HeroOfTim
(Replay) I genuinely enjoy the first half of this game. It's a pretty well designed NES game. Compare it to something like Castlevania 2, the secrets actually have sufficient hints (for the most part...), the palaces are fairly well designed... but after the first half I lose so much interest. It's not even that hard. It's just boring and I wished it would be over sooner. It's definitely better than Zelda 1 but I ain't replaying it anytime soon.
(Replay) Always thought this game was mid and overrated, but on this replay I enjoyed it more than I ever have. The dungeons are pretty good, but the best thing here is the exploration in the overworlds. It's so much fun. Some people dislike how the game hides required items in out of the way locations you're never told about but I like that personally, I love being forced to explore and find stuff on my own and I see no reason why you wouldn't want to do that in a Zelda game. I don't care for the soundfont but the OST was undeniably pretty influential as it started so many iconic recurring songs.
1986
(Replay) I have begun my replays of the series, and the first game... is not good! The dungeons aren't actually too terribly designed (besides Death Mountain which is ridiculous) but everything else here sucks ass under the condition that you don't use a guide. It is quite enjoyable with a walkthrough, and there's an undeniable sense of adventure and wonder in this world, but yeah nobody can defend the bombable walls, burnable bushes, etc etc etc and it amounts to a game that once was great but has not aged well.
I've played worse games, to be completely honest. It's still terrible but I mean, I would rather play this over Castlevania Legends. At least this game is about 30 minutes long. At least this game actually has kinda nice backgrounds! Also, at least this game actually makes me feel something. Playing this game in this current day and age of the internet is a surreal out of body experience that everybody should go through.
Not much to say. It's a fun time. Also Christopher is the best Belmont thank u.
As most people have already said, this game is just CV64 but better. Henry's mode feels a bit tacked on but Cornell is pretty good and the two from the previous game are the same with some updates to make them a bit better. This game gives you all that delicious atmosphere and music from 64 in a context that actually controls well and has a decent camera.
1999
By far my hottest take of the series. I'm slightly biased towards the N64 but this game is legitimately perfectly fine. It's definitely a bit janky and the combat is terrible, but I genuinely don't see why this game gets all the hate over other games of the era with the exact same issues. And let's not ignore the things that this game does well. The atmosphere is the best in the series, full stop. Like, it's amazing, and it's only enhanced further by the soundtrack (which is beautiful at times). That's the game's main appeal and I'm personally a huge sucker for good atmosphere, so I enjoyed my time here and expect Legacy of Darkness to fix the other issues.
Probably the most fun I've had in this series since Ecclesia. It's not perfect, it's a little bit too easy for my liking, but man it's so fun nonetheless and does a ton of things right like the controls and synergy between the characters. Solidifies the DS as THE best set of games in the series. Probably the best soundtrack of the 3 as well.
Also it is cute. Cute game that is cute and makes you go ":)"
Also it is cute. Cute game that is cute and makes you go ":)"
The first half of this game is pathetically easy and is kind of a boring slog, but the second half... actually kinda goes hard. It's not amazing or anything but the bosses after the halfway point are actually really good. For the whole duration, the game is visually stunning, with immensely detailed environments making for some of my favorite atmosphere in the series, and the soundtrack is like... one of the best in the entire series. That first half really does drag it down overall though.
Absolutely baller soundtrack, really cool presentation and atmosphere in some sections as well. Has some problems but it's a fun time.
Been warming up to it.
2018
What a great game. Some of the most creative platforming challenges I've ever encountered, with every mechanic or gimmick being milked dry in the absolute best way. With 10/10 gameplay wrapped in a nice, cute story, there's never a dull moment. I will continue to play it to unlock the harder levels long after I've beaten the main story. Easy, easy recommendation.
While this game isn't worthless, I could write a full essay on why it sucks so much.
It has the worst enemy design out of all the metroidvanias in this series by a lot, awful screen crunch, shitty controls, and its general idea of game design makes it feel like it was made by people who don't play video games.
It can occasionally be fun, but its design philosophy is just inherently flawed in essence.
The soundtrack is very good, though I dearly wish there were more original songs because the few that there are are fantastic.
It has the worst enemy design out of all the metroidvanias in this series by a lot, awful screen crunch, shitty controls, and its general idea of game design makes it feel like it was made by people who don't play video games.
It can occasionally be fun, but its design philosophy is just inherently flawed in essence.
The soundtrack is very good, though I dearly wish there were more original songs because the few that there are are fantastic.
1997
I'm not even sure where to begin here. Do I talk about the extremely bad level design, the garbage final boss, the actively awful story, or the mid soundtrack with only one particularly standout song? I don't know, but this game is terrible at everything it attempts. It's a lot easier than The Adventure, so it doesn't personally piss me off as much as that game, but I honest to god just might say it's even worse.
"So let me get this straight, you think Dracula X is a really solid addition to the series?"
I do, and I'm tired of pretending it's not.
The music takes a hit from Rondo of Blood, obviously, but visually, it clears in pretty much every area. Some really nice pixel art in this game.
The controls are basically the same except you move a lot slower now, which I don't think gets in the way too much as you're gonna be jumping a lot, which retains a faster speed.
There are a couple screens I can't defend, but for the most part, the level design and enemy placements are perfectly fine and even interesting in my opinion, and there are fun speedrun tricks and various bits of tech to employ throughout all of the routes. The bosses are just as good as they are in Rondo, too, and I definitely prefer this game's Dracula fight compared to Rondo's boring one. Not to mention this game has the best power/usefulness balance in the subweapons out of any game in the series.
Dracula X is a fun time in my opinion. Tricky to learn, but feels great to master.
I do, and I'm tired of pretending it's not.
The music takes a hit from Rondo of Blood, obviously, but visually, it clears in pretty much every area. Some really nice pixel art in this game.
The controls are basically the same except you move a lot slower now, which I don't think gets in the way too much as you're gonna be jumping a lot, which retains a faster speed.
There are a couple screens I can't defend, but for the most part, the level design and enemy placements are perfectly fine and even interesting in my opinion, and there are fun speedrun tricks and various bits of tech to employ throughout all of the routes. The bosses are just as good as they are in Rondo, too, and I definitely prefer this game's Dracula fight compared to Rondo's boring one. Not to mention this game has the best power/usefulness balance in the subweapons out of any game in the series.
Dracula X is a fun time in my opinion. Tricky to learn, but feels great to master.