Super Castlevania IV

[Coltrane]

Now this is classic platforming.

Everything about this title oozes smooth, SNES brilliance. Clever level design, nice rotating effects and an even difficulty curve. Oh the joys of XBox emulation..

I have fond memories of this game. First time I played it was in 1994 when I lived in a house with about 7 other people. To be honest I wasn't too bothered about gaming around this time. I'd just left Uni, on the dole and in debt, I'd been forced to sell my A1200 to scrape some money together to simply survive. Gaming was a distraction I just didn't need..

But it doesn't always work out that way does it? Whether you need it or not, things have a way of sucking you in. Gaming has been a welcome distraction at difficult times in my life and so it proved with this title and the SNES in general around that period. Having had some great fun with 'Mario Kart' multiplayer, communal interest in the SNES waned when we traded that title in for SCIV. Their loss was my gain though as I sat on it solidly for 2 weeks or so until, having finally completed it, I thought it was about time I went out and seriously looked for a job.

After all, you had to consider priorities in life. Without a job, I couldn't buy any more SNES games.

[bigfoot]

The graphics was very 8bit to start with until about half way through the game, then it was pretty awesome! I thought the music was sublime, SNES at its best.

[Coltrane]

The graphics was very 8bit to start with until about half way through the game, then it was pretty awesome! I thought the music was sublime, SNES at its best.

I know what you mean about the graphics. The later levels seemed more vivid and impressive.

The music was indeed great, as were countless other games on the SNES due to it's fantastic audio capabilities.

[Qazimod]

One of the hardest games I've completed, but such fun. Slick presentation and enjoyable gameplay, and it maintains the character of the NES games well (though perhaps not number 2 )

[eves pudding]

I remember the review in ACE was quite critical of the game - it only got an average review. They also said the graphics were very basic, and it is suprising how basic in the early levels they were (perhaps it was originally designed for the NES?)

But as as been said the later levels are brilliant, and the music! Such music!

[Floppy]

I remember the review in ACE was quite critical of the game - it only got an average review. They also said the graphics were very basic, and it is suprising how basic in the early levels they were (perhaps it was originally designed for the NES?)

Dunno, but it was a very early SFC game. I think it was Konami's first for the machine even. Come to think of it, Final Fantasy IV (US: FFII) had very rudimentary graphics, and that was concieved as a Famicom game, as legend has it. I doubt it though.

Err, anyway, officially Castlevania IV is meant to be a remake of the first game, think Gamecube ResiEvil. The 'IV' suffix was just added for western markets.

[Garwoofoo]

I just thought I'd indulge in a little thread necromancy to say how much I'm enjoying this title thanks to the Wii's Virtual Console. Having only played Dawn of Sorrow in this series before (and being slightly underwhelmed by that), I was a bit unsure about spending the points but it's well worth it.

Yes, it's hard as bastard nails and I'm not quite sure why because it's actually very slow-paced. And it has some slightly dubious design decisions (my favourite being falling off a screen right next to a staircase - like missing it by an inch - and the game registering a death even though you know damn well there's a stair about a millimetre under where you fell off). And the main character walks like he's constipated. But it's brilliant, compulsive stuff... and the Wii's save states mean you don't have to dick around with the password system, which is great.

Currently on level 6 and it's starting to get hard. But I've seen the rotating tunnel and the swinging chandeliers, great moments both. And I the music.

[Klatrymadon]

Bah, missed this thread the first time 'round! CV4 is easily my favourite game in the series, and a serious contender for my all-time top 3 wotsit.

Rather than waffling here, though, I might as well just point you to a toe-curlingly embarassing, twatty, self-parodying thread I started for it a while ago.

[Super Craig]

It's my favourite CV as well. I wish Konami would move back to this style of game as I'm fed up with the Metroidvanias.

[Klatrymadon]

Dracula's Curse/Akumajou Densetsu is probably a close second (sorry, SotN)! If they did another linear one, one improvement they'd definitely have to make over CV4 is to bring back branching levels.

[spanky debrest]

It's my favourite CV as well. I wish Konami would move back to this style of game as I'm fed up with the Metroidvanias.

Yeah, me too.

The whole Metroidvania thing is creativily bankrupt now.

[Sekiro]

I remember the build up to the final level was just amazing - the music and action on the last few levels was just spot on.

