Retro games are always kinda hard for me to review, but zamn, this shit especially lol. On one hand, Dracula X is aesthetically brilliant. Its pixel art is gorgeous, and each level is visually distinct, hand-painted. Accompanying each level is an absolute banger tune, this entry seriously might have the consistently best music of any Castlevania. There are also branching paths, multiple endings, and the badass new "item crash" system. This game has a cool coat of paint for sure, and I've really gotta commend it for that because I seriously wouldn't be able to stomach a second of it otherwise.
To preface, I'm actually quite a fan of retro games, and I find I'm usually able to excuse their often shoddy design in lieu of fun factor, artistic value, novelty. Games were new, and hella expensive. Difficulty and obtuse progression were how they lasted more than an afternoon, and there's nothing inherently wrong with that. Difficulty is powerful, and in my opinion really defines the gaming medium. This is the reason I pretty much never use save states anymore— a game loses its meaning without its intended oppression, tension.
Having said that, Dracula X does make me wish I wasn't so stubborn, for this game is distastefully rude, brutally mean, and hates everyone's guts, egregious even among classic arcade games. It feels like a Mario Maker level I would have made when I was 14, if Mario's movement was programmed in Scratch. Enemies camp the tops of stairways, each take 9 hits to kill, spawn inside you always, and knock you off every cliff. Every item you need to progress is dangled precariously over an instant death chasm or hidden under a random floor tile. You get three lives per level and losing them all sends you back to the start, so it's a good thing they're each long and riddled with bullshit when you're trying to get back to the boss. I like a good challenge, but this just has painfully unforgiving, unfair, inexcusable game design. Castlevania IV did everything so much better in my eyes, but I guess I can see how Dracula X would have a more masochistic appeal? I just don't think it's fun enough to make up for that, it's incredibly overtuned constantly.
Still by no means an awful game, and I do plan to check out Rondo. Just play at your own risk— it WILL give you a heart attack.
To preface, I'm actually quite a fan of retro games, and I find I'm usually able to excuse their often shoddy design in lieu of fun factor, artistic value, novelty. Games were new, and hella expensive. Difficulty and obtuse progression were how they lasted more than an afternoon, and there's nothing inherently wrong with that. Difficulty is powerful, and in my opinion really defines the gaming medium. This is the reason I pretty much never use save states anymore— a game loses its meaning without its intended oppression, tension.
Having said that, Dracula X does make me wish I wasn't so stubborn, for this game is distastefully rude, brutally mean, and hates everyone's guts, egregious even among classic arcade games. It feels like a Mario Maker level I would have made when I was 14, if Mario's movement was programmed in Scratch. Enemies camp the tops of stairways, each take 9 hits to kill, spawn inside you always, and knock you off every cliff. Every item you need to progress is dangled precariously over an instant death chasm or hidden under a random floor tile. You get three lives per level and losing them all sends you back to the start, so it's a good thing they're each long and riddled with bullshit when you're trying to get back to the boss. I like a good challenge, but this just has painfully unforgiving, unfair, inexcusable game design. Castlevania IV did everything so much better in my eyes, but I guess I can see how Dracula X would have a more masochistic appeal? I just don't think it's fun enough to make up for that, it's incredibly overtuned constantly.
Still by no means an awful game, and I do plan to check out Rondo. Just play at your own risk— it WILL give you a heart attack.
3 Comments
@FallenGrace will do! I love Castlevania and honestly as much as I harp on this one, ngl I still kinda got a sick kick out of it lol
Totally understandable! I'm the same XD
FallenGrace
1 month ago