Topic: MJ1990's Super Castlevania IV No-damage, Hard Mode, "Eternal Candle" Challenge

[Sinful]

Fun Fact: You don't need to be an expert to beat Super Castlevania IV. Just power up your whip, get the boomerang, triple-shot it up, and then you're neigh invincible. Even if you get hit, enemies deal crap for damage. The only real worry comes from elements of instant death.

Lol, I thought I already posted here that the only thing that kills me in SCIV is instant death by falling in a pit. It's actually another reason why this game upsets me/bores me. To die in a lame pit and then be forced to do most of a boring no challenge otherwise level all over again is enough to make me turn system/emulator off and forget about playing this game again. And since I never use passwords in my classic vania games, starting this game all over again next time I start is a drag (lol, last time I started this game, I for the first time in my life sang out loud along with the first stage theme as it started; "Bored, bore, bore, bored, bore, bore, bored." Because honestly, that's how I felt and couldn't help but wonder as to why I'm wasting my time playing this?

And yeah, the boomerang item in this game is my choice weapon. There is absolutely zero point in getting any other weapon in this game unlike other Castlevania games. This sub-item is crazy way more usefull then the others. Two boomerangs is all you need to kill Medusa. Only since I still die in some lame platforming related area instant death type thing, due to not playing this game enough to be familiar with it enough, makes powering up my subweapons pointless. Especially when all you really need for this game is you whip, really. And the game is still easy enough with just the whip only... heck, when ever I have a triple boomerang, I still never use it during a level, but save it for bosses only, as utterly destroying them with the aid of a triple boomerang is fun.

Super Castlevania IV is sort of crappy in terms of challenge and polish. The level design very rarely pushes you to do anything difficult, enemies have needlessly high amounts of health while lacking the cunning to make them engaging, some bosses have unavoidable attacks or are easily trivialized, the whip-swinging mechanic is under utilized, the whip's range and aiming ability obsolete almost all of the sub-weapons and any semblence of strategy, the game has a raging axe armor fetish (And bat fetish for the second playthrough of the game), and the only enemies that are exploited effectively are the bats (occasionally), floating eyeballs and skeletons.

Lol, and people complain about overused enemies in the next SNES vania game. But yeah, I noticed the extreme bat fetish this game uses for loop two as well + they use them very cheaply, like you almost better know where they're coming from otherwise BAM! You take a hit... luckily this game supplies you with a ton of meat. But yeah, lol, did I ever get bitched at in another topic with people complaining about the bats in Dracula XX for SNES & them being cheap. I guess them same people never payed Super Castlevania IV loop two before?

However, Super Castlevania IV is considered good because while it's level design isn't exactly creative from a challenge perspective, it combines colorful, detailed visuals with music to create a sense of immersion rivaled only by Symphony of the Night in the entire series. While it never asks for much in terms of challenge, it also has enough variation in the level design to not feel bland either. It's also got very flexible controls and mechanics, which makes it a very approachable game.

And here is why I'm having such a hard time liking this game. I didn't see any graphics excellence at all for the most part. Save for a few key scenes like when there is a lot of paralax background scrolls and small scenes like where you fight the Mummy boss & the final set of bosses after that.

Now add the fact that playing this game bores me gameplay wise. And it's really not that hard to see why I'm having such a hard time trying to get into this game. I almost feel like completely giving up on this game sometimes from the sheer boredom this game gives me... Sometimes I think that if only I had played this game when it came out right away, instead of the tailend of the SNES' lifespan, that maybe I would of seen some of this game graphical excellence and that I too may of been a fan of this game? Now I feel very sad that this isn't the case and can only wish I had the same nostalgic memories as the Videogame Nerd and many other from this site who list this game as their fave... But as it is, when I first popped in this game I was like "Yikes & No! I wasted my money on a prehistoric, & very well looking it, SNES game. EGM, you lied to me!"



Oh, and exactly, when people say a game has good level design, they almost never mean it from a challenge game design perspective, but from a visual perspective only.

I don't feel it's enough to get me to like the game a lot, but it's unfrustrating and immersive, which for a lot of people, is agreeable.

Yeah, this game's massive size really upsets me too since I don't like this game. But the sad thing is that if I did like this game, this game's massive size would of been one of it's best features, and one of the reason why I would of probably rated it as one of my most fave vania games ever... But I don't know, graphics alone aren't always enough I find. I thought SotN looked out of this world graphically back when it first came out (it was my second played and beat vania game), and since then I have yet to replay SotN even once more... But that's just me, as SotN is the other most popular Castlevania game out there... So I guess your right? Most people favour Castlevania games mostly due to graphics alone...

