Castlevania Thread - Vampires, Whips, and Horror's Greatest Hits Now In One Gaming Franchise

[MirrorNoir]

With the 3DS E-Shop closing down this spring, I decided to finally buy the original Castlevania (had bought Castlevania 2 and 3 ages ago but had never gotten around to buying the first one).

Been doing a playthrough of 1 and 3 and a couple of things:

1. The games are super hard, especially when you reach the halfway point and all enemies start dealing 4 damage a piece, meaning four hits will kill you. Had to save scum for some of the last levels just to get to the last couple of bosses with full health.

2. Weapons are inconsistent as hell: the stop watch works for several early bosses but not any of the later ones. Also the BS with the double and triple shot (they are super rare and you lose them immediately if you die) makes it super ultra frustrating and again, requires you to save scum to keep them.

3. The evil spirit two/three in one boss in Castlevania 3 is frustrating as hell: first you have to fight the mummies from Castlevania 1. Then you have to fight the cyclops with the hammer, and then finally, in the three-in-one fight, a flying demon. And you have to do this in rapid succession and NO healing.

That said, I really want Konami to do a Castlevania collection for the Switch. All of the NES games, Rondo of Blood, all of the SNES games, and Symphony of the Night at the very least.

 

[Genesis Does]

For Castlevania 1, the king of sub items is the holy water. If you get that item to a boss, it's basically a free win with the exception of Dracula himself.

 

[Dom Cruise]

This is one of my all time favorite series, but my first game was Aria of Sorrow and for the longest time only the Symphony style "Metroidvanias" was what I had played.

It wasn't until 2011 did I go back and start playing the linear entries starting with Super Castlevania 4 and Castlevania Bloodlines and fell in love with the series all over again but in a new way, later I also played the NES entries (though I've never beaten Simon's Quest), as much as I love the Metroidvania style ones, if you say "Castlevania" to me today the first thing that will probably come to mind is the linear entries.

Despite all that my favorite game in the series is Aria of Sorrow, there's just something special about your first, but Aria also contains some real standout elements when compared to the others, although Symphony of The Night is amazing of course and I also hold a special place in my heart for the trilogy of DS games.

Just last year in fact I even went back and played the first two Gameboy entries, they're pretty cool too despite the obvious downgrades but fucking hell did I save scum constantly during the final fights with Dracula, I can't even imagine how it would be possible for a human being to beat those without cheating.

I also think Lament of Innocence is underrated, yes it has a major flaw with the repetition of the environments, but the graphics are gorgeous, the combat is silky smooth and a lot of fun and the soundtrack is stellar, I do wish the story was less dumb however, Dracula is not a character that needs an "origin story" much less one as meh as this one, to say nothing of the origin of the vampire killer whip, usually Iga was able to spin a better yarn than that, I've also not been able to get into Curse of Darkness because it removes everything that was good about Lament (save for the soundtrack maybe)

After playing the first two Gameboy games there's very few entries in this series (not counting something like Kid Dracula) left that I haven't played to completion yet, at the end of the day though I'm kind of glad this series is over with though as Aria of Sorrow and Dawn of Sorrow provide pretty good story conclusion, unlike Silent Hill and unlike Metal Gear Solid, we didn't have to suffer through a series of shitty western developed entries ala Silent Hill (The Mercury Steam games are meh, but a different continuity so easier to ignore) and it didn't leave you scratching your head like MGSV.

The only real missed opportunity is we never got a "battle of 1999" game, but there's also something cool about Dracula's final death being left to our imaginations.

 

[MirrorNoir]

For me the story of Simon's Quest is super kino even if the execution is 100% blotched and then some, as far as it's potential helping overcome the execution of the game's narrative and how they dumbed down the difficulty via removing all boss fights save for three. To the point that I really wish that Konami would do a full-on rebuild of it to allow it to finally fulfill it's potential.

 

[Dom Cruise]

For me the story of Simon's Quest is super kino even if the execution is 100% blotched and then some, as far as it's potential helping overcome the execution of the game's narrative and how they dumbed down the difficulty via removing all boss fights save for three. To the point that I really wish that Konami would do a full-on rebuild of it to allow it to finally fulfill it's potential.

It was interesting how Order of Eccelsia, which was the last "real" Castlevania game, incorporated elements from Simon's Quest, while I say I'm at peace with the series being over with, it would have been cool to see Simon's Quest style mechanics expanded on it or a full on remake of the game like you said.

