all time. Wonderful action, incredible setting, wonderful Yamane music that put her name on the map, this is should be in everyone's PS1 library. It also features surprisingly not-awful voice acting, some great dialogue, and an extremely detailed double-castle that was super-fun to explore. The best game of all time, IMHO.

2. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (GBA): It's the most similar to SotN of all the modern Cv's, and the soul system is entertaining, but it's too easy and too short. The game is short and the castle is small, but the soul system adds a collection aspect to the game stronger than CotM's and adds replay value, Yamane is unusually traditional in her score this time, relying on grooves rather than atmosphere, similar to most of the old Kukeiha scores, but still rejects the idea of remixing old music, to my disappointment. That doesn't stop this game from being awesome, though, my favorite GBA game along with Fire Emblem: Rekka No Ken.

3. Castlevania: Dracula's Curse (NES):, IMO the best of the series' Golden Age, which refers to the time of the series' 2d-sidescrolling era with a linear or mostly-linear stage progression. The three hidden characters (Grant, Sypha, and Alucard) and branching pathways also add a significant degree of replay value as well as introducing Alucard and the Belnades family to the series. 3DC also has my favorite Kukeiha score, the first to includesuch classics as Beginning, Mad Forest, and Clockwork, as well as a funky remix of Vampire Killer.

4. Dracula X: Rondo of Blood (TurboGrafx PC Engine): Even though I prefer 3DC to this one, it's probably the best game from the Golden Age. Linear stage progression with hidden dungeons and a recruitable second character is icing on the cake for some of the most beautiful and inspired level design this side of Symphony (this is the game engine that you play at the beginning of Symphony before Alucard makes his appearance). It also helps that this game stars possibly the deepest Belmont ever character-wise in Richter, whose story continues in Symphony. Kukeiha's last musical score before they disbanded and let Yamane and Tojima take over is also very nice, with better samples than previous games but fewer memorable tracks. The main reason to emulate this game (as I did) is to play one of the best Cv games ever, particularly because it hasn't made it outside of Japan, except in an inferior SNES version called Dracula X (which was the same game, but without the extra levels and reduced audio and visual quality).

5. Super Castlevania IV (SNES): Great game, but it's difficult to say if this is a retelling of Simon's first adventure or a THIRD game starring the most popular Belmont. The action, while sometimes difficult, is really solid in this game, with multi-whip hits adding to Simon's arsenal and featuring very interesting level design. Club Kukeiha uses lots of unusual instrumentation in this game, basically experimenting with the then-new SNES audio capabilities, and come out with something that's less Mega Man-like in it's upbeatedness and more moody and atmospheric, while still putting out some sweet beats and keeping the tradtion of remixing classics (the last three stages are remixes of the signature tunes from Cv I-III, Vampire Killer, Bloody Tears, and Beginning).

6. Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (GBA): Much more traditional than Aria, it's not as hardcore-difficult as the series' golden age but is more difficult than Aria or Symphony. The castle is almost as large as Symphony's (bigger than Harmony but only one in number and much bigger than Aria), making for some really interesting and varied environments in the non-linear setup. The card collection aspect of the game makes it more intersting, but the soul collection system from Aria is a bit more customizable and much more varied. The replay value of this game skyrockets when you unlock new playing modes, but a single playthrough is probably all most casual fans will go for. This is the only non-Yamane and non-Kukeiha musical score from the series I really like, coming from the one-hit wonder Sojiro Tojima, but very nearly every song there is a remix of an old Cv song: the only exception I can think of is Awake.

7. Castlevania (NES): Such a classic! Straightforward gameplay, without any nonlinearity but great action, awesome Kukeiha music, and probably the most difficult in the series. The controls and smoothness of action is kinda lacking, but the teriffic settings, music, and sometimes-intense difficulty make it a far more rewarding game then most of the easy crap that we get nowadays. It also was the first game that Kukeiha ever worked on, giving birth to classics such as Vampire Killer and Wicked Child [rejoices].

8. Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (GBA): This game is quite old-school, but the visual style is not appealing to me at all - colors are too bright and detract from the gothic feel while the sprites are pretty ugly, even if the framerate is excellent and the graphics very detailed. The castle design is interesting, but not as appealing as many other games in the series. However, the action in the game is pretty solid, even if the difficulty's pretty low. I love the shoulder-button dashes and the old-school whip mechanics, but the magic tome system is too cumbersome and lacks variety. Still, this is a pretty solid game, and the critics loved it. The game's music is probably Yamane's worst work since she hit the game music scene eight years ago, but low sound-quality and bad samples might have most of the blame - some of the tunes/grooves/progressions aren't at all bad.

9. Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES): This game is very unusual. It's the first Cv game to have nonlinear storyline progression (which nearly every game after this one possesed) but also the only Cv game to have a multiple-villages setup akin to RPGs. Basically, it really doesn't feel like Castlevania at all during some sequences, but it's extremely entertaining - my one beef with it is that the combat is too easy and it's often difficult to figure out what to do next (thought admittedly I had the same problem with the original FF). The music is nothing short of greatness, introducing the world to Bloody Tears and Message of Darkness, among others.

10. Castlevania: Lament of Innocence (PS2): I was very disappointed with this game. Sure, the action was pretty good, Yamane's score was excellent, and it adds a great deal to the Cv storyline (including a possible origin of Dracula himself) in the form of fairly well-executed cutscenes, but the rest of the game falls very short. The castle design (possibly the most important aspect to modern Cvs) is excellent in parts, and god-awful in others. I remember in particular that the castle main hall was beautiful and intricate, but each castle wing has you advancing and backtracking through identical room after identical room, a horrible disappointment. However, the pros of this game I mentioned early are about enough to warrant a purchase for <$10. The action is great and if you're a Cv fan you'll love the story and cinematics.

Needless to say, I'm extremely anxious about Curse of Darkness and Dawn of Sorrow coming out later this year. CoD reportedly follows the storyline of Dracula's Curse, starring an ex-minion of Dracula named Hector and featuring a cameo by Trevor Belmont (and rumored cameos by several other characters, but that's how it always is). It looks great and IGA is determined to improve upon the mistakes he made in the previous 3D iteration of the series. However, I'm probably even more excited about Dawn of Sorrow. It's a sequel to Aria of Sorrow, and the main use of the bottom screen will be to have a map and status screen handy as you play, and also to trace special symbols to seal boss characters into the void upon defeating them. I'm strongly considering getting a DS just for Cv and Advance Wars: DS, which supposedly rules.

Edit

Whoops, I left some parts imcomplete. I also wrote far too much, but meh, I love Castlevania.

This post has been edited by laszlow on 22nd April 2006 00:20

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
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Castlevania games played so far: Castlevania 1, Super Castlevania IV, Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance (first played)

Castlevania games beaten so far: Harmony of Dissonance (and Cv1 with cheating via savestates)

Favorite aspect overall about the Cv series: Vampire Killer (the song) (and possibly the whip, but far less than the song)
+favorite incarnation of Vampire Killer: "Simon 1994RD" (Contra: Hard Corps)
+favorite incarnation of Vampire Killer in a Cv game: "VK2K2" (HoD)
+favorite incarnation of Vampire Killer, pure loop (classic form): "Vampire Killer" (CotM)
+favorite incarnation of Vampire Killer, pure loop (classic form) in D minor: Vampire Killer (Cv3, NES)

Can't get past 1st level, and don't feel like emulating to do so: Super Castlevania IV

Best game series for making obscure allusions to: Castlevania
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I'm kinda new to the series, but so far, I've concluded one thing:
Most addicting video game music track (not necessarily the best, but the sheer most addicting): Vampire Killer, Castlevania series

This post has been edited by Glenn Magus Harvey on 13th September 2005 05:09

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

I loved "lament of innocence". It was an amazing game. It really showed what could be accomplished with a 3d castlevania.

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What if he shot you first instead of your secretary?

I suppose I'd have to catch the bullet, wouldn't I

castlevania is the bomb man i have played that so much that i have worn out my playstation controller.

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Why is it that rpg's are now a dying breed?

