Super Castlevania IV (SNES) Vs. Castlevania Bloodlines (Genesis)

Heres something a wee bit different; two games from the same series, but on rival consoles.

Both games are surefire gems, but I think i might go with Super Castlevania IV. I adore its use of mood, hauntingly beautiful score, grueling difficulty, superb levels, thrilling boss encounters, and amazing presentation.

Which do you prefer, or do you like both equally?

edited 9th May '12 12:52:13 PM by Prinzenick

What a freaky coincidence, I just got done beating both...

I give the nod to Bloodlines personally. Both are excellent games, but what it came down to is that Super CV IV felt drawn out. It was too long, and not enough variety in the level design to make it worth it—after awhile I thought I kept seeing the same routes and patterns again and again.

By contrast, Bloodlines only has six levels but they each have a unique feel to them and present new and interesting challenges. I also find the bosses have a lot more character and stand out more, versus the kind of generic and forgettable CV IV bosses.

Although, I'm sure both would pale in comparison to Rondo of Blood if I could ever get my hands on that...

Copies of Dracula X Chronicles should be fairly cheap at this point, Moe. I'd endorse it. It's a fun game. And it comes with Symphony of the Night.

Don't forget that Rondo of Blood is also available on the Virtual Console too. That's how I have my version.

Rondo? Or Super Castlevania X?

The distinction is important.

I think both, but I have Rondo.

(Although, I'm sure both would pale in comparison to Rondo of Blood if I could ever get my hands on that...)

Dracula X: Rondo of Blood (the PC Engine version, not the butchered SNES port) is great, and it alone makes Dracula X Chronicles for PSP a must have (having SOTN on it only made it a must have even more). Its a great game, but I would put it somewhere between SCIV and Bloodlines, mainly because, in spite of its inspired design and fantastic presentation, its just way too hard for its own good.

I'm going with Bloodlines as well. While SCIV is still one of the gems of the SNES, with an excellent track and the finest control scheme of almost any platform Castlevania I've played (How come no other game lets me whip in all eight directions?), I do agree Bloodlines is funner, with the six levels being very different from each other, the bosses more unique and inventive, and the music, though not as high quality, much catchier. So yeah, Bloodlines.

Just a question, what's so wrong about the Super NES port of Dracula X?

Since I have a PC-Engine, an SNES and a PSP, I wouldn't mind having all three versions, money permitting. IMO, Castlevania in general was at its peak during the 16-bit days (though Symphony is still an awesome game, but lately I find myself preferring the straightforward platforming over the explorative style).

So what's the vote count so far?

Its been a while since I played SNES Dracula X, but I recall that the levels were incredibly downgraded from the original game (only two alternate routes, and the levels bore little if any resemblence to the originals in layout, not to mention the new layouts werent very good), you couldn't play as Maria, no save feature, and the controls were very delayed.

If you had a different impression, feel free to tell me about it and prove me wrong, since it has been a while since i last played it.

edited 10th May '12 9:36:24 AM by Prinzenick

I love Bloodlines a lot, but IV has something on its side that puts it above pretty much every game in the series. Namely control. Super Castlevania IV offered you a great amount of control over your Belmont and he didn't feel as horribly stiff as he usually did. Which was great. The game was difficult still, but not because you're trying your damnedest to navigate on a strict plane of movement and attack. Things could at last focus more wholly on the level and monster design in a fashion that felt more fair and fun.

I love the older Castlevanias. In fact I love the Classicvanias over the Metroidvanias. But stiff control is an issue with them. And for whatever reason they went back to it.

Bloodlines lacks that which I feel is a significant mark against it. It does have Eric and one of the more amusing and out there themes in the series though. So it's among my favorites.