Rondo of Blood is the closest Castlevania title to fit that visualization. SCIV however just has that authentic brooding, haunting and spooky atmosphere coupled with the soundtrack which makes the franken-myst come alive! When i think of the best game to represent Castlevania, i think of IV.

And aside from the awesome dangling whip mechanic which can be used to block enemy projectiles(which adds even more skill into the mix) you also get to whip your 'whip' in all different directions this time around which makes it even more Shredder-special, yet certain butt hurt booger headed' die hard castlevania fans seem to be against SCIV's control scheme. I for one, am not. it's more versatile and fun if you ask me.

And also, I'd say III: Dracula's Curse has the 2nd best sound track in the traidional franchise, followed by Rondo. This track from ReBirth which was ripped & Remixed from II: Belmont's Revenge for the GB is one of thee' most awesome tracks to grace The Adventure: ReBirth. Loved that game in all of it's Arcadey-shortness. It felt like an ultra pretty SNES + Sega Genesis Castlevania love child rolled into one Humungo Nosferatu blood burger.

And man, I'm itching to play Bloodlines! I think i should just cave in a buy it already. and Isn't it the only Castlevania title to feature blood & gore?
As for Dracula X....Hmmm, is it really worth checking out if you've beaten Rondo? I've seen the final boss battle against Drac' and it's completely different.

ill tell you what
buy this game and ill download CV4
http://www.retrousb.com/product_info.php?cPath=30&product...
ok let me rephrase this a little, i really want you guys to check out Battle Kid

Castlevania on Nintendo systems in NA up until the time of Bloodlines wasn't allowed to ooze blood so yeah, I guess it was the first big NA Castlevania release to have it. Castlevania's in Japan had in-game blood on Nintendo systems. I find it interesting that the awesome Castlevania NES cover has blood dripping from Drac's fangs.

As for Dracula X, yes it's definitely worth checking out if you have beat Rondo and you have a pulse. Did you like Rondo? Of course you do! Well, it's like Rondo but due to some legal issues Konami was not allowed to directly port it to other 16-bit consoles so they created a new SNES iteration. The music quality is some of the best you will hear on the SNES and the graphics are great. You will enjoy if you don't compare it to Rondo which you shouldn't because then it would be pointless like a t-shirt for Krang. Enjoy it as an extension of Richter's adventure and you will have another classic Castlevania.

Aren't the levels completely different between Rondo of Blood and Dracula X? Anyhoo, on Bloodlines I have actually played it and it's quite neat and a great game in the series. I've been playing Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth recently and it does a great job of hearkening back to the classics with the graphics, soundtrack, and gameplay.

Yeah, the Dracula X and Rondo of Blood levels are redesigned and there are not as many branching paths in Dracula X.

Dracula X is a good game dont believe the internet myth

This man speaks the truth about video games.

Too bad Dracula X sells for around $100 Drac' dollars on eBay.
You've inspired me Ryno to jump on board the Dracula X belmont train due to it being almost a simular-yet different game all together....That's 'If' and when it becomes more affordable. For now when i get around to it I'd much rather sink my Count Chocula teeth into Bloodlines

And I never knew about the original NES JAP releases having blood in them, that's pretty awesome and it kind of urks my Urcle the wrong way that the NA releases didn't allow it but it's not suprising. I guess at least in the NA it's what makes Bloodlines seem unique aside from not featuring any of the belmonts and being on the Sega Genesis all together.

You know what Konami needs to do? Make a traditional Castlevnania starring this Captain N hunk' lol

You're straight up insane. It's "'brown" is the best argument you can muster? The game is a masterpiece; the single best Castlevania ever made. Superb graphics, gameplay and music.

What would you guys say are the hardest Castlevania games? Iv'e been having trouble on the last levels of Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth, but I know the first game and Castlevania III are supposed to be quite difficult.

@iPancakez: Castlevania III. I can't even beat it with the 10 life code.

CIII is defintly the toughest in the franchsie, with Rondo easily next in line. Easiest without a doubt is The Adventure: ReBirth. Yet the original Cas' gets pretty deadly towards the end of the game where you have to up against Death, including the Knight Axe-tossing medussa riddledHall way leading up to him.He's even tougher than the spooksters of spooks himself 'Dracula'.

From toughest to easiest I'd rank them like this.

1. CIII: Dracula's Curse
2. Rondo of Blood
3. Super Castlevania IV - (That stage with the scrolling 'down to up' platforming was an INtense Belmont Nightmare!)
4. Castlevania
5. The Adventure: ReBirth

Not counting II: Simon's Quest since it's such a departure from the Catlevania norm, plus it's challenge doesn't exactly come from taking down enemies, the platforming or the ridiculous mind numbingly easy Bosses, It comes from the crazy obscure "WTF" do I do moments where you're basically screwed if you don't have a strategy guide. Better yet, one of the first Nintendo Power mag's to hit the scene.

Bloodlines has better music
Rondo has better graphics
did you say gameplay? that swinging whip? hanging on poles? hahahaha

i know this is almost 2 years and 4 months later... but you JUST PLAYED SoTN ? its by far the best Castlevania !!! and on the DS... hard one, on the GBA my favorite was Harmony of Dissonance, Juste Belmont was just too awesome. on the DS i would say Order of Ecclesia, i loved the story of that one, and the weapon system its amazing

I'm wondering if I should get Rondo as my second game... Should I? (The adventure on GB was my first)

yes you should have that game

Yes, Rondo is a fantastic game. I wish they woulda kept the original voiceover in the intro for the VC version though.

I wish Bloodlines and Vampire 's Kiss were on the VC. I'd get them. I only haven't got NES Castlevania 2 and GB Castlevania.

I'll never touch the SNES version of Dracula X as I've already beaten Rondo...Besides it will never come to the VC, and it goes for over $100 on eBay. Not worth the pixel pennies! And funk Castlevania Chronicles, with it's terrible looking graphical update and Chedder 'n cheesy PSX music renditions.

BTW, what's Vampire Kiss? Has Bass_Xo discovered a top secret sequal to his favorite movie Series 'Twilight'? Awesomeness aside, I'm going to be pulling the trigger on a Blue 3DS XL soon, so i can experience the final retro 2D'Vania' left that i need to beat in the this Whip wielding wonderful series. 'The Adventure'

But after that, there's nothing left....I'll be sucked bone dry by the count and won't having nothing to play. I doubt i'll dip into Portrait of Ruin or Order of Oclesia and especially the GBA MetroidVania's. I can't imagine going through another samo samo metroidvania again. It' a complete chore. SOTN and Dawn of Sorrow(The better game imo) were enough. And the new Castlevania coming out for the 3DS looks like a bloody disgrace. Hopefully Konami will get their act together and stop outsourcing their killer franchises to these silly western devs. Silent Hill and castlevania have been butchered because of this. What's next Contra!? Bill Rizer is going to get Rizafied.

"Castlevania: Vampire's Kiss" is the European title. And it's a completely different game than the PC-Engine Rondo of Blood, it's a lot more difficult.