Topic: Opinions on Dracula's Curse difficulty level

[BLOOD MONKEY]

I have yet to beat Dracula's Curse without the use of the Help Me code.  It really helped.

I always used the OKUDA code (which makes Alucard playable from the start)

[zombi]

I wouldn't say it's the hardest game I've ever encountered. But say for example those stages where all the blocks fall down the stage, if you play as anyone but Alucard and use bat form to ascend, how is one supposed to beat stages like this? I guess ideally without a walkthrough you'd need trial and error for all of the levels.

I'm trying to remember which level had those hazards....

I beat the game recently with Sypha and its certainly doable.

I actually chose Sypha because I heard that would be the easiest path.

[JR]

But say for example those stages where all the blocks fall down the stage, if you play as anyone but Alucard and use bat form to ascend, how is one supposed to beat stages like this? I guess ideally without a walkthrough you'd need trial and error for all of the levels.

I usually just pick several blocks to focus on, and keep track of their sequence. Once the blocks hit, that's the cue to move.

...but usually I pick a different path altogether, because, seriously, screw that level. Even the music is saying, "hey guys, this is the boring part of the game!"

[Nagumo]

I once beat that stage where the begins starts rising with all the mermen and bats that can knock you off platforms on Hard Mode (American version).

Never again.   

[Belmont Stakes]

I remember beating Akumajo Densetsu (better music) the first time. I used Grant it was not as hard as the first game. Now if you use only Trevor or one of the other 3 throughout the whole game then maybe I could say it gets closer. Certainly it applies if you use one of the weaker attacking characters. The Japanese version is the easier of the 2 no doubt. Overall I would rate 1 edging out 3 in difficulty just due to the infamous portrait hanging Death corridor.

If the mechanics of the first game were combined with this game we would have a lot of people going to therapy. I hope someone will try to replicate mechanics of all these games into one except leave Simon CV1 alone. For that matter it would be cool if Egoraptor or did a retrospective comparison of 1 vs 3 in a Prequelitis. I just like one better for overall feel but the graphics on the 3rd game would go so well with the 1st.

[Vickter]

I don't find CV3 to be an extremely difficult game overall. I think there's a certain sense of strategy you have to develop after exploring the different routes, alternate characters, and sub-weapons that can change the flow of the game. I start a run by getting the first holy water available and spamming it onto enemies and candles to get a triple shot before the end of the first level. I skip the clocktower and head for Sypha's route. Finding the sub-weapon you're best with and getting the triple shot as soon as possible is really the key for me to keep the game flowing along easily.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

I wouldn't say it's the hardest game I've ever encountered. But say for example those stages where all the blocks fall down the stage, if you play as anyone but Alucard and use bat form to ascend, how is one supposed to beat stages like this? I guess ideally without a walkthrough you'd need trial and error for all of the levels.

That's Block 7-05 on Alucard's Cave Path.
Whether you get there via 6-01A's Catacombs or 6-01B's Sunken City of Poltergeists, you will HAVE to pass this on this path to proceed.
You just gotta memorize the blocks' pattern, which changes halfway through the stage (when the Mountains in the background are right at the center of the screen).
If you have Alucard and you picked up enough Hearts before the 2nd Giant Bat Battle (a Miniboss in 7-04A), you can actually fly to the exit, as mentioned, but you can make it with Trevor Alone or with Grant by just being patient and knowing the spots to jump to as the thing gets built.

[zangetsu468]

That's Block 7-05 on Alucard's Cave Path.
Whether you get there via 6-01A's Catacombs or 6-01B's Sunken City of Poltergeists, you will HAVE to pass this on this path to proceed.
You just gotta memorize the blocks' pattern, which changes halfway through the stage (when the Mountains in the background are right at the center of the screen).
If you have Alucard and you picked up enough Hearts before the 2nd Giant Bat Battle (a Miniboss in 7-04A), you can actually fly to the exit, as mentioned, but you can make it with Trevor Alone or with Grant by just being patient and knowing the spots to jump to as the thing gets built.

I did end up using Alucard in the end. It's definitely the harder of the NES CV's not including CVII's cryptic clues.

I will give it a shot again sometime in the future, focusing on POR currently.

[Crying Freeman]

I remember beating Akumajo Densetsu (better music) the first time. I used Grant it was not as hard as the first game. Now if you use only Trevor or one of the other 3 throughout the whole game then maybe I could say it gets closer. Certainly it applies if you use one of the weaker attacking characters. The Japanese version is the easier of the 2 no doubt. Overall I would rate 1 edging out 3 in difficulty just due to the infamous portrait hanging Death corridor.

If the mechanics of the first game were combined with this game we would have a lot of people going to therapy. I hope someone will try to replicate mechanics of all these games into one except leave Simon CV1 alone. For that matter it would be cool if Egoraptor or did a retrospective comparison of 1 vs 3 in a Prequelitis. I just like one better for overall feel but the graphics on the 3rd game would go so well with the 1st.

It'd be interesting to see his take. He hates 4 for making Simon overpowered and eliminating the skill involved with using the sub weapons. US version of 3 sounds like his kind of CV game.

I know what u mean about the "feel" of CV1. I always felt control was so responsive, and the game being built around the movement was done so well. CV3 was always the one I played the least because I never liked the jumping. Instead of instantly jumping, the characters puase for a second before the jump starts, like megaman's foot moving slightly forward before a full run. It's always been a turnoff for me. Not enough to ruin the game but enough to REALLY bug me, gets rid of the otherwise fluid feel of the characters and Simon's jump control.