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The Castlevania Dungeon Forums => General Castlevania Discussion => Topic started by: Kamirine on March 12, 2019, 12:24:58 PM

Title: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Kamirine on March 12, 2019, 12:24:58 PM
https://gematsu.com/2019/03/castlevania-anniversary-collection-rated-in-australia

It seems that CV may get it’s own stand alone collection announced?  If this pans out...how many games do you think we’ll get in it? 
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Dark Nemesis on March 12, 2019, 12:43:12 PM
So the rumor about a multi platform Castlevania collection that we have heard last summer, turns out to be true.........i wonder what can we expect and if after this one the rumor about a new Castlevania game is going to be also true.....
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Gunlord on March 12, 2019, 05:56:45 PM
Neat!
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Inccubus on March 13, 2019, 01:36:18 AM
I'll believe it when I see it.
I predict it'll have CV1 NES, CV1 MSX, CV1 X68k, and SCV running on emulators because at this point, if it doesn't have "Metal Gear Solid" in the title,  I expect nothing from Konami that isn't half-assed and with little effort put into it.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Succubus on March 13, 2019, 06:49:38 AM
Yeah, I think they'd include as few games as they feel they could get away with. Konami doesn't seem interested in comprehensive collections and giving people a lot of bang for their buck.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Dremn on March 13, 2019, 10:01:49 AM
Requiem leaked this way as well, we'll find out what this is in a week or two.

Keeping my expectations low, it will probably just be the first 4 games.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on March 13, 2019, 11:56:07 AM
I guess to make me happy, it would have to include games I haven’t already gotten a download version of already.  As far as I know for the older mainstream titles, that would include Bloodlines, Haunted Castle, Belmont’s Revenge, and Legends.  If its a bunch of titles I already have there had better be some new features, ha.

ah, who am i kidding.  i’d probably buy it even if its completely redundant just so i can have them grouped in one place.  guess i can’t play many cv titles on my switch.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Mysterii on March 13, 2019, 01:01:20 PM
Ideally, if there was a master collection of Castlevania titles, I could see them arranged by date of release with the option to order them by the year they take place, with branches representing alternative versions of the account. Case in point:

1476
Castlevania III - Netflix synopsis - Pachislot 3 FMVs

1576
Adventure - Re:Birth - Belmont Legacy Motion Comic

1691
CV1 - VK - HC - SCV4 - Chronicles

1792
RoB - XX - DXC
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: AlexCalvo on March 13, 2019, 05:34:49 PM
At this point I expect this to be a port of requiem for xbox, switch, and pc.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Abnormal Freak on March 13, 2019, 07:57:51 PM
I predict the three NES games with the worst emulation possible.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Super Waffle on March 14, 2019, 03:28:10 AM
Ideally, if there was a master collection of Castlevania titles, I could see them arranged by date of release with the option to order them by the year they take place, with branches representing alternative versions of the account. Case in point:

1476
Castlevania III - Netflix synopsis - Pachislot 3 FMVs

1576
Adventure - Re:Birth - Belmont Legacy Motion Comic

1691
CV1 - VK - HC - SCV4 - Chronicles

1792
RoB - XX - DXC
Yeah make Pachislot canon.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Oniros on March 14, 2019, 02:18:50 PM
I predict the three NES games with the worst emulation possible.
This is probably the best bet.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: knightmere on March 14, 2019, 08:01:17 PM
Hopefully we get the Japanese version of Castlevania 3.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Lumi Kløvstad on March 15, 2019, 04:15:03 AM
Hopefully we get the Japanese version of Castlevania 3.

Knowing Konami, the sound will cut out every third measure.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on March 15, 2019, 08:10:47 AM
Hopefully we get the Japanese version of Castlevania 3.
oo good idea!  japanese version grant would be a blast to try out.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: AlexCalvo on March 15, 2019, 08:46:27 AM
I honestly would be satisfied with all the NES/SNES games, maybe adventure rebirth.  I would love for them to include some of the gb/gba/ds games, but I am doubtful.  Would love to see Harmony of Despair included as something of an online mode for the game.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on March 15, 2019, 09:19:41 AM
ha i think i would be giddy and shocked if they included Legacy of Darkness.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Dremn on March 15, 2019, 09:50:59 AM
Ideally, this is what I would want.

-Castlevania
-Simon's Quest
-Dracula's Curse (ENG and JP versions)
-Super Castlevania IV
-Rondo of Blood
-Chronicles
-Bloodlines
-Adventure Rebirth
-SotN
-Aria of Sorrow
-one of the DS titles, preferably Dawn of Sorrow or Order of Ecclesia


What I think would be great is if they put out two separate collections for Classic Castlevanias and Metroidvanias in a volume 1 and 2 deal.

If this turns out to be good I really hope it's coming to Switch, I'll be disappointed if it's Sony exclusive again. I have a PS4, but Nintendo needs a Castlevania.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: RichterB on March 15, 2019, 01:37:42 PM
Well, if the rumored all-new (Switch?) Castlevania game is coming after this, I'm guessing we'll hear some news at E3 2019. (Last year there was a "leak" around E3 that connected a collection release and a new game for Castlevania with a bunch of Smash Bros. announcements that came true.)
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: TheTextGuy on March 19, 2019, 07:00:44 PM
https://www.konami.com/games/50th/ac/us/en/ (https://www.konami.com/games/50th/ac/us/en/)
One of the mystery games better be Bloodlines.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: AlexCalvo on March 19, 2019, 07:11:52 PM
I have easy access to all 4 games listed so far.  But this is still awesome.  I love seeing the classic games getting some appreciation.  I'm hoping they stear clear of SoTN and Rondo.  Maybe Bloodlines, Dracula X, Simon's Quest, and wild card 64 or LoD.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Foffy on March 19, 2019, 07:30:14 PM
Konami also confirmed that Castlevania is getting more than one collection. Pretty sure this one is all about Classicvania.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Kamirine on March 19, 2019, 07:50:26 PM
Eight games on the first collection is pretty sweet!  I hope Bloodlines is one of the four remaining games!  ;D

Looking forwarding to buying it and the other two collections this summer!  (And whatever CV collection comes after the first!)
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: AlexCalvo on March 19, 2019, 08:13:39 PM
Konami also confirmed that Castlevania is getting more than one collection. Pretty sure this one is all about Classicvania.

Where did they confirm this?
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: TheTextGuy on March 19, 2019, 09:49:09 PM
Where did they confirm this?
https://twitter.com/Wario64/status/1108189749179629568
It's implied there could be more on the way since it's says it's the "first Konami Castlevania collection".
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: X on March 19, 2019, 10:16:30 PM
So they're pulling a Capcom? Jesus...  :P
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on March 20, 2019, 06:42:08 AM
Since this seems to be shaping up as a "best of" classicvania collection, I'm guessing the remaining four titles will be Akumajou Dracula X68K/Chronicles, Rondo, Bloodlines and Adventure Rebirth. There's a very good possibility Rondo won't make it in because it's already included in Requiem but I'm not sure what else they could replace it with. Dracula X would kind of feel like getting the consolation prize.

I'm also really curious who the interviewees are going to be be in the bonus book. I assume it's going to be reprinted material because I doubt many developers from those days are still at Konami.     
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Succubus on March 20, 2019, 07:04:50 AM
Why is Haunted Castle on the arcade collection and not the Castlevania one???

If they have any sense at all, they'll include at least some of the ReBirth games on these. (I guess the Gradius one couldn't go on the arcade collection.) Granted, if they don't release these collections physically, then access to these could eventually be lost too, leaving the ReBirth games in limbo yet again.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on March 20, 2019, 07:27:52 AM
the list is kind of funny in that it shows castlevania 1, 2, 3, and 4, but belmont’s revenge is listed as 2.  it’d be odd if simon’s quest didnt make the collection, but maybe it didn’t fit the kind of game they’re going for in this collection. 

i hope we get some never before seen production artwork :)
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on March 20, 2019, 07:34:28 AM
Why is Haunted Castle on the arcade collection and not the Castlevania one???

I find it odd that Haunted Castle would be considered as any kind of "arcade classic" because one of the developers outright admitted it was a financial failure. 
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on March 20, 2019, 07:48:44 AM
i’m going to guess bloodlines, dracula x, and chronicles will make the cut.  assuming the fourth one isn’t simon’s quest (since it probably would have been announced already if it was), i’m not really sure what it’d be.  adventure rebirth is too recent, legends is too obscure, vampire killer is too different, adventure probably would have been announced before belmont’s revenge.  it’d be wild if it was a kid dracula game!

EDIT:  oh i see in the art the games are listed in chronicle order, so maybe all four of the unannounced games were released after Castlevania IV.  maybe adventure rebirth isnt too recent after all.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/kotaku.com/konamis-new-anniversary-collections-bundle-castlevania-1833423700/amp (https://www.google.com/amp/s/kotaku.com/konamis-new-anniversary-collections-bundle-castlevania-1833423700/amp)

i wonder if there will be a chance of any of the more obscure titles coming in as either free or paid for dlc.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Inccubus on March 20, 2019, 09:18:31 AM
Wow. Looks like someone at Konami managed to get half their head out of their ass.

I'm going to echo it being a bit wierd not putting Haunted Castle in the Castlevania collection.
They should definitely include the rebirth games.

I wonder if the will have the second collection be the metroidvania games and include Simon's Quest on that one?
God forbid they should do something interesting like that.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Dremn on March 20, 2019, 12:30:42 PM
I'm excited! Those 4 mystery games have to be Bloodlines, Rondo, Rebirth, and Chronicles.

The wording on the site definitely makes it sound like another collection will be coming later too, very likely for the Metroidvanias!
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: GuyStarwind on March 20, 2019, 12:56:39 PM
Maybe it's been mentioned, but does anyone have details on the bonus book? I think I'm going to invest.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on March 20, 2019, 01:32:28 PM
yeah i was wondering if Simon’s Quest might be added to an rpg-elements collection myself.  I’d love it if Vampire Killer got lumped in with Simon’s Quest, whatever collection it might go in.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: DragonSlayr81 on March 20, 2019, 02:59:50 PM
Meh, I'm at the point where, for me to get excited, I'm gonna need a COMPLETE collection or nothing at all. And I mean every CV game sans the Lords of Shadow games, but even CV64, LoD, LoI, CoD and the Wii exclusive Rebirth. I could live without Harmony of Dispair or that Grimoire one. If it's Konami going, "Here's a few bones! You'll take 'em and you'll LIKE 'EM!", I'm like, "I'm good!"
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: theplottwist on March 20, 2019, 04:54:48 PM
For the last four remaining, I place my bets on Dracula X (SNES), Bloodlines, x68000 and Kid Dracula (GB).
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on March 20, 2019, 11:36:03 PM
8 games is nothing to sneeze at, but if you’re good, you’re good
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Ralph on March 21, 2019, 12:03:23 AM
I just want one of the last four to be Rebirth. There's no way to legally obtain it anymore.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Lumi Kløvstad on March 21, 2019, 12:51:18 AM
I just want one of the last four to be Rebirth. There's no way to legally obtain it anymore.

Definitely. And it's a much more accessible and playable version than The Castlevania Adventure, which could teach Dark Souls a thing or two about crushing difficulty.

For the last four remaining, I place my bets on Dracula X (SNES), Bloodlines, x68000 and Kid Dracula (GB).

I question Kid Dracula, but would definitely welcome it. Just as I'd welcome Castlevania: Dracula X, which is still among my favorites.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on March 21, 2019, 08:51:03 AM
It’s not odd to me that Haunted Castle would be included in an arcade collection.  It is odd that it’s included in a collection that otherwise is all shooters.  Kinda spoils the collection.  Konami has other non-shooter arcade games they could have lumped it on with.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: theplottwist on March 21, 2019, 09:58:56 AM
I question Kid Dracula, but would definitely welcome it. Just as I'd welcome Castlevania: Dracula X, which is still among my favorites.

My thinking is based on a few assumptions:
My assuming these things doesn't leave much on the table. But since they are just assumptions, I'd love (and expect) to be wrong and actually get that sweet Rebirth port. There's also a good possibility of the game having internal US-JP switches too, ruling some of these assumptions out, would be quite nice.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on March 21, 2019, 11:50:03 AM
oh interesting theory on why “chronicles” wouldn’t be included.

i’m holding onto some slim hope that we might get to see different localized versions of the games, but not much.  i got spoiled with Hamster’s Haunted Castle on PS4, which let me play the Japanese, American, and European versions.  I’m NOT looking forward to being forced to play the American version on the Arcade Collection since it’s simply TOO HARD for me, while the other versions are quite reasonable.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: FanOfDracula on March 22, 2019, 12:27:15 AM
haunted castle is not because so whoever wants it will also have to buy the other arcade collection, I think it's marketing... me suppose
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Jazz Paladin Productions on March 26, 2019, 10:01:22 AM
If I had my way, I would get the PSP DXC rendition since they never bothered getting this version ported correctly over to the PSTV like they said they would do...
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Foffy on March 26, 2019, 10:31:33 AM
yeah i was wondering if Simon’s Quest might be added to an rpg-elements collection myself.  I’d love it if Vampire Killer got lumped in with Simon’s Quest, whatever collection it might go in.

I think it's fair to assume it's probably not gonna be a part of the first collection as it seems themed on Classicvania. Simon's Quest fits more of the Igavania model, so they'll probably prop it in there.

My guesses on the collections...

First Collection:
- Castlevania
- Dracula's Curse
- Belmont's Revenge
- Super Castlevania IV
- Bloodlines
- Adventure ReBirth
- Rondo of Blood OR Dracula X
- Akumajo Dracula x86000/Chronicles OR Kid Dracula

Second Collection:
- Symphony of the Night
- Simon's Quest
- Circle of the Moon
- Harmony of Dissonance
- Aria of Sorrow
- Dawn of Sorrow
- Portrait of Ruin
- Order of Ecclesia

If Rondo is in, SotN will be in the second collection. If one is missing, I will bet on the other is missing due to the Requiem duology. This being on PS4 makes that collection very questionable in regards to these two.

