Emulator used (why isn't this detected automatically...? some guys don't even write this anymore) Snes9x 1.43+ re-recording v10 Aims for fastest time...
Takes damage to save time...
Manipulates luck...
Best ending...
Lalala...
Well, here it is, after a few months of hardcore work.
This run obsoletes the published run by 2 minutes and 44 seconds (9880 frames) and multiplies the re-record count by 6.
This is my first "professional" run. There's just no useless input in the whole movie. If the command would be ignored, it's not entered. Cosmetic effect... Note: I tried to end the run as early as possible, so don't press anything before you see the ending sequence... you will die in if you fall into the pits in that room, silly... Note2: When I save Maria and Annet, you notice I jump to get closer to them. Those cutscenes are scripted, so no time is lost (if you look closely, you'll see that when I save Annet, the screen fades out before Richter leaves the room, proving my point). Note3: This game doesn't have the II and III upgrades. Instead, it uses a rather weird system: if your hearts amount starts with 2(20-29), you can have 2 sub-weapons on screen at the same time. If it's 3 or greater(30+), you can have 3. To kill Dracula that fast I need exactly those 35 hearts I get in that room right before the fight.
Game Info
There isn't too much to say about the game... It's conversion of the PC Engine game Akumajou Dracula X - Chi no Rondo.
The hero is Richter Belmont, the one I read somewhere he's the son of Juste Belmont.
Even though the game is pale when compared with Chi no Rondo, it's playable.
It's main features:
Good graphics (better than Super Castlevania 4... at least this one doesn't look like a Genesis game!)
Good soundtrack (mostly remixed versions of the classic BGMs from the previous 8-bit games, very different from the gay techno of Super Castlevania 4!)
Old school gameplay (almost the same of the NES games. There's no Tarzan-like swinging with the whip, like it was on the other game... the hero's name is Richter, not Indy)
Nice dificulty level.
It has multiple endings as well. In this run, both Maria and Annet are rescued, to reach the best ending.
Versions
There are 3 different localized versions of this game:
Original Japanese: Akumajou Dracula XX
American: Castlevania - Dracula X
European: Castlevania - Vampire's Kiss
The differences between the original and the traslated games:
The original Japanese game doesn't have a "Licensed by Nintendo" screen at the start;
The collectable Cross sub-weapon is a little different, with one extremity a litlle longer than the other 3;
The western versions have white blood.
I've choosen the US version because it's the most popular and easy to find.
Windows on Possible Improvements
If you're interested in obsoleting this movie, it won't be easy (even for you, Shinryuu), but I'd say these are the best points to try:
The 3rd boss, the headless knight: if you can manipulate him to jump twice in a row, you're awesome.
Stage 5'.1, with the stupid mermen popping out everywhere...
Stage 5'.2, if you can manipulate the first moving platform better than I did.
Stage 5'.5, mermen again...
The 6th boss, Death. Luck manipulation again. When you hit him and he flinches downwards, the axe can hit twice. Maybe you can do better then I did.
Also, if you can figure out that godmodeknockback thing, it would make a big difference, I guess.
Please forgive me a lot and see you next mormon mission! ...goes home backflipping
Truncated: You inserted the key on the first try! Accepted!
I think it's fun that you mentioned that SCV4 looks like a Genesis game when the Genesis Castlevania looks better than both that and this game. :>
Maza: Encoded. I will publish it after couple hours.
NesVideoAgent: Hi! I am a robot. I took a few screenshots
of this movie and placed them here.
Here goes! Feel free to clean up the list.
Easy yes vote, just like SCV 4 is easily miles ahead of this mediocre game.
The people saying that Dracula XX is better than SCV 4 have probably never played both on an actual Super Nintendo around the time they were released.
The amount of frustration and outright stupidity in certain parts of DXX (especially the Clock Tower stage) cannot easily be conveyed with mere words.
Meanwhile, SCV 4 is arguably the best game for the SNES.
Finally you did it! This run is amazing, i saw everywhere how well you optimized your movements and situations.
i can call your work highest work as possible. Really enjoyable run +soundtrack.
Back-flipping through dimensions.. eliminating everything that faces your might, Yes vote from me!
Joined: 7/26/2004
Posts: 90
Location: Brazil, Sao Paulo, Campinas
Reading the author's description of te movie, I see I should give it a "no" for giving SCIV's Graphics a Genesis game, call its music "gay techno" and complain the whip swinging, hich was a lot cool!
Just kidding... but SCIV IMHO sucked ass, my only complaint is the abuse of 8-directional whip swing, and Simon's sprite, which just appear to be a silly action figure. Other than that, the game rules everything XD
Oh, and about the "godmodeknockback thing", are you talking about the Invincibility Jar?
[ ]'s
The eyes of a machine are wonderful, but there's nothing like the the eyes of the heart – Old Cid, Cybercop
Joined: 2/28/2006
Posts: 2275
Location: Milky Way -> Earth -> Brazil
Zakatos wrote:
Oh, and about the "godmodeknockback thing", are you talking about the Invincibility Jar?