I've been playing Castlevania since the NES. One of the best and most fluid adventure game series ever made. I'll admit, I only really like the 2D ones...Much like Mega Man, 3D wasn't it's friend...

My faves are...
Castlevania: This game I got in the early 90s, and finally beat in 2000. XD I had nothing but trouble with the Death boss when I was 'ickle.
Castlevania II: Always somewhat outside of the series with its RPG/adventure hybrid system. It was okay, but didn't have the pick up n' playability that most the series has.
Castlevania III: My fave of the series, very long, with many paths to take and the ability to use more than just Simon.
Super Castlevania IV: I liked it, but it was very very short. Had a few original touches, but those who'd followed the series could do this one in a day of getting it.
Castlevania Dracula X: Better presented than IV, I thought this one had some great characters.
Castlevania Symphony of the Night: My second fave, giving you the chance to break free of the whip (not counting the 'extra' game). Seemed funny how many of the earlier characters took deep changes on from before...(I'm talkin' Maria here)

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The Arcana are the means by which ALL is revealed.

hey since you guys seem to know what you are doing in castlevania i have a question.....
in castlevania symphony of the night
in the normal castle west wall of the castle there is a bird... i could guide there if needed pm me...
well ok the question is there is this stupid bird their but why is it that you ae suppose to scare it off somehow or are you suppose to be there with ma certain weapon at a certain time at a centaiin % complete plz help me...

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Why is it that rpg's are now a dying breed?

First of all, your post doesn't make sense and your command of the English language is horrible. If you want someone to help you, please post in a more easily understood manner.

Second of all, there is no enemy or region in the game where you need to have a certain level, percent, or time to reach. You can enter new areas of the castle by learning new techniques and finding new items, nothing more.

http://www.rpgclassics.com/shrines/psx/cas...ippogryph.shtml

I *think* that's what you're talking about. Use the shrine or an FAQ to get through the game, not CoN.

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
END SPOILER

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is one of my favourite games across the board. It's not difficult at all, which is probably why I started to play it in the first place, but that makes it less fun once you've been playing for a while.

Most of the other Castlevania games kick my butt. I think what the series really needs is a better learning curve, or difficulty settings like you see on Silent Hill, etc.

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Veni, vidi, dormivi.

Quote (karasuman @ 23rd September 2005 15:19)

Most of the other Castlevania games kick my butt. I think what the series really needs is a better learning curve, or difficulty settings like you see on Silent Hill, etc.

Agreed, for Castlevania 1 and Super Castlevania IV and even Castlevania: Circle of the Moon. The former two are freakishly difficult if you're not experienced.

Well, this kinda applies to a lot of NES games as well. SCvIV was kinda an exception in that it didn't follow the trend of decreasing in control-/graphics-based difficulty that other SNES games set.

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

Well I jest started playing Symphony of the Night at this very moment, so it better be good, you guys .

Edit

I played for about 4 hours earlier this morning. So far so good .

This post has been edited by Galsic on 24th September 2005 21:17

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Console RPG Cliches

Quote (Glenn Magus Harvey @ 23rd September 2005 21:48)

Quote (karasuman @ 23rd September 2005 15:19)

Most of the other Castlevania games kick my butt.  I think what the series really needs is a better learning curve, or difficulty settings like you see on Silent Hill, etc.

Agreed, for Castlevania 1 and Super Castlevania IV and even Castlevania: Circle of the Moon. The former two are freakishly difficult if you're not experienced.

Well, I usually enjoy hardcore-difficult games if the gameplay's good (and Cv gameplay is wonderful), but I have to agree that the original Castlevania is a bit too hardcore for most people nowadays.

The extreme difficulty of games like the original and CV3 and 4 were part of the reason that they drastically easy-fied SotN and the N64 Castlevanias (which sucked... a lot). Still, Symphony does get somewhat difficult during parts of the second castle (certainly more difficult than Harmony, at least), and if you're really hardcore than you can try beating the game as Richter, which I've tried to do but can't beat Galamoth or Dracula.