 

[Sundae]

Personal favorite game in the series is Portrait of Ruin. It was the first entry in the series I played, and one of my favorite games in general. Love the game's soundtrack, as well as the bosses:

Spoiler: Personal Favorites

Still hoping for HD ports of Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia.

 

[Jonah Hill poster]

Castlevania for the NES is still a joy to play mainly because of its 8-bitdesign




It looks so unique, while also having a very “peaceful” feel to it.

Aside from fighting zombies, of course.

 

[Gravemind]

Castlevania Anniversary Collection exists for the Switch. It has all the NES titles, Super Castlevania IV, the two Gameboy Castlevanias, Bloodlines, and Kid Dracula. Advance Collection also features the SNES Dracula X (for some reason).

Now if they would just put Requiem on the Switch as well, the older library would basically be complete since Switch owners would get SotN and Rondo of Blood. I also hope that they make a DS Collection as well with Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia at some point.

 

[White Devil]

Castlevania was my first video game as a child on NES in the early 90s. The music still resonates with me today.

That being said, I hate how the art aesthetic for it went from fantasy gothic He-Man to that androgynous anime bullshit. It totally kills the mood for me. I really wish Castlevania's OST got a orchestra release like they did for Zelda and some other classics.

 

[Smaug's Smokey Hole]

"2. Weapons are inconsistent as hell: the stop watch works for several early bosses but not any of the later ones. Also the BS with the double and triple shot (they are super rare and you lose them immediately if you die) makes it super ultra frustrating and again, requires you to save scum to keep them."

Boomerang is all that you need and double/triple shot can always be obtained on every level iirc. I also think the stop watch stops the scythes of Death, but it's been many years since I played it so I might completely misremember that.

 

[Bonesjones]

"2. Weapons are inconsistent as hell: the stop watch works for several early bosses but not any of the later ones. Also the BS with the double and triple shot (they are super rare and you lose them immediately if you die) makes it super ultra frustrating and again, requires you to save scum to keep them."

Boomerang is all that you need and double/triple shot can always be obtained on every level iirc. I also think the stop watch stops the scythes of Death, but it's been many years since I played it so I might completely misremember that.

Or you just holy water stun lock him

 

[Smaug's Smokey Hole]

Or you just holy water stun lock him

That works, but our method was to have triple shot boomerangs clear out the scythes while whipping him to shit.

 

[Dom Cruise]

Personal favorite game in the series is Portrait of Ruin. It was the first entry in the series I played, and one of my favorite games in general. Love the game's soundtrack, as well as the bosses:

Spoiler: Personal Favorites

https://youtube.com/watch?v=L0HVTx0gVhohttps://youtube.com/watch?v=YRVSqTM-Dpkhttps://youtube.com/watch?v=pmd7w4GDobchttps://youtube.com/watch?v=AYGO6wl2Jyghttps://youtube.com/watch?v=XpfxNCcIhIohttps://youtube.com/watch?v=7IiMbm6UmiQhttps://youtube.com/watch?v=v7xakOHXSQUhttps://youtube.com/watch?v=UZWYrVnNrhU

Still hoping for HD ports of Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia.

Portrait of Ruin is special to me because of it's great variety of levels, it's a shame we never saw anything like that from the series again and it's also special to me because of when it came out being a special era for me personally.

Castlevania for the NES is still a joy to play mainly because of its 8-bitdesign

View attachment 3113346View attachment 3113345
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It looks so unique, while also having a very “peaceful” feel to it.

Aside from fighting zombies, of course.

Yes, the NES original still has a real charming look to it, it's one of the best looking NES games.

Castlevania was my first video game as a child on NES in the early 90s. The music still resonates with me today.

That being said, I hate how the art aesthetic for it went from fantasy gothic He-Man to that androgynous anime bullshit. It totally kills the mood for me. I really wish Castlevania's OST got a orchestra release like they did for Zelda and some other classics.

I like both art styles although I hate Simon's redesign in Castlevania Chronicles, barbarian dude all the way with that game.

I like the fact that the series has two distinct eras, my theory is that vampire society and those close to it live very extravagant lives and dress accordingly, whereas Simon was from the sticks, hence the stripped down barbarian look, but the wealth he must have accrued from defeating Dracula twice lead to Juste growing up wealthier (and also simply taking place later when extravagant fashion would have been more in vogue)

I also think vampire society is more advanced than human society hence all the anachronisms in Walter's castle in Lament of Innocence, a similar idea is put forth in Bloodstained with steam engine trains existing in the 1700s.

