Topic: Opinions on Dracula's Curse difficulty level

[Belmont legacy]

Man oh man where do I even begin with this? Well. I'll start with when I beat Castlevania Nes I felt like one heck of a gamer beating this pretty freakin' difficult game. I had beaten simon's quest before this one (who hasn't?) so I thought "surely I can beat Castlevania 3. Oh... OHHHH..... Dear God. This. Game. Is. HARD. I mean like RIDICULOUSLY hard! Now don't get me wrong. Difficulty is usually not that huge of an issue for me because I am a pretty persistent gamer (I'm an avid fan of dark souls  ) But something about this game is just stupid hard. Now, i'm not saying the game is bad in any way for being difficult, I just think that it would be more enjoyable if we got a little bit of some slack here. I feel that this is Castlevania 1 on steroids with razor edge gameplay that will cut casual AND pro gamers to shreds if not played correctly and carefully. My 2 team members I usually go with are Trevor (obviously) and Sypha. Sypha because of that sweet, sweet ice spell she can cast. However thats not even enough to even to to Dracula. I haven't played this game mind you in about 2 maybe 3 years (I turned 23 two days ago) so its hard to remember last time I did play. I don't have any way of playing it either seeing as my NES is missing cords and  controller from moving out to a friends house then back to my parents but what are your guy's opinions on this game? Too hard? Not hard enough? Or just right?

[piscesdreams]

It is definitely the hardest of the NES trilogy. Partially for me, due to how much longer the stages are and having to survive them. Then it's the new enemy patterns and mechanics, sometimes even the level design.

[PFG9000]

I don't think it's that brutally hard.  I have a tougher time with the original Castlevania (well, at least the last two stages of CV), with Dracula X SNES, and with Rebirth, than with Castlevania III.  Oh, and the MSX Vampire Killer....that one is ridiculously hard.

It's certainly no walk in the park.  Compared to all other games it's probaby in the top 5% in terms of challenge.  But I don't think it's the hardest Castlevania.

[Super Waffle]

I thought it was annoying even with save states.

[piscesdreams]

I thought it was annoying even with save states.

I'm just curious, what was it that annoyed you? There were parts that annoyed the shit out of me too, like the Cliffside blocks area.

[Belmont legacy]

What I think was pretty annoying was in the clock tower, you're trying to jump from gear to ledge but you can't control yourself in the air so almost everytime you're gonna go toppling down to your death. That and the stairs. The stairs are complete bull. I mean you can't do a damn thing when on them and there's the one level where you're trying to dodge fireballs while climbing stairs. That is a bit of overkill in enemy placement in my opinion. And 3 bosses in one fight? are you serious man? A tad too much.

[X]

Oh, hoh man! nice topic you picked. first SCV4 and now this    You must be on a roll or something. CVIII's difficulty was definitely pushing it for me when I first played it. But after i first finished it it was as if a weight had been taken off my shoulders. Since then I've been trying to keep practicing so as not to lose the touch. I generally take Sypha along for the ride and not just because of her ice spell either. Her lighting spell (though it doesn't function as one) is very handy given certain instances in the game. Especially during the Doppelganger fight it's very handy and a lifesaver. I've also gotten good at it to the point I was able to finish it with all companions and even going solo. If you want a tip for defeating Dracula's final third form then make sure you have the Axe, lots of hearts and if possible, the tripleshot icon. This way you can hit him without having to ride his platforms of doom. Sypha's lighting spell works to some extent but the orbs do like to take their time getting around to hitting his face.

[Belmont legacy]

Oh, hoh man! nice topic you picked. first SCV4 and now this    You must be on a roll or something. CVIII's difficulty was definitely pushing it for me when I first played it. But after i first finished it it was as if a weight had been taken off my shoulders. Since then I've been trying to keep practicing so as not to lose the touch. I generally take Sypha along for the ride and not just because of her ice spell either. Her lighting spell (though it doesn't function as one) is very handy given certain instances in the game. Especially during the Doppelganger fight it's very handy and a lifesaver. I've also gotten good at it to the point I was able to finish it with all companions and even going solo. If you want a tip for defeating Dracula's final third form then make sure you have the Axe, lots of hearts and if possible, the tripleshot icon. This way you can hit him without having to ride his platforms of doom. Sypha's lighting spell works to some extent but the orbs do like to take their time getting around to hitting his face.

