You might remember Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse being released in Europe on Halloween, which was quite obviously a perfect date. Strangely enough it just didn't get released in the US for over 2 months, but now it's finally here!
Konami obviously realized Castlevania II wasn't really that popular because of its massive change in gameplay - As a result Castlevania III plays a lot like the original game, featuring straight-up platforming action. Of course there are also some welcome additions, such as being able to play as other characters, and being able to choose which levels you want to play (There are multiple routes through the game). Because of the game's sheer size it is quite easily the best of the NES Castlevania trilogy. The game was also never rereleased in any way until this VC release!
On WiiWare today you can grab two somewhat interesting new games - Jungle Speed, a party game, and Planet Pachinko, which despite the name, is a platformer/action game!
Comments 149
its about time this arrived. although less than two and a half months after Europe got it isn't that long of a wait. i never did download Castlevania 3 myself though. also, note that this is the second big name game in two weeks of the new year. will we see the trend of big name games continue with smash bros soon? Hm. Not counting import games and C64 games, Europe only has three games that America doesn't now - ESWAT, Crack Down and Skate or Die. I wonder if these three will come to American VC at some point this year.
About time. It's a cracker of a game. I guess we might see Mario Golf next week then. You North Americans been getting great weeks 4th time in a row.
Thanking Marcel for not ripping into Nintendo for their one game week this week
One good release per week is working just fine for me. Thx N!
This and the other NES Castlevanias were actually rereleased w/ the two NES Contras on a compliation PC CD-ROM a few years back. Snagged it at a Half Price Books store for $5 just before the Wii came out.
@ chunky_droid: It's been about 10 weeks now, I think it's going to stay this way for a while now
Another good, albeit single-game, week!
And that's one less for those who kept asking for the same game for the last two months... Which one will it be next?
Well its about time!!!!!
I was worried NA might have to wait over a year like Mega Man. Normally I do rip into Nintendo for 1 game weeks, but for this week they get a pass because it's Castlevania 3. Hooray!
W00T Castlevania 3, I think I'll pick up one of the GnG's and maybe the other 2 NES Castlevanias aswell
Finally!!
Been waiting ages for this one!
One of my all-time favorite games.
At long last my favorite Castlevania game of all time! No more complaining from me for at least a month and that's a promise. This game rocks and is one of the best NES games ever!
And in many places I bet people are saying hoo-bloody-ray, well okay not the US cos they don't use "bloody" much heh. C4 still is the best Castlevania for me though
With all these 1 game weeks, it might be an ideal time to get the C64 games over in America.
I will say though that this may be the best 1 game week for a long time unless they decide to release Super Smash Bros. or Super Punch-Out!! in a couple weeks or so. But yeah this is def the best release this month thus far.
i am glad that the us got castelvania 3 now. or the need now is devil world and the nes collection will be finish. but us eu need mario golf . axelay and super turrican 2.
perhaps one week us eu will get bravoman and oryden
and the us will get crack down and eswate for the mega drive
Planet Pachinko? A platformer?
Sorry, I got burned on the last pachinko-themed platformer I played.
(Action Pachio-kun for Super Famicom. Imagine if Sonic's rolling couldn't attack enemies, and he could only jump attack enemies from a dead stop. Sound fun? )
Awesome! I am going to download this as soon as I get home!
Not bad, Not bad.... but i have been waiting for Pro Wrestling for awhile now and havent heard anything about it in awhile. i know its on the list of approved games but with this 1 game release a week it looks like it could be awhile.
Finally, it's here! Between getting Kirby's Dream Land 3 last week and now Castlevania 3 this week, 2009 is already shaping up to be much better than 2008. I don't mind 1 game weeks as long as they are quality games, not utter garbage like Enduro Racer and Boogerman. Well done, Nintendo, although why did Castlevania 3 take so long to come to America?
They probably wanted a chain of good games for Christmas and early 2009 (starting with Phantasy Star IV) and got the crap/snot out of the way first. Maybe.
YES!!!!
Well I have absolutley no complaints this week, VC wise. In fact I consider early 2009 to be the return of the VC.
It is a very good week for a lot of vc owners.
I will not be downloading the game, but it is good thing for me right now.
I got 5 rpgs as Christmas gifts including Shining in the Holy Ark for the Sega Saturn and I am focusing on playing Shining in the Holy Ark right now.
Have you played Shining Wisdom? That was one of my first Saturn games.