Additionally, assuming they decide to include the DS games, I imagine these will be hacked versions that remove the second screen functionality and make the select button pause the game for the map. Additionally, they will just code Soma's ability to break ice to melee weapons like Julius can, and remove the drawing of seals, both of which exist in a romhack for the game. This shows it's not a nightmare or beyond the realm of possibility.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on March 26, 2019, 10:47:40 AM
Definitely. And it's a much more accessible and playable version than The Castlevania Adventure, which could teach Dark Souls a thing or two about crushing difficulty.

I don't know, it wasn't that hard, mind you nor was the last boss Castlevania: Dracula X. but that's seem to do the rounds of hardest bosses... for some reason. 

As for me I think it'll go

Castlevania, then two and three 100%. and the GBA and DS games.

 as for any others  hard to say, id love to see Vampire Killer (bloodlines) on there, and the both ps2 games would be great.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Chernabogue on March 26, 2019, 02:38:57 PM
Second Collection:
- Symphony of the Night
- Simon's Quest
- Circle of the Moon
- Harmony of Dissonance
- Aria of Sorrow
- Dawn of Sorrow
- Portrait of Ruin
- Order of Ecclesia

I'd buy the fuck out of that in a heartbeat.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Jazz Paladin Productions on March 26, 2019, 03:54:00 PM
I don't know, it wasn't that hard, mind you nor was the last boss Castlevania: Dracula X. but that's seem to do the rounds of hardest bosses... for some reason. 



Considering there weren't a lot of Castlevania games I could beat in 5th grade when it came out, I'd say say Castlevania : The Adventure ain't so bad , difficulty wise, as I did manage to complete it back then. Sure, dracula and stage 3 took me a while to beat, but truth be told, the worst enemy in the game is the annoying fall-flat-like-a-rock-after-jumping Belmont character...

Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on March 26, 2019, 06:39:55 PM
Considering there weren't a lot of Castlevania games I could beat in 5th grade when it came out, I'd say say Castlevania : The Adventure ain't so bad , difficulty wise, as I did manage to complete it back then. Sure, dracula and stage 3 took me a while to beat, but truth be told, the worst enemy in the game is the annoying fall-flat-like-a-rock-after-jumping Belmont character...
Thats the thing No Cv has ever given me a hard time. Like CV3's so called "Hard mode" nothing stopping the Vampire Killer whip.
But the Adventure is one of the more easer CV games TBH.

Like LOI's crazy mode and the forgotten one. everyone's like
 "Ohh use the ice whip" 
and I'm  buggerd if I'm using the bloody ice whip.  I just got the Vampire Killer bane of the night. and no shocker  I beat him no prob.  I mean is that just me, but he's not that hard.

Like I said nothing stopping the Vampire Killer whip.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Succubus on March 28, 2019, 06:05:23 AM
If there's a second collection with SotN-style games, I would bet money that it would have fewer games than the collection with the classic-style games. There's no way they're gonna value more recent and much longer games the same as short NES and Game Boy games.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on March 28, 2019, 11:09:39 PM
if they’re gonna keep making castlevania collections, i’ll take a Pachislot collection haha.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Abnormal Freak on March 28, 2019, 11:57:42 PM
If it turns out to be true, can't say I agree with SQ being put on a separate collection with the Metroidvanias. It's exploration-based, sure, but I associate SOTN with floaty controls. In that respect, SQ plays much more like the other NES games. It'd be weird to not be included in the first collection, but it looks like that's how it'll be.

Since a complete Castlevania collection isn't possible, apparently, it would have been nice to have all the classic games on one collection (including the N64 titles), and the Metroidvanias on another. Nice and simple. Package it up with two discs on PS4 like Capcom did with the Mega Man X games.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on March 29, 2019, 02:52:33 AM
Simon's Quest would fit better in a "Action RPG/Action-Adventure" collection than in a classic or metroidvania collection. They could throw Vampire Killer as well as other games of its type like Maze of Galious, Treasure of Usas, Goonies 2, etc. Konami has plenty of those kinds of games in their library.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on March 29, 2019, 08:16:17 AM
Simon's Quest would fit better in a "Action RPG/Action-Adventure" collection than in a classic or metroidvania collection. They could throw Vampire Killer as well as other games of its type like Maze of Galious, Treasure of Usas, Goonies 2, etc. Konami has plenty of those kinds of games in their library.
I disagree 110%, SQ really feels like a metroidvania, I've just finished replaying. so id say it fits in with the MV really well as it has all the tropes. I mean at the time it felt very much like Metroid. But just not in space, so id count it.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on March 29, 2019, 09:43:00 AM
Simon's Quests and the later metroidvanias are similar in the sense that they're both nonlinear games. I understand if that's the logic for including it in a metroidvania collection, but that's ignoring the execution is completely different. All the 2D metroidvanias have a very specific formula that they all follow (with the occasional gimmick to prevent them from becoming stale), so it makes sense to have them all together. I'm not saying you can't justify including Simon's Quest but don't tell it wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb. 
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on March 29, 2019, 09:53:55 AM
Simon's Quests and the later metroidvanias are similar in the sense that they're both nonlinear games. I understand if that's the logic for including it in a metroidvania collection, but that's ignoring the execution is completely different. All the 2D metroidvanias have a very specific formula that they all follow (with the occasional gimmick to prevent them from becoming stale), so it makes sense to have them all together. I'm not saying you can't justify including Simon's Quest but don't tell it wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb.
well no not really, as SQ really does follow that same  formula.

You explore, you get somewhere you can't get past, you then  need to back track to find the relic that is needed to pass, you then get to the boss, the boss gives you a relic that powers you up.  you even level up in it.

Those are very things that come to mind when you play an MV, right down to the core gameplay.

Sooo no, it fits perfectly, it may be a bit old school,  but no it really doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.
 
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Succubus on March 29, 2019, 10:11:36 AM
Simon's Quest has never felt like Metroid to me, not in the 80s and not now, outside of the commonality of them both being side-scrolling adventure games. But if that condition is all it takes, then you could lump games like Zelda 2, Battle of Olympus, and Faxanadu in there, and suggesting those are like Metroid is just... no.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on March 29, 2019, 10:52:48 AM
Simon's Quest has never felt like Metroid to me, not in the 80s and not now, outside of the commonality of them both being side-scrolling adventure games. But if that condition is all it takes, then you could lump games like Zelda 2, Battle of Olympus, and Faxanadu in there, and suggesting those are like Metroid is just... no.

Well that's your view but seeing as SQ and Metroid have been compared for years and one can see why as they follow that same  formula. its not just them both being side-scrolling adventure games, if you look closey you'll see there the same.

  Both have a large interconnected map, Not all parts of the map are available.  so the player needs to hunt down the needed items to pass the area that is blocked off and move on this will require back tracking till said item is found, often the boss will be guarding this item.

Sort of something like this.

so you can't get passed a room, you then look round and then find a boss room.
 after beating the boss you find a power up but it can't help, your pissed like " oh come on"
but then you remember a room that needs the very power up you got from the boss, so you go there and then use said item.
then you find the item that you needed, so then you back track to the room and bobs your uncle your passed it.



that happens in both SQ and metroid.  and every other  MV.
as i said there almost identical in  gameplay, there are some diffs but aside from that almost identical
soo... yes.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: DarkPrinceAlucard on March 29, 2019, 12:07:26 PM
To chime in I agree that Simon's quest did feel like a castlevania version of the NES metroid game when I first played it so I disagree with notion of it not feeling like a metroid/metroidvania game completely, it should fit right in should they include it within a collection of other metroidvania games in my opinion although of course since it was the first and oldest and made with a different style in mind it will definitely feel "dated" compared to the others but the same applies between the gap quality and graphics with say a Castlevania 1 to Adventure Rebirth but that still does not take away that at their core they are both classicvanias and the same would apply to Simon's Quest and the other metroidvanias.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on March 29, 2019, 12:21:33 PM
When I said the metroidvanias have a specific formula, I was talking about how IGA always tends to stick to very specific set of elements when designing metroidvanias.  You can clearly see this with Bloodstained. For example, a clear "rule" in SotN and its counterparts is that you always get rewarded for exploration, no matter which path you take (equipment, relics, stat-boosting items, food items, etc). You can spend hours wandering around in Simon's Quest without any kind of reward. Another example is branching paths being placed in really memorable locations. In SotN, when you get the ability to change into a bat, you most likely go back to the Castle Keep and try flying around there. In Simon's Quest, you're supposed to figure out you should kneel in front a cliff with a Red Crystal equipped for several seconds. Progression in Simon's Quest is a lot more trial and error based. Yet another example is the "false ending" which has become part of IGA's formula for better or worse. The bottom line is that there's a specific "recipe" that all IGAvanias tend to follow that goes deeper than just "nonlinear game with obstacles you need to bypass".           
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on March 29, 2019, 01:59:53 PM
When I said the metroidvanias have a specific formula, I was talking about how IGA always tends to stick to very specific set of elements when designing metroidvanias.  You can clearly see this with Bloodstained. For example, a clear "rule" in SotN and its counterparts is that you always get rewarded for exploration, no matter which path you take (equipment, relics, stat-boosting items, food items, etc). You can spend hours wandering around in Simon's Quest without any kind of reward. Another example is branching paths being placed in really memorable locations. In SotN, when you get the ability to change into a bat, you most likely go back to the Castle Keep and try flying around there. In Simon's Quest, you're supposed to figure out you should kneel in front a cliff with a Red Crystal equipped for several seconds. Progression in Simon's Quest is a lot more trial and error based. Yet another example is the "false ending" which has become part of IGA's formula for better or worse. The bottom line is that there's a specific "recipe" that all IGAvanias tend to follow that goes deeper than just "nonlinear game with obstacles you need to bypass".           
Again I disagree
 As SOTN has had its trial and error moments. and in SQ you where also reward for exploration as finding the shop keepers, and items, you don't need all of them but you still find them.
there where a few branching paths in SQ not great ones but then its an old game.
and SOTN has a false ending,  and the game also encourage to go and explore, as the more you look round the more you level up and find Items. and you say what ever path you pick. Welll SQ did have other paths not much and those did give you items
not all paths, but then it only had a so much space on the cart. but you are  rewarded for exploration, also again thats your view saying 

"that all IGAvanias tend to follow that goes deeper than just "nonlinear game with obstacles you need to bypass"   
But as another player, those games are great, but theres no diff from the back tracking in SQ and IGAs games.       

i agree SOTN did it Smoother, but then it was made Years later on better hard hardware so no shocker there
But the core things that you said about SOTN SQ also did, in an 8 bit way but still.

So It fits perfectly in the set as an MV





Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on March 29, 2019, 03:05:52 PM
I never said Simon's Quest doesn't reward you for exploring. The density of items in SotN is such that the player is constantly being rewarded. The way this works is different in Simon's Quest. Rewards aren't nearly as prevalent and there are lots of empy space in the game with nothing in it. This is a clear difference in design philosophy. 

Again, I never said there weren't branching paths in Simon's Quest, just that it and SotN approach that concept in different ways.

And the way Simon's Quest and SotN approaches its endings is clearly different. I don't have to spell that out, do I?

Look, if you honestly believe that if you would show gameplay footage of all the IGA games and Simon's Quest to various people, then ask "which of these doesn't belong?" and don't expect everybody pointing to the latter, then I don't know what to tell you.   
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on March 29, 2019, 03:53:30 PM
I never said Simon's Quest doesn't reward you for exploring. The density of items in SotN is such that the player is constantly being rewarded. The way this works is different in Simon's Quest. Rewards aren't nearly as prevalent and there are lots of empy space in the game with nothing in it. This is a clear difference in design philosophy. 


Again, I never said there weren't branching paths in Simon's Quest, just that it and SotN approach that concept in different ways.

And the way Simon's Quest and SotN approaches its endings is clearly different. I don't have to spell that out, do I?

Look, if you honestly believe that if you would show gameplay footage of all the IGA games and Simon's Quest to various people, then ask "which of these doesn't belong?" and don't expect everybody pointing to the latter, then I don't know
 what to tell you.
Well of course the  Rewards aren't nearly as prevalent  it was made in 8 bit,  there wasn't a lot of space left,  it has nothing to do design philosophy, it was about limitations. but in the context of time the game came out there where a ton of items to  find.
 
and as for the endings, a Fake ending is a fake ending,

 both give the player more  for there money and more replay value  , IGA  philosophy, as well as SQ  it seems.

and again you say SotN approach that concept in different ways. but again no. again you have to look at the context, SoTN  has far more to play around with, but SQ didn't so I again I don't see it as  "concept "  but again  all about space.


But TBH and this is just my view  but both of there branching paths are same, they both lead other places, just one game had more space to add more stuff to it, the other didn't.

I have to say I think your you love of IGA is not letting you look at this objectively

and I mean this in the nicest way, as sometimes we love something we tend  put it on a pedestal, I've done many times.

does it fit
in terms of Graphics no, but in terms of gameplay no

Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on March 30, 2019, 03:29:09 AM
I actually like 8-bit action RPGs a lot, moreso than the average person actually. I still disagree Simon's Quest is anything like SotN except in a very general sense.

Simon's Quest has very few rewards, even for it's time. Vampire Killer has a higher density of equipment (but it isn't permanent, so it's different from SotN as well). There are also plenty of examples from outside the series. Just compare Simon's Quest to a game like Deadly Towers, where upgrades are very prevalent. So the claim that the developers of Simon's Quest actually wanted to fill every nook and cranny with items but couldn't isn't true. It was a conscious design decision.

