Topic: I think I may have a problem with Castlevania 4

[Belmont legacy]

So recently I got a request to go and beat Castlevania 4 from one of my good friends and stepping back into that game was like stepping back into my own little happy place where VERY few games do that for me. (mostly Castlevania, Mario, Metroid, and Zelda games do this) Immediately I was welcomed by the fog on Dracula's grave and with whip in hand, everything came oh so familiar again. It was like it was destiny once again to vanquish evil and claim the Belmont name once again as my very own. Swinging through 10 levels of pure madness I had once again made it to the dark lord once again and vanquished him with the legendary vampire killer. Then it happened... I wanted more. I played it again. Then again and again and again. I simply CAN NOT get enough of this game!!! Now don't get me wrong. I am a huge fan of other games in the series and would love to go back and beat some i have yet to like harmony of dissonance, and aria of sorrow (without a walkthrough this time though) but man oh man this game is just amazing! I've been rocking a seriously fantastic game you might know as super metroid recently seeing as it's my first time running through it (yes no walkthroughs... well okay maybe once.) and trust me. This is one of the all time best video games I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing but its like I can feel myself slowly being drawn back to C4... So as stated as the topic, I think I have a problem with Castlevania 4.

[piscesdreams]

I misunderstood the name of this thread and was readying my torches and pitchforks.

I'm the exact same way. I don't know if it's nostalgia, good game design or both, but SCIV never gets old. I can only hope one day Konami gets their shit together and does an HD remake of this game.

[zangetsu468]

I can only hope one day Konami gets their shit together and does an HD remake of this game.

This. Although it's not my favourite of the series and I prefer Chronicles as a re-telling of CV1, SuperCVIV is one of the most unique entries that can not be sneezed at.

I also would like a proper sequel to Simon's Quest based on SCIV (the same engine) with the same gameplay and 8-directional whipping system to boot.

[piscesdreams]

I also would like a proper sequel to Simon's Quest based on SCIV (the same engine) with the same gameplay and 8-directional whipping system to boot.

I've never really considered a sequel to Simon's Quest. That would actually be very neat to see happen.

[Belmont legacy]

I misunderstood the name of this thread and was readying my torches and pitchforks.

I'm the exact same way. I don't know if it's nostalgia, good game design or both, but SCIV never gets old. I can only hope one day Konami gets their shit together and does an HD remake of this game.

I knew that was coming with whole "Wait. What's wrong with SCIV?!" lol! Yeah I mean i dont know if its because I have such good memories with this game or the design or both (probably both) and dont get me wrong i like the metroidvania style games but no other game in the series has felt as well done, polished, and flawless as this one.

[Belmont legacy]

This. Although it's not my favourite of the series and I prefer Chronicles as a re-telling of CV1, SuperCVIV is one of the most unique entries that can not be sneezed at.

I also would like a proper sequel to Simon's Quest based on SCIV (the same engine) with the same gameplay and 8-directional whipping system to boot.

Now that would be pretty epic. I mean I believe simon's quest gets a lot of flak but it's really not THAT bad. I would love to see that happen though. Like a throwback. that'd be pretty bad ass. However I don't really consider SCIV as a retelling as much as I do a sequel to simon's quest. It could be seen either way I think though.

[piscesdreams]

I have to agree. SCIV is to me, the essential Castlevania period, and especially the classic style games. It's not for everyone, and that's fine. I like the metroidvanias too, but SCIV hit the nail on the head for the atmosphere I think this series needs again.

[zangetsu468]

Now that would be pretty epic. I mean I believe simon's quest gets a lot of flak but it's really not THAT bad. I would love to see that happen though. Like a throwback. that'd be pretty bad ass. However I don't really consider SCIV as a retelling as much as I do a sequel to simon's quest. It could be seen either way I think though.

Guys sorry I meant to say "remake" of Simon's Quest, not sequel :-/ I had a brain fart writing that previous post. Though an official sequel done like SQ would be epic.

Deep down I also see SCIV as more of a sequel to SQ rather than a re telling. For starters it's so far removed from CV1 and Drac's form/final form seems underpowered to me. I therefore don't believe it's necessarily a centennial resurrection. How did Drac return? The same way Ganon did in LOZ i.e. Because reasons :p

I realise the English versions of the game do allude to SCIV being a re telling though, so I'm not downplaying peoples' beliefs on this. For me personally, Chronicles' design is much closer (nearly identical) to CV1, so  I believe SCIV either the same Simon fighting Dracula for the third time or it happens in the parallel timeline of Legends and LOD. 

