Topic: Castlevania Bloodlines: questions, opinions, thoughts, ideas and format

[Belmont Stakes]

I was playing Bloodlines the other day and I was thinking this game is a real diamond in the rough (note to AVGN you should give this one a second look). I was thinking that from a standpoint of music it doesn't stand up to SCV4 (epic sound track) but then I listened again. The boss themes are excellent. These and some of the songs: The sinking old sanctuary, Discolored wall, A Prayer of a Tragic Queen and Calling From Heaven I believe could not be revised successfully on the SNES or any other console. Also the lay out and settings were very innovative. The fact that you can play two separate characters with varied abilities allows you to take two paths in few of the levels. Some of the enemies were more impressive than in the SNES version: the medusa head, the gorgon sentinel and Frankenstein are a couple that come to mind. The battle with Bartley was a nice touch and Death, and Dracula were more innovative in their battles than the SNES game (I think) even if they weren't graphically as sharp and imposing. The levels are really clever, the sunken city is sweet, the Leaning Tower level is awesome and Castle Proserpina is a mind fuck.  I think Bloodlines should be redone or it's format should be considered for a future title. Don't get me wrong I am not saying that SCV4 is anything short of the classic that it is (like James said it blew my balls off when I first played it too) I am saying that Bloodlines did some things that would have greatly added to the already epicness of the SNES title. However keep in mind what I said about those music tracks. I think it should be remade or the format should be considered. What do you think.

[Vrakanox]

I liked Bloodlines a lot, mainly because the choice of main character and how graphically violent it was in comparison to the old games. The music was pretty good too, not the best though. I liked being able to play as Eric Lecarde and use a spear as my main weapon for a change.

[uzo]

The sinking old sanctuary, Discolored wall, A Prayer of a Tragic Queen and Calling From Heaven I believe could not be revised successfully on the SNES or any other console.

There's a lot of what you said that was pretty disagreeable but that, wow. That one takes the cake.

Your credibility: 0

[Odile Kuronuma]

I liked Bloodlines a lot, mostly because of the music. Bloodlines has some of the best tracks I've heard in a CV game. I like how the music sounds too. Gameplay wise, it was pretty interesting to play as Eric.
The levels are pretty elaborated. My favorite has to be the sunken city and Versailles  . The bosses were pretty hard , especially towards the end.
I definitely would want to play a game in the vein of Bloodlines.

[X]

I enjoyed Bloodlines, though It was disappointing to hear at the time that it wasn't out for the SNES. The only real gripe I have for bloodlines is that you can only play certain segments of the game, boss encounters and the full ending on the higher difficulty options  That is something I would NOT do. I'd have everything available from the get-go. The other thing is death. His card battle arena (Boss rush) was cool. But he was just a watered down repeat of Death From SCV4. SCV4's Death was way more badass in look, the way he moved and that he actually drew you towards him whenever he executes his scythe attack. At least he died differently though.

[Belmont Stakes]

There's a lot of what you said that was pretty disagreeable but that, wow. That one takes the cake.

Your credibility: 0

I think you are misunderstanding me my friend so let me clarify. Let's start with music. Tell me which version of vampire killer do you like the most if any of the versions? I like the original NES castlevania version the best, then chronicles. However the version on the NES gets the nod IMO. That is just how I feel. The song Sinking Old Sanctuary was on one of the N64 games but I like the version done on the Genesis better. Newer technology and more sophisticated instruments don't also make for a better game soundtrack. Isn't there a contingent of fans who like 2d better than 3d for the series? Don't many people like the first 3 Star Wars films better than the prequels? Sorry about skewing the tangent here but I don't see how I am being off base.  Especially when I said "Don't get me wrong I am not saying that SCV4 is anything short of the classic that it is (like James said it blew my balls off when I first played it too) I am saying that Bloodlines did some things that would have greatly added to the already epicness of the SNES title." SCV4 was one of my favorite titles and the soundtrack is flawless. Repeat flawless and as far as I am concerned the Dracula Battle song and the beginning of that game and at the climax is the quintessential Castlevania song as much as Vampire Killer, Bloody Tears or Simon's Theme are.

