The Castlevania/Bloodstained Thread: Whip It Good

Hawkingbird · November 13, 2022

1 hour ago, RSG3 said:

Almost all musicians do this. Smoke on the Water is Beethovens 5th played backwards and on guitar. There's Blurred Lines, and Dua Lipa used a song from like 2014 or some shit in one of her recent hits. Thats just recent shit to (aside from Smoke on the Warer.)

It's interesting that it's now becoming an issue. I blame pop music. They've science a formula out of Pop Music so fucking hard that it all sounds the same now and they are all suing eachother for it. Leaking into all corners of music.

In the case with the Dragonball composer it was straight up plagiarism. The Budokai HD collection needed a new OST because most of his work was blatantly plagiarized.

RSG3 · November 13, 2022

5 minutes ago, Hawkingbird said:

In the case with the Dragonball composer it was straight up plagiarism. The Budokai HD collection needed a new OST because most of his work was blatantly plagiarized.

Yea I know. I was making a broader comment about music in general. I could have been clearer in my second half tho I think.

Edited November 13, 2022 by RSG3

Hecatom · November 13, 2022

What I was referring was about the clear plagiarism. hence why the " " around the paying homage.

I know very well that musicians will at times pay in some way or another tribute to what they like/influenced them, but there is a huge difference between homage and plagiarism.

Also, not every musician do this, a lot pride themselves on actually doing new music, specially on the progressive genres, jazz, classical music etc.

Edited November 13, 2022 by Hecatom

Camacho · November 14, 2022

8 hours ago, AriesWarlock said:

Crowsworn looks really cool from that preview, definitely keeping an eye on that one.

DoctaMario · November 14, 2022

On 11/12/2022 at 10:52 PM, Camacho said:

I bought Wallachia: Reign of Dracula (looks very CV inspired, I believe the devs made one of the bigger CV fan games) on a Steam sale a little while back, finally gave it a shot today. Feels like a C- tier Genesis game (or a 1989-ish arcade game)- way closer to one of the first couple Shinobi games crossed with a little Contra, but not as good as that sounds either. It controls pretty janky and feels pretty amateur- definitely far from the worst I've played, but not worth the 3 hours I put into beating it (pretty tough in a few spots due largely to coin munching design and jank controls). If you see it and think about giving it a shot, just pass.

Really? I thought it was pretty good (and pretty tough, I still haven't beaten it.) I didn't find it to be janky, especially compared to other indie games of this genre, but I agree with you that it does feel like an old arcade/Genesis game and I dig that about it. I need to beat this one because I think I got stuck on the second to last stage and then put it down when something else came out.

Speaking of other games that get a bad rap, I started playing Haunted Castle again. I love this game. Yes, it's a bit janky and pretty unfair in some places, especially if you play the infamous Version M, but I think it's a pretty great game in its own right. Definitely one I would love to see get a remake treatment, because I think with some updated graphics and difficulty, people would be able to see it for a diamond in the rough that it is.

Camacho · November 14, 2022

19 hours ago, DoctaMario said:

Really? I thought it was pretty good (and pretty tough, I still haven't beaten it.) I didn't find it to be janky, especially compared to other indie games of this genre, but I agree with you that it does feel like an old arcade/Genesis game and I dig that about it. I need to beat this one because I think I got stuck on the second to last stage and then put it down when something else came out.

Speaking of other games that get a bad rap, I started playing Haunted Castle again. I love this game. Yes, it's a bit janky and pretty unfair in some places, especially if you play the infamous Version M, but I think it's a pretty great game in its own right. Definitely one I would love to see get a remake treatment, because I think with some updated graphics and difficulty, people would be able to see it for a diamond in the rough that it is.

The controls really bugged me. Lots of instances where I was holding a cardinal direction on a ps4 d-pad and got a diagonal shot (or slide). The way firing your bow while standing still locks you into an animation you can't move out of (despite being able to move and fire simultaneously) feels really crappy. You have a limit of on-screen shots, but you still get locked into a dry fire animation (which again, sticks you in place if you're not already moving) when you hit that number. I had several instances with no shots on-screen where the my character was just dry-firing. The slide and your inability to do anything out of it (along with the pause at the end) feels bad. There are sections (like the bosses in the second to last stage) where shit just unavoidably appears and drops on your head if you don't already know exactly where it triggers. The power up system (particularly the Max HP up pickups) is pretty shit- so much so that you're essentially boned in the last stage if you don't clear the whole thing in one life. Finish those last couple stages and let me know if your feelings change- I read that you can pick up your progress by pressing right at the tutorial section or something like that.

On Haunted Castle, I've tried it a few times, felt completely rancid to play. But I enjoy its soundtrack and sound pallet, fortunately we can enjoy these without having to suffer through the game now.