And no, Simon's Quest doesn't have a fake ending. The ending is determined based on the amount of time you take. All the metroidvanias (except Cotm) have you to fulfill some special requirement to unlock the true ending. It isn't time-based like Simon' Quest. It's clearly different.

There are lots of other specific traits that all the metroidvanias share and Simon's Quest doesn't. But whatever, I have the feeling we're just talking past each other.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Foffy on March 30, 2019, 04:33:56 AM
There might be a snaffu in all of our wishes.

Castlevania Bloodlines is being re-released in the MegaDrive/Genesis Mini, so if there's a rule in place that recent re-releases prevent a game from being part of this series of collections, Rondo, Symphony, and now Bloodlines are big question marks.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Succubus on March 30, 2019, 05:19:43 AM
  Both have a large interconnected map, Not all parts of the map are available.  so the player needs to hunt down the needed items to pass the area that is blocked off and move on this will require back tracking till said item is found, often the boss will be guarding this item.

My point is that's such a broad description that it applies to practically all action adventure games, including ones that most people would never refer to as a "Metroidvania". An adventure game wouldn't really be an adventure game if it were totally linear. It's common for games to involve backtracking, and it's common to do so when you've acquired some item or ability that will allow you to access something you couldn't access before. I mean, all this could just as well describe the Zelda series.

So I think it takes more for a game to be in the style of Metroid, and I don't see it in Castlevania 2. They have some similarities, but not to the extent of, say, Super Metroid and SotN.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Abnormal Freak on March 30, 2019, 10:47:14 AM
The smartest thing Konami could have done is release a chronological collection or series, including Rondo and SOTN. But, Konami...

Also would be smart to have the PSX version of SOTN because that re-dub is pure ass.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Dremn on March 30, 2019, 12:07:58 PM
I hope an early Summer release means late May/early June.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on March 30, 2019, 12:52:21 PM
I actually like 8-bit action RPGs a lot, moreso than the average person actually. I still disagree Simon's Quest is anything like SotN except in a very general sense.

Simon's Quest has very few rewards, even for it's time. Vampire Killer has a higher density of equipment (but it isn't permanent, so it's different from SotN as well). There are also plenty of examples from outside the series. Just compare Simon's Quest to a game like Deadly Towers, where upgrades are very prevalent. So the claim that the developers of Simon's Quest actually wanted to fill every nook and cranny with items but couldn't isn't true. It was a conscious design decision.

And no, Simon's Quest doesn't have a fake ending. The ending is determined based on the amount of time you take. All the metroidvanias (except Cotm) have you to fulfill some special requirement to unlock the true ending. It isn't time-based like Simon' Quest. It's clearly different.

There are lots of other specific traits that all the metroidvanias share and Simon's Quest doesn't. But whatever, I have the feeling we're just talking past each other.
well again no, you can't just say this a  conscious design decision, just cos one game has been made with more space,

1 the coders  may have had abetter way of doing it, this has happen,  some games that come out after older games sometimes seem almost like a backstep, due to the fact that the guys working on knew how get the most out of nes

 
2 time.  we have no idea how much time they had, if there was a rush on, and they had to cut content this would mean they had no other way but to leave stuff out.

3 we have no idea how much space things took up in SQ, it came out later, there for the world is expecting  bigger contect, better graphics, all these things take time.  and that goes back up to my second point. and all that takes up space.

4 vampire Killer is an MSX2 game and if I'm right... the MSX 2 has more space. I know it can't scroll like the nes, but as far as I know it has more space for stuff like items and affects, hinta why Metal gear. was so different on the Nes. So again you can't really use Vampire Killer.

again your baseing the rewards from SoTn from a game that was made in the 80s.


also a few lines up you juist said SQ has a false ending, you can't now turn aorund and say no, just so it can  fit in wth your point.

 getting there by the right time is still meating the special requirement, as you are l required to get there by a time to unlock the true ending.


but you raise   a good point with Cotm. that game would also fit perfectly  in the set and by your own words  its and MV and that  to get the true ending there no  special requirement so CoTM can miss things out  brake the formula you say games need to stick too get seen as a MV. And you still counted it but SQ even after all thats been pointed out still gets your tumbs down. i find that a bit odd

lets say for a sec and say Konami did leave items out  by conscious design decision.
But SQ still follows the formula as i've pointed out just like CotM, but like CoTM it brakes away, but still gets counted.  i find that odd


Soo... this tells me  its not so much its not a MV That you don't see it as one, and thats fine, but i really don't think you can just flat out say no its not, after all this with CoTM.



Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on March 30, 2019, 04:35:48 PM
Completing games during the NES, especially action-adventure games with lots of mapping required more effort than it did in SotN's time. There's a reason some developers handed out certificates for completing a game. Simon's Quest is more difficult to complete than SotN because it doesn't hold your hand as much as the latter does. This attitude towards the player manifests in both games in various ways. Simon's Quest doesn't scatter items anywhere because that would have made the game too easy. Symphony does this in order to be helpful towards the player. Both these design decision reflect the era in which these games are made. They're both differences ways of approaching a open-world game. Or are you seriously arguing NES games were harder because the developers lacked "space" to place helpful everywhere?

Both endings require you to press buttons on your controller, too. Do you think that's a useful way of comparing the two? You can make anything fit in the same category by deliberately being as vague as possible.

There are less differences between CotM and the other IGAvanias than between all of the metroidvanias and Simon's That's the point I'm trying to make. Besides, I never said all of the metroidvanias were 100% identical. Simon's Quest is still the most different out of all of them.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on March 30, 2019, 09:45:25 PM
Completing games during the NES, especially action-adventure games with lots of mapping required more effort than it did in SotN's time. There's a reason some developers handed out certificates for completing a game. Simon's Quest is more difficult to complete than SotN because it doesn't hold your hand as much as the latter does. This attitude towards the player manifests in both games in various ways. Simon's Quest doesn't scatter items anywhere because that would have made the game too easy. Symphony does this in order to be helpful towards the player. Both these design decision reflect the era in which these games are made. They're both differences ways of approaching a open-world game. Or are you seriously arguing NES games were harder because the developers lacked "space" to place helpful everywhere?

Both endings require you to press buttons on your controller, too. Do you think that's a useful way of comparing the two? You can make anything fit in the same category by deliberately being as vague as possible.

There are less differences between CotM and the other IGAvanias than between all of the metroidvanias and Simon's That's the point I'm trying to make. Besides, I never said all of the metroidvanias were 100% identical. Simon's Quest is still the most different out of all of them.
are you joking? come on your clutching at straws here and back peddling like no tomorrow ,  as i see you didn't anaswer the fact that you first said SQ did have false ending, then didn't so how does that work?

  the clues in the JP SQ where far more helpful, so here are just a few
Jp clues
Hold a red crystal in front of Deborah cliff and wait for a wind.

A person without living laurels will perish on the cursed swamp.


I mean thise clues would have anyone stumped huh, so.. more llike being spoon fed
and  to be fair there are a ton of items pretty close by? sooo again no.





 yes... a game can be hard  for lack of space, I'll spell it out, as you seem to have no grasp on how this thing works The highers ups say
"Hey we want the game to be as flashy as pos" so then the devs work as hard as they can to cram as much in and sometimes they have to trade items  for better graphics, and more rich and real  wolrd in look and feel, don't forget the day and night that must have taken up a bit space and sometimes things get left out for  time constraints, happens a lot in the gaming word.

and again you seem to fitting things in to help your points.  so come on, lets stop kidding here, both games need a special  recrements  to get the best ending, as both have  trick ending to fool the player. Giving more replay. thats why tons of game mags and blogs count time based endings a secrets.



 "all the 2D metroidvanias have a very specific formula that they all follow (with the occasional gimmick to prevent them from becoming stale), so it makes sense to have them all together."


So let me see if i have this right, both CoTm and SQ have the same core gameplay, both don't follow your formula
But... CoTM is an MV and SQ isn't
 I find your logic  flawed here
do you not see this weakens your points so badly.
i mean  you say there less differences but how so, You need to explore, back track, level up. collect items, again both classic ideas if a MV i mean
 IGA said himself that the Dual Set-up System did not match with the world Castlevania.
so that part was very different but you seem stil think its a MV
you seem to be picking the ones you count as MV but seem to leaveing the facts behind in order to fit in with you points.
































 



 


Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on March 30, 2019, 10:19:21 PM
Hmm, in the event that these collections have multiple versions of the same game like many collections do (different regions or platforms), I wonder if there’s any chance we could see the Saturn version of symphony...
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Abnormal Freak on March 31, 2019, 01:47:35 AM
I'll spell it out, as you seem to have no grasp on how this thing works

Don't pick on Nagumo, she's cool. :'(
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: AlexCalvo on March 31, 2019, 07:08:32 AM
Iga has very recently stated that Simon's Quest was a huge influence on SoTN.  So I think it would be a fair inclusion.  It just might be kind of jarring to jump straight from SQ to SoTN, as there is no graphical middle ground game to bridge the gap as there is with the classic games.

That said... I do think it is perfectly reasonable to call SQ and VK 8-bit equivalents to a Metroidvania.  If not actually in the genre they were the closest 8-bit tech could get.  I would be fine with it, and I think most gamers would too.

Now I think Guy is going a little far, but I know arguing with Nagumo can be... frustrating, even if she doesn't lose her cool.  I recommend just listening to her suggestion to agree to disagree.  I have never seen her acquiesce to anyone else once she has her mind set on an idea.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on March 31, 2019, 02:05:53 PM
Iga has very recently stated that Simon's Quest was a huge influence on SoTN.  So I think it would be a fair inclusion.  It just might be kind of jarring to jump straight from SQ to SoTN, as there is no graphical middle ground game to bridge the gap as there is with the classic games.

That said... I do think it is perfectly reasonable to call SQ and VK 8-bit equivalents to a Metroidvania.  If not actually in the genre they were the closest 8-bit tech could get.  I would be fine with it, and I think most gamers would too.

Now I think Guy is going a little far, but I know arguing with Nagumo can be... frustrating, even if she doesn't lose her cool.  I recommend just listening to her suggestion to agree to disagree.  I have never seen her acquiesce to anyone else once she has her mind set on an idea.
Well she's never met me before , I never give up when I have my mind set on something.


 " guy give up, you can't throw an axe, your going to hurt yourself and the someone else , i said give me a 3 mouths.
 But i stood in the rain hours and hours for weeks. and so 3 mouths  came by . the big day  got it all ready. and  could i do it
could I F****"


But no I thought I'd never be able to throw an axe, but i did. Oh god 've wasted my life


 TBH she is being really silly, as IGA said that parts of CoTM didn't fit his mould. The mould that she first set out yet she's still holds stead fast to it.  How does that work? no she's being a child over this, as she just picks the ones that she thinks fits and then trying to pass that of as fact.

But  thank you for saying about IGA as I remember reading that but I hate saying something that I'm not sure is true or not, so thank you soo much.
I mean that about does it in for her argument  as he based SQ on Sotn. so by logic  SQ is a MV.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Abnormal Freak on March 31, 2019, 02:46:21 PM
I'm all for using a very broad definition of the term "Metroidvania" and having it include just about any exploration-based sidescroller, so that's cool; but there are people who only enjoy the SOTN-style games who wouldn't touch SQ, because it plays a hell of a lot differently.

COTM has far more in common with IGA's games and a lot of that has to do with the castle layout and the rhythm of progression. SQ has some items to collect to proceed, but so does every other adventure game. SOTN-style CV games have much to do with obtaining an ability to bypass an obstacle, and the beats during gameplay to obtain these is very similar across all the GBA and DS games. These abilities change the way you play, with a more complex level of backtracking than SQ as you remember the places which were previously barred, frequently checking the map to find them. It's all about leveling up (a stats system that SQ lacks) and traversing the castle to uncover the map, whereas SQ doesn't see you revisiting completed mansions and dead ends.

For the most part, COTM feels/plays very much like the IGA-produced games. SQ was an early series experiment with adventure style gameplay over strictly action platforming, but it doesn't much resemble SOTN and later games.

Chronological collections make more sense to me than cherry picking which go where based on theme or some bullshit like that. Castlevania II: Simon's Quest has a 2 in the title and directly follows the plot of the first game, so put it between CV 1 and 3 because doing it any other way is fucking stupid and I just wanna wring Konami's neck right now >:(
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on March 31, 2019, 02:49:18 PM
are you joking? come on your clutching at straws here and back peddling like no tomorrow ,  as i see you didn't anaswer the fact that you first said SQ did have false ending, then didn't so how does that work?

No, I didn't. I checked my previous posts to make sure I didn't make a typo or something, but I couldn't find anything.


  the clues in the JP SQ where far more helpful, so here are just a few
Jp clues
Hold a red crystal in front of Deborah cliff and wait for a wind.

A person without living laurels will perish on the cursed swamp.


I mean thise clues would have anyone stumped huh, so.. more llike being spoon fed
and  to be fair there are a ton of items pretty close by? sooo again no.

It's very convenient than your ignoring these clues are hidden behind completely unremarkable brick walls which you'll never discover are fake unless you systematically throw holy water on every stone wall in the game. Simon's Quest clearly expects the player to put more effort into the game than SotN and design choices like these reflect that attitude.   


yes... a game can be hard  for lack of space, I'll spell it out, as you seem to have no grasp on how this thing works The highers ups say
"Hey we want the game to be as flashy as pos" so then the devs work as hard as they can to cram as much in and sometimes they have to trade items  for better graphics, and more rich and real  wolrd in look and feel, don't forget the day and night that must have taken up a bit space and sometimes things get left out for  time constraints, happens a lot in the gaming word.