I loved the way you would get so far on the first map and just as you thought you were getting close to the castle you would enter the castle grounds proper....

[Lorfarius]

Whats the difference between IV and the Metroidvanias? I always thought it was the same?

[DLNY]

I remember the build up to the final level was just amazing - the music and action on the last few levels was just spot on.

And just before the final confrontation - after you've defeated the penultimate boss and everything goes silent until you ascend to the top of the stairs. And. . and. . and a special nod to the chandeliers!

I love this game - one of my all-time favourites. Difficulty was always pitched right, I don't think I had any real trouble except with the dungeon the spiders drop down from later on in the game.

[Super Craig]

Whats the difference between IV and the Metroidvanias? I always thought it was the same?

In SC4 there are levels instead of a big castle.

[Soma]

I remember the review in ACE was quite critical of the game - it only got an average review. They also said the graphics were very basic, and it is suprising how basic in the early levels they were (perhaps it was originally designed for the NES?)

But as as been said the later levels are brilliant, and the music! Such music!

I remember the ACE review too, they really got it wide of the mark. I recently revisited this after being too poor to purchase the Virtual Console version, thankfully a quick dust off of my Parma Violet machine, sorry, American SNES and i was away. Finished it too, quite a lot harder than i remember as a kid. I'm impressed i managed it back then, although this time around i managed to complete it without the "helping hand" before Dracula.

Oh and i still feel uncomfortable whipping the old man's dog in the hidden bonus room around half way through.

[robdood]

The thing is, I've always felt that the Metroidvainia's castles don't feel quite as EPIC as the one in CV4... From the drawbridge to the caves to the front garden into the main mansion area, aaaah... The treasure room, libraray and the laboratory type bit (with Frankensteins Monster boss ) are so full of character, and feel so much more coherent as a place in comparison to all the other games in the series.

There are two things I pray for: A 'linear' platformy, almosy 'homage' of CV4, with branching/multiple routes.

OR!

A proper Metroidvania with PROPERLY different areas; using similar themes as in CV4 to make a massive map, similar in size/variety as Super Metroid. I know the Metroidvanias do have these 'themes' but the areas feel too small to me, or something.

God, CV4 and Super Metroid. EEeeeeee I love everyone in this thread btw

[Klatrymadon]

One thing that pisses me off in the new games, as someone who probably needs to get out a bit more (), is that Slogra and Gaibon have been reduced to grunts.

I can't even begin to describe how much Slogra put the shitters up me as a kid!

Here's the Dracula Battle tune, so's we can make this a proper love-in.

This is literally one of my favourite pieces of music ever. I could listen to it every day and it would still make me feel all tingly and giddy [Oh, have a wank - Ed].

I had a girl at university listening to it a while back. She did that thing cheeky little boys do, where they stick out their tongue to show you the food they've just chewed. I'm not sure if this says more about my taste in music or her.

[Super Craig]

I prefer the Room of Close Associates music myself.

[Klatrymadon]

Yeah, good call.

Room of Close Associates is brilliant, too. No doubt played a role in my finding Slogra mind-bendingly freakish to behold.

Of course, the explanations that he's just a "dinosaur" or "bird-man" all over the internet rob him of this impact now!

Forest of Monsters

Clockwork Mansion

[Gique]

still one of my all time favourite video games ever.. and a truly amazing soundtrack...

and a treasure (well, it's the konami staff that quit to form treasure) production at that..

no idea what happened with the gfx on that game, they're nowhere near NES level (4 colours per 8x8 pixels character square) , they're just genuinely shoddily drawn in places...

[Klatrymadon]

What parts do you mean, mate? I hear this fairly often but I've never noticed any shitty-looking bits, to be honest. The whole game is deliberately drawn in a downbeat and hairy-arsed style, mind you...

[Gique]

What parts do you mean, mate? I hear this fairly often but I've never noticed any shitty-looking bits, to be honest. The whole game is deliberately drawn in a downbeat and hairy-arsed style, mind you...

there's some really, really bad tile usage going on in places and the colour scheme is horrendous, granted this was one of konami's first snes games (if not THE first) , and belmont's animation is well dodgy!

[Tommy Creo]

huh?

CV4 is wonderfully undead graphically.

Much better than the well drawn bollocks we get today.