Moot_Geeza wrote:

I think I've got some VC points left over, I'll probably just bite the bullet. Does anyone know if it has infinite continues?

I'll check later...


checked - the game has 3 save slots that are supported by the vc so you are sorted. It sounds lovely btw...

It's a tough wee bast - even for Castlevania. I had a game save starting at level 3 and it takes no nonsense from you at that point. 

It looks a bit rough around the edges in places - and looks excellent in others - but it plays really well. My main issue is the first Castlevania I played was IV on the Super NES and you really miss being able to whip in 8 directions but it was the only game in the series I've played that allowed that so i have to expect limited whip control here really.

Using Maria does make a big difference if I remember rightly too - almost like having an easy difficulty level option.

This one is different from others I've played in that some holes you can fall down offer shortcuts and alternate paths.

The PC-Engine would have been a mind-blowing console to have back in the day - it punches way above its weight.

Yeah the bosses are tough in this. Death on the pirate ship I remember having trouble with. I could perfect the level by the end because of dying on him so many times.

I completed Rocket Knight Adventures this week - next week's game - so I'll have a crack at Rondo on the VC in the next few days.  I actually managed to lose my Wii, which I've now found (girlfriend had put it under the stairs with my old magazines when the Wii U took its place, and had no recollection of doing so).

Have never really spent much time on the handheld Castlevanias - should get into them really. Don't really like handheld gaming but I have a GBA adaptor for the Gamecube - think GBA got a fair few good ones.

The final boss on the WiiWare game - Castlevania Rebirth - is a complete bastard - still haven't defeated that one. Very nice game by the way - a bit short but worth a look.

mistercrayon wrote:

retroking1981 wrote:

Yeah the bosses are tough in this. Death on the pirate ship I remember having trouble with. I could perfect the level by the end because of dying on him so many times.

hes a right dick.

Death usually is a bit of a pain - took a fair few goes getting by him in C IV.

That might have been on the ds. I think that came after the one where you jump through paintings. The first one on ds is probably also the best because its basically a rework of the last gba one. (dawn of souls I think it was called, to fit with the naming convention given to all early ds games)

mistercrayon wrote:

That might have been on the ds. I think that came after the one where you jump through paintings. The first one on ds is probably also the best because its basically a rework of the last gba one. (dawn of souls I think it was called, to fit with the naming convention given to all early ds games)

Ah yes, I was confusing GBA with DS there.

I finished Rocket Knight yesterday, superb game, will post thoughts later.  I've only got points for one VC game, which I was thinking of saving for Star Parodier (otherwise I won't be able to play that either), so I was hoping to get a go of Rondo at the NES day.  Old buddy old pal.  Let me have a few goes on it and I'll bring that crate of Coors....

Rocket Knight Adventures

I had this for a while back in the mid 90s.  I remember liking it, but was quite sucked in by the whole Treasure/Gunstar Heroes hype in the Sega mags, so I always insisted that was the better game.  As much as I like Gunstar (and admittedly they aren't even that similar, though comparisons were made at the time) after playing through RKA this week I'd say Konami's game edges it. 

It's a bit short, as seems de rigueur for quality Megadrive platformers in hindight, although at seven full levels the length is passable.  There are some absolutely brilliant sections, most notably the obligatory lava level (yes, there's also a minecart stage), where Sparkster is obscured by foliage and you have to judge your jumps using your reflection on the rising tide. 



Little touches like this elevate the game to 'classic' status for me; this is more than just a very good 16-bit title.  I remember reading that the game was censored slightly for western release, a la Streets of Rage III, so it would have been nice to get hold of the Japanese ROM.  The Japanese normal mode was renamed easy for the PAL release, but it was still tricky enough to provide a challenge.  Graphics and sound top notch, controls spot on, it all rattles along nicely and there's plenty of variety.  One of the best games on the Megadrive.

93% 

retroking1981 wrote:

davyK wrote:

The final boss on the WiiWare game - Castlevania Rebirth - is a complete bastard - still haven't defeated that one. Very nice game by the way - a bit short but worth a look.

It's shocking how few people know about his game. I can only imagine the coverage it would have got as a psn/xbla game - shame as like you say it's a very nice game.

I really like the Contra Rebirth too. The Gradius Rebirth is nice but not as good as C'vania and Contra.

Super Play was the best. Consequently, we need scores for graphics, sound, gameplay and gamelife too.

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (PC Engine)

Excellent platformer with fantastic level design. I'm a fan of linear platformers but the multiple pathways in this game are genius and add to the reply value. Classic Castlevania arguably at its best and another 90's gem from Konami.

5/5

hylian_elf wrote:

mistercrayon wrote:

The best castlevania on the gba is the last one. In fact you can get a cart with both of the last two (out of three) gba vanias.

Nah, 1,3 then 2 (GBA). On DS, Dawn was good, then rest were shit.

my problem with circle of the moon (the first one) is probably more an issue with being able to see anything on the screen.

You've got one level left. Isn't the first boss also a nod towards a Contra boss? I thought it was familiar (the way it comes through holes in the ceiling/walls in various places), but can't remember where I recognised it from.

Edit: Google results seem to suggest there's an homage to the waterfall boss in the original Contra, but I've just Youtubed it and that's not the one I meant. Maybe I'm not thinking of Contra at all.

The VC Megadrive (and NeoGeo!) games run at 50Hz for reasons known only to Nintendo so I've stayed away from those ....RKA looks to be a cracker - but then Konami were in a purple patch in the MD/SNES days.

I see the 2600 week approaches....I'll suggest a few here as we'd need at least one a day for the week. Pity we can't go for paddle games as the mouse and emu is a very poor substitute. The 2600 was all about multi-player too - so those have to be missed out as well.

H.E.R.O
Demon Attack
Pressure Cooker
Yars' Revenge
Berzerk
Keystone Kapers
Megamania
Missile Command
Realsports Volleyball
River Raid
Frostbite