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[Armoured Priest]

Alucard is ass. It's not worth getting him unless you just want a challenge because the path you take to get him is easily the hardest path in the entire game. One might say that path is unfairly hard. If you get him his fly ability is only really useful for the final stage and if you want to bypass the clock tower platforming.

Sypha (who is definitely female, watch the end cutscene)is okay. At one point I thought she was the best but in order to make her useful you have to get that Freeze spell and to do that you either need to have memorization of the levels and what candles have what or constantly switch back and forth from Trevor to her which isn't very fun. Her Freeze spell is really, really good and makes flying enemies and those unkillable spark balls on platforms trivial. But, once you die with her you lose it so there's definite minuses. Her fireball attack is okay but it does only slightly more damage than Trevor's whip. I think she has a homing attack which is very good but it's very rare and personally I don't think it's as good as the Freeze spell.

Grant kinda' breaks the game. In Japan he was the best character because his default attack was a throwing dagger that went fullscreen. It didn't do as much damage as Trevor's whip but it still one-shotted a TON of annoying flying enemies. But even in his nerfed American incarnation (without the throwing dagger) he's easily the best character because he trivializes a lot of platforming sections, his health is on par with Trevor, and he can fully control his jumps ala Castlevania 4. Plus you can mix and match subweapons. Want to keep the Axe for Trevor and the Stop Watch with Grant? Go right ahead.

Short version: Grant is the best partner.

For extra fun, try running the game without picking up a partner. ;P

 

[Ramune]

It sort of was...but not what you'd expect...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MkNy7qRc8w
(it's a Pachinko-slot game)

 

[John Rabbit]

Better yet, how was the better Castlevania, Castlevania 2, not remade?

hey.

hey.

i like you.

 

[Joseph Merrick]

castlevania1 was remade?

 

[Ahasverus]

castlevania1 was remade?

Yes

And if you go by canon...

 

[lazygecko]

Isn't Castlevania 1 even arguably a remake of the original MSX game?

Castlevania Chronicles seemed more like a slight HD update of the original Akomajou Dracula on the Sharp X68K, which was a remake of the original Castlevania.

inception.gif

 

[Sheriff_Battlesnake]

Konami is now a Kojima vanity studio. The age of Igarashi is dead.

I may be taking the bait here a bit, but what do you mean by vanity studio? Kojima might be so far up his ass he can taste his head, but he makes extremely valuable content in a way no one else does. And I don't think it's a stretch to say he's caused major progress in multiple genres on numerous occasions.

Where does the vanity come from?

 

[sixteen-bit]

Better yet, how was Metroid 2 never remade?

can't outdo perfection, nah mean?

Isn't Castlevania 1 even arguably a remake of the original MSX game?

No. The Famicom Disk System game predates the MSX one. They were developed in tandem though.

 

[sixteen-bit]

DP

 

[ElTopo]

For extra fun, try running the game without picking up a partner. ;P

I want to try that soon. Because using Sypha's path is a little bit easier.

 

[forest]

Better yet, how was the better Castlevania, Castlevania 2, not remade?

Kinda was

 

[Astral Dog]

It got that CoD "sequel".

Remade into what? its too old school to be remade now imo, Konami does not care anymore, IGA liked the game, but he dedicated himself to new games, wich is not bad at all, except for the PSP game, that was never released on NA i think.

Edit: I think IGA was also working on an animated movie based on Castlevania III

 

[Firemind]

I can't believe people actually prefer Simon's Quest to an actual good video game.

Having to repeat the whole stage because you died to some bullshit doesn't make for a good game, mate.

 

[D3RANG3D]

Why is the Famicom music so much better than the NES version?

I faintly remember the game failing to emulate properly because of some special chip in the cartridge, but I don't know.

Dat box/cartridge art tho. Belmont is thoroughly confused.

Preferring robot farts to the superior chip tunes...

 

[Freshmaker]

I feel like if Konami were ever to return to the original timeline, a remake or reimagining of III might be the way to do it. It depicts the first defeat of Dracula in the timeline, after all.

That just makes me picture Castlevania 3 with a crappy GoW style combro system mashed in. No thanks.