[X]

God fucking damnit!
I made it all the way from the beginning of Block B to Dracula, and got hit by fucking walking into Dracula.

LOL!! This has never happened to me before! Way ta go markyjoe1990!

[markyjoe1990]

Lol, I thought I already posted here that the only thing that kills me in SCIV is instant death by falling in a pit. It's actually another reason why this game upsets me/bores me. To die in a lame pit and then be forced to do most of a boring no challenge otherwise level all over again is enough to make me turn system/emulator off and forget about playing this game again. And since I never use passwords in my classic vania games, starting this game all over again next time I start is a drag (lol, last time I started this game, I for the first time in my life sang out loud along with the first stage theme as it started; "Bored, bore, bore, bored, bore, bore, bored." Because honestly, that's how I felt and couldn't help but wonder as to why I'm wasting my time playing this?

And yeah, the boomerang item in this game is my choice weapon. There is absolutely zero point in getting any other weapon in this game unlike other Castlevania games. This sub-item is crazy way more usefull then the others. Two boomerangs is all you need to kill Medusa. Only since I still die in some lame platforming related area instant death type thing, due to not playing this game enough to be familiar with it enough, makes powering up my subweapons pointless. Especially when all you really need for this game is you whip, really. And the game is still easy enough with just the whip only... heck, when ever I have a triple boomerang, I still never use it during a level, but save it for bosses only, as utterly destroying them with the aid of a triple boomerang is fun.

Lol, and people complain about overused enemies in the next SNES vania game. But yeah, I noticed the extreme bat fetish this game uses for loop two as well + they use them very cheaply, like you almost better know where they're coming from otherwise BAM! You take a hit... luckily this game supplies you with a ton of meat. But yeah, lol, did I ever get bitched at in another topic with people complaining about the bats in Dracula XX for SNES & them being cheap. I guess them same people never payed Super Castlevania IV loop two before?

And here is why I'm having such a hard time liking this game. I didn't see any graphics excellence at all for the most part. Save for a few key scenes like when there is a lot of paralax background scrolls and small scenes like where you fight the Mummy boss & the final set of bosses after that.

Now add the fact that playing this game bores me gameplay wise. And it's really not that hard to see why I'm having such a hard time trying to get into this game. I almost feel like completely giving up on this game sometimes from the sheer boredom this game gives me... Sometimes I think that if only I had played this game when it came out right away, instead of the tailend of the SNES' lifespan, that maybe I would of seen some of this game graphical excellence and that I too may of been a fan of this game? Now I feel very sad that this isn't the case and can only wish I had the same nostalgic memories as the Videogame Nerd and many other from this site who list this game as their fave... But as it is, when I first popped in this game I was like "Yikes & No! I wasted my money on a prehistoric, & very well looking it, SNES game. EGM, you lied to me!"



Oh, and exactly, when people say a game has good level design, they almost never mean it from a challenge game design perspective, but from a visual perspective only.

Yeah, this game's massive size really upsets me too since I don't like this game. But the sad thing is that if I did like this game, this game's massive size would of been one of it's best features, and one of the reason why I would of probably rated it as one of my most fave vania games ever... But I don't know, graphics alone aren't always enough I find. I thought SotN looked out of this world graphically back when it first came out (it was my second played and beat vania game), and since then I have yet to replay SotN even once more... But that's just me, as SotN is the other most popular Castlevania game out there... So I guess your right? Most people favour Castlevania games mostly due to graphics alone...

*sigh* Given that I've read quite a bit on your topic, I was able to learn enough about your personality to predict you would reply in such a manner.
I don't want this topic getting derailed, so I'll just reply with "I disagree with most of your points". I don't want to explain why, and I don't want to be asked. I should've kept my mouth shut about SCIV in the first place, so I apologize.

[markyjoe1990]

While you all wait for Block B to be finished, here's some commentary on Block B.

SCIV Eternal Candle Challenge Block B Practice Run with Commentary

[uzo]

... instant death by falling in a pit. It's actually another reason why this game upsets me/bores me.

Boo hoo! The instant death pits upset me! I shall shun all of classic gaming for such a folly mechanic!

And since I never use passwords in my classic vania games, starting this game all over again next time I start is a drag

It's not the game's fault you're too retarded and lazy to write down a password or, even worse, use a save state.

And here is why I'm having such a hard time liking this game. I didn't see any graphics excellence at all for the most part.

Oh! I finally understand. You're blind. Your entire post suddenly makes sense now.

-----------------

Oh and Mark, you had me WTF with the sudden hook riding off the bottom edge of the screen. Well noted and exploited. Very nice work on these last two.

Waiting for the rage that is Slogera.