It's truly epic that you beat this game. I get creamed everytime I even attempt to beat this. lol! I can't even get to the Frankenstein's monster. hahaha

[Crying Freeman]

Man oh man where do I even begin with this? Well. I'll start with when I beat Castlevania Nes I felt like one heck of a gamer beating this pretty freakin' difficult game. I had beaten simon's quest before this one (who hasn't?) so I thought "surely I can beat Castlevania 3. Oh... OHHHH..... Dear God. This. Game. Is. HARD. I mean like RIDICULOUSLY hard! Now don't get me wrong. Difficulty is usually not that huge of an issue for me because I am a pretty persistent gamer (I'm an avid fan of dark souls  ) But something about this game is just stupid hard. Now, i'm not saying the game is bad in any way for being difficult, I just think that it would be more enjoyable if we got a little bit of some slack here. I feel that this is Castlevania 1 on steroids with razor edge gameplay that will cut casual AND pro gamers to shreds if not played correctly and carefully. My 2 team members I usually go with are Trevor (obviously) and Sypha. Sypha because of that sweet, sweet ice spell she can cast. However thats not even enough to even to to Dracula. I haven't played this game mind you in about 2 maybe 3 years (I turned 23 two days ago) so its hard to remember last time I did play. I don't have any way of playing it either seeing as my NES is missing cords and  controller from moving out to a friends house then back to my parents but what are your guy's opinions on this game? Too hard? Not hard enough? Or just right?

I'm the same way, man! I like hard games (hell I beat Ninja Gaiden 1 NES) but when a game is as hard as CV3, I usually forget about it. What I do is I play the Famicom version. It's WAY easier and has a special chip for better sound and music (and trust me, the Famicom ost is AMAZING). Grant also thros knifes as his main weapon instead of the puny dagger.

Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic game, but I prefer the Famicom version due to the difficulty and audio. Whats better is that if you want a harder game, the Famicom version still has higher difficulty levels, making it even better since you have a choice of easy or hard.

[JR]

Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic game, but I prefer the Famicom version due to the difficulty and audio.

Same here. The US version was hard, but not near-impossible like, say, Ghosts 'N Goblins (which I still can't even beat once). But I still prefer the Famicom version. The music is better, and it's a much easier game to get through if you just want to go back and experience the game again.

I heard somewhere that the Virtual Console version of CVIII was actually a tad bit harder than the original US release (because of the longer laser beams from Dracula's final form, if I remember correctly). But I'm not sure how valid that is.

[zangetsu468]

I've given the US version a try before and legitimately made it to Dracula. It's just where they start you from in that final stage that's really painful without having your weapon of choice and double/triple shot.

I must confess I spammed Alucard bat to clear a lot of levels.

[Crying Freeman]

Same here. The US version was hard, but not near-impossible like, say, Ghosts 'N Goblins (which I still can't even beat once). But I still prefer the Famicom version. The music is better, and it's a much easier game to get through if you just want to go back and experience the game again.

I heard somewhere that the Virtual Console version of CVIII was actually a tad bit harder than the original US release (because of the longer laser beams from Dracula's final form, if I remember correctly). But I'm not sure how valid that is.

Oh my god, Ghosts n Goblins isn't even hard, its just plain cheap and unfair  I don't blame anyone who can't beat it. True, CVIII isn't near as hard as that game, but I guess it boils down to the fact that I haven't played CVIII nearly as much as a kid and through my teens. Same with Bloodlines, I'm just not as used to it as I am CVI, II, IV, and Dracula X, or even the FC version of III. I'm sure the same goes for everyone with certain games too. I can't get past the aqueduct in III, but beat it with just Trevor(or Ralph lol) in the FC release.

And if that harder Dracula on the VC release is true... Common  as if I wasn't good enough already.

[zombi]

I beat SCIV, then the original, then III (and then II and Chronicles after) all within the year.

Definitely the hardest game that I've ever beaten. I felt that I had to master each level to progress, but I felt so accomplished after I did it!

Keep at it man! You'll get there!

[Reinhart77]

I have yet to beat Dracula's Curse without the use of the Help Me code.  It really helped.

[zangetsu468]

I wouldn't say it's the hardest game I've ever encountered. But say for example those stages where all the blocks fall down the stage, if you play as anyone but Alucard and use bat form to ascend, how is one supposed to beat stages like this? I guess ideally without a walkthrough you'd need trial and error for all of the levels.