 

[FrontalMonk]

Why is the Famicom music so much better than the NES version?

I faintly remember the game failing to emulate properly because of some special chip in the cartridge, but I don't know.

The FC version had the VRC chip on the cart which provided additional sound channels. The NES didn't have the capability to send this info through the 72-pin connector so the NES cart had to make do with the MMC5.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_management_controller#VRC6

 

[Omnipunctual Godot]

Does anyone else believe that this was the most difficult Castlevania? I remember it being really, really hard.

 

[UncleSporky]

Having to repeat the whole stage because you died to some bullshit doesn't make for a good game, mate.

Agreed.

That's why it's good that CV3 only makes you repeat half the stage.

 

[ElTopo]

Does anyone else believe that this was the most difficult Castlevania? I remember it being really, really hard.

It's up there but it's mostly because of a handful of tricky screens. Or you took the path to Alucard...

Hardest Castlevania game is probably Dracula X on the SNES. Just because your walk speed is so bad it makes dodging certain boss patterns impossible and you have to know the trick to beat Dracula's final form or it's impossible.

 

[UncleSporky]

The FC version had the VRC chip on the cart which provided additional sound channels. The NES didn't have the capability to send this info through the 72-pin connector so the NES cart had to make do with the MMC5.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_management_controller#VRC6

Also, the NES would've been able to handle the VRC6...if you could run a cable from the cartridge to the underside of the NES, where the expansion port with those extra pins was located.

 

[JinjoUnchained]

Who are your favorite CV3 partners, GAF?

Are any of them objectively the best?

Sypha. Here's why. Underpowered Sypha is like playing on Hard Mode. Her normal attack has the worst range, but if you can get close enough then you can use it as a melee attack to waste strong enemies. Problem is that Sypha takes more damage, so there's a fun risk-reward trade-off when positioning yourself against the enemy. Also, it's upward arc makes it ideal for taking out flying enemies.

Your reward for mastering CV3 Hard Mode? Incredible magic attacks that make short work of some otherwise hair-pulling sections. The ice attack is priceless in most of the climbing areas and that electric homing attack wastes bosses if you can make it there. The other characters are great, but Sypha is the most satisfying.

I can't believe people actually prefer Simon's Quest to an actual good video game.

Only problem with SQ is purposefully obtuse progression in some areas, but that was just a relic of the time it was released. Back then they did this stuff to sell guides and Nintendo Power subscriptions. You should have no problem if you play SQ with a guide if you get stuck.

Leaving that element aside, I'd say SQ is the best of the original trilogy in terms play control, graphics, soundtrack, and its' importance in video game history. It's a groundbreaking game in many ways.

 

[UncleSporky]

Leaving that element aside, I'd say SQ is the best of the original trilogy in terms play control, graphics, soundtrack, and its' importance in video game history. It's a groundbreaking game in many ways.

Well there's that other thing. The terrible easy bosses. We can leave that element aside too.

 

[JinjoUnchained]

Well there's that other thing. The terrible easy bosses. We can leave that element aside too.

They're not really bosses, though. Dr. Sparkle made the case that SQ is, in many ways, an avant garde anti-game. It takes tropes from games of that era and flips them. Hostile and misleading NPCs, "bosses" that don't even engage you, long-winded alternate paths that lead nowhere. I actually think that the developers were trying to fuck with us, but you lose some of that playing the game 30 years later outside of its' original context.

 

[UncleSporky]

I really, really don't think it was designed that way on purpose. At all. It was not a Takeshi's Challenge.

 

[Frolow]

Not everything needs to be remade. Adventure got remade because it was a trash game that needed fixing. Rondo of Blood got a remake because the original never got localized.

 

[Professor Beef]

I sounded slightly twat-y, didn't I? I can see how the game just felt bigger and full of mystery. It had a lot of design problems but underneath those were some really great ideas. I couldn't stay committed, but I bet the mysticism was pretty incredible as a kid.

If you've got time to spare and can get on board with Egoraptor's humor, his series Sequelitis covers the Castlevania 1 v 2 convention shift pretty well. I really enjoy his commentary on game design, but it's not for everyone. And his Mega Man one is his magnum opus.

http://youtu.be/Aip2aIt0ROM

Ego also did a playthrough of CV2 recently. I think he opened up to the game a bit more as Dan was playing (Danny is a big fan of it), but he's still not a huge fan.

 

[petran79]

Sypha. Here's why. Underpowered Sypha is like playing on Hard Mode. Her normal attack has the worst range, but if you can get close enough then you can use it as a melee attack to waste strong enemies. Problem is that Sypha takes more damage, so there's a fun risk-reward trade-off when positioning yourself against the enemy. Also, it's upward arc makes it ideal for taking out flying enemies.

Your reward for mastering CV3 Hard Mode? Incredible magic attacks that make short work of some otherwise hair-pulling sections. The ice attack is priceless in most of the climbing areas and that electric homing attack wastes bosses if you can make it there. The other characters are great, but Sypha is the most satisfying.

yeah, those 3 orbs Sypha launches can kill bosses in an instant if targeted correctly.
Eg the Gargoyle boss is a piece of cake. Her attacks are the most powerful in the game.

Does anyone else believe that this was the most difficult Castlevania? I remember it being really, really hard.

it is hard in some places indeed. But the last boss battle with Dracula is the easiest in any CV game. If you have Trevor, stand there and just use the Axe....

I find Castlevania 1 much harder actually. The last 2 stages are more difficult than any CV3 stage. Also Castlevania Bloodlines is difficult in the last stage. Bosh rush and reverse platforming, Proserpina and Dracula 3 different forms. At least with the Spaniard it is easier....

Dracula X on the PC-Engine is hard too if you want the true ending AND dont pick Maria

 

[GatticusFinch]

Preferring robot farts to the superior chip tunes...

That Prelude track is pretty bad with what you have accurately described as robot farts, but some of the other tracks are much better. The bass does have a tendency on the Famicom versions to come out badly.

 

[Jotamide]

Is there a way to patch the Famicom version's music to the NES one? Via emulator or something?

 

[Lothar]

I will most certainly check it out. Castlevania is a series I never stuck with but looking back some of the games look worth revisiting! Like the original, Dracula X, and IV. Otherwise I think I'd need some handholding and instuction to avoid the garbage.

He's got some good points but doesn't give it enough credit for the atmosphere and being able to explore.

This is the AVGN video for Castlevania 2 and 3. www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrLdIiW6bEo The end shows what a nightmare Castlevania 3 can be at times.

 

[Wonko_C]

Preferring robot farts to the superior chip tunes...

What? Nope. Listen to Beginning, Rising, or Aquarius, they're richer and fuller than the butchered NES versions.

 

[D3RANG3D]

What? Nope. Listen to Beginning, Rising, or Aquarius, they're richer and fuller than the butchered NES versions.

You mean overly busy, and distorted.

 

[Haruka]

I have no problems with IGA, I really like him, but I'm glad he never ended up remaking this game. I'm not opposed to the idea of it, but he would probably change a lot of stuff to make it aestheticilly similar to his own games, and as result change it's identity, what makes it stand out from other games in the series, if that makes sense. You know, get rid of the barbarian designs, make Alucard a bishōnen, and just overall make the game less campy. The same thing happend with Dracula X Chronicles. I really like that game, but I appreciate it more as "Rondo of Blood: IGA edition" than "the definite version". The original is vastly superior.

 

[Omnipunctual Godot]

It's up there but it's mostly because of a handful of tricky screens. Or you took the path to Alucard...

Hardest Castlevania game is probably Dracula X on the SNES. Just because your walk speed is so bad it makes dodging certain boss patterns impossible and you have to know the trick to beat Dracula's final form or it's impossible.

Yeah, I got all the way to Dracula in Dracula X, but it was insanely difficult. I don't think I was able to finish that one.

 

[GatticusFinch]

It's amazing how many different versions of the same tune have appeared in Castlevania games.

Here are over 25 different versions of Vampire Killer, not including the Famicom version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0w35exSNkQ

I've tried to play Lords of Shadow, and I just couldn't do it without quitting in frustration. The camera issues and button mashing killed it for me. Maybe Lords of Shadow 2 fixed those problems, but I'm hoping for a more traditional Castlevania game.

