Topic: RoB staff coments from the Dracula X collection translated

[Nagumo]

Courtesy of blackoak from shmuplations. It gives us slightly more insight into the development of the game:

http://shmuplations.com/chinorondo/

Also, I see in my mind's eye...probably later this month...a small extra suprise will come along. 

[Gunlord]

That was a really fun interview! I liked Michiru's story~~~

[zangetsu468]

"Accordingly, the first version of Rondo of Blood was insanely hard—easily five times more difficult than the finished version"

Why oh why did they change it??? 

[KaZudra]

"Accordingly, the first version of Rondo of Blood was insanely hard—easily five times more difficult than the finished version"

Why oh why did they change it??? 

Maybe they didn't, Dracula XX was insanely hard.

[zangetsu468]

Maybe they didn't, Dracula XX was insanely hard.

That was SNES development though, this is in reference to ROB only. Unless they handed over the stages they didn't use, I'm not sure.

Dracula XX was more difficult, but I wouldn't say 5 times harder than ROB. The very difficult element of XX was getting the best ending

(click to show/hide)

which involved not falling into the catacombs, obtaining the key, fighting Death and getting the proper ending.

ROB, aside from 5' was overly easy.

[coinilius]

I didn't find Dracula X(X)/Vampire's Kiss all that impossibly hard - it was harder, but the real challenge was definitely in navigating through to get the best ending.

[zangetsu468]

The most difficult standalone stage in XX was probably the Clocktower. People say Dracula is hard and I do agree relative to other games. However, if you have the axe and know where to stand so he can't knock you off, he's not very difficult.

[X]

"Accordingly, the first version of Rondo of Blood was insanely hard—easily five times more difficult than the finished version"

Why oh why did they change it??? 

It's best to appeal to a broad audience then a limited minority. Besides if anyone wants a ridiculously hard game there's always the Souls series. I'd rather have Castlevania's difficulty stay as is for official releases. Besides gamers can easily make hack patches if they want to 'up' the difficulty.

[Abnormal Freak]

ROB's difficulty is absolutely spot-on. It's the right amount of challenge and strategy without being frustrating.

[zangetsu468]

It's best to appeal to a broad audience then a limited minority. Besides if anyone wants a ridiculously hard game there's always the Souls series. I'd rather have Castlevania's difficulty stay as is for official releases. Besides gamers can easily make hack patches if they want to 'up' the difficulty.

I disagree with this, if one is a purist and likes to play on the console which the game was intended. I don't see why adding a more difficult setting is a bad thing, the 64 series did this well with even altering certain platforming elements which gave the game and upped-yet-fair challenge and didn't compromise its integrity into being ridiculous.

Other examples include the original Legend of Zelda offering Quest B, or a hero mode where resources and vitality are more limited, and damage more heavily dealt. I see it as replay value, just saying.

[Shiroi Koumori]

I loved Michiru's part. Hehehe.

[Jago]

love the rondo style cross your heart, it shoulda been in!  I also like the bloodlines part, haha.

[Claimh Solais]

I disagree with this, if one is a purist and likes to play on the console which the game was intended. I don't see why adding a more difficult setting is a bad thing, the 64 series did this well with even altering certain platforming elements which gave the game and upped-yet-fair challenge and didn't compromise its integrity into being ridiculous.

Other examples include the original Legend of Zelda offering Quest B, or a hero mode where resources and vitality are more limited, and damage more heavily dealt. I see it as replay value, just saying.

Well, in the interview, they stated they lowered the difficulty from the original version, and you asked why they did. Your comment actually implied you wanted the game itself to stay that hard with it's only difficulty setting, and that's actually what X was responding to.

Multiple difficulty settings is always a plus in video games, as it allows for a huge audience. I know I would've loved a Hard Mode on Rondo, since I can pretty much cheese through the game now.

[zangetsu468]

Well, in the interview, they stated they lowered the difficulty from the original version, and you asked why they did. Your comment actually implied you wanted the game itself to stay that hard with it's only difficulty setting, and that's actually what X was responding to.

Multiple difficulty settings is always a plus in video games, as it allows for a huge audience. I know I would've loved a Hard Mode on Rondo, since I can pretty much cheese through the game now.

My implication was about taking away the initial (default) difficulty setting as to not give the gamer a choice to play this. Whether they added it as another mode or added an easier setting as an optional mode wouldn't have bothered me.