This is such a ridiculous argument. Simon's Quest belongs to a genre (action-adventure/Action-RPG) which back in the day was actively advertised as being hard as nails. Creators of highly influential games like Tower of Druaga, Zelda, and Metroid admitted they designed their games to be that hard on purpose.  And Simon's Quest is clearly influenced by that school of game design (see the example of the brick walls and the "kneel at cliff with the red crystal" puzzle). What's more, IGA has been record saying he actively wanted to make SotN easier than previous games in the series. Seriously, how is not reasonable to conclude from this that Simon's Quest and SotN were designed with different aims in mind when analysing the two on anything deeper than mere surface level?


and again you seem to fitting things in to help your points.  so come on, lets stop kidding here, both games need a special  recrements  to get the best ending, as both have  trick ending to fool the player. Giving more replay. thats why tons of game mags and blogs count time based endings a secrets.

But the metroidvanias have you unlock a completely new part of the game as a reward for averting the fake the ending. Simon's Quest doesn't. How is that not a clear difference? My issue with your argument here is that you're comparing two games on a very shallow level and than act like there's no meaningful difference when taking a closer look at them. Yes, Simon's Quest and SotN are both open-world games with backtracking. However, after that observation has been made, things start to diverge. Does Simon's Quest give you the option to grind for items? (This was already a feature of RPGs the 80s, so don't even try claiming otherwise) Does Simon's Quest allow you to look at a Metroid-style map in order to determine where you are? Does it have a mana meter? Are there stats other than health? The answer is no. Yet all the metroidvanias do have these elements. 


So let me see if i have this right, both CoTm and SQ have the same core gameplay, both don't follow your formula
But... CoTM is an MV and SQ isn't
 I find your logic  flawed here
do you not see this weakens your points so badly.
i mean  you say there less differences but how so, You need to explore, back track, level up. collect items, again both classic ideas if a MV i mean
 IGA said himself that the Dual Set-up System did not match with the world Castlevania.
so that part was very different but you seem stil think its a MV
you seem to be picking the ones you count as MV but seem to leaveing the facts behind in order to fit in with you points.

How does it weaken my point? The traits the metroidvanias have in common outnumber the traits they don't have in common. The same can't be said when you add into Simon's Quest into the equation.   

I'm not saying you could never justify placing Simon's Quest alongside the metroidvanias. If they would do that I would just shrug and think: "Oh, it kinda, sorta fits I guess". However, what irks me is your insistence on Simon's Quest's inclusion being anything other than "perfect", as you claim.       

Anyway, I'm checking out of this discussion, so feel free to get the last word in, I guess. 
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on March 31, 2019, 03:41:38 PM
No, I didn't. I checked my previous posts to make sure I didn't make a typo or something, but I couldn't find anything.


It's very convenient than your ignoring these clues are hidden behind completely unremarkable brick walls which you'll never discover are fake unless you systematically throw holy water on every stone wall in the game. Simon's Quest clearly expects the player to put more effort into the game than SotN and design choices like these reflect that attitude.   


This is such a ridiculous argument. Simon's Quest belongs to a genre (action-adventure/Action-RPG) which back in the day was actively advertised as being hard as nails. Creators of highly influential games like Tower of Druaga, Zelda, and Metroid admitted they designed their games to be that hard on purpose.  And Simon's Quest is clearly influenced by that school of game design (see the example of the brick walls and the "kneel at cliff with the red crystal" puzzle). What's more, IGA has been record saying he actively wanted to make SotN easier than previous games in the series. Seriously, how is not reasonable to conclude from this that Simon's Quest and SotN were designed with different aims in mind when analysing the two on anything deeper than mere surface level?


But the metroidvanias have you unlock a completely new part of the game as a reward for averting the fake the ending. Simon's Quest doesn't. How is that not a clear difference? My issue with your argument here is that you're comparing two games on a very shallow level and than act like there's no meaningful difference when taking a closer look at them. Yes, Simon's Quest and SotN are both open-world games with backtracking. However, after that observation has been made, things start to diverge. Does Simon's Quest give you the option to grind for items? (This was already a feature of RPGs the 80s, so don't even try claiming otherwise) Does Simon's Quest allow you to look at a Metroid-style map in order to determine where you are? Does it have a mana meter? Are there stats other than health? The answer is no. Yet all the metroidvanias do have these elements. 


How does it weaken my point? The traits the metroidvanias have in common outnumber the traits they don't have in common. The same can't be said when you add into Simon's Quest into the equation.   

I'm not saying you could never justify placing Simon's Quest alongside the metroidvanias. If they would do that I would just shrug and think: "Oh, it kinda, sorta fits I guess". However, what irks me is your insistence on Simon's Quest's inclusion being anything other than "perfect", as you claim.       

Anyway, I'm checking out of this discussion, so feel free to get the last word in, I guess.
come on just bow out, he based SQ on SoTN how much more do you need,

I'm not an unreasonable man as after looking in to a lot of stuff I have conclude that AlexCalvo was right they must get  some kind of  boost of power from the whip. I wanted to put a new spin on it for my fan work, having it unlock a Belmont's full and hidden potential and the memory of the other Belmont's power flows in to them and adds to there power permanently, So thanks Alex, really help there.  ;D

but by my logic
if saying that Julius's can't be cursed cos is due to that   ritual idea I had. and that's not just for the sake of the gameplay. then by that logic I have to take what he said about how he was weaker due to the VK losing power in DoS

so i'm big enough  to say I was wrong.

(click to show/hide)
there we go not to hard to find.
as for the clues heres another one

"The holy water causes agony to the evil, and breaks wicked walls. so one thinks" 

"ok keep that in mind"

then Linked with this "there Traders hiding in our town they are behind fake walls"

so then makes one think oh ok so i need Holy water to break walls, and i need look out odd rooms in this town, then laying the ground work for more stuff like that. So the game has once again doing it for you.

So again spoon fed.

i mean you say that it makes the player put more effort in SQ. well my first play of SOTN i didn't get item needed get the best ending.  i had to really look and work out, sooo... and i remember reading that lots of other players had a hard time with it, so SQ in JP was easier in that respect.


and again you have  no idea how SQ  was made, and seeing those clues it seem that they gave the play an easy time. so its leading the play by the hand, showing them what you have to do.
also who finds what hard is matter of opinion.
Both have the same core gameplay, porved by IGA baseing Sotn on SQ.

and i see your over looking what iGA said, as by your own logic you said  that all follow the same Patten,

and he based His game on SQ so by that logic it counts. As he used concepts from SQ for Sotn. So again
 i can't see how you still trying to get out of this.

It weakens your point  and i can't believe  i have spell this out

 cos your going by IGAs work, and word, yet he him slf said that DSS did not fit in with his idea of CV. so by that it does not follow his pattens and the pattens that you set out, so if you count CoTM you have to count SQ if you don't your just being silly. and picking what you like over facts.

 i can do this all day listening  to break free. (man that kate higgins amazing)  watching shoot your self in foot and dig your self deeper and deeper
so just do yourself a favour and bow out. I know you have this rep as master debater.

but you've never taken on a Belmont before ;) I identify as a Belmont so  sue me  :rollseyes:

trust me just bow out it'll hurt less in the end.


Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Abnormal Freak on March 31, 2019, 05:40:13 PM
Dude, your "bow out" shit is making you look like a prick. Maybe knock it off if you wanna be taken seriously, 'cos I don't know how anyone can stomach your wall of text when you keep acting like a jerk trying to strongarm the argument.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on March 31, 2019, 05:51:17 PM
Dude, your "bow out" shit is making you look like a prick. Maybe knock it off if you wanna be taken seriously, 'cos I don't know how anyone can stomach your wall of text when you keep acting like a jerk trying to strongarm the argument.

it was some friendly advice.

but your Fan boy shit is making you look like a prick,  like saying stuff like
Don't pick on Nagumo, she's cool. :'(

 really show your bias  in this.

as no one was.
 It was a debate. so if you wanna be taken  taken seriously, maybe try to understand matters as they are.
and try not seeing eveyhting as a knock aganst her and rushing to her aid like some sort of fan boy.

 also
 if you can't offer anything but childish insults, then maybe you stop trying to start something cos your beloved master has dug her self deep in. But seeing as she did just  bow out  as saying
Anyway,

I'm checking out of this discussion, so feel free to get the last word in, I guess. 


is slang for  "i can't think of anyothe points as all my aguments have been counterd" as she couldn't  justify  Cotm counting even after IGA said that the DSS did not fit with his CV world. 

As  her logic anything not fitting in IGA's  blure print, is not an MV but She counted CoTM. and the fact that SQ  was the his base for SoNT, and there for if he  took its concepts for his game, it must count. as it was in fact the first MV She just not admitting   it out of pure pride.

but to get  Nagumo  to  concede defeat in a debate  so that must be a first.
Guess thats the power of a belmont huh.

also wall of text really? you had a hard time with that Huh?
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Abnormal Freak on April 01, 2019, 12:32:37 AM
That post you quoted was a jovial ribbing but all right, I'll concede you're the alpha male worthy of a dick-sucking. Now if you'll please unfasten your belt...
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on April 01, 2019, 07:54:17 AM
That post you quoted was a jovial ribbing but all right, I'll concede you're the alpha male worthy of a dick-sucking. Now if you'll please unfasten your belt...
wow you really are a little boy,  and I can see you can't think of anything gown up to add this.

Now please stop as you just being abusive, and adding nothing to this debate, or the topic at hand.

Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: EstebanT on April 01, 2019, 09:11:54 AM
How can you not see that there are more differences than similarities when comparing Igavanias to Simon's Quest...

Sure... the endings and basic gameplay loops are similar (Same franchise after all) but you are ignoring alot of differences between them that affect the gameplay in less superficial ways. For example... lack of death pits, mid air controls, post-game exploration, and multiple playable characters. Concepts which were all around at the time SQ released... all of which have become staples of the Igavania genre.

I could go on listing differences between them like amount of enemies and weapons, graphics and difficulty until the end of time. 
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHY ANY OF THOSE THINGS ARENT THERE. Whether it was a matter of time or resources it is unimportant 30 years later. Fact is those things arent there and would make it stick out badly in a compilation made of smooth exploration games.

Also are we going to ignore the fact that Simon's Quest sucks? I'm glad this game and The Adventure won't be wasting one of the 8 spaces.

Also the fact that Iga stated he was inspired by Simons Quest doesn't matter. He has also stated he was inspired by Legend of Zelda. Dracula's curse is his favorite classicvania. Believe it or not you can be inspired by many sources.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on April 01, 2019, 09:47:45 AM
How can you not see that there are more differences than similarities when comparing Igavanias to Simon's Quest...

Sure... the endings and basic gameplay loops are similar (Same franchise after all) but you are ignoring alot of differences between them that affect the gameplay in less superficial ways. For example... lack of death pits, mid air controls, post-game exploration, and multiple playable characters. Concepts which were all around at the time SQ released... all of which have become staples of the Igavania genre.

I could go on listing differences between them like amount of enemies and weapons, graphics and difficulty until the end of time. 

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHY ANY OF THOSE THINGS ARENT THERE. Whether it was a matter of time or resources it is unimportant 30 years later. Fact is those things arent there and would make it stick out badly in a compilation made of smooth exploration games.

Also are we going to ignore the fact that Simon's Quest sucks? I'm glad this game and The Adventure won't be wasting one of the 8 spaces.

Also the fact that Iga stated he was inspired by Simons Quest doesn't matter. He has also stated he was inspired by Legend of Zelda. Dracula's curse is his favorite classicvania. Believe it or not you can be inspired by many sources.

Right not lets go over the whats the same.

both have the same core gameplay, both need you to unlock the true ending, both huge worlds you need to look round. both guide the play to there goal.  both have branching paths, both have items scatters about, not a smuch but seeing as  she gave COTM a pass then we can give this. also theres only so much room to fit in, as this game was made in the 80s so we need to look at the context of the time it was made, and looking at the sptites  they seem more  clear and defind, also the afftcs in game must have taken up space. mean less Item, the day and night. evem more space used up.
I could go on, but frankly we've done this one.

yes I agree there are some diffs But COTM also has huge diffs so much that IGA himself  say it didn't fit with his idea. But she still counted it.


and yeah can be inspired by many sources. what's you point? SQ core game play is where he got the idea for SOTn

and as by her own logic SoTN was the bench marks for all MV and as it got its concepts from SQ it makes SQ a MV
So again you seem to missing this out.

And just saying it sucks is not really helpful as it depends on who you ask, so lets just stick to the facts.

Bottom line SQ's Game play ideas where put in to Sotn and if she counts that as MV, she has to count SQ.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: EstebanT on April 01, 2019, 10:13:05 AM
Fist of all I'm not Nagumo. Why are you using her arguments against me?

Second of all... its obvious you're not even reading what we're saying. All your points have been quickly addressed and destroyed but you're too far up your own ass to notice. See ya.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on April 01, 2019, 10:18:17 AM
Fist of all I'm not Nagumo. Why are you using her arguments against me?

Second of all... its obvious you're not even reading what we're saying. All your points have been quickly addressed and destroyed but you're too far up your own ass to notice. See ya.

No you got that the other way  round, funny how those that can't win get pissy
why, cos you points are the same as hers, I don't Think it counts cos I don't like it. never mind the facts that have been layed out in front of you.
And the same could be said of you.
 your not reading what I say, as you seem to be  ignoring my points in favour if you own.
 I have  quickly addressed and destroyed  your points, seems your not reading. But see ya
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: EstebanT on April 01, 2019, 12:06:11 PM
And predictably your response is basically "I know you are... but what am I?" Like four different times.

Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Mysterii on April 01, 2019, 12:26:30 PM
JESUS H CHRIST

Could we get back at the topic at hand and stop with the back and forth mudslinging?!  If you want to do that, take it to PMs.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on April 01, 2019, 12:42:54 PM
And predictably your response is basically "I know you are... but what am I?" Like four different times.



wow really are very sad, after being shot down and

 predictably your response is basically "errr run out of augments so I know post some vid  make myself cool, but not address any of said point cos I have the brain of some angry Kid" as your point was

"No way man It SQ sucks no way is it a MV"


 forgetting that fact that  made the path for the other MV, and countless other count it an MV, I can't believe that I have to go over this again, but seeing as you having a hard time with this
 
Both have a large interconnected map, Not all parts of the map are available.  so the player needs to hunt down the needed items to pass the area that is blocked off and move on this will require back tracking till said item is found, often the boss will be guarding this item, also branching paths, hidden ending, also items to collet, some you don't need. some you do, the player is also hand held showing them skills that'll need for later on with the clues. you can level up , upgrade you weapon

all things that both SQ and SOTn have, and what make an MV and as both you and Nagumo augment seems to be "no cos it still don't follow the Pattern you lose".   But yet you give CoTm a pass and like said about IGA and the DSS before. So we now   by both of your onw logic we have to expect that all have there own vibes, but are still counted as MV

But  yet non of these points where touch on, no you just left a lazy

"your just loser here a vid i'm soo boss, and it makes saves me from not being able to answer any points."
 
But here's some  friendly advice.
get a new avatar , as that's not helping your whole brainless image, and grow up. as if you can add anything helpful or insightful to this debate, then try 4chan, that's a great place for over grown kids.

JESUS H CHRIST

Could we get back at the topic at hand and stop with the back and forth mudslinging?!  If you want to do that, take it to PMs.

To be fair until this this guy and Abnormal Freak started throwing childish insults, this was a dignified Debate. really shows the sort guys they are as all they can pull from there heads is 

I'll suck your dick and post some childish vid instead of using his  mind, really has lowered this topic.

But when I have an idea I never let go and always see it to the end.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on April 03, 2019, 04:18:42 AM
From the ESRB site:

Quote
This is a collection of eight classic games from the Castlevania series in which players assume the role of vampire hunters battling to defeat Dracula and his minions inside a castle. From a side-scrolling perspective, players use whips, spears, axes, and magic attacks to defeat fantastical creatures (e.g., Frankenstein's monster, zombies, skeletons) in melee-style combat. Battles are highlighted by impact sounds, cries of pain, and screen-shaking effects. A handful of areas depict pixelated blood dripping from a fountain and staining the background; one title screen depicts blood dripping into a large pool. During the course of the game, players can encounter topless creatures (e.g., harpies, medusa)—though there are no discernable details (i.e., no nipples).
Seems like Bloodlines is in.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Super Waffle on April 03, 2019, 05:32:01 AM
wow that last page was something else, huh
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on April 03, 2019, 06:06:28 AM
From the ESRB site:
Seems like Bloodlines is in.
Weeeyyyyy

wow that last page was something else, huh
ol bazza you bloody legend
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Abnormal Freak on April 03, 2019, 09:53:34 AM
i.e. no nipples
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Kamirine on April 03, 2019, 12:05:09 PM
From the ESRB site:
Seems like Bloodlines is in.

Nice!  Now if it has Rebirth and Rondo, it’ll be perfect! (For me, anyway.)
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on April 03, 2019, 12:59:43 PM
Nice!  Now if it has Rebirth and Rondo, it’ll be perfect! (For me, anyway.)

Oh i hope  Rebrith is on it, as it was only on  the wii and the shop is gone. shame, just a shame.

Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: EstebanT on April 03, 2019, 04:17:45 PM
Bloodlines confirmed?

I guess I might have to break my streak and give konami some money.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on April 04, 2019, 02:28:21 PM
Ahhhh nothing better then Vampire Killer, wonder if it will be updated, or just stay the same, of course there gonna have the tacky trophy  system  that seems to have cropped up in games and never gone... unfortunately.

But same or updated, I'll take it,

Oh Konami that's another   set of pounds you've got from in a bloody week.

But it is a shame about rebith, as it was a bloody great game, and i feel that if its not out on here, then its likey its never coming.

 I did have an idea. but not sure if one, you can do that with a wii, and two if its aganst the rule to talk about such things.

But Thank you Konami For Vampire Killer.


Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Dremn on April 08, 2019, 12:16:28 AM
Holy shit Bloodlines!

Now just confirm Rebirth and I'll be over the moon about this collection!
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: crisis on April 08, 2019, 05:48:49 AM
I have played all these games many times, over & over throughout the past decades so this collection doesn’t interest me in the slightest

However, if Konami does a port of “Castlevania: The Arcade,” THEN I’ll finally be excited. I bet less than 1% of y’all here have even played that game
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on April 08, 2019, 05:59:19 AM
But why do you want to play the Arcade if you can play SotN for the 10th time? Please stop trolling.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: crisis on April 08, 2019, 06:24:05 AM
Quote
But why do you want to play the Arcade if you can play SotN for the 10th time? Please stop trolling.

lol... i missed you nagumo  :-*
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on April 08, 2019, 08:14:56 AM
I have played all these games many times, over & over throughout the past decades so this collection doesn’t interest me in the slightest

However, if Konami does a port of “Castlevania: The Arcade,” THEN I’ll finally be excited. I bet less than 1% of y’all here have even played that game

HC was a really great game. The bridge part was amazing, as well as the sound track too. I did hate it how the whip became a sword. But seem to remember reading  (can't remember where)the Devs of the first  CV wanted it to the main weapon of the game. So it make sense.

 Was it just me or did the Sword in HC look like the new sword seen in CV Season 2?
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: theplottwist on April 08, 2019, 08:45:28 AM
HC was a really great game. The bridge part was amazing, as well as the sound track too. I did hate it how the whip became a sword. But seem to remember reading  (can't remember where)the Devs of the first  CV wanted it to the main weapon of the game. So it make sense.

 Was it just me or did the Sword in HC look like the new sword seen in CV Season 2?

I think that's not the Arcade Castlevania crisis is talking about. It's this one. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unm4rKIM954)
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: X on April 08, 2019, 09:24:03 AM
Yeah that arcade game. Since the PS4 has those motion sensor sticks having a home console port would work out.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Guy Belmont on April 08, 2019, 10:15:19 AM
I think that's not the Arcade Castlevania crisis is talking about. It's this one. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unm4rKIM954)

OMG I played that when I was on holiday in the 2016 I though no one would have ever played that.
I thought id never get the chance to play it. sadly it was only the once but man it was sooo fun, and poves that FPS

Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on April 14, 2019, 11:45:51 PM
Oo, only 3 more days until the arcade classics comes out.  At the very least, we’ll get some ideas of what features might be in the CV classics set.  I also wonder what kind of never-before-seen art and stuff we might see for Haunted Castle.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on April 18, 2019, 12:56:03 AM
Bad news: it seems like the arcade collection doesn't have a region select option.

https://www.google.nl/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2019/04/18/arcade-classics-anniversary-collection-review-shooting-the-core-9242847/amp/ (https://www.google.nl/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2019/04/18/arcade-classics-anniversary-collection-review-shooting-the-core-9242847/amp/)
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Zuljaras on April 18, 2019, 05:29:28 AM
Castlevania Collection launches May 16th and final list is:
Castlevania
Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Super Castlevania IV
Castlevania Bloodlines
Castlevania The Adventure
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
Kid Dracula

https://twitter.com/PlayStation/status/1118847366877126656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1118847366877126656&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nintendolife.com%2Fforums%2Fother_gaming%2Fthe_playstation_4_fan_thread%3Fstart%3D11760 (https://twitter.com/PlayStation/status/1118847366877126656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1118847366877126656&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nintendolife.com%2Fforums%2Fother_gaming%2Fthe_playstation_4_fan_thread%3Fstart%3D11760)

I am disappointed by Kid Dracula! I hate parody games.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: AlexCalvo on April 18, 2019, 06:15:16 AM
Meh, could live without The Adventure and Kid Dracula...  Even though it is cool that they appear to be doing the NES version of Kid Dracula.  Would much rather have had Dracula X or Chronicles.  But I guess those are pretty readily available elsewhere.  And of course, the pipe dream of one of the N64 games.  But I do luckily have LoD and a working N64.  :D
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: GuyStarwind on April 18, 2019, 07:12:28 AM
I haven't played Bloodlines or Belmont's Revenge. I don't really care about Kid Dracula though.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: X on April 18, 2019, 09:21:50 AM
I'm not sure why Kid Dracula would be a part of the collection since it is a parody game. They could have snuck in the SNES Dracula X instead. The rest of the collection seems cool and it'll give people new to the series a chance to play the games that started it all.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on April 18, 2019, 10:52:24 AM
Here's the Haunted Castle concept art.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Dremn on April 18, 2019, 11:47:50 AM
I.....am disappointed in this line up. I was REALLY hoping for Rebirth, Chronicles, and at least Rondo.

I might pass on this, I was really looking forward to this... Adventure GB? Really?
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: angevil on April 18, 2019, 08:15:44 PM
I am also disappointed, I wanted at least Rondo of blood here..
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on April 18, 2019, 08:39:56 PM
Ha, so after all that speculation about what types of games they’d put in this collection, they really just did it by release date.  If that’s the case though, then we’re sorely missing Vampire Killer, Chronicles, and Rondo of Blood.  Maybe they’ll release a Home Computer collection and include all three of these games in it, just like Haunted Castle got put in an Arcade Collection?  Or maybe they’re just too much of a pain to emulate ha.

It’s too bad we got boss work for all the Haunted Castle bosses except for Medusa!  Maybe someone spilled coffee over her original artwork?  :(

Too bad about only no international release, but at least you can adjust the difficulty level on Haunted Castle.  I wonder if one of the level/difficulty options adjusts how high the bats fly up and down?  I’ll have to experiment ha.  Also too bad there only seems to be one save slot. Better than none though.

Oh no, another thing that’s missing in the wii u version is the ability to turn it in portrait mode.  Castlevania games don’t care, but it makes playing the shooters a lot less fun on the switch screen.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Foffy on April 18, 2019, 10:06:14 PM
Adventure, yikes.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Aceearly1993 on April 19, 2019, 02:02:29 AM
I have no comment about the full list.

For Rondo of Blood I believe why they didn't count it as an entry is because there was a ps4 cheap collection ripped from Dracula X Chronicles - RoB & SotN.

Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: AlexCalvo on April 19, 2019, 04:40:44 PM
Yeah, there is no way they would put Rondo or SoTN on another collection right now.  That would completely nullify any use for Requiem.  I am disappointed, but to be honest 1-4, Bloodlines, and Belmont's revenge covers most of the gold standard Classicvanias I will buy it regardless, to show Konami castlevania can still make them money...
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on April 21, 2019, 04:57:51 AM
I noticed that one of the sample pages from the bonus book has a round table discussion with Yamane and the new producer of the series (the name doesn't appear on that page, though) This person apparently also oversees the Netflix series. I wonder who it could be?

Also interesting to see how they take active steps to not mention IGA by name.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: AlexCalvo on April 21, 2019, 02:00:57 PM
When did the discussion take place?  If it was around the time of Bloodlines than it would make sense.  Or was this something new?
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on April 21, 2019, 03:06:04 PM
Something new. It's from the upcoming bonus book for the anniversary collection.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Foffy on April 21, 2019, 04:53:39 PM
I noticed that one of the sample pages from the bonus book has a round table discussion with Yamane and the new producer of the series (the name doesn't appear on that page, though) This person apparently also oversees the Netflix series. I wonder who it could be?

Also interesting to see how they take active steps to not mention IGA by name.

Would you mind linking to this sample? I'm kinda surprised they seem to be okay with Yamane as she was probably the first major staff departure we saw at Konami, though she left before the mid-2010s and the strife IGA and Hideo Kojima had with the company.

Assuming they're cool with Yamane, I wouldn't be shocked if she actually composed the new songs in Grimoire of Souls.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on April 22, 2019, 12:31:53 AM
Here it is. You should be able to read the text if you zoom in.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Aceearly1993 on April 22, 2019, 03:39:11 AM
Oh damn! Is the bonus book physical only or will be bundled within digital version of the game?
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Foffy on April 22, 2019, 04:59:27 AM
Most interesting that a largely dead series have a producer looking over the whole series.

They're totally making a new game aside from the mobile one. All the Bomberman representation, the Smash inclusion, the Netflix show, the two collections...this is the only franchise they seem to be proactive in showcasing over the last few years.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on April 22, 2019, 12:55:32 PM
Assuming that they’re only putting in home and handheld console games in these collections (skipping the arcade, home computer, cell phone games etc) and that they hit every eligible game in release order, the next volume would contain the following 8 games:

- Dracula X
- Kid Dracula (gameboy)
- Symphony of the Night (they probably wont release the saturn version.  who knows, maybe we’ll see a localized version though)
- Legends
- Castlevania 64
- Legacy of Darkness
- Circle of the Moon
- Chronicles??? (not sure if they’d do rereleases, but i feel like releasing harmony of dissonance instead ought to be considered the start of another era.  although maybe they might get back to rondo eventually when they release Dracula X Chronicles if they did Chronicles)

Maybe we’ll finally get Vampire Killer when it corresponds to the time it was rereleased for Japanese consoles?

Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: RichterB on April 22, 2019, 09:59:35 PM
TIMELINE OF NOTABLE CASTLEVANIA-RELATED ACTIVITY/RUMORS

(Smash Bros.-related news connects to so-called Castlevania "leaks," so that's why it's included below)

-----------------------------------------------------------------
April-November 2014

*Castlevania: Dracula X, rare SNES game, re-released for the first time via Wii U Virtual Console in all regions.

May 2015

*Bloodstained Ritual of the Night achieves $5,545,991 via Kickstarter

December 2016-January 2017

*Castlevania: Dracula X, rare SNES game, re-released for 3DS Virtual Console in all regions.