It's something werid that happened to me only once. Some ordinary enemy hit me and I was sent flying without receiving damage... Check the thread n the SNES section for more info.
Falou, camarada!
"Genuine self-esteem, however, consists not of causeless feelings, but of certain knowledge about yourself.
It rests on the conviction that you — by your choices, effort and actions — have made yourself into the
kind of person able to deal with reality. It is the conviction — based on the evidence of your own volitional
functioning — that you are fundamentally able to succeed in life and, therefore, are deserving of that success."
- Onkar Ghate
Bisqwit wrote:
Joined: 2/28/2006
Posts: 2275
Location: Milky Way -> Earth -> Brazil
Hey, zggzdydp... thanks for the correct name of the game! And those "family reunions" are scripted cutscenes. There's no way to affect their duration.
And for your information (not you, zggzdydp! everyone else), Super Castlevania 4 was the FIRST Castlevania game I played in my life, "on an actual Super Nintendo around the time it was released". I hated the thing. The most stupid game I had ever played.
If I'm now a CV fanboy, it's because of Symphony of the Night... that game made me come back and play the fabulous NES versions.
Super Castlevania 4 is a ridiculous game.
The worst blind man is the one who doesn't want to see.
Submission text updated.
"Genuine self-esteem, however, consists not of causeless feelings, but of certain knowledge about yourself.
It rests on the conviction that you — by your choices, effort and actions — have made yourself into the
kind of person able to deal with reality. It is the conviction — based on the evidence of your own volitional
functioning — that you are fundamentally able to succeed in life and, therefore, are deserving of that success."
- Onkar Ghate
Bisqwit wrote:
The most delicious part of the bagel is found in the center.
Boldface text does not imply a deeper meaning (or relevance to the topic at hand, apparently).
<Swordless> Go hug a tree, you vegetarian (I bet you really are one)
[quote="pirate_sephiroth
"]I'd rather play the n64 or ps2 versions... and they're pretty stupid.
Super Castlevania 4 is a ridiculous game.[/quote]
NO! man. You can love a game, but don't insult other games. CV4 >> CVX, CVX is suck, the hero moves like a lazy turtle.
SotN? This is the most ridiculous game. There are too many bugs in it (include Sega Saturn version). I hate the "CVfans" who only love SotN in the series, they are fake.
Hey now, why ya gotta hate on SotN? Just because it'll never be as awesome as Chi no Rondo is no reason to drag it through the mud. Besides, glitches are fun.
Also, I really should finish that blasted Saturn version as Maria someday.
Hey now, why ya gotta hate on SotN? Just because it'll never be as awesome as Chi no Rondo is no reason to drag it through the mud. Besides, glitches are fun.
Also, I really should finish that blasted Saturn version as Maria someday.
He's not dissing SOTN. He's dissing people who ONLY like SOTN.
It is a good game, after all. Though frankly, I hate the new voice acting they put in the new PSP version. The translation sucks, the voice suck. Hell, Konami couldn't even do the English subbing for RoB right. Granted it was most likely ZRO LIMIT PRODUCTIONS' fault, but they should know better. They even misspelled stuff that they've only written for like, a decade, in every production that they do. You figure that would be like, cut and paste.
Bleh. Enough rant. Yes vote for being faster. No vote for CVX>SCIV.
Joined: 2/28/2006
Posts: 2275
Location: Milky Way -> Earth -> Brazil
zggzdydp wrote:
SotN? This is the most ridiculous game. There are too many bugs in it (include Sega Saturn version). I hate the "CVfans" who only love SotN in the series, they are fake.
I don't get it. So now an almost perfect game is considered ridiculous, and people who [obviously] like it are fake? You're only a real fan if you love the crappiest episode of the series, I suppose?
It's one of the best games of all times... kickass graphics, sound and gameplay plus a ton of glitches to explore! Very few games have a replay value this high, you can't deny this.
Please try to follow:
1-Chi no Rondo is great, 1000000 times better then SCV4;
2-CVDX is a cheap copy of Chi no Rondo, worth say, 1% of the original;
3-Making the calculations, CVDX is still 10000 times better then SCV4
By the way: if a person can't beat an argument, and he starts to question someone's intelectual capabilities, I don't call it a win.
"Genuine self-esteem, however, consists not of causeless feelings, but of certain knowledge about yourself.
It rests on the conviction that you — by your choices, effort and actions — have made yourself into the
kind of person able to deal with reality. It is the conviction — based on the evidence of your own volitional
functioning — that you are fundamentally able to succeed in life and, therefore, are deserving of that success."
- Onkar Ghate
Bisqwit wrote:
Joined: 6/11/2006
Posts: 818
Location: Arboga, Sweden
Hey p_s, SCV4 is better than CVX. You obviously miss the great parts of SCV4. Remember that "The worst blind man is the one who doesn't want to see."
And, since a lot of you have been discussing design issues, did anyone other than me notice that the Red Skeleton looked (Far) worse in this game than in Dracula's Curse (Yes, for the NES)? I mean, seriously. Looked like a drunken 4-year old had painted the ones in this game.
Warp wrote:
omg lol this is so fake!!!1 the nes cant produce music like this!