[Flame]

Bloodlines had amazing music. The Genesis sound style really worked for Castlevania.

Bloodlines gave us epic tracks like this one.
Akumajo Dracula&Castlevania - Calling From Heaven.

[KaZudra]

I agree that most of bloodline's Music couldn't sound as good on the SNES chipset

[knightmere]

I agree that most of bloodline's Music couldn't sound as good on the SNES chipset

I also agree, many of these same tracks have been resused in later games and don't sound nearly as good as they did on the Genesis.  Take for example sinking old sanctuary, which sounded completely bland on CotM.  Reincarnated Soul? I think it is called, which was the first level's music actually sounded good in Adventure Rebirth because the sound engine that was used is very similar to the Genesis chip set.

[quinnmjohnson]

I really love this game too, though it is honestly one of my least favorite in the series. Note that I still love it. I remember being a bit taken aback when I first popped it in because its sound quality and graphics were a definite step down from CV4's, but once I got used to it, it was still a great game. Fantastic music. Like has been said, it has some great gameplay innovations, especially the Castle Prosperina level. The upside-down section and the area where the screen splits into several staggered sections are simply ingenious. One other gripe is that there's no real reason to use John except to check out his character-specific areas; Eric simply blows him out of the water for fun factor and usefulness. Just my opinion, of course.

[Sumac]

One of my favorite games in the series. It's very impressive and in many ways experimental, that I appreciate.

I liked that for once the game wasn't about castle, and that it was much more creative with its locations. Also ability to choose from the two players form the get go was interesting. Levels were very beatiful, maybe one of the most beatiful levels in the 16 bit history of the series, especially Versaille. Bosses were good though quite easy. While battle with Reaper himself wasn't very impressive, it's prologue / boss-rush was an interesting idea.

Music was good, though since it was on the Genesis it's suffered from typical Genesis squickiness and jarringness. It could have been much better if it was arranged on the SNES or any other colsole with better sound. But still it wasn't as jarring as Contra Hard Corps soundtrack. Some of the tracks notably didn't suffer that much from Genesis arrangement.

[Belmont Stakes]

Bloodlines has so many nuances in it. Take for example the lighting in the Versailles stage when the rolling knights come after you. It's a brilliant little touch that would have probably been brilliant times infinity if done on the SNES. Bloodlines I think is better than Chronicles and definitely better than Dracula X from a game play standpoint. It just suffers graphically speaking when in comparison to the other aforementioned platform titles and the sound processing is not 16 bit. But those innovations, the Leaning Tower, the Water reflecting as it rises and falls, Proserpina being split up like is was, that is what a Castlevania game should be. Screw with the players head and perception, make them think a bit. Imagine if the CV4 Death did the card boss rush. That's all I have to say.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

I also agree, many of these same tracks have been resused in later games and don't sound nearly as good as they did on the Genesis.  Take for example sinking old sanctuary, which sounded completely bland on CotM.  Reincarnated Soul? I think it is called, which was the first level's music actually sounded good in Adventure Rebirth because the sound engine that was used is very similar to the Genesis chip set.

I don't know about the CotM part (it was a different take on the tune), but the Legacy of Darkness version is pretty great.
The Sinking Old Sanctuary - Castlevania 64: Legacy of Darkness

[X]

I don't know about the CotM part (it was a different take on the tune), but the Legacy of Darkness version is pretty great.

I didn't like this version of 'Sinking old sanctuary' at first, however after playing LoD for the first time the tune struck a cord with me. This tune along with the theme of the Tower of Ruins were my two favorites in LoD.

[Dark Nemesis]

After i listen to that tune, i think i need to play again LoD...........