DoctaMario · November 15, 2022

4 hours ago, Camacho said:

The controls really bugged me. Lots of instances where I was holding a cardinal direction on a ps4 d-pad and got a diagonal shot (or slide). The way firing your bow while standing still locks you into an animation you can't move out of (despite being able to move and fire simultaneously) feels really crappy. You have a limit of on-screen shots, but you still get locked into a dry fire animation (which again, sticks you in place if you're not already moving) when you hit that number. I had several instances with no shots on-screen where the my character was just dry-firing. The slide and your inability to do anything out of it (along with the pause at the end) feels bad. There are sections (like the bosses in the second to last stage) where shit just unavoidably appears and drops on your head if you don't already know exactly where it triggers. The power up system (particularly the Max HP up pickups) is pretty shit- so much so that you're essentially boned in the last stage if you don't clear the whole thing in one life. Finish those last couple stages and let me know if your feelings change- I read that you can pick up your progress by pressing right at the tutorial section or something like that.

On Haunted Castle, I've tried it a few times, felt completely rancid to play. But I enjoy its soundtrack and sound pallet, fortunately we can enjoy these without having to suffer through the game now.

Sounds like a PS4 pad problem RE wrong directions because I never have that issue with the Joycons. Slide is not much different from how slides in other games are really, so I never used it all too often so I can't really speak to that. But you can fill the screen with arrows and never have to stop as far as I know. I don't think I've ever had that issue myself. But yes, you can select any stage you've gotten to from the tutorial screen so you don't have to do the game from the beginning. I'm not sure how far into it I am, but maybe it's a good incentive to finally finish it.

As for Haunted Castle, I can't blame anyone for not liking it, but it definitely is one of those games, like a lot of classicvanias, that takes a little getting used to, but once you do, it doesn't feel bad.

Hawkingbird · January 15

I've been replaying Circle of the Moon and I would hate playing this game on an actual GBA. The level design of this game is not portable friendly at all. The save points are far apart, the fast travel are not in convenient places and there's no shop so I can stock up on items. I got to hope for the best if any enemy has drops.

RSG3 · January 15

9 minutes ago, Hawkingbird said:

I've been replaying Circle of the Moon and I would hate playing this game on an actual GBA. The level design of this game is not portable friendly at all. The save points are far apart, the fast travel are not in convenient places and there's no shop so I can stock up on items. I got to hope for the best if any enemy has drops.

Hah all these valid complaints but doesn't realize the first hurdle was to even see the fucking screen lmao.

Camacho · January 15

I bought a GBA at launch for that game, then promptly bought one of those shitty lights to be able to see it. I do like CotM, the whip and subweapon focused combat feels closer to classic CV than the IGA titles tended to. It's also generally tougher then the others- certainly not without its flaws though. While the music is good, there's not enough variety to it- it's sad that it made me sick of Sinking old Sanctuary.. Travelling around the castle gets to be a chore (not nearly as bad as HoD in that regard though), and the equipment/items/cards being strictly drop based sucks (especially when you do the challenge areas, which will suck down your consumables,

Hawkingbird · January 15

31 minutes ago, RSG3 said:

Hah all these valid complaints but doesn't realize the first hurdle was to even see the fucking screen lmao.

The first time I played the GBA Castlevania games were on the PSP. I wasn't even aware of the screen problems. By the time I got my GBA the games were overly saturated and bright to make up for the awful screen.

Camacho · January 15

The gba SP fixed the problem, that redesign was well worth buying. Had mine stolen by a friend's heroin using girlfriend a long time ago. Bitch took the sp, both gba Metroid games, HoD, and AoS. All stuff worth quite a bit now. Unsurprisingly, that friend himself is dead from a drug overdose.

DoctaMario · January 15

I regret selling my copies of the GBA and DS games but they were never my favorites although I enjoyed them enough. Circle was surprisingly good even if there were things about it that were kind of wack. Allowing you to use different builds from the start would have made it even better I think because that was a great idea that I hoped would come to more CV metroidvanias.

On another Castlevania note, I've been working on a Richter-only Speedrun for Dracula X Chronicles and it's been great getting back and playing this game again. It really is one of my favorite vanias and I didn't know how much I missed playing it.

Edited January 15 by DoctaMario

RSG3 · January 15

4 hours ago, Camacho said:

The gba SP fixed the problem, that redesign was well worth buying.

Now that I am an adult the SP is just too fucking small. Brilliant device for the time but I dunno how any adult games on the thing. I much prefer the OG wide model now, but it's gotta have a back lit screen or something or else just a fucking struggle.

What I really want is the Woozle GBA consolizer mod. I don't really portable game, even when I do it's at home on the couch or something. I'd really just like to have a quality console version of a GBA. Plug it into my TV like a console, have a SNES controller port on the front and call it a fuckin day.

Yea I was the kid who adored his Super GB Player and his GameCube GBA Player.

Edited January 15 by RSG3

Hawkingbird · January 15

As someone with small hands the micro is my favorite of the GBA variants. The smaller screen was a shame but it had a better backlight than the SP model. It was also more comfortable for me to use compared to the SP.

AriesWarlock · January 19

AriesWarlock · January 19

Michiru Yamane (山根ミチル), the legendary composer of Bloodstained's OST, has uploaded a new video playing the Theme of Bloodstained (Long Ver) on the piano! She has many of her Bloodstained and other game scores on her channel. Subscribe to her YouTube!