Finally!! One of my favorite NES games, and I've been waiting for what seems like forever for it to show up on our service. Now that it's here, though, I don't think we here in North America have much to complain about anymore. Overall, January has been an alright month, imo, and while one game weeks will always suck, I think once we make our peace with it, it won't seem so bad really.
Hopefully this is a sign that things will be looking up from this point on...
YEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
Having just had two weeks I liked in a row, and this game having been much anticipated, I'm quite happy with this release. Funny, I was thinking just last night that this would show up today...not sure why.
@Mayhem: Well, some of us do say "bloody," but that's mostly those who are likely to speak as they do on TV and watch a lot of British shows.
Y'know how people were wondering how Europe got a Halloween release and America didn't, even though the actual celebration of the holiday is reversed for the most part? I'd never heard that before, but have since seen it hilariously confirmed in the following video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgOT-RxgQks
I've been watching a lot of "A Bit of Fry & Laurie" on DVD from Netflix lately. Great stuff.
@Bass X0,
I didn't play Shining Wisdom yet, but I ordered it last week online. I should getting it this week or next week.
Shining Wisdom was one of the games I wanted for the Sega Saturn since I bought a Sega Saturn last June.
lol @ Zukovius:
My thoughts exactly.
Many thanks for this release, Nintendo! Glad to finally see it arrive on our shores and I cannot wait to pick it up later today. An absolutely fine, fine game.
I still hate the one VC game a week plan, but Castlevania 3 rocks, and its about time we got it here! Now, how about Mario Golf for those in Europe, Nintendo?
Oh good, that should stop most of the complainers.
I'll be on my way when we get Mario Golf on Friday.
I can't remember a week where I saw so many positive comments Who does not love old-school Castlevania goodness. And I guess that can only mean Bloodlines is next
@ King Elemento: You mean next Friday
Good for you guys Finally you can play this too!
AT LAAAAAAST!!
I guess we won't have to wait a full year for this game after all!
THANK THE SWEET, SWEET LORD!
Though the 1-VC+2-WW games sequence can be explained wioth Nintendo's "3 Wii Shop games per day" idea, I think there is something else inside. I bet that, since Nintendo is planning more consoles to be released, he is releasing only one VC title per week, yet, to make up for the lackage, they release very good games.
Goompapa, you reminded me of that Dark Mister in "FFCC: My Life as a King" (probably since I got to that part in the game and even started drawing him...)
@StuffGamer - Fry and Laurie? Excellent choice
Well since everyone else is saying it I might as well. It's about damn time! Now I wonder what the next Castlevania game added to VC will be? I'm still holding out hope for Rondo of blood. Not sure if it's in the cards though because of the whole thing with Hudson Allegedly ditching the VC. Maybe Konami can talk some sense into them. I'd also like to eventually see Bloodlines released.
This is fantastic news! I was just thinking about this game yesterday. I'm downloading this tonight
Burn me for heresy, but I never really liked the Castlevania games prior to Symphony of the Night. Still, it's good to see a highly-rated game released and a Konami game to boot. We all need to buy this if we have any hope for getting Rondo of Blood released.
@ niner
Consider yourself burned. True Castlevania fans love them all. That's okay though. No harm done. Maybe you just arrived late in the game. Symphony is an amazing experience I must agree! It's still the best of it's kind. Sadly being a playstation game It'll never be on VC. Most of us probably already own it anyway.
Bloodlines would be an excellent release in the future. That was a great game.
I think the DS Castlevania games make up for not getting SotN. I have SotN too.
Yes, the DS Castlevania's are awesome!
Skipping this one just because I don't like Castlevania all that much. Good update for you Vania fans though. Planet Pachinko sounds kinda interesting, maybe I'll get that.
@ Bass XO and Link79--What DS Castlevania would you recommend I start with?
@Link79
Thanks for going easy on me. Sad thing is that I didn't arrive late. I've still got my Atari 2600 with 30+ games. I guess I'm just not a huge fan of straight-forward platformers. I prefer the Metroid-style adventuring that was perfected in SotN and continued in the excellent DS games. Of the NES Castlevanias, Belmont's Revenge is my favorite.
@ LinktotheFuture - All three DS Castlevania titles are great. Here's how I'd rank them.
1. Order of Ecclesia
2. Portrait of Ruin
3. Dawn of Sorrow
Doesn't really matter which order you play them in. If you want to start with the best, Ecclesia is pretty amazing.