I think that Aria of Sorrow has the right idea of Cv difficulty. The main game is fairly easy, probably on par with Symphony's first castle, but Hard Mode is decently challenging, around the level of Circle of the Moon (which is still eaiser than 1, 3, or 4), particularly when fighting Balore and Death. Aria also has a second playable character (with a system/statistics setup MUCH better than Symphony Richter's) and a fun Boss Rush mode for either character at either difficulty, with new unlocked weapons for clearing it at certain times. Circle's new gameplay modes were fun, but Aria has the right idea for new replay value. If Dawn of Sorrow is as awesome as the fanboy in me wants it to be, then I might have to get a DS this winter....

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
END SPOILER

I know I'm committing threadcromancy again, but the news of a new Castlevania got my vampire-killing urges going again, so I've resumed my quest to beat Circle of the Moon on Thief Mode and I'm going to rewrite that old top ten from earlier in this thread. However, this time I'll give each game a one-sentence theatre of the absurd question. Let the Castlevania discussion re-begin!

Lazzie's 10 favorite Castlevania games of all time:

1. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - If I were a chick, would I say that Alucard was my bishie?

2. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow - Why the hell does a Japanese kid that looks like a ghost have a Spanish name?

3. Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse - Did sleeping for 321 years eliminate Alucard's former lameness?

4. Castlevania: Rondo of Blood - Why oh why is this game so hard to emulate!?!? (I have played it in significant amounts, but I have never manged to set it up on my laptop)

5. Castlevania: Circle of the Moon - We've had Belmonts, Belnadeses, Renards, Morrises, and even the son of The Man himself; so who the hell is Nathan Graves?

6. Super Castlevania IV - Why is this the only game in the ****ing series where we can whip in multiple directions?

7. Castlevania - How exactly does a leather whip turn into a chain whip?

8. Castlevania; Harmony of Dissonance - Why is Juste the only belmont that looks like he's been dipped in Alucard sauce?

9. Castlevania: Bloodlines - Why does a fruity Spaniard have Alucard's Spear?

10. Castlevania: Dracula X - Why do I get the urge to disco whenever I hear Opposing Bloodlines?

Unranked= Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow - Why oh why don't I have a DS yet!?

So yeah, Castlevania rocks, and I'm a supergeek of the first degree.

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
END SPOILER

Quote (laszlow @ 21st April 2006 19:53)

The news of a new Castlevania got my vampire-killing urges going again, so I've resumed my quest to beat Circle of the Moon on Thief Mode.

Goodness. We're doing the exact same thing for the exact same reasons.

Eery. But cool.

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"Judge not a man by his thoughts and words, but by
the quality and quantity of liquor in his possession
and the likelyhood of him sharing."

I'm not really very knowledgable on the series, but I do know that I love the music. (Which I've noticed is remixed alot, a good thing.) I've played the first 3 (I think I have III in my case..), IV, Circle of the Moon, and that's it. I remember getting past Magician, but I didn't really feel like playing through it again, so...

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OSonic Rave
/ \Last Arcanum
[ ]Strike Raid
XRagnarok

I haven't had the chance to play other Castlevania games than Symphony Of The Night...but I loved the latter! EXCELLENT soundtrack (probably the best I've ever heard), really smooth controls, SUCH a badass character (Alucard, obviously... Richter was lame, let alone Maria), simple yet outstanding graphics, and the Crissaegrim.

True, it was somewhat hard to beat some parts of the game (Galamoth without 'Grim or Shield Rod combo comes to mind), but it's never frustrating. The only tiring thing I've found are the drop rates, but then again, once you've got your hands on the Crissaegrim, who needs other items? And I'll not even start talking about those Rings of Varda...

Bosses were great (ok, one or two weren't, I agree), especially Death. I didn't like the whole "inverted castle" plot twist (I mean, come on, what a lame way to extend a game's playtime ) but never mind. (Oh, the Crissaegrim is in the Inverted Castle, so I can't be too rough with it anyway. )

All in all, one of the games that ranks Top Ten in my (long) PSX collection.

PS: Did I mention the Crissaegrim?



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"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight