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I've never played a side-scrolling Castlevania. Where do I start?

Download the original Castlevania on the Wii VC for $5 just to see how the whole series started, then jump to Symphony of the Night on XBLA to see how it evolved before going 3D.

If you like either of those games, then you can start filling in the gaps between 2D games as you please.
 
Play them in order. You can blow through 1, 2, 3, 4 and Rondo of Blood (all can be found on Virtual Console) in a few days. Then play SotN (PSN) followed by the Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance, Aria of Sorrow (all GBA) and then Dawn of Sorrow (DS). I might be missing something, but I think those are the best. But seriously don't skip out on the originals - they're pretty easy, are super fun, make the mythology make more sense, and you can beat them really quickly.
 
I don't know, personally I've tried to go back and play the pre-SotN Castlevanias.....I just can't.

SotN and forward is the only way OP.
 
Maedhros said:
Someone please... kill me.
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I played it for the first time in a single sitting last week, the music from level 2-12 or whatever were boring as repetitive, the only good tracks were the ones that they got from Castlevania 1-3

and some of the bosses, just no... and items were pointless,.
 
I did a replay of Harmony of Dissonance the other month and it did the game no favors. Too easy, boring layout and terrible music. On the other hand, Curcle of the Moon aged surprisingly well. The controls are little stiff but it provides a great challenge.
 
genjiZERO said:
Play them in order. You can blow through 1, 2, 3, 4 and Rondo of Blood (all can be found on Virtual Console) in a few days. Then play SotN (PSN) followed by the Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance, Aria of Sorrow (all GBA) and then Dawn of Sorrow (DS). I might be missing something, but I think those are the best. But seriously don't skip out on the originals - they're pretty easy, are super fun, make the mythology make more sense, and you can beat them really quickly.
Click to expand...

You make it sound like 1,2,3 and 4 are a cake walk. Not exactly the case.
 
Mauricio_Magus said:
I played it for the first time in a single sitting last week, the music from level 2-12 or whatever were boring as repetitive, the only good tracks were the ones that they got from Castlevania 1-3

and some of the bosses, just no... and items were pointless,.
Click to expand...

Whatever you says bro... whatever you says...
 
Well, for Classicvania I'd go with 1,3,4, and Rondo of Blood. For Metroidvania I'd start with SoTN since it's very easy and a good game to start with, then off to Aria of Sorrow and Order of Ecclesia.
 
Superblatt said:
You make it sound like 1,2,3 and 4 are a cake walk. Not exactly the case.
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For me they are. I blew through 1 and half of three in a couple hrs last night. 2 took a couple of days, but that's because I hadn't played it in years and had forgotten all the puzzles. That was on VC too. They're even easier on emulator because you can keep resetting your states. At a minimum, I think they're easy enough to beat quickly that they're worth playing. They're also really fun. I've been really feeling Castlevania lately and I think it would be a disservice not to play them. Don't get me wrong, SotN the ones that come after are far better, but I think playing the originals is a minimal investment for getting the fuller experience. If for no other reason to see how the game advances over time.
 
Mauricio_Magus said:
I'm sorry for breaking your heart, I'm sure you love the game and hate to see anyone talk shit about it...


I know that feel too well
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Not really. My favourite is Rondo, but I don't see any of the problems you're talking about in CV IV at all (except sub-weapons being almost useless because whiping is overpowered). Music is godly.
 
Maedhros said:
Not really. My favourite is Rondo, but I don't see any of the problems you're talking about in CV IV at all (except sub-weapons being almost useless because whiping is overpowered). Music is godly.
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Rondo is indeed the best one

I didn't like the bosses in 4 too, they just seemed odd, it felt like playing a Casltevania that wasn't done by the same dev team, I haven't checked so I might be wrong.
 
I started the series personally with Portrait of Ruin on DS - but Ecclessia is also good. Just got Dawn of Sorrow off Amazon and finished Mirror of Fate earlier tonight (not as good as the DS ones sadly).

I've been tempted to go back for the older games, but it takes a lot for me these days to get into some of the 8 bit games. Just wish I had a system with SOTN on it.
 
Original type Castlevania
SNES Super Castlevania IV

If you like it a lot, try Bloodlines (is this on Wii VC?) and Rondo of Blood. If you really like those, consider going back to 1 and 3. If you absolutely, absolutely must play another game, play 2.

Metroidvania
Symphony of the Night

If you like it a lot, try Dawn of Sorrow (DS), and if you like that a lot try Order of Ecclesia (DS). If you like those and desperately need more, you can try the other DS game, then the three GBA games.
 
More depth to my original post.

Castlevania 1: Play it because it's the original and sets the tone for the series. You can beat it in a couple of hours.

Castlevania 2: You can probably skip it. I'd play it though because it's unlike every other game in the series. It has RPG and crude Metroidvania elements. It'll take you several days without a guide. I say just use a guide though.

Castlevania 3: Play it because it's considered by most the be the best on the NES. It also introduces a major plot detail. It's fairly east too and you can beat it in a few hours.

Castlevania 4: Play it because it's the best on the SNES and is really fun. The wip mechanic is pretty good. It's not terribly difficult either.

Rondo of Blood: Play it because you'll definitely want to play SotN and it's part 1 of SotN's part 2. The gameplay and story are all really good.

SotN: An absolute classic. If you can only play one Castlevania this is the one to play. Hours and hours of secrets and cool things.

Circle of the Moon: You can probably skip it, but I think it's fun to play.

Harmony of Dissonance: Could probably skip too, but again I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Aria of Sorrow: Don't skip! Very good gameplay and the story is directly linked to SotN

Dawn of Sorrow: Basically AoS2, again don't skip. It's also, IMO, the last great Castlevania to come out.
 
Stumpokapow said:
Original type Castlevania
SNES Super Castlevania IV

If you like it a lot, try Bloodlines (is this on Wii VC?) and Rondo of Blood. If you really like those, consider going back to 1 and 3. If you absolutely, absolutely must play another game, play 2.

Metroidvania
Symphony of the Night

If you like it a lot, try Dawn of Sorrow (DS), and if you like that a lot try Order of Ecclesia (DS). If you like those and desperately need more, you can try the other DS game, then the three GBA games.
Click to expand...

This is the best advice but I'd add that playing Aria of Sorrow before Dawn of Sorrow is a must.

Mauricio_Magus said:
and awful music till the last level
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Lol I think I just had an aneurysm. Personally it's my favourite soundtrack of the series and in my top 5 soundtracks of all time. So much atmosphere and originality, the worst songs are probably the remixes of the classic tracks.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsSTQSAlSHg

I mean listening to this it sounds like a straight up baroque masterpiece when played on piano.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbmRF3Ke1ys
 
Here are four games you should totally play:

Super Castlevania IV
Castlevania Chronicles
Dracula X Rondo of Blood
Symphony of the Night

That will give you a good idea of what CV is all about.
 
Stumpokapow said:
Original type Castlevania
SNES Super Castlevania IV

If you like it a lot, try Bloodlines (is this on Wii VC?) and Rondo of Blood. If you really like those, consider going back to 1 and 3. If you absolutely, absolutely must play another game, play 2.
Click to expand...

I'd actually say go play Castlevania Chronicles before 1 and 3.
 
Play the N64 master race Castlevania. Full 3D just like lords of shadows!



























































9vZhX.jpg
 
You have to play Rondo of Blood and SotN. Absolute must-plays. For the 8-bit ones.. Castlevania III seems to be the most universally loved, though Simon's Quest is my favorite of those.
 
Mauricio_Magus said:
Castlevania Chronicles was great, in case anyone doesn't know, it's a remake of the 1st game for the PSX... it's great.
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Technically it's a remake of the X68000 version of Castlevania, which is not the same as the NES version. (The X68000 version is included on the disc)
 
Castlevania IV if you want to play an easy game.
Castlevania III, X86000, or Bloodlines if you want to play a good one.

I think IV would be most accessible for a new player.
 
Voice of Reason said:
Super Castlevania IV looks awesome in that AVGN vid. Might have to pick that one up or just get SOTN.
Click to expand...

AVGN's not wrong. Castlevania 4 is by far the best one, even though I do wish it was a bit harder. If you want a more challenging Castlevania, get Castlevania:DraculaX for SNES after you beat that one.
 
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