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[Seraph_Nicholas]

Rondo is a great game, and I'm glad it won the battle to determine the subsequent direction of the series. IV and Dracula X were fun in their own right, not deviating quite so much from classic formula, aside from the directional whipping completely decimating IV's difficulty.

Bloodlines was the best of the era, though. Two completely unique characters, down to how they progressed through the game, and one of them is easier, too. I had also just recently read Dracula when I played it first, and was happy to finally see some direct ties to the book. To this day, I go for a spear as soon as it's available in newer Castlevanias.

 

[PassiveObserver]

Rondo of Blood is the only Classic-vania I've ever beaten, so my loyalty lies with the PCE game.

 

[DSix]

It's not a port... sigh...

Yeah, wrong term, more like a dumbed down re-imagination.

 

[IrishNinja]

Bloodlines was the best of the era, though. Two completely unique characters, down to how they progressed through the game, and one of them is easier, too. I had also just recently read Dracula when I played it first, and was happy to finally see some direct ties to the book. To this day, I go for a spear as soon as it's available in newer Castlevanias.

bold opinion, i respect it though - Bloodlines stays criminally slept on despite being an amazing entry in the series

 

[jwhit28]

bold opinion, i respect it though - Bloodlines stays criminally slept on despite being an amazing entry in the series

I didn't like some of the classic music on the Genesis. I thought I the new arrangements were good. Konami knocked the Hard Corps soundtrack out of the park though.

 

[Mr. Nice_Guy]

Haven't played the SNES version, but Rondo is my favorite Castlevania and I've played most of them. Just an incredible game through and through, PSP remake is great too.

 

[andymcc]

my 16-bit CV ranking as follows:

-Rondo
-Bloodlines
-X68000 CV
-XX
-SCVIV

It goes without saying that the PC-Engine game is the better of the two. XX has its moments, like the final Dracula fight. I would also rank it above super castlevania because the difficulty is actually there, unbroken by the awful depth of field or multi-directional whip. SCVIV is so grossly overrated it's kind of frustrating.

 

[Shmuely Bully]

I didn't realize how wrong I was for liking the SNES version until I got Dracula X on PSP.

There's really no contest. Everything feels "off" in the SNES version in comparison from graphics to controls.

The graphics are the one place I give the edge to the SNES version. Those flames in the first level were mind-blowingly good at the time.

 

[Mael]

Neither. Castlevania IV will always be the definitive Vania experience for me. Rondo was a step back in terms of gameplay and music (CD quality didn't matter much when it was that cheesy techno rock).

I have a certain fondness for Cheapovania like SNES Vampire Kiss but seriously it hit all the wrong note for me for Castlevania.
The music was kinda cool for both games with Richter but you exchanged the cool gothic design for some cheapo anime style.
What a letdown!
Still less of a letdown than Rondo on PCEngine/PSP, I think the best part of that game was the beginning of SOTN.
I expected so much...

For Castlevania IV?
Everything was easier on SNES coming from NES anyway.
Megaman got easier, Metroid got easier, Mario got easier, Zelda got easier.
Castlevania? You bet it did.

 

[Davey Cakes]

The PC engine version. Well, specifically the TurboGrafx-16 version. Emulated really well on the Wii's virtual console.

Drac X SNES isn't bad but it's not as fun. I don't like the levels as much, nor the soundtrack. The split paths and secrets in Rondo of Blood make it like a true successor to Dracula's Curse, which is a bonus.

In terms of pure linear Castlevania, Super CV4 is the much better SNES game.

 

[Mael]

The PC engine version. Well, specifically the TurboGrafx-16 version. Emulated really well on the Wii's virtual console.

Drac X SNES isn't bad but it's not as fun. I don't like the levels as much, nor the soundtrack. The split paths and secrets in Rondo of Blood make it like a true successor to Dracula's Curse, which is a bonus.

In terms of pure linear Castlevania, Super CV4 is the much better SNES game.

Did my memory deceive me? There wasn't split paths in Vampire Kiss?

 

[OnPoint]

Yeah, wrong term, more like a dumbed down re-imagination.

Say what you will about its quality. So long as the proliferation of misinformation stops.

CV1 has amazing game design. CV2 is a mess. CV3 is poorly balanced. SCV4 has good controls but boring content. Rondo is a true evolution of the core design without throwing out what made CV1 great. Fighting an enemy is never what is fun about SCV4. it's all empowerment and good platforming. Rondo has the best combat of the franchise and just has tons of depth for a 2d platformer where you walk right and whip a dude.

I could write a book on Castlevania 1's incredible design. Not a wasted pixel in it.

 

[Shmuely Bully]

Did my memory deceive me? There wasn't split paths in Vampire Kiss?

There are only two secret levels in the game, at least one of which requires a complete leap of faith near the end of a particularly galling bridge and you don't get another character for your trouble like you do in Rondo.

The boss of the first secret stage is cool and tough though, so there's that.