 

[Retro]

I've tried to play Lords of Shadow, and I just couldn't do it without quitting in frustration. The camera issues and button mashing killed it for me. Maybe Lords of Shadow 2 fixed those problems, but I'm hoping for a more traditional Castlevania game.

It made them worse, and added all new problems.

 

[emag]

So that was one of the few instances where a remake was justified. I heard the Rondo remake was kinda' bad.

It got that CoD "sequel".

Remade into what? its too old school to be remade now imo, Konami does not care anymore, IGA liked the game, but he dedicated himself to new games, wich is not bad at all, except for the PSP game, that was never released on NA i think.

What is wrong with you people? Dracula X Chronicles was an amazing product, by far the best title in the PSP's library, and localized from the ground-up for the US.

There are some originalists who decry the Drac X Chronicles version of SotN for using a brand-new, not-as-terrible script, but just like those who think the PS1 voiceover for Resident Evil 1 is better than REmake's, they're insane. And it's true that the 2.5D remake of Dracula X runs at only 30 FPS, but it's not the end of the world for something as slow-paced as Castlevania; the new bonuses, new bosses, boss rush mode, rebalanced Maria, and great art are worth it.

Rebirth and Dracula X Chronicles are easily the best Castlevania games released in the last twenty years. Go buy them!

 

[GatticusFinch]

It made them worse, and added all new problems.

That's unfortunate. I will avoid it.

I can only replay SOTN so many times. I'm sure Konami thinks a 2D Castlevania wouldn't sell these days, so the only hope is for a Kickstarter knock off like Mighty No. 9.

 

[Sheriff_Battlesnake]

Ego also did a playthrough of CV2 recently. I think he opened up to the game a bit more as Dan was playing (Danny is a big fan of it), but he's still not a huge fan.

Yeah, I watched through that series! I enjoyed it a lot. I'm on a Game Grumps hiatus right now. I can't decide if the quality has dropped or if I need a break to recharge, but I'm not laughing like normal so I'll just wait a bit and try again later. Plus, then if it was just video fatigue I'll have a humongous back catalog.

The play through was obviously heavy with biased opinions, but I could see his points on why he didn't much care for it. There were literally bosses you could just walk right past and never encounter. I don't even see how you can have that oversight!

 

[also]

it is hard in some places indeed. But the last boss battle with Dracula is the easiest in any CV game. If you have Trevor, stand there and just use the Axe....

I find Castlevania 1 much harder actually. The last 2 stages are more difficult than any CV3 stage. Also Castlevania Bloodlines is difficult in the last stage. Bosh rush and reverse platforming, Proserpina and Dracula 3 different forms. At least with the Spaniard it is easier....

Dracula X on the PC-Engine is hard too if you want the true ending AND dont pick Maria

The last boss fight is not that hard but it's so long that it's easy to mess up. The different forms also took me some attempts to get the patterns down and there's no checkpoint right before the boss, so you have to repeat the whole stage if you die.

I felt III was harder than 1 and Rondo of Blood. I took the bottom route on my 1st plathrough and it gave me much more trouble than the first Castlevania. The Abandoned Mine (the stage with the falling blocks) is so long and at the end awaits a long boss encounter. And Inner Halls (Poltergeist boss) has that stairs sections with Bone Pillars and Gargoyles, not to mention the Mermen and Crow section right before the boss.
The hardest part in 1 is probably the hallway before Death but it didn't take me that long to get the rhythm down and you can cheese Death with the right subweapon.

Hard mode in III also makes some levels downright hellish. I'm looking at you, Sunken City of Poltergeists.

What is wrong with you people? Dracula X Chronicles was an amazing product, by far the best title in the PSP's library, and localized from the ground-up for the US.

There are some originalists who decry the Drac X Chronicles version of SotN for using a brand-new, not-as-terrible script, but just like those who think the PS1 voiceover for Resident Evil 1 is better than REmake's, they're insane. And it's true that the 2.5D remake of Dracula X runs at only 30 FPS, but it's not the end of the world for something as slow-paced as Castlevania; the new bonuses, new bosses, boss rush mode, rebalanced Maria, and great art are worth it.

Rebirth and Dracula X Chronicles are easily the best Castlevania games released in the last twenty years. Go buy them!

Finally someone that shares my love of Chronicles X!
I'll admit it's uglier but otherwise superior.

 

[Camp Lo]

I'd rather 2 get remade. That one has the most potential being the worst NES CV.

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

I'd rather 2 get remade. That one has the most potential being the worst NES CV.

I believe there are fan hacks that fix the fucked translation so that the hints are actually helpful.

 

[corrosivefrost]

Same reason I don't have some sort of modern copy of the NES Ninja Gaiden trilogy... these people hate money.

That or their bad software development practices lead to the loss of the source code for the game.

 

[andymcc]

You mean overly busy, and distorted.

They don't sound distorted on real hardware.

 

[The Spoony Hou]

What is wrong with you people? Dracula X Chronicles was an amazing product, by far the best title in the PSP's library, and localized from the ground-up for the US.

I haven't played DracX Chronicles yet, but from videos I saw, it looked like the games was in widescreen but they didn't change the enemy placement to compensate, which does affect the gameplay since the enemies "activate" by being on screen. Such rookie mistake just took away my interest in the game (besides the worse graphics).

 

[anotherVegan]

Sypha is the best companion. Believe it or not, her stick attack aims up at an angle just a little, making it useful for hitting small flying enemies. Plus the Ice and Lightning Ball spells are amazing, making her useful for taking down bosses.

My personal favorite Castlevania and it's pretty much perfect the way it is.

Also, that soundtrack!

 

[Camp Lo]

I believe there are fan hacks that fix the fucked translation so that the hints are actually helpful.

Hm. Gonna have to look into that. I really liked 2's music.

 

[Shig]

I haven't played DracX Chronicles yet, but from videos I saw, it looked like the games was in widescreen but they didn't change the enemy placement to compensate, which does affect the gameplay since the enemies "activate" by being on screen. Such rookie mistake just took away my interest in the game (besides the worse graphics).

The remake's not the only draw, it's got the only officially translated release of Rondo and a totally unique version of SotN (new translation plus a playable Maria that's not just a port of the Saturn functionality, she actually plays totally differently). Even if you don't dig the remake, you can't call yourself a CV fan if you passed on that. (Especially at the $5.25 it was going for on PSN a couple weeks ago)

 

[ElTopo]

Yeah, I got all the way to Dracula in Dracula X, but it was insanely difficult. I don't think I was able to finish that one.

You have to use the Axe on him. Basically you camp around the center platform, jump and whip or use the Axe on him, then when he goes into his 2nd form you keep spamming the Axe and it destroys his projectiles and try to wedge into that platform where you can't get knocked off and die.

What is wrong with you people? Dracula X Chronicles was an amazing product, by far the best title in the PSP's library, and localized from the ground-up for the US.

There are some originalists who decry the Drac X Chronicles version of SotN for using a brand-new, not-as-terrible script, but just like those who think the PS1 voiceover for Resident Evil 1 is better than REmake's, they're insane. And it's true that the 2.5D remake of Dracula X runs at only 30 FPS, but it's not the end of the world for something as slow-paced as Castlevania; the new bonuses, new bosses, boss rush mode, rebalanced Maria, and great art are worth it.

Rebirth and Dracula X Chronicles are easily the best Castlevania games released in the last twenty years. Go buy them!

I only heard it was bad. Particularly the port of Symphony. And the 3D models aren't too great IMHO.

 

[The Spoony Hou]

The remake's not the only draw, it's got the only officially translated release of Rondo and a totally unique version of SotN (new translation plus a playable Maria that's not just a port of the Saturn functionality, she actually plays totally differently). Even if you don't dig the remake, you can't call yourself a CV fan if you passed on that. (Especially at the $5.25 it was going for on PSN a couple weeks ago)

I've also heard the emulated original is kinda bad, it has out-of-sinc audio and possible more stuf (slowdown? I don't know). I guess SotN is good though, but I'd still pick the VC release. If only they had it translated...