Joined: 2/28/2006
Posts: 2275
Location: Milky Way -> Earth -> Brazil
Yeah... I agree with that.
They must have invited the SCV4 artist!
"Genuine self-esteem, however, consists not of causeless feelings, but of certain knowledge about yourself.
It rests on the conviction that you — by your choices, effort and actions — have made yourself into the
kind of person able to deal with reality. It is the conviction — based on the evidence of your own volitional
functioning — that you are fundamentally able to succeed in life and, therefore, are deserving of that success."
- Onkar Ghate
Bisqwit wrote:
I don't try to start stupid arguments, but it always seems to happen. :(
I should speak in very clear sentences and then leave this topic. So I will do that.
1) Liking one game over another is a dumb thing to "argue" about. They're just opinions.
2) The point of my first post was that pirate was making himself look idiotic, and probably trolling, by sprinkling his submission text with random shots at another game. Admittedly, I also was noticing that pirate_sephiroth has called out other things that were pretty obscure and random, so that contributed to my opinion of "troll".
3) My second post was in response to p_s saying that anyone who doesn't have the same preferences as him is "choosing" to be blind, bolding it, and putting it into some philosophical sounding bullshit. That's just retarded.
4) Slightly irrelevant: I like just about all Castlevania games. This one is not bad, nor is this run. I just like SCV4 more. And I like SotN more than that. Also I voted yes here.
Peace
<Swordless> Go hug a tree, you vegetarian (I bet you really are one)
Joined: 2/28/2006
Posts: 2275
Location: Milky Way -> Earth -> Brazil
Of course, they're just opinions... All I want is to hear opinions. But arguing is fun and the more we know about each other opinons, the better. That's nothing personal, life's a game. Seeya in the next thread, chap.
"Genuine self-esteem, however, consists not of causeless feelings, but of certain knowledge about yourself.
It rests on the conviction that you — by your choices, effort and actions — have made yourself into the
kind of person able to deal with reality. It is the conviction — based on the evidence of your own volitional
functioning — that you are fundamentally able to succeed in life and, therefore, are deserving of that success."
- Onkar Ghate
Bisqwit wrote:
Flying horse heads? Some-thing-I-forgot-how-it's-called falls from the ceiling and crawls towards you? A hero that looks more like an evil puppet?
Haha, good one.
The game is called "Castlevania", which doesn't make much sense to begin with. What does the word even mean? Like, the "castle" part obviously means a castle and "vania" is a… typical russian name, isn't it?
It's about a family that raises a person trained specifically to deal with frighteningly regular incarnations of Dracula, who appears basically anywhere he wants with a castle chockful of inane demons and other creatures that would appear… well… wrong to any normal person, not to mention that the castle itself is basically yet another living being that doesn't conform to any sane expectations. Something's definitely wrong with that!
Imagine that since the beginning of your life, you're raised in a firm belief that one night in your life, there will be a castle waiting for you with an army of monsters you wouldn't want to see, ever, and you will have to go there and kill the bad guy who is worse than the Death himself. Moreover, Death serves him as one of the guys you need to kill on your way. Kill Death. Wow, that must suck! It's just as if a seal of impending doom has been cast upon your and all your descendants' fate, and you spend your entire life getting prepared for this night that basically means the end of your existence, in the best supposed case.
Would you look brave and happy going there, would you look like a typical hero? No, I think you'd look dreary, at best. Especially since all you have with you is a whip and some equally useless shit. But hey, it's a whip, why not at least have some fun with it and use it as a transporting device? Why not strike down some candleholders? You know, if you strike a candleholder, a heart may come out of it — a big one if you're lucky. Makes sense.
Oh, and in these stables, there's a flying horsehead demon, and under the ceiling, there's a bunch of possessed algae patches. Would a minor thing like that surprise you if you were there? I think not. Add some annoyingly depressive music to it, and it's basically become the most "wrong" game ever.
I mean, good job on picking on a game that comes from a series that was originally composed of all kinds of wrong to begin with, but no, there's still no point in doing that. :)
Also, good run voting yes.
Warp wrote:
Edit: I think I understand now: It's my avatar, isn't it? It makes me look angry.
Joined: 2/28/2006
Posts: 2275
Location: Milky Way -> Earth -> Brazil
Yeah, that's exactly the point, moozooh. Very few people notice this, but the series is not meant to be serious.
Since the very beginning, Castlevania is a parody of the classic B horror movies. That's why some enemies look so ridiculous... But SCV4 reallly abuses it! It's ridiculous to the point that gets me irritated.
"Genuine self-esteem, however, consists not of causeless feelings, but of certain knowledge about yourself.
It rests on the conviction that you — by your choices, effort and actions — have made yourself into the
kind of person able to deal with reality. It is the conviction — based on the evidence of your own volitional
functioning — that you are fundamentally able to succeed in life and, therefore, are deserving of that success."
- Onkar Ghate
Bisqwit wrote:
Yes vote! Very well optimized back flips and all. The fight with death was awesome and so was those little time shavers like when you get hit to get to the next floor.
Anyway nice run and SOTN is by far the best Castlevania ;p