 

[D.Lo]

For Castlevania IV?
Everything was easier on SNES coming from NES anyway.
Megaman got easier, Metroid got easier, Mario got easier, Zelda got easier.
Castlevania? You bet it did.

That's a good point.

I think Japanese game design philosophy changed a bit for the SNES era, they'd finally started making 'console' games instead of home-arcade games. Castlevania 1 was very much arcade-hard - it's relatively short and punishing in later stages, which makes sense given it was Konami's direct answer to Ghouls n Ghosts.

By the time of Castlevania IV, we were into the realm of 'To play a console game is to see and experience everything' rather than 'only the best players can beat it'. Frustration was carefully removed from many action games. CV4 is a very long game too, so it's quite repayable because there is a lot of variety.

X68K and Bloodlines were released on much more niche platforms (in Japan) whose user bases bought them for 'arcade like' experiences, as those platforms had many arcade ports due to their x68k family CPUs being a common in arcade cabs, so their CV games may have been treated more in the Ghouls n Ghosts mold again.

 

[MaverickHunterX]

Castlevania Chronicles is straight port of the X68000 game, which is generally based on Castlevania 1. It even features emulated sound chard support that the old Sharp computer had.

Dracula X Chronicles is a remake of Chi no Rondo in 3D with some interesting tweaks and additions. It also includes full unlockable versions of Chi no Rondo as it was on the PC Engine (with some censoring) and SOTN.

Note to all interested though: I do not believe that either the PSP port or the Wii VC port have a fully nude Warewolf boss. This is important stuff, people.

Hmmm...don't mean to change subjects, but besides the noted werewolf detail, what else was censored? Thanks

 

[Augemitbutter]

PC Engine version. still own my original copy. played the SNES afterwards. while not a bad game, you will be ughhhh if you check out the SNES game afterwards.

 

[Mercutio]

Hmmm...don't mean to change subjects, but besides the noted werewolf detail, what else was censored? Thanks

The German actor in the initial cinematic has been changed to an actual German-speaking person. My understanding is that the initial cinematic has very poor grammar and was most likely spoken by a Japanese actor. Not necessarily censorship, but a move that is more sensitive to a wider audience outside of Japan.

Funny though, the whole "DON'T CHANGE ANY OF THE CODE AAAAAAAA" from Nintendo and Sony in VC, until there's Werewolf dong to be seen.

 

[luka]

How about SCIV versus Akumajou Dracula on the X68000? Both of them are remakes of the first game, but the latter is more close and faithful. I think visually the X68K remake looks a lot better as well. My main exposure to that was the Chronicles version on PS1 which had updated visuals enabled by default though so my memories may be a bit tainted. The screenshots I'm looking at of the original hold up nicely though. Much better spritework than SCIV.

The one thing I can truly appreciate about SCIV is how it further iterates on the horror atmosphere and presentation. The first Castlevania was pretty much just a homage to golden age Hollywood horror but they steered away from that aspect in the sequels.

This post needs more love. X68K is probably my favorite game in the series. Rondo is a close second and a brilliant game, but I can sleepwalk through it with either character while X68K still makes me sweat. The FM version soundtrack is catchy as hell. It's just a perfect realization of the original cv and shockingly gorgeous for a game for something from 1993. I still need to get to the 6th loop to see exactly what it changes - maybe that'll be a project for the summer.

Conversely, Super is probably my least favorite CV. The only thing I think it does well is the music and even then i prefer the more upbeat synth-rock direction the other games went.

 

[Kurt]

I have played so many castlevania's.
But CV4 is still way better then any other castlevania.
(I'm not comparing this with the rpg castlevania's.)

CV4 is the super metroid of the castlevania's.
The atmosphere that they put in their backgrounds combined with the perfect music.
It's insane how good it is.

 

[Mercutio]

I have played so many castlevania's.
But CV4 is still way better then any other castlevania.
(I'm not comparing this with the rpg castlevania's.)

CV4 is the super metroid of the castlevania's.
The atmosphere that they put in their backgrounds combined with the perfect music.
It's insane how good it is.

But neighbor, have you heard the Good Word about Rondo of Blood?

 

[lukeskymac]

I must be especially terrible at games since I'm seeing so many "Rondo of Blood is easy" posts in this thread. I really don't think so.

 

[Ban Puncher]

Rondo is in the Wii Virtual Console.

Anyone knows if there's a chance of it coming out for Wii U? I want to be able to play it with my Wii U pro Controller.

With Konami the way it is now?

Look forward to Rondo of Blood with touch controls.

99 cents for Stage X.

 

[El Sabroso]

Rondo is in the Wii Virtual Console.

Anyone knows if there's a chance of it coming out for Wii U? I want to be able to play it with my Wii U pro Controller.

it's possible, but TGx16 games aren't outside of Japan yet, also it is not available in the WiiU Japanese VC lineup, just Dracula X from SNES