June 2017

*Via Nintendo Life, Konami's European Brand Manager states: "All I can say is that there is lots of internal discussions going on within Konami regarding what games we can bring to the Nintendo Switch, other than Bomberman, a game which we are well aware of its heritage and how loved it and Castlevania is. So much so that Castlevania is getting is getting its own show on Netflix and because of that, we’re hearing a lot of desires from our fans for a new Castlevania series. So we do know there is a demand for a new game, but right now nothing is set in stone as the discussions are still on going." [sic.--direct quote, typos and all]

*Belmont Bomber character added via DLC for Super Bomberman R

January 2018

*Warren Ellis says Netflix's Castlevania Season 2 will launch in the summer of 2018 [it would actually air later that same year, in October]

April 2018

*Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls iOS Mobile Game announced

May 2018

*Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls beta closes

(Circa) June 2018

*Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is announced to have "100,000 downloads less than a week after it launched...56% of them on Nintendo platform."

*Netflix announces Castlevania will have a 3rd season prior to Season 2 even launching.

*Internet rumor/leaker person Vergeben claims Ridley, Ice Climbers, Snake, Simon Belmont, and Isabelle are coming to new Smash Bros.

*Via Castlevania Dungeon website from outside source, internet rumor/leaker person Vergeben proclaims: "Castelvania is making a comeback with two new titles. I believe each are multiplatform releases (one may be Switch exclusive but haven't been able to verify that). One is a new title and the other a collection of classic Castlevania games, with Symphony of the Night being the headline game." (Note that this is well after Grimoire of Souls was announced and demoed.)

*Vergeben goes on to suggest that Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth may come to Switch via a collection, which may or may not be related to the above.

*Via Castlevania Dungeon website, a user by the name of Dusk Golem who posts on ResetERA, who's been in the know about REmake 2, said Konami has a game to "counter" Bloodstained.

*Via Castlevania Dungeon website, French gaming site Gamekult speaks about Konami at E3 about being invited to a closed doors presentation to an unannounced game. Translation from ResetERA notes discussion as: This isn't PES or the sport compilation (i don't know a thing about this game). The editor in chief knows some things on this game but can't talk about it yet. Then, one of the guys at Gamekult asks if it's horror-related and the guy who knows about the game hesitates before dismissing the question.

*Ridley, Ice Climbers, and Konami's Snake confirmed for Smash Bros Ultimate.

*Vergeben doubles down, still says the two Castlevania games he spoke about exist despite not showing at E3.

August 2018


Simon Belmont (and Richter Belmont, plus more) confirmed for Smash Bros Ultimate.

September 2018

*Super Bomberman R adds Castlevania-inspired stage and Alucard Bomber character via DLC.

*Isabelle confirmed for Smash Bros Ultimate

October 2018

*Konami opens a new Castlevania website, complete with timeline of games

*Netflix Season 2 of Castlevania launches

*Castlevania Requiem, a collection of Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night, launches for PS4. (The collection Vergeben heard about?)

March 2019

*Konami announces multiple anniversary collections, including one for Castlevania's early days, and asks for a person's birth date to enter the website (despite these games being rated no worse than T for Teen, I'd imagine), as if possibly collecting demographic info.

May 16, 2019

Castlevania Anniversary Collection release date. Includes book that, according the new sample pages available on the website, notes there is an unnamed "current series producer at Konami...currently supervising production of the Castlevania series as a whole, including the recent Netflix animated series."

(E3 2019) June 11-13, 2019

*Probably nothing, but...? ? ?

Summer 2019

*Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night launches
----------------------------------------------------------------

Now, as I go over all this again, I see that it's sort of a mishmash, but two patterns emerge:

1.) Vergeben was not 100% incorrect on his/her Castlevania leaks, and was close to if not completely correct about his/her Smash Bros. leaks, opening up possibilities for his "new" Castlevania claim.

2.) Public interest and viability for Castlevania, while not spectacular, is growing more than it has for a while, and Konami has shown some level of response to that. Moreover, they apparently have someone specifically managing the brand again post-IGA, which is intriguing. Why have a producer for a supposedly inert series?

Assuming that they’re only putting in home and handheld console games in these collections (skipping the arcade, home computer, cell phone games etc) and that they hit every eligible game in release order, the next volume would contain the following 8 games:

- Dracula X
- Kid Dracula (gameboy)
- Symphony of the Night (they probably wont release the saturn version.  who knows, maybe we’ll see a localized version though)
- Legends
- Castlevania 64
- Legacy of Darkness
- Circle of the Moon
- Chronicles??? (not sure if they’d do rereleases, but i feel like releasing harmony of dissonance instead ought to be considered the start of another era.  although maybe they might get back to rondo eventually when they release Dracula X Chronicles if they did Chronicles)

Maybe we’ll finally get Vampire Killer when it corresponds to the time it was rereleased for Japanese consoles?

I would love to get Dracula X SNES represented in a collection. I actually think this first collection is pretty great, all things considered. But the website has gotten rid of the "first" collection moniker last I checked. It may have been a typo from what I've been hearing. That doesn't mean things won't change, or that it was a typo in the sense that it was a premature announcement mistake.

Most interesting that a largely dead series have a producer looking over the whole series.

They're totally making a new game aside from the mobile one. All the Bomberman representation, the Smash inclusion, the Netflix show, the two collections...this is the only franchise they seem to be proactive in showcasing over the last few years.

I do think something's going on; at the very least it's being discussed. This e-book (no physical release) seems pretty impressive. It's 74+ pages! Seems like a lot of care for something that's supposedly all in the past. I think there is some gradual attempt here to educate/prepare fans and newcomers.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: theplottwist on April 23, 2019, 12:08:25 AM
I would love to get Dracula X SNES represented in a collection. I actually think this first collection is pretty great, all things considered. But the website has gotten rid of the "first" collection moniker last I checked. It may have been a typo from what I've been hearing. That doesn't mean things won't change, or that it was a typo in the sense that it was a premature announcement mistake.

Yeah, I posted that on the Bloodstained group as I noticed no one commenting on this case.

I think people took a typo too seriously and assumed there is another CV collection coming because the webpage said something like "this first collection" (so, if people were led to assume it, it was not their fault or something). Not long after the rumor went up, the page was edited to remove this strange wording and the text is now pretty standard. I'm sure it was a typo because this collection is comprised of three different bundles, and these mentions of "firsts" only meant there was another classic collection coming in the same bundle soon.

Also, from what I understand, the Japanese page never once implied such a thing, btw. And the text remains the same as day 1.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Foffy on April 23, 2019, 07:27:02 AM
If this is the only collection, this is an easy pass for me.

Bloodlines seems to be the "big" game, and that's already in a Sega collection with much more interesting titles. The fact they'd even put in Adventure in what could be the only collection for the series is just peak Konami. They could have put Castlevania Vs. in instead and it would have been a better pick. :p

Perhaps the most interesting thing is going to be the interview with this new, mysterious producer. Having a producer for what's largely been a dead series seems like they're not interested in a one-off game like Grimoire of Souls but have larger plans. I wouldn't be shocked if they wanted to make a game based on the Netflix show.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: AlexCalvo on April 23, 2019, 04:56:47 PM
I don't really think the producer thing means much...  I mean there are no new games but Castlevania as an IP is certainly not dead.  You guys said it yourselves, we have two collections in less than a year, a critically acclaimed animated series with all the tie in products that entails, characters and locations appearing in other games, etc.  Someone has to manage all that stuff, at least to represent Konami's interests in each example.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Foffy on April 23, 2019, 11:15:31 PM
I don't really think the producer thing means much...  I mean there are no new games but Castlevania as an IP is certainly not dead.  You guys said it yourselves, we have two collections in less than a year, a critically acclaimed animated series with all the tie in products that entails, characters and locations appearing in other games, etc.  Someone has to manage all that stuff, at least to represent Konami's interests in each example.

I would imagine something is coming, if not for the Vergeben rumor, then DuskGolem's proclamations that Konami wants to "counter" Bloodstained. DuskGolem confirmed that Resident Evil 2 and 3 were being remade, and this was before either one was teased by Capcom outright. Capcom's now starting the REmake 3 teases.

You also don't do all this work to "bring awareness" back to a brand only with supplemental material. Usually collections for companies like Konami and Capcom are ways to reintroduce players to new works. Similarly Mega Man and Mega Man X are cases of this.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: crisis on April 24, 2019, 06:38:05 AM
I recall many years ago how there was this 1 user that claimed to have “inside info” on what was going on, and even proved it by correctly predicting stuff about Portrait of Ruin before it’s release (hinting towards a “collectors package” being made for the game, etc.) She even made posts about a CV game that may or may not be coming to the Wii (turned out to be Judgment).

However, a few months later, after she gained some “fame” from the community, she made 1 last post saying:

“Two 1999 games.
That is all.”

Everyone here went wild, because she made some educated guesses that turned out to be correct. She disappeared soon afterward. Y’all already know the rest of the story.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Super Waffle on April 25, 2019, 11:32:55 AM
Did Iga kill her by throwing his cowboy hat at her to silence her or something
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: X on April 25, 2019, 05:53:00 PM
Quote
Did Iga kill her by throwing his cowboy hat at her to silence her or something

Why the hat? He had a whip.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Foffy on April 25, 2019, 11:37:14 PM
Did Iga kill her by throwing his cowboy hat at her to silence her or something

Pretty sure she got found out in 2008 after the Smash Bros Brawl and Order of Ecclesia leaks she was making.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on April 26, 2019, 10:04:58 AM
oh you know one title i’m kinda disappointed wasnt included or would love to see in a later release?  getsu fuuma!  since its inclusion in harmony of despair and a song was included with the other castlevania songs in smash bros, i’ve been coming to think that it really belongs with the castlevania games.  if not in a castlevania collection, i hope we’ll be able to get it in some other collection at some point.

btw, the castlevania facebook feed keeps mentioning that this is the first castlevania collection.  so if it was retracted from the web site because another one is not coming or they dont want to us to think about it, someone didnt get the memo!
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on April 30, 2019, 12:19:39 PM
The Japanese version has the American version of Simon's Quest for some reason. (It's explicitly mentioned on the Japanese site).They're also getting the 1993 Famicom re-release of Akumajou Dracula. So it seems their deliberately avoiding FDS emulation.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Mysterii on May 01, 2019, 07:52:53 AM
The Japanese version has the American version of Simon's Quest for some reason.

I guess they will know the frustrations that James Rolfe went through this time around.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Dremn on May 03, 2019, 10:34:14 PM
Here it is. You should be able to read the text if you zoom in.
That's really interesting this series has a new producer behind it now, I wonder who they are?

These collections have to be leading to a new game, there's still that loose rumor about Konami creating "their own counter" to Bloodstained.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Mikepjr on May 07, 2019, 04:03:18 PM
I'm gonna buy it, for if any other reasons then to just tell them "HEY, MORE CASTLEVANIA PLEASE!!!!".
But also so I can play Bloodlines on the go.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Aceearly1993 on May 09, 2019, 02:02:45 AM
Damn, that would be the Doomsday if the new lead producer decided to abandon GoS as well as other stuff used components from IGA-era legacy completely
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Foffy on May 09, 2019, 11:23:48 AM
Damn, that would be the Doomsday if the new lead producer decided to abandon GoS as well as other stuff used components from IGA-era legacy completely

Konami confirmed Grimoire of Souls still exists within the last 48 hours via their fiscal reports, still targeted for a 2019 release.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Aceearly1993 on May 09, 2019, 02:53:16 PM
Konami confirmed Grimoire of Souls still exists within the last 48 hours via their fiscal reports, still targeted for a 2019 release.
Latest information: It was delayed to an unidentified period after March, 2020
I have a bad feeling about it...
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Super Waffle on May 09, 2019, 04:47:53 PM
Obviously they had to free up some space on the schedule for the summer 2019 release of Castlevania Pachislot VI.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on May 15, 2019, 05:21:59 AM
Konami just confirmed they will be adding the Japanese versions of the games in a post-launch update.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Lumi Kløvstad on May 15, 2019, 08:06:41 AM
Konami just confirmed they will be adding the Japanese versions of the games in a post-launch update.

Also to be released in places-that-are-not-Japan, yesyes?
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Spooniest on May 15, 2019, 04:18:42 PM
There's still no Steam Store page for this. What gives?

As ticked off at Konami as I am, I'm still gonna get this the instant it's available for Steam. Is it not coming out on Steam tomorrow?

Hype Hype Hype

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZHtF_KXB-w (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZHtF_KXB-w)
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Aceearly1993 on May 15, 2019, 04:52:21 PM
There's still no Steam Store page for this. What gives?

As ticked off at Konami as I am, I'm still gonna get this the instant it's available for Steam. Is it not coming out on Steam tomorrow?

Hype Hype Hype

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZHtF_KXB-w (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZHtF_KXB-w)


After a quick search I don't seem to find the Steam page either.

Besides, the previous Konami Arcade Anniversary Collection is region locked like the Lords of Shadow games; Konami locked up Steam Asian region for some irritating reason
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Aceearly1993 on May 16, 2019, 12:59:19 AM
Well, one important thing didn't make it clear after the launch of Castlevania Anniversary Collection. The "current series producer" didn't show up as promised in the bonus book, but with the producer of Netflix series instead.

I wonder where did the current series producer go??? Or the producer slot left a big whole in its current state?
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: GuyStarwind on May 16, 2019, 07:14:16 AM
So this is out right? Anyone have it yet? I can't till after work. Also is that bonus book digital only?
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Zuljaras on May 16, 2019, 11:26:24 AM
So this is out right? Anyone have it yet? I can't till after work. Also is that bonus book digital only?

I just bought it on the EU shop. I must admit it is very nice collection with LOTS of extras! The Digital book is actually inside the game. And you can view it there.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: JayDominus on May 16, 2019, 11:50:58 AM
Got it on Steam.

Well, this is absolutely dreadful.