[markyjoe1990]

Boo hoo! The instant death pits upset me! I shall shun all of classic gaming for such a folly mechanic!

It's not the game's fault you're too retarded and lazy to write down a password or, even worse, use a save state.

Oh! I finally understand. You're blind. Your entire post suddenly makes sense now.

-----------------

Oh and Mark, you had me WTF with the sudden hook riding off the bottom edge of the screen. Well noted and exploited. Very nice work on these last two.

Waiting for the rage that is Slogera.

Please don't encourage Sinful. I'm begging you. I really don't want this thread to be derailed.

Please.

[Sinful]

Please don't encourage Sinful. I'm begging you. I really don't want this thread to be derailed.

Please.

lol, relax, I'll keep your topic clean as spic and spam. (I'll start a separate topic about Super Castlevania IV graphics eventually, just to see if there is at least someone who agrees with me?... as I seem to be the only one?...)

Anywho, off to watch that last video. And wow, didn't think it'd be up already!

[Sinful]

Oh man, I just seen that vid, and I have to say I was blown away! So blown away that I want more vids like this from you from now on, only they don't have to be perfect challenges (plus avoid the secrets so I can watch 'em too). Just you playing a classic vania game and you yapping away while doing as best as you can is good enough for me. Plus I always respect players thoughts on a game much more if they know their games enough to eventually end up above average in them.

Anyways, back on the video;
- it's pretty cool to see you basically playing this game in your sleep while showing off great skill at the same time (basically because you've played these scenes enough time to do it in your sleep, lol).
- you though that bridge has no good purpose besides aesthetics? But it's one of the very few very pleasing to look at scenes in the game. And it set the mood very well too... Plus it's tradition... though yeah, they could have added some gameplay to it, since that's tradition too. >_>
- So you like the way the last stage was designed then? Too bad that if you don't include the bridge, it's a tad short... though not shorter then the first Castlevania as I just found out, and Dracula XX (so I'm glad for games that don't follow this short last level idea).(And since I heard that Simon's Quest last level has no enemies in it, I guess it's too short too?)
- when I read here that you mentioned that you just figured out you could duck under the first bosses attack, I was surprised that you didn't figure this out much earlier, since there seems to be plenty of attacks that could be ducked through in this game... and other classic vania games too...  I don't think I would of beaten this game back in the day if i didn't figure out I could duck under that attack?..
- seemed like the second boss was really stressing you out? But didn't seem like it to me (the inexperienced) that you were having that much trouble and handling everything just fine?...
- you know, I don't think I've ever used that safe spot to beat Death ever? And I recall the very first time I played him back in the day, that I was so clueless as to how I'd ever come up with a tactic to beat him? I think I must of figured out the brandish whip move to have beaten him back then?... Had too...?
- you didn't use the brandish whip move to block Dracula's three fireballs move at the start?... I guess if your timing ain't that close some can slip by, thus it's not as effective? But the jump and hit downward move seem to require pretty good timing too, no?... Or maybe the whip has to be upgraded to the brandish to block out the three fireballs?... And man, you sure love that jump and whip down/down-diagonal move, don't you? As I've seen you do if soo many times in this playthrough, meanwhile, I don't think I've ever done it, lol.
- wow, that fire part of Dracula was the hardest part for me!! Never thought about jumping to hit them much sooner.
- the lighting part I thought was the easiest? Maybe not from a no damage perspective playthrough though?

[markyjoe1990]

lol, relax, I'll keep your topic clean as spic and spam. (I'll start a separate topic about Super Castlevania IV graphics eventually, just to see if there is at least someone who agrees with me?... as I seem to be the only one?...)

Anywho, off to watch that last video. And wow, didn't think it'd be up already!

Block B isn't complete yet. This was just a practice run.

Oh man, I just seen that vid, and I have to say I was blown away! So blown away that I want more vids like this from you from now on, only they don't have to be perfect challenges (plus avoid the secrets so I can watch 'em too). Just you playing a classic vania game and you yapping away while doing as best as you can is good enough for me. Plus I always respect players thoughts on a game much more if they know their games enough to eventually end up above average in them.

Normally I feel my commentary is very good, but in this video... ugh. Not so much.

Anyways, back on the video;
- it's pretty cool to see you basically playing this game in your sleep while showing off great skill at the same time (basically because you've played these scenes enough time to do it in your sleep, lol).

I've made over 50 attempts to beat the level. It's practically muscle memory at this point.

- you though that bridge has no good purpose besides aesthetics? But it's one of the very few very pleasing to look at scenes in the game. And it set the mood very well too... Plus it's tradition... though yeah, they could have added some gameplay to it, since that's tradition too. >_>

I don't like that bridge section. Chronicles managed to make a bridge section that was both really hard and interesting to look at, and Rondo's bridge section was super aciton-packed. This one is just... there.