There's a real parallel with Castlevania and the anime films of Vampire Hunter D, the first (which was definitely an influence on the first Castlevania game) had a funky 80s style reminding one of He-Man or Thundercats, whereas the second movie has an extravagant gothic style, both are cool in their own ways.

 

[Dr. Geronimo]

Big dick sucker for the 16 bit games here. Loved the soundtracks for bother CV4 and Bloodlines. Also preferred the more arcade style over the RPG elements.

 

[MirrorNoir]

"2. Weapons are inconsistent as hell: the stop watch works for several early bosses but not any of the later ones. Also the BS with the double and triple shot (they are super rare and you lose them immediately if you die) makes it super ultra frustrating and again, requires you to save scum to keep them."

Boomerang is all that you need and double/triple shot can always be obtained on every level iirc. I also think the stop watch stops the scythes of Death, but it's been many years since I played it so I might completely misremember that.

The stop watch did not work on Death's scythes when I played it. Had to savescum backtrack through the hallway of death leading up to Death's chamber (where you have to fight Ax Men who can kill you in four hits while ducking Medusa Heads) to go back to a previous screen where the Boomerang can be obtained then somehow survive said hallway of death without the stop watch freezing time so one can kill the paralyzed Ax Men without being clobbered by Medusa Heads to get back to the Grim Reaper's chamber.

Grim Reaper's scythes make the fight such a nightmare because they can get you from below, above, and from the sides and often all at once. And they constantly respawn, making it so that you have to spam boomerangs (preferably with the triple or double shot) across the screen and pray you somehow can outlast the Reaper damage receiving-wise.

 

[Dom Cruise]

How great is that moment in Aria of Sorrow where you can find that Goonies style pirate ship area, all of which is totally optional?

Easily my favorite moment in the series and it's a shame none of the other ones have something quite that cool and yet totally optional to discover.

Big dick sucker for the 16 bit games here. Loved the soundtracks for bother CV4 and Bloodlines. Also preferred the more arcade style over the RPG elements.

Bloodlines soundtrack is an absolute banger, especially it's rendition of Simon's theme.

 

[White Devil]

Soundtrack wise, I always thought Lords of Shadow had an insane OST despite it not being the best Castlevania game.

 

[Red Hood]

Castlevania was my first video game as a child on NES in the early 90s. The music still resonates with me today.

That being said, I hate how the art aesthetic for it went from fantasy gothic He-Man to that androgynous anime bullshit. It totally kills the mood for me. I really wish Castlevania's OST got a orchestra release like they did for Zelda and some other classics.

Don't get me wrong, Ayame Kojima has a detailed style but some characters don't need that. For Alucard? Fine, make him a goth Elric wannabe all you want. Simon should stay Arnold-esque, though. I don't know why she made him into a Kool aid haired emo fuckboy.

 

[Psyduck]

Soundtrack wise, I always thought Lords of Shadow had an insane OST despite it not being the best Castlevania game.

100%. These are two of my favorites

 

[Dom Cruise]

Soundtrack wise, I always thought Lords of Shadow had an insane OST despite it not being the best Castlevania game.

Lords of Shadow bums me out, the game has such great production values with the graphics, art direction, soundtrack and voice acting.

But it also just sucks, the gameplay and puzzles all feel tedious, the combat lacks a certain "weight" to it, it was a real slog to finish, the story is also stupid, they tried to get overly clever.

It's not as big of an embarrassment as most of the western developed Silent Hills are, namely Homecoming and Downpour as Mercury Steam were clearly trying, unlike Homecoming just lazily copying the movie and calling it day, they were also smart enough to make it it's own continuity, so it's easier to be more forgiving since it doesn't have the audacity to try to be the same universe as the other games.

But still, looks and sounds great but is still not a good game.

I've yet to play Lords of Shadow 2 but part still wants to someday for completionism sake as it's likely to be the last all new game with "Castlevania" in the title.

Don't get me wrong, Ayame Kojima has a detailed style but some characters don't need that. For Alucard? Fine, make him a goth Elric wannabe all you want. Simon should stay Arnold-esque, though. I don't know why she made him into a Kool aid haired emo fuckboy.

What's odd is she can draw a perfectly good gruff guy like the shopkeeper in Lament of Innocence, she can also draw some sexy and beautiful actual women like Mina in Aria of Sorrow and the Succubus in Symphony of the Night, so she shouldn't be stereotyped as just a "pretty boy" artist, but the Simon redesign is a huge misfire.