So, check it out: the controls are unremappable. Like, you can't remap them. And the person who mapped them in the first place must have been one of those people who got put into a "special" class back in elementary school. The mappings are horrible no matter which platform you're on (the PC being the worst of the bunch).

The display options are scarce and bad. Filters? Pfft. It's either unfiltered or scanlines, and if you pick unfiltered 4:3 (since the scanlines options is abhorrent and messes up the colors), the image won't reach the top and bottom of the screen.

Also, a chap over on Steam claims they put in the wrong ROM for CV1, so the game crashes at level five. Can't confirm it myself.

Some people got audio issues (again, not PC-exclusive).

The system requirements are just unbelievable for a bunch of 8-16-bit games.

Do not buy.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Lumi Kløvstad on May 16, 2019, 01:50:47 PM
The amount of people losing their shit on other message boards over the lack of Rondo, Symphony, and what each commenter thinks the best games in the series are is highly amusing to my inner troll (who doesn't even have to do anything today, just sit back and let Konami do their thing with a bag of popcorn) because they are so willfully blind to Konami's very simple logic for what games should be included.

They just released the first 8 games (that were not the JUST rereleased Rondo) in direct release order. This is clearly not a greatest hits collection, but an Origins collection, and it was pretty honestly this from the moment it was announced. Hence, I enjoy watching those who spooled themselves up believing this would be something this was never intended to be just lose their minds today.

Got it on Steam.

Well, this is absolutely dreadful.

So, check it out: the controls are unremappable. Like, you can't remap them. And the person who mapped them in the first place must have been one of those people who got put into a "special" class back in elementary school. The mappings are horrible no matter which platform you're on (the PC being the worst of the bunch).

See, my heart goes out to PC players for this issue, but this is a huge reason I got a Steam Controller for my PC gaming: it literally does not care what the publisher thinks the controls should be and I can tweak them to my heart's content. I mean, hopefully they fix that in a patch, but solutions do still exist. The best ones just... cost a little money but they really are the gift that keeps on giving.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: knightmere on May 16, 2019, 01:52:58 PM
Got it on Steam.

Well, this is absolutely dreadful.

So, check it out: the controls are unremappable. Like, you can't remap them. And the person who mapped them in the first place must have been one of those people who got put into a "special" class back in elementary school. The mappings are horrible no matter which platform you're on (the PC being the worst of the bunch).

The display options are scarce and bad. Filters? Pfft. It's either unfiltered or scanlines, and if you pick unfiltered 4:3 (since the scanlines options is abhorrent and messes up the colors), the image won't reach the top and bottom of the screen.

Also, a chap over on Steam claims they put in the wrong ROM for CV1, so the game crashes at level five. Can't confirm it myself.

Some people got audio issues (again, not PC-exclusive).

The system requirements are just unbelievable for a bunch of 8-16-bit games.

Do not buy.

Yeah well I personally am really enjoying this collection on Switch. Sure it's not perfect and there could certainly be more games like Rondo and Chronicles. Firing up Bloodlines again on my couch was a pretty amazing experience after 10+ years. Also, there is no need to insult people with mental health issues, grow the hell up.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: JayDominus on May 16, 2019, 02:35:35 PM
Quote
See, my heart goes out to PC players for this issue, but this is a huge reason I got a Steam Controller for my PC gaming: it literally does not care what the publisher thinks the controls should be and I can tweak them to my heart's content. I mean, hopefully they fix that in a patch, but solutions do still exist. The best ones just... cost a little money but they really are the gift that keeps on giving.
Well there are free solutions as well, it's just that it's kind of not very good that we have to resort to them instead of, you know, having it like every other emulated game collection. I mean, one can do the same with a regular controller as well and I would, but it's back home and I'm on a business trip, so all I got is this here laptop. And the console controls are... well, pretty much set in stone. Not a good thing by any stretch.
Yeah well I personally am really enjoying this collection on Switch. Sure it's not perfect and there could certainly be more games like Rondo and Chronicles. Firing up Bloodlines again on my couch was a pretty amazing experience after 10+ years. Also, there is no need to insult people with mental health issues, grow the hell up.
Well, as someone who fired up Bloodlines on his couch through other means, while I can understand your feelings, I definitely not share them. Official collections should at the very least match (or better yet, surpass) emulation, and of all the collections and rereleases that I happen to own, this one is definitely the one-eyed half-dead runt of the litter.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on May 16, 2019, 02:41:35 PM
It's pretty mind-blowing they were thinking about putting a ninja Belnades character in Bloodlines. What were they smoking when they came up with that idea?
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Foffy on May 16, 2019, 04:26:20 PM
It's pretty mind-blowing they were thinking about putting a ninja Belnades character in Bloodlines. What were they smoking when they came up with that idea?

Probably the same stuff that made them think "yeah, a dog with a Gatling gun for an arm makes sense for Contra".

I take it the interview with the producer alluded to in the Yamane sample was just an interview with the Netflix show producer?
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Aceearly1993 on May 16, 2019, 04:47:34 PM

Also, a chap over on Steam claims they put in the wrong ROM for CV1, so the game crashes at level five. Can't confirm it myself.


The best way to further confirm it would be throwing (triple shot) crosses during Death/Grim Reaper boss fight. Being the earlier ROM version the (PRG0) ROM would have a huge chance to crash when multiple crosses and tiny sickles filled all over the screen, if the current anniversary collection being this case.
And there're several other features that would help recognize the ROM version better: https://tcrf.net/Bugs:Castlevania_(NES)


Speaking of Bloodlines I'm a bit disappointed that the design sketches didn't mention about the molten steel area and Zeppelin stage which didn't pass the final cut. I probably won't purchase this collection...
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Lumi Kløvstad on May 16, 2019, 05:38:34 PM
Well, I am disappointed to find that I still cannot git gud with The Castlevania Adventure. It's among the few games that I find overly tough mostly because by Castlevania standards, it's pretty objectively bad -- losing whip power ups on injury despite no increase in drop rate for the power ups themselves (with a much smaller period of invulnerability afterward), no subweapons, a massively reduced movement speed and all the mid-air buoyancy of the Rock of Gibraltar, platforming that requires literally pixel-perfect accuracy, limited continues and a pretty punishing per-stage time limit makes the entirety of Adventure into Castlevania's equivalent to the boss fight against the Dancer of the Boreal Valley in Dark Souls 3: you can win but it's going to take unlearning and relearning everything Castlevania ever taught you about how it works to do it.

With a shrug that is equal parts disdain and dispassion, I say that I don't have both the willingness and time to do so: the only time I ever saw the ending was when I used cheats on an emulator.

No complaints about everything else though -- not regretting this purchase on Switch at all.

Take my money and hear my message loud and clear, Konami: More. FEED ME MORE.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: GuyStarwind on May 16, 2019, 07:39:07 PM
Some of the ideas mentioned in the book could be cool. I know some have been added in other games like turning into a werewolf, but things like swinging from curtains (there's a little CV3 mock-up picture of it) could be fun. I haven't even started playing the games just been reading the details.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Super Waffle on May 16, 2019, 09:18:36 PM
Aw cool the original Guilty Gear was released on the same day as Castlevania Anniversary on the Switch. Now I can play Bloodlines and listen to Death & Republic 24/7
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on May 16, 2019, 10:14:03 PM
i couldn’t help but notice the original name Simon Dante and think of Devil May Cry.  lol for the bootleg multiverse.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on May 17, 2019, 12:01:45 AM
I take it the interview with the producer alluded to in the Yamane sample was just an interview with the Netflix show producer?

Actually, no. He or she is the person who interviews Yamane. It's also explicitly mentioned this person is a video game producer at Konami which I'm pretty sure rules out the possibility that it's Shankar. So it seems the identity of the mystery producer has yet to be revealed.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Lumi Kløvstad on May 17, 2019, 12:18:47 AM
Actually, no. He or she is the person who interviews Yamane. It's also explicitly mentioned this person is a video game producer at Konami which I'm pretty sure rules out the possibility that it's Shankar. So it seems the identity of the mystery producer has yet to be revealed.

I kind of enjoy that there's a sense of mystery to this producer's identity, actually.

I move that we start referring to them as Trans Fishers until their identity is revealed.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on May 17, 2019, 12:33:37 AM
Actually, I just realized this person is most likely mention in the credits as producer. I'll check later today if I can find anything.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Zuljaras on May 17, 2019, 01:25:46 AM
My only complaint are the controls :(

I want to jump with B and Attack with A :(
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: GuyStarwind on May 17, 2019, 07:22:47 AM
My only complaint are the controls :(

I want to jump with B and Attack with A :(
I agree. Is there not a way to change it? I only played a few minutes last night.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Mysterii on May 17, 2019, 07:43:28 AM
Well, you can play with a GameCube Controller via the adapter, but you lose access to the menu unless you unplug it and pull out the JoyCons
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Zuljaras on May 17, 2019, 09:02:04 AM
I agree. Is there not a way to change it? I only played a few minutes last night.
There is no way on the NES and the GB games. On SCV4 and Bloodlines I think you can.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: X on May 17, 2019, 09:29:59 AM
Would it have killed Konami to input a button config in their product? Certainly not.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on May 17, 2019, 01:36:31 PM
The two major differences between japanese and north american versions that effect game mechanics are Grant’s weapon in CV3 and Christopher’s subweapons in Belmont’s Revenge.  Any other that we can look forward to?  I also think some games also have different ways of calculating damages, but forget which ones.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: X on May 17, 2019, 06:12:57 PM
CV III US has more damage inflicted onto the character then CV III Japan. Also in the Japanese version the enemies don't take as many hits to kill either (the fire-spitting bone pillars are a good example of this as well as the bone dragons).
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: GuyStarwind on May 17, 2019, 07:47:28 PM
Playing Belmont's Revenge for the first time. Feels way better than the Adventure.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: KaZudra on May 18, 2019, 01:09:12 AM
Emulation is pretty solid, but, it's too barebones to be notable for anything either.

Playing the NES games require you to play with Y+B because X+A are swapped, Absolutely no mapping options.
Plus side is that SNES and Genesis games have a good control scheme (Snes is a given, but it's easy to fuck up genesis)
PC version outright has no Exit Program feature nor display settings.
Castlevania uses the original release which has the Sprite Draw crash, which explains the massive amount of flicker.

I'm going to give it the ol' GPD WIN optimization test, but what I've red on the reddit, it's probably not going to go so well.

Also the Twitter stated this is "the first", so buying this isn't too bad. if anything someone will probably crack the .bin to replace the roms.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Dremn on May 18, 2019, 06:14:43 AM
Finished Castlevania 1, IV, and Bloodlines so far. I'm waiting for the Famicom patch to drop because I don't feel like playing through the harder version of Castlevania 3.

These games feel really comfortable to play in Switch's handheld mode.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: RichterB on May 18, 2019, 12:47:41 PM
I can definitely understand wanting accessibility options, or even a greater sense of consistency in button layouts across games, but from what I've seen, aside from the angle of the buttons, it's generally faithful to the burned-into-memory NES controls; and moreover, it's how the GBA Castlevania games played on GBA (http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/cv-cotm/packing/cotm_page04.jpg (http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/cv-cotm/packing/cotm_page04.jpg)) and DS (and Wii U, I think)--I just put Circle of the Moon into my old DS Lite the other day, which simulates modern controllers, and the control scheme felt totally natural to me. The button that's farther to the left, whether lower or at the same height, is usually attack, and the button to the right of that is jump. (i.e. B-attack and A-jump on Switch, A-attack and B-jump on XBox). So I'm a little surprised at the amount of outcry on that point. Not saying it couldn't have been different, and maybe I'm misunderstanding something here, but I don't think it was totally illogical on M2's part. Am I to understand that all these years, Castlevania fans were reversing their jump and attack buttons? What would have been worse, in my opinion, is defaulting a reversal of buttons, which is what the Gamecube Mega Man Anniversary Collection did years back, and that did not work with my muscle memory at all.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on May 18, 2019, 04:49:49 PM
is this out on PS4 yet in North America?  i’m not seeing it in the store (wondering if i have to update the store or something)
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: whipsmemory on May 19, 2019, 04:08:45 AM
Has anyone had any issues with timed jumps on rotating platform in the trick manor in SCV4? For some reason there seems to be some slight delay in the input which makes it hell to go through the stage, i could do it almost eye-closed on the SFC, I'm playing on Switch and literally had a game over in the first half of the first block :-\
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: knightmere on May 19, 2019, 04:40:33 AM
Has anyone had any issues with timed jumps on rotating platform in the trick manor in SCV4? For some reason there seems to be some slight delay in the input which makes it hell to go through the stage, i could do it almost eye-closed on the SFC, I'm playing on Switch and literally had a game over in the first half of the first block :-\
I've had no issues getting through any secton of CV4 in regards to input delay. It could be your tv.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: whipsmemory on May 19, 2019, 07:43:58 AM
I've had no issues getting through any secton of CV4 in regards to input delay. It could be your tv.

Mhmh yes, may as well be the case, yet never had (or at least noticed) any input lag issue with any other game before and have been playing all some sort of stuff, even competitive fighting games online, dunno :/
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: bucky on May 19, 2019, 09:05:48 AM
Some people got audio issues (again, not PC-exclusive).

I noticed and documented audio issues in Castlevania 1, you can hear them here (https://twitter.com/RetroGameAudio/status/1129934825643741185?s=19).

Stalker and the level clear jingle both have high-pitched beeps in them. They are guaranteed/ consistent, meaning you can't avoid them and hear the songs as they're supposed to sound. I encountered this on both Switch and PC, so we can assume for now that it happens on all platforms.

There may also be aliasing issues with the audio. In that same twitter thread I posted a comparison of the SFX for attacking the bone pillar enemy, and it sounds very different. This is a very minor gripe compared to the beeps, but it's indicative of other possible minor sound issues.