VirginDefiler · January 21

Hawkingbird · January 21

The battle arena in circle of the moon is some bullshit.

DoctaMario · January 21

14 minutes ago, Hawkingbird said:

The battle arena in circle of the moon is some bullshit.

I got through it but it was pretty tough and I don't remember how I went about it. Definitely something I'd prefer to forget though lol

I remember spending a lot of time in the Nest Of Evil in Portrait Of Ruin though, as it was a good place to upgrade your weapons and grind levels. It had a few tough spots but by that point in the game, I don't remember it being too bad.

Edited January 21 by DoctaMario

Hawkingbird · January 21

10 minutes ago, DoctaMario said:

I got through it but it was pretty tough and I don't remember how I went about it. Definitely something I'd prefer to forget though lol

I think I used those workarounds to use mana in the arena the last time I played but I don't think any of them work in the version for the advanced collection.

Hawkingbird · January 25

This is neat. This is a fan remake of Simon's Quest

Darc_Requiem · January 25

On 1/15/2023 at 12:26 PM, RSG3 said:

Now that I am an adult the SP is just too fucking small. Brilliant device for the time but I dunno how any adult games on the thing. I much prefer the OG wide model now, but it's gotta have a back lit screen or something or else just a fucking struggle.

What I really want is the Woozle GBA consolizer mod. I don't really portable game, even when I do it's at home on the couch or something. I'd really just like to have a quality console version of a GBA. Plug it into my TV like a console, have a SNES controller port on the front and call it a fuckin day.

Yea I was the kid who adored his Super GB Player and his GameCube GBA Player.

I've always hated the SP and Gameboy Pocket. They were too damned small for me. I could literally put them in my palm and touch the face buttons and d-pad with my thumb and ring fingers. I was runt and as a kid, except for my hands and feet. I had to get an Adult XL batting glove in Little League. I was all of 4'8" at the time

Edited January 25 by Darc_Requiem

DoctaMario · January 27

On 1/25/2023 at 3:11 PM, Hawkingbird said:

This is neat. This is a fan remake of Simon's Quest

Holy shit this looks amazing! I was just saying yesterday they they should remake SQ and fix the translation errors, but this looks really well done!

DoctaMario · January 31

I've been working on a Dracula X Chronicles speedrun with Richter, but I've been playing as Maria here and there just for something different and I never truly realized how much she totally breaks the game in so many ways. Like in some areas, you can move so fast through them that enemies don't even spawn sometimes and that's not even talking about how Guardian Fist just absolutely destroys anything and everything. A lot of the runs I see use her, but they don't seem all that impressive to me as it would be like speedrunning CV1 with SoTN Alucard.

AriesWarlock · February 6

demo is up on Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2081400/Grim_Guardians_Demon_Purge/

GreyFoxx · February 7

On 1/20/2023 at 11:16 PM, VirginDefiler said:

This has been a car ride favorite for the last week for me. Just wrapped up the 2 PS2 games on this.

DoctaMario · February 7

On 2/6/2023 at 7:20 PM, AriesWarlock said:

demo is up on Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2081400/Grim_Guardians_Demon_Purge/

Im excited for this game and the Castlevania DLC for Dead Cells

Camacho · February 8

I played the GG demo. Definitely has a 16 bit CotM feel, but with some changes. You can backtrack in the levels, jumps aren't fixed like classic CV, and a lot of the enemies look like straight 8 to 16 bit sprite upgrades from CotM enemies. The character with a gun has to reload by double tapping down, kind of like the Gunvolt reloads. There was no challenge to the 2 stages in the demo, hopefully Inti didn't make the whole game a total breeze after so many people bitched about the more NES-like difficulty of CotM2. Having watched the previews, I knew I'd want to set the audio to Japanese to make it a little less annoying, but the constant yells and babbling are super irritating nonetheless. Hopefully they add an option toggle the voice volume, or turn it off altogether. As expected, the characters and story, which I admittedly don't give a shit about, were stupid in a way that makes Portrait of Ruin look like deep writing. I'll buy it because Inti really scratched the CV itch perfectly with their last two, but the demo hasn't floored me so far.

DoctaMario · February 9

Dead Cells X Castlevania DLC coming March 6th apparently!

DoctaMario · February 25

One week till Dead Cells X Castlevania DLC!

Hawkingbird · February 28

Anyone picked up Grim Guardians?

Camacho · February 28

I changed my mind about getting it. I despise the anime element (saw something about tentacles and a "master of panties" achievement), the voices are super annoying, and lots of people are saying it's really easy. I'm still perplexed that someone at Inti made the decision to mix classic CV with ultra weeb fan service. Maybe I'll give it a shot on sale if they add a patch to turn the voices off.

RSG3 · February 28

They didn't mix CV with this, it's a GalGun spinoff off. Castlevania doesn't lay claim to the goth aesthetic. This leans right into Japan's Gothic Lolita subculture.

With that said I also passed on this title.

Edited February 28 by RSG3