- So you like the way the last stage was designed then? Too bad that if you don't include the bridge, it's a tad short... though not shorter then the first Castlevania as I just found out, and Dracula XX (so I'm glad for games that don't follow this short last level idea).(And since I heard that Simon's Quest last level has no enemies in it, I guess it's too short too?)

I said a lot of stuff in that video that I didn't intend to say. I don't like the last level much. The only good parts are the falling stairway section and the four-boss endurance section. It's pretty amazing that you have to fight four entirely new bosses in a single level rather than Megaman's lame ass "Fight every single boss you've already beaten before" thing.

- when I read here that you mentioned that you just figured out you could duck under the first bosses attack, I was surprised that you didn't figure this out much earlier, since there seems to be plenty of attacks that could be ducked through in this game... and other classic vania games too...  I don't think I would of beaten this game back in the day if i didn't figure out I could duck under that attack?..

I think the way I worded that boss fight was a bit dodgey. I've always known how to avoid his attack.

- seemed like the second boss was really stressing you out? But didn't seem like it to me (the inexperienced) that you were having that much trouble and handling everything just fine?...

He used to, but then I found a working strategy. Now he's cake.

- you know, I don't think I've ever used that safe spot to beat Death ever? And I recall the very first time I played him back in the day, that I was so clueless as to how I'd ever come up with a tactic to beat him? I think I must of figured out the brandish whip move to have beaten him back then?... Had too...?

I can't remember a time where I didn't use that strategy to be honest. I really hate that Death is so pointless in this game. It's nice that you fight four new bosses in the final stage, but aside from Dracula, they're all designed like crap.

- you didn't use the brandish whip move to block Dracula's three fireballs move at the start?... I guess if your timing ain't that close some can slip by, thus it's not as effective? But the jump and hit downward move seem to require pretty good timing too, no?... Or maybe the whip has to be upgraded to the brandish to block out the three fireballs?... And man, you sure love that jump and whip down/down-diagonal move, don't you? As I've seen you do if soo many times in this playthrough, meanwhile, I don't think I've ever done it, lol.

The whip brandish is unreliable when it comes to block multiple projectiles at once. The whip brandish is almost always detrimental in the context of this challenge run.

And yes, I love doing the diagonal downward whip move. Simon's best poses are in that animation, and it makes the videos look closer.

- wow, that fire part of Dracula was the hardest part for me!! Never thought about jumping to hit them much sooner.

I don't understand why people think the floating fire phase of dracula is hard.

- the lighting part I thought was the easiest? Maybe not from a no damage perspective playthrough though?

You aren't the first one to say the lightning part is the easiest. I guess my reflexes are just horrible.

[Sinful]

I think your commmeting was just fine. ... Maybe because you were probably being yourself, and that's what I most respect.

I don't like that bridge section. Chronicles managed to make a bridge section that was both really hard and interesting to look at, and Rondo's bridge section was super aciton-packed. This one is just... there.

Haven't seen the Chronicles one yet. But yeah, now that you mention the Rondo bridge, I can really see why you hate SCIV bridge. Rondo's bridge I praised already in another topic for being really greatly designed (toss in some of that random Castlevania stuff tradition that's been around since the first game, and it's too awesome).

[Thomas Belmont]

lol, relax, I'll keep your topic clean as spic and spam. (I'll start a separate topic about Super Castlevania IV graphics eventually, just to see if there is at least someone who agrees with me?... as I seem to be the only one?...)

*Spoiler Alert*

  We Don't.

[Fofa]

I've made over 50 attempts to beat the level. It's practically muscle memory at this point.

50? That's a lot.

[Sinful]

50? That's a lot.

Don't ever plan on taking the challenge of doing speed runs then.

[markyjoe1990]

I apologize if this counts as a necropost, but uh...

Super Castlevania IV: Hard Mode, No-Damage, Eternal Candle Challenge [Block B]

I finally did it. The challenge is complete. After months of attempts and caving in and giving myself some leeway, I finally pulled it off. I never want to play Super Castlevania IV again.

I'd like to thank all of you for your support and for sending me music to use in the videos. This challenge was really god damn hard, but I'm glad I at least got some satisfaction from it.

I know I'm gonna hate myself for this, but I do plan to do more Castlevania challenges in the future, including another Eternal Candle Challenge, maybe. I have my sights particularly set on Rondo of Blood and Castlevania Chronicles, since those two are among my favorites.

[uzo]

Good show. Perfect Halloween video.