[X]

So DarkYoshiMonster. You have an addiction eh?    Can't seem to scratch that SCV4 ich no-matter how much you play it? Yep, Super Castlevania IV severely pushed the envelop of the classic CV style that has never been topped since. Bloodlines came close but the Genesis system held it back a bit in some areas. SCV4's music, atmosphere, game play, sounds, etc. still hold up today as they did back in the day. I still have an addiction to that game-...or is it an obsession..? Either way it's all good shit to me  I very much see SCV4 as a sequel to CV II rather then a re-telling or re-imagining. Especially in the prologue scene showing Dracula's grave (which looks identical to the one in CV II. That and both Slogra and Gaibon were first introduced in SCV4, and have been showing up in other games since. And the whole scene of fighting Slogra, then Gaibon, and finally Death before you face Dracula was epic in its own right. I've still yet to see such a gauntlet like that happen again in CV.

[zangetsu468]

I very much see SCV4 as a sequel to CV II rather then a re-telling or re-imagining. Especially in the prologue scene showing Dracula's grave (which looks identical to the one in CV II.

The mention below of Dracula's grave coupled with 'his hand' in the good CVII ending isn't coincidence to me. Simon had already fought Dracula twice prior to SCIV so no wonder his whip skills were so godlike. (8 directions)

[X]

That and he survived the fatal curse, so yeah he's the man of men!

[Belmont legacy]

I have to agree. SCIV is to me, the essential Castlevania period, and especially the classic style games. It's not for everyone, and that's fine. I like the metroidvanias too, but SCIV hit the nail on the head for the atmosphere I think this series needs again.

Exactly. It did everything right I feel. I mean the atmosphere, the difficulty, the controls and mechanics, the graphics, the level layouts, the music, (especially) just everything was perfect in the game.

[Belmont legacy]

So DarkYoshiMonster. You have an addiction eh?    Can't seem to scratch that SCV4 ich no-matter how much you play it? Yep, Super Castlevania IV severely pushed the envelop of the classic CV style that has never been topped since. Bloodlines came close but the Genesis system held it back a bit in some areas. SCV4's music, atmosphere, game play, sounds, etc. still hold up today as they did back in the day. I still have an addiction to that game-...or is it an obsession..? Either way it's all good shit to me  I very much see SCV4 as a sequel to CV II rather then a re-telling or re-imagining. Especially in the prologue scene showing Dracula's grave (which looks identical to the one in CV II. That and both Slogra and Gaibon were first introduced in SCV4, and have been showing up in other games since. And the whole scene of fighting Slogra, then Gaibon, and finally Death before you face Dracula was epic in its own right. I've still yet to see such a gauntlet like that happen again in CV.

You've hit the nail in the head, basically. Just everything about this game is perfect. I mean it just OWNS in so many ways. What is really impressive is seeing a game from so long ago being 100 times better than any modern game even with all of the technology they have. Oh man that gauntlet was amazing. I remember getting so pissed trying to beat slogra and after I was super proud of myself then onto Gaibon whom I think they should've made a little harder seeing as he's some demonic entity but either way it kicked ass. And death...oh death. I actaully enjoyed this fight with death unlike in CV1 and 2. Dracula was a very good and challenging boss too. This game was just the perfect Castlevania game and remains it in my eyes.

[Belmont legacy]

The mention below of Dracula's grave coupled with 'his hand' in the good CVII ending isn't coincidence to me. Simon had already fought Dracula twice prior to SCIV so no wonder his whip skills were so godlike. (8 directions)

Personally I thought that this game was also just a remake for the longest time and I can see how anyone would think that but then again X does put some good points in with the whole grave opening and it being relevant to CV2. I think I heard somewhere that in japan this was supposed to be a sequel and in america its considered a remake so either way.

[Shinobi]

I very much see SCV4 as a sequel to CV II rather then a re-telling or re-imagining. Especially in the prologue scene showing Dracula's grave (hich looks identical to the one in CV II.

IMO, that gravestone is pretty much since the day he died before he turns himself into a vampire rather than it was only made right after Simon defeated him for the second time in Simon's Quest. Also note the gravestone between SCV4 and Simon's Quest was in different location, more likely Dracula's remains or his tombstone was relocated or transferred from cemetery as seen in SCV4 to the middle of the landscape in Simon's Quest.