We got release dates for various Sega games (and a Japanese release date for Muramasa), WiiWare announcements, news of available Rock Band DLC, and more this week, and yet, for us, the best news all week was about something old: the release of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. And now that all three NES Castlevanias (not counting stuff like Konami Wai Wai World or Boku Dracula-kun) are out and you guys bought them all (you bought them all, right?), we can ask you to pick a favorite. Yeah, we're asking you the same thing in the contest post, but that's of all time, and we'd like to exclude the Metroidvanias from consideration.
Is it the straightforward, brutally punishing action of Castlevania? The light platforming and completely obtuse puzzle-solving of Simon's Quest? The varying locations and playable characters of Dracula's Curse? Or do you just like whipping Medusa heads in general?
Reader Comments (17)
Posted: Jan 17th 2009 10:42AM Bowser Rogozhin said
There are too many Castlevania games. I'm so jaded by the serious I hadn't even realised the series was on the VC until this post. But that doesn't mean I'm going to rush home and download. The series holds no interest to whatsoever. It's just another unfortunate emblem of Japanese development decay.
Posted: Jan 17th 2009 12:58PM Santos L Halper said
@BowserRogozhin
What the fuck are you talking about man? You're saying they've made sooo many Castlevanias that you refuse to even consider playing a Castlevania game regardless of how good it might be? That doesn't make a lot of sense and you're missing out on some really fun games but whatever. I think your whole post was just an excuse to use the phrase "development decay" anyway.
Anyways, I'm currently in the middle of III and it's pretty good but not as good as the original. I like the difficulty in the first one because after the boss killed me, running through the level was like practice and it started getting easier and easier to reach the boss. In III the levels are a little too easy so I have them mastered by my 3rd or 4th try. I'm not done with it yet so it might change but it's still a pretty good game anyways.
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What the fuck are you talking about man? You're saying they've made sooo many Castlevanias that you refuse to even consider playing a Castlevania game regardless of how good it might be? That doesn't make a lot of sense and you're missing out on some really fun games but whatever. I think your whole post was just an excuse to use the phrase "development decay" anyway.
Anyways, I'm currently in the middle of III and it's pretty good but not as good as the original. I like the difficulty in the first one because after the boss killed me, running through the level was like practice and it started getting easier and easier to reach the boss. In III the levels are a little too easy so I have them mastered by my 3rd or 4th try. I'm not done with it yet so it might change but it's still a pretty good game anyways.
Posted: Jan 17th 2009 11:39AM Haohmaru said
Simon's Quest, hands down.
P.S. Don't feed the tr--er, Koopa. :P
P.S. Don't feed the tr--er, Koopa. :P
Posted: Jan 17th 2009 11:41AM (Unverified) said
i like simons quest the best but mainly cause i have alot of good memories of playing it one summer with my brother and saving up our paper route money to buy a vhs tape of cheats and tricks for nes games.
Posted: Jan 17th 2009 12:35PM cacaldwell said
I love Simon's Quest as well. It's way before it's time. Ha! People love Simon's Quest!
Posted: Jan 17th 2009 2:36PM (Unverified) said
Do i have to choose out of the three? To be safe, i'll say III. Its fun end of story, care to disagree.
Posted: Jan 17th 2009 5:08PM (Unverified) said
I always loved Castlevania, but just the first one. I could never get past Frankenstein and that little monkey tho. I suck.
Posted: Jan 17th 2009 5:02PM (Unverified) said
The first is a classic and II's unique and fun, but III's the best for sure.
Posted: Jan 17th 2009 6:20PM (Unverified) said
Super Castlevania IV. It rules.
Posted: Jan 18th 2009 1:01AM (Unverified) said
The first and second have the most nostalgic value for me, but I'll be downloading the third first since I never got around to it.
Posted: Jan 18th 2009 3:26AM Rupee said
Wow, glad to see people saying Simon's Quest, I thought nobody liked that game and Super Mario Bros. 2 for that matter.
I would have to say the third one though, Simon's Quest second and the first one third due to its difficulty. I mean, I've beaten the game, but is it fun to do that over again?
Simon's Quest was so unique. I really truly wish Konami would do something new and different with the Castlevania series (but NOT the fighting game)... like a platformer with more RPG elements. The heck with one castle, they should have ten different ones. Explore the ancient countryside of Transylvania, talk to villagers, find different castles and mansions all leading to the big Dracula's castle. Would be pretty sick fodder for a large Zelda-esque adventure imo.
But I'd go with Castlevania III because of the different levels you can choose and characters. You can be a pirate that climbs on walls for goodness sake.
I would have to say the third one though, Simon's Quest second and the first one third due to its difficulty. I mean, I've beaten the game, but is it fun to do that over again?
Simon's Quest was so unique. I really truly wish Konami would do something new and different with the Castlevania series (but NOT the fighting game)... like a platformer with more RPG elements. The heck with one castle, they should have ten different ones. Explore the ancient countryside of Transylvania, talk to villagers, find different castles and mansions all leading to the big Dracula's castle. Would be pretty sick fodder for a large Zelda-esque adventure imo.
But I'd go with Castlevania III because of the different levels you can choose and characters. You can be a pirate that climbs on walls for goodness sake.
Posted: Jan 18th 2009 9:53AM (Unverified) said
buy order of ecclesia for the ds, thats exactly how the game is. There's a village thats a safe haven where you can buy items and upgrades and theres a bunch of different areas that you go to. The game actually has a pretty involving story too for a castlevania game. Me personally, i think it's equal to if not better than symphony of the night
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Posted: Jan 18th 2009 2:27PM (Unverified) said
My favorite Castlevania is Dracula's Curse. And I've played every one of them.
Posted: Jan 19th 2009 2:54AM (Unverified) said
I'd say Dracula's curse.
But my all time favorite of the old ones is still Rondo of Blood.
THAT is the one that needs to go on the VC next.
But my all time favorite of the old ones is still Rondo of Blood.
THAT is the one that needs to go on the VC next.
Posted: Jan 19th 2009 6:36AM Dragun said
Of the NES games, I rank them 2, 3, 1, but Symphony Of The Night Will always be the best to me.
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