CASTLEVANIA MARATHON- 6/22
The original was better.
Super Castlevania IV is technically very impressive- the soundtrack is still great, the graphics fit beautifully into that classic horror movie feel the first few Castlevania games had before they settled into the gothic horror aesthetic, and the implementation of the SHVC chip allows for a few displays of computing power (the golem that shrinks upon being hit, the bat made of solid gold and the rotating room come to mind).
Still, although it has its strengths, SC4 feels kinda toothless in comparison to the original and Dracula's Curse. The game is much easier than the original trilogy, ranging from easier level design, much easier bosses and above all the addition of swinging the whip in eight directions, which removes a lot of the nuance in combat that the original had. Subweapons were originally meant to cover the blind spots in Simon's whip, but being able to hit in any direction makes combat more mindless than I would like.
Despite my complaints, the game is still good. Fighting Dracula only to have his battle theme fade and Simon's theme kick in when the second phase begins is one of my favourite moments in the series, and watching him disintegrate into a pile of burning bats in the sunlight is very fucking cool.
Next- Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Previous- Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
The original was better.
Super Castlevania IV is technically very impressive- the soundtrack is still great, the graphics fit beautifully into that classic horror movie feel the first few Castlevania games had before they settled into the gothic horror aesthetic, and the implementation of the SHVC chip allows for a few displays of computing power (the golem that shrinks upon being hit, the bat made of solid gold and the rotating room come to mind).
Still, although it has its strengths, SC4 feels kinda toothless in comparison to the original and Dracula's Curse. The game is much easier than the original trilogy, ranging from easier level design, much easier bosses and above all the addition of swinging the whip in eight directions, which removes a lot of the nuance in combat that the original had. Subweapons were originally meant to cover the blind spots in Simon's whip, but being able to hit in any direction makes combat more mindless than I would like.
Despite my complaints, the game is still good. Fighting Dracula only to have his battle theme fade and Simon's theme kick in when the second phase begins is one of my favourite moments in the series, and watching him disintegrate into a pile of burning bats in the sunlight is very fucking cool.
Next- Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Previous- Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
Reviewed on May 28, 2023