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

[markyjoe1990]

I find it's the opposite for me. Gaibon is relatively easy and I can pretty much kill him without receiving damage. However Slogra is a much different story... He's fast and powerful. His method of attacking you can easily catch you off-guard if you, yourself are not quick. Death I can kill with little or no problems as I just stick to the far left corner of the screen. I will get the occasional cycle stuck up my @$$, but his scythe is ultimately useless.

It's kind of ironic too since Gaibon used to be really easy for me, but now I don't have the extra whip range to reach him when he's at his highest. This, combined with the whip's lesser power means I have to deal with more occurrences of Gaibon's earthquake move, which heightens the risk of me being hit by falling debris, which can be very difficult to avoid depending on where they spawn and at what densities. This is made worse by the whip's unreliable hit detection towards multiple targets condensed together.

[Flame]

Yknow what this thread has made me think,

someone should do a playthrough of LoS and replace the music with other Castlevania musical themes. That would be awesome.

unfortunately though, Capturing 360/PS3 footage is a bit trickier than using an emulator and recording.

[Chernabogue]

Yknow what this thread has made me think,

someone should do a playthrough of LoS and replace the music with other Castlevania musical themes. That would be awesome.

unfortunately though, Capturing 360/PS3 footage is a bit trickier than using an emulator and recording.

You know, that'd be awesome!

[markyjoe1990]

BAM

Super Castlevania IV: Hard Mode, No-Damage, Eternal Candle Challenge [Block 9]

Block 9 is up.

[Vampire Killer]

Thanks once again, these vids are a joy to watch. I remember back in the day, the very first time I saw stage 9 my jaw practically hit the floor.

Really nice job not hitting any candles on this one, looked to be the most difficult thus far in that respect. Also, VERY nice job avoiding the bosses shrapnel.

Keep'em coming! The mummy is sadly easy, but really looking forward to watching you ace block 10.

[Sinful]

Alright, this video is finally up!! Been waiting forever (but alas, if things go too fast then it'll be all over )... first a quick quote and reply, then off to see the vid.

Thanks once again, these vids are a joy to watch. I remember back in the day, the very first time I saw stage 9 my jaw practically hit the floor.

Yeah, this is the very first level in this game that I really enjoyed the look of a lot too and sadly the last level and only level in this whole game too.

[X]

I too, though the Treasury was an awesome and unique stage. The had it in Harmony of Dissonance but in no way could it ever live up to the epicness of the SCV IV version.

[markyjoe1990]

BAM

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

Bloody Tears, anyone?

One more level to go...

[Flame]

The best thing to come out of Judgement was really the music.

Especially Bloody Tears and Beginning

[markyjoe1990]

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.

EDIT: Beat Slogra THREE TIMES IN A ROW, only for Gaibon or Dracula to screw me up. I'm so close. SO CLOSE.

EDIT 2: Dracula's tiny orbs are the biggest obstacle at this point. If I can conquer those, the day is won.

[Sinful]

Another cool vid, markyjoe1990. And for a sec on it I though you were gonna commit suicide, because from what I remember, it wasn't possible to go that low below a screen. I was like, What the heck is doing?! ... So yeah, who would of thunk that?

Also, loved the frame finish to the video. Never seen that one before. Simon face and with his hair looked very different in that frame.

I loved how you opened the video with only the sounds of the gears in the background. And then only the sounds of the wind during the pre-boss scene (I take it this was added in for the wind sound FX? Or do you mean to tell me it's in the actual game?). So yeah, great stuff. As sometimes it's the little details that matter most or much too.



For your next Block vid, if you end up having too much trouble, maybe you should take breaks more often? I say if it's driving you too nuts, maybe it'd be best walk away from it for a bit?... As long as you get it done eventually is all that matters to me. And there is no point in pleasing everybody by rushing it and giving yourself extra grief... But then again, this may be all that's on your mind and you won't be able to rest until it's done or something too?... Hey, isn't it driving you nuts doing levels entirely over so many times?!... And do you ever plan on paying Super Castlevania 4 after this ever again? (I know when I come dangerously close to mastering a game my interest in it may take a massive nose dive)


... Hey, I thought you mentioned you preferred or much more preferred Castlevania XX for SNES over this one? Can I then quickly ask you how you rank the other classic style vania games from your least fave to most fave? (Since I much more prefer XX over SCIV too... in a ton of categories too >_>;; ) And what's next from you in the classic vania series?

[Fofa]

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.

Ouch. Nothing like being absent-minded to bruise the ego.

[markyjoe1990]

Another cool vid, markyjoe1990. And for a sec on it I though you were gonna commit suicide, because from what I remember, it wasn't possible to go that low below a screen. I was like, What the heck is doing?! ... So yeah, who would of thunk that?

I should have down-whipped the hook thing. That would have made it even cooler.

I loved how you opened the video with only the sounds of the gears in the background. And then only the sounds of the wind during the pre-boss scene (I take it this was added in for the wind sound FX? Or do you mean to tell me it's in the actual game?). So yeah, great stuff. As sometimes it's the little details that matter most or much too.

I added in those sounds. And thanks.

For your next Block vid, if you end up having too much trouble, maybe you should take breaks more often? I say if it's driving you too nuts, maybe it'd be best walk away from it for a bit?... As long as you get it done eventually is all that matters to me. And there is no point in pleasing everybody by rushing it and giving yourself extra grief... But then again, this may be all that's on your mind and you won't be able to rest until it's done or something too?... Hey, isn't it driving you nuts doing levels entirely over so many times?!... And do you ever plan on paying Super Castlevania 4 after this ever again? (I know when I come dangerously close to mastering a game my interest in it may take a massive nose dive)

I'll figure something out. I don't know if I'll ever play super castlevania IV again, but eh. I might. It's not a horrible game by any means, I just find it sloppy.

... Hey, I thought you mentioned you preferred or much more preferred Castlevania XX for SNES over this one? Can I then quickly ask you how you rank the other classic style vania games from your least fave to most fave? (Since I much more prefer XX over SCIV too... in a ton of categories too >_>; And what's next from you in the classic vania series?

Actually I changed my mind. While I do appreciate that Dracula XX is more difficult than Super Castlevania IV, it's... not very fun.

I don't think I can make a list for the entire series, but my top 5 castlevanias are as follows:

1. Rondo of Blood
2. Castlevania X86000
3. Castlevania III
4. Bloodlines
5. Rebirth

What Castlevania do I plan to do a challenge run of next? I might have people vote, but if not, Rondo of Blood.

[Sinful]

What Castlevania do I plan to do a challenge run of next? I might have people vote, but if not, Rondo of Blood.

Though I actually just realized that I shouldn't watch anymore playthroughs since I consider these high skill playthroughs to take a big chunk out of the fun of figuring out a game I really like myself for quite a bit longer (remember, I just started with this series, still lots to learn on my own + I notice you go and reveal secrets too)... Super Castlevania is probably my least fave classic vania game? (Legends don't count ) My love/hate for SCIV is all over the place, but lately I've been more bored with it then ever (and I'd really like to love it! As there ain't that many classic vania games ). So I didn't mind it getting ruined a bit more by watching someone show me how to play more expertly through it, lol (though it's not like I have a super memory either, so not that much damage ).

[markyjoe1990]

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.

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.

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.

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.