Good news is I've heard most of the CV2 tracks now as well, and I haven't run into anything big/ obvious there.

Someone is suggesting that the SFX in Bloodlines are a bit off as well.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: whipsmemory on May 19, 2019, 09:51:27 AM
Anyhow Im pretty confident everything will be fixed, presumably with the japanese releases addon update, as the emulation has been handled by M2 who are basically the standard for classic to modern hardware porting\emulation. At least I would be very very surprised and disappointed if they didnt tbh.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Abnormal Freak on May 19, 2019, 11:18:57 AM
aside from the angle of the buttons, it's generally faithful to the burned-into-memory NES controls; and moreover, it's how the GBA Castlevania games played on GBA

The slant on a GBA/SP isn't as steep so it feels more natural. Playing GBA games on a DS/Lite feels uncomfortable as hell to me because the B+A slant is much steeper.

I'd love custom button mapping and a 4:3 option that doesn't blur or filter the image in any way. Other than that, the emulation is incredibly solid (for the most part) and the input latency is surprisingly low. Another success for M2 in that regard.

CV1's sound gets pretty mucked up sometimes on PS4, consistent with the above documented beeps. I don't know if that's an emulation goof or if it's a quirk exclusive to the pre-revision version of the game. Either way, I hope they update the collection with REV-A.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: bucky on May 19, 2019, 12:33:56 PM
Yeah playing on PC and Switch, haven't noticed any latency issues. I sat down to beat CV1 on both, and parts with a higher demand for precision timing felt exactly right.

I'd also like button mapping options. Not that you can't use outside options on PC and PS4, but also no reason it shouldn't be baked into the game. I was able to adjust but it felt like the opposite of what it should be.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: RichterB on May 19, 2019, 02:50:01 PM
Some of the ideas mentioned in the book could be cool. I know some have been added in other games like turning into a werewolf, but things like swinging from curtains (there's a little CV3 mock-up picture of it) could be fun. I haven't even started playing the games just been reading the details.

Yeah, the werewolf and silver bullet-type stuff were in Legacy of Darkness: https://youtu.be/CSZD_sGd6Y4
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: bucky on May 19, 2019, 08:53:44 PM
Ah, so I found the exact culprit of the weird beeps in the CV1 music.

Short explanation is that their NES emulator doesn't know how to handle "Pitch 0" from the triangle channel. I'm now fairly sure that Pitch 0 was only used in 4 specific instances in the CV1 soundtrack, which is why they only happen where they do. Examples and more detailed explanation here (https://twitter.com/RetroGameAudio/status/1130312837170106368).

Though this would be completely unrelated to other, smaller issues with the audio, like the aforementioned possible aliasing.

tl;dr - The original CV1 soundtrack does have weird clicks in those places. In the Anniversary Collection, they've turned into more-noticeable beeps.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: RichterB on May 20, 2019, 11:11:31 PM
Has anyone had any issues with timed jumps on rotating platform in the trick manor in SCV4? For some reason there seems to be some slight delay in the input which makes it hell to go through the stage, i could do it almost eye-closed on the SFC, I'm playing on Switch and literally had a game over in the first half of the first block :-\

Ok, I'm getting this problem, too. I'm getting it on PC. I didn't have input lag in the other titles I was playing, but now playing SCV-IV, yes, stage 4's rotating green platforms have some issues, especially after the first few screens. Basically you have to double-tap the jump button, or else you fall right through them as they rotate. Definitely not like that on the SNES; I just double checked.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Foffy on May 21, 2019, 01:43:00 AM
I find it very interesting that this currently unnamed Castlevania producer suggests in his/her interview with Michiru Yamane that she's been asked to partake in "multiple projects" at this person's request.

She's been freelance for nearly 11 years, so I'm thinking this isn't in past context, but current context. If she's not doing the new tracks for Grimoire of Souls, I think this is Konami's first public wink at a new project.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: whipsmemory on May 22, 2019, 09:51:27 AM
Ok, I'm getting this problem, too. I'm getting it on PC. I didn't have input lag in the other titles I was playing, but now playing SCV-IV, yes, stage 4's rotating green platforms have some issues, especially after the first few screens. Basically you have to double-tap the jump button, or else you fall right through them as they rotate. Definitely not like that on the SNES; I just double checked.

Yep, only have had this problem on SCV4 as well
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: RichterB on May 22, 2019, 11:40:44 AM
Yep, only have had this problem on SCV4 as well

What platform are you playing on? (I'm using PC, and I'm wondering why this issue hasn't cropped up for others. It might be that people aren't aware of the original game's feel, and just chalk it up to old-school hardness, though, as I have heard some general complaints about platforming in the game.)
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: The Puritan on May 24, 2019, 05:57:01 AM
Aside from Simon Dante and Belnades ninja, what other stuff were left on the drawing board? It's gonna be awhile before I get own copy (if ever) so I don't mind knowing.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: whipsmemory on May 24, 2019, 08:42:39 AM
What platform are you playing on? (I'm using PC, and I'm wondering why this issue hasn't cropped up for others. It might be that people aren't aware of the original game's feel, and just chalk it up to old-school hardness, though, as I have heard some general complaints about platforming in the game.)

Switch
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on May 25, 2019, 06:54:09 AM
Aside from Simon Dante and Belnades ninja, what other stuff were left on the drawing board? It's gonna be awhile before I get own copy (if ever) so I don't mind knowing.

Simon's Quest:
- Planned outdoor elements: collasping bridges, tornadoes, and strong winds (only at certain times).

Castlevania IV:
- The developers were considering setting the game in modern day.
- Branching paths were planned.
- A second castle was planned which emerged from the lake after clearing the first castle.

The Adventure:
- The Deathstalker enemies were orginally planned to be human cult members.

Belmont's Revenge:
- A stage was planned in which you're supposed to escape from the collasping castle after defeating Dracula.
 
Bloodlines:
- Another scrapped character: Bolt Ericson. A dwarf-like enemy with a mace as a weapon.

 
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Reinhart77 on May 25, 2019, 11:36:31 PM
(fantasizes that they’ll release Vampire Killer as DLC cause they skipped it!  and while they’re at it, Getsu Fuhma too)
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: GuyStarwind on May 26, 2019, 04:15:03 AM
I always thought having a part where you escape the collasping castle would be fun. Maybe like Super Metroid.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: The Puritan on May 26, 2019, 08:27:39 PM
Simon's Quest:
- Planned outdoor elements: collasping bridges, tornadoes, and strong winds (only at certain times).

Castlevania IV:
- The developers were considering setting the game in modern day.
- Branching paths were planned.
- A second castle was planned which emerged from the lake after clearing the first castle.

The Adventure:
- The Deathstalker enemies were orginally planned to be human cult members.

Belmont's Revenge:
- A stage was planned in which you're supposed to escape from the collasping castle after defeating Dracula.
 
Bloodlines:
- Another scrapped character: Bolt Ericson. A dwarf-like enemy with a mace as a weapon.

Thanks! These are all ideas I'd love to see revisited sometime, especially Bolt Ericson (the very idea of him is so metal, if a bit out of place in CV).
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: RichterB on May 27, 2019, 05:20:08 PM
I've only read pieces of the ebook so far, as I've mostly been playing the games, but I was really struck by how many good ideas were left on the table, especially with Super Castlevania IV. It looks like some of these concepts were absorbed into Rondo of Blood (burning city, canoe ride) and some were put into Bloodlines (rotating tower you climb), but there's still more left, like the levee bridges. And some of these ideas, like the canoe ride, seemed more involved than what Rondo did with it. Plus, interesting that you originally could wrap the whip around some enemies and toss them aside! The creativity and passion oozing from these documents is amazing. It wasn't about just making "another" Castlevania; it seems each time it was about pushing the limits of innovation and appropriateness for whatever hardware a given game was to come out on. Curiously, though, the Super Castlevania IV document ideas do seem to resonate with Super Ghouls N Ghosts' concepts with the tower and water levels. Also, we learned that the spinning room is actually a mechanized chamber created by Dracula, and not some illusion.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Jorge D. Fuentes on May 28, 2019, 07:39:43 PM
I always thought having a part where you escape the collasping castle would be fun. Maybe like Super Metroid.

You have to escape the Castle Keep in Castlevania 64/LoD. ;)
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: GuyStarwind on May 28, 2019, 07:48:34 PM
You have to escape the Castle Keep in Castlevania 64/LoD. ;)

*slaps my forehead* how did I forget?
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: X on May 28, 2019, 08:51:48 PM
S'okay. Kinda slipped my mind too  :-\
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: GuyStarwind on June 01, 2019, 12:01:02 PM
Thank goodness for in game saves. I suck at the Adventure. I'm ok at Belmont's Revenge but not good at it.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Lumi Kløvstad on June 01, 2019, 07:40:59 PM
Thank goodness for in game saves. I suck at the Adventure. I'm ok at Belmont's Revenge but not good at it.

I think this sums up like 90% of people who bought Adventure and/or this collection, so don't feel bad. Even those of us who are great at most Classicvanias will suck for a not insubstantial period of time when picking up Adventure. It's one of the few Castlevanias I consider no-kidding badly executed on just about every level.

Belmont's Revenge is far, far better by at least two orders of magnitude, so clearly the dev team agreed with that assertion.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Abnormal Freak on June 01, 2019, 11:37:19 PM
I agree with John Linneman of DF Retro that the option to play a fixed or otherwise sped-up version of CV Adventure would've been great. It's unusual for a Game Boy game to have screen tearing but it's constantly present as is slowdown. A corrected version of the game might have made it more enjoyable for a lot of people, since there are some decent design ideas there. It's a shame it wasn't given the remix treatment.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: RichterB on June 17, 2019, 10:01:31 PM
Patch update live! Includes more versions of games, and controls can now be mapped. Hopefully, the bug of Castlevania 1 has been fixed and also the flipping platform problem myself and others noticed in stage 4 of Super Castlevania IV has been fixed. (Don't know about those last two, though.)
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: Nagumo on June 18, 2019, 02:59:15 AM
I like how in the game description that includes the goofy story introduction from the American NES manual, they simply swapped out Trevor Belmont with Ralph Belmondo and kept everything else the same. 
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: GuyStarwind on June 18, 2019, 09:22:27 AM
So the update with the option to play the Japanese versions came out. Does anyone have a list of the differences?
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: RichterB on June 19, 2019, 12:37:01 PM
So the update with the option to play the Japanese versions came out. Does anyone have a list of the differences?

*This website will help you. Just click on the game, and then under the game, click the regional differences sections: https://tcrf.net/Category:Castlevania_series (Differences include things like soundtrack, logo, and enemy variants, among other things like censorship and sound effects and difficulty balance. Two of the more striking changes in terms of gameplay is having a cross subweapon in Belmont's Revenge, and Grant having a throwing dagger by default in Dracula's Curse.)

*I tested out the green flipping platforms in Super Castlevania IV stage 4 after the patch. Hard to tell. It seems like they might be slightly less finicky now, but they still feel different than on SNES, I think.

*Replicating the game freeze in Castlevania 1 isn't a simple thing for me to do, so I don't know if they updated that ROM.




Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: GuyStarwind on June 19, 2019, 02:53:34 PM
Thanks friend. It seems like Japanese CV3 is an easier game.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: X on June 19, 2019, 10:57:53 PM
Quote
Thanks friend. It seems like Japanese CV3 is an easier game.

It is. some enemies don't take as long to kill and your characters can take more hits depending.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: GuyStarwind on June 19, 2019, 11:32:59 PM
It is. some enemies don't take as long to kill and your characters can take more hits depending.
Which is odd to me why they would change it. I mean it's nice to have both options but weird they made it harder. Also not on the topic of CV3, but I didn't know the Japanese version of Belmont's Revenge uses the cross sub-weapon opposed to the axe. Learn something new every day.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: RichterB on June 20, 2019, 12:09:54 AM
Which is odd to me why they would change it. I mean it's nice to have both options but weird they made it harder. Also not on the topic of CV3, but I didn't know the Japanese version of Belmont's Revenge uses the cross sub-weapon opposed to the axe. Learn something new every day.

Back in the 80s and some of the 90s there was just an arcade-like mentality to make games hard so that you'd be getting your money's worth. Not sure why this philosophy was inconsistent, though: i.e. Ninja Gaiden 1 wasn't toned down in Japan and ramped up overseas, as far as I know.

Castlevania III is tough to learn, but after years of playing it, I find nearly all of it to be an average level of difficulty now. So, having an easier version of it is neat, but it's sort of too late. I've been trained in on the harder version to the point where it doesn't bother me much. (The biggest hurdle being the doppelganger fight and water area preceding it, probably.)

The cross subweapon may not be as strategically useful in spots as the ax in Belmont's Revenge, but in most situations, having played with it now for a little bit, it seems way overpowered. It's just so big and hits twice and covers a far-reaching area. (It also seems like overkill with the fire-spitting whip.) I can see why it might have been swapped out, though it may have just been a censorship thing.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: VladCT on June 20, 2019, 12:15:19 AM
Which is odd to me why they would change it. I mean it's nice to have both options but weird they made it harder.
May have had something to do with game rentals being prevalent in the US at the time, to prevent most people from just renting it and beating it in one go.
Title: Re: Castlevania Anniversary Collection Incoming?
Post by: JR on June 30, 2019, 09:42:51 PM
Thanks friend. It seems like Japanese CV3 is an easier game.

I prefer the Japanese version. It's easier to just pick up and play due to a more balanced difficulty, and the music is much better overall IMO.

I just downloaded the collection today. I'm really surprised with the amount of detail the bonus material covers. I love stuff like this, and I'm surprised Konami put that much into this. Really liking this collection so far.

And it was nice picking up Bloodlines for the first time in at least a decade and being able to beat it.  8) I mean, on normal, with Eric, but still... :P