@Corbie Thanks! I will have to save my money it looks like.
@ niner: Belmont's Revenge is a Game Boy game
@Mayhem: Thank you. I like to think I've got pretty good taste. And I was familiar with the both of them from other shows (largely Black Adder and House), so renting this one when I had the chance was a total no-brainer!
@Corbie: Hmm...I notice this list goes backwards in time through releases. Guess they're just getting better and better all the time, eh?
@Drake: I'd assume he meant Simon's Quest. Maybe. Makes sense, given its different play style.
I fall into the same category of Castlevania players as niner, though. Not big on the way old Castlevania games work, but Metroidvania is just fine with me!
@ LinktotheFuture Portrait of Ruin was my actual first ever Castlevania game. It's actually very good. I would recommend it to any Castlevania fan especially if you are just getting into the series.
Uggh, duh, you're right. I actually have both Belmont's Revenge (GB) and Simon's Quest (NES).
@ Linktothefuture
Most people agree that Dawn of Sorrow is the best DS Castlevania but all of them are great! You really can't go wrong with any of them.
They could release SotN as a Wiiware game. It's on Xbox Live Arcade too.
Belmont's revenge was the best of the original gameboy games! I liked the Mega man style stage select where you could choose which castle to start with. The music was pretty amazing for an old Gameboy game.
@ niner
I can see why you would prefer the Metroidvania style CV games. They last longer and have much more replay value than the older sidescrollers. Plus the characters don't walk like they are in three feet of mud. I guess I still have some nostalgia for the old days but overall the newer ones are better.
Finally this game came out. It so good I'll be downloading it. And I even have the actual cart. But for 5 dollars, to have one of the best NES games, and two best Castlevania games in my opinion, available so accessible on another platform, I'll do it.
@ Niner: Love the avatar, you looking forward to the Wolverine movie? Or will Deadpool be ruined forever by Ryan Reynolds? I have my fingers crossed!
@Stuffgamer1: I need to get the Fry & Laurie DVD and have a gander, I'm a big fan of both of those guys and they were hilarious in Blackadder
@Brooks83: I hope they do, as of now Nintendo seem to have no interest in re-releasing retro games that weren't released on a console already catered for in VC. But I certainly hope they allow some classic PSOne games, the only thing I'd be worried about is the Z1 and Z2 buttons would be L2 and R2, and there's no clickable thumbstick for L3 and R3, not that many games used any of those buttons anyway.
And I'm loving all the VC love we're getting this week, either all the complainers gave up or everyone's accepting the one game a week strategy and not minding it so much now that Nintendo are releasing games a lot of people seem to want. Personally I've had much love since the week after Enduro Racer
Those screenshots make it look a hell of alot like Super Castlevania 4. Anyways, not gonna buy this as I already own SC4 (I know, castlevania 3 is a completely different game, I don't care) and I'm going to be buying The Conduit and a WiiSpeak once the conduit is released.
Looks like I need to find all 3. I had all 3 of the Castlevania games on the NES, but I just got a DS, and I am still trying to find out all the good games on it. I haven't played Rondo of Blood, but I've heard so many great things about it, that I will have to buy it if it ever comes to the VC in the US.
Okay, I honestly cannot complain about their one-game weeks, anymore. Aside from the occasional miss, these one games have been pretty good ones.
SOTN was the game that really made me take notice of video game soundtracks. I loved it so much I actually put it on my ipod.
I as well think these one game releases have been great since PSIV, but agonizingly slow. I'm somewhat expecting a crap game or Super Smash Bros. next week. These are hit or miss weeks. If SSB doesn't come out this month than I might buy CVIII. Edit. People can continue complaining about Earthbound and Rondo of Blood now.
What could be the next Castlevania. Was Bloodlines after IV? I also have SotN on my PS3.
"One good release per week is working just fine for me. Thx N!"
My thoughts exaclty. 1 game a week is fine with me if they continue this quality. Will they? Well, I don't want to jinx anything.
We do need Bloodlines, that would be awesome, although admittedly not as awesome as Rondo of Blood, although thanks to Hudson, i think it's fair to assume that Bloodlines (Or whatever it was called in Europe) will be next. Then, we can only hope for Saturn emulation, which would mean we could get an (inferior but not that bad) port of SOTN, the N64 versions or a Portable VC on the DSi
I'm glad to see that there are people here who, like me, are still holding out hope for Rondo of Blood to be released outside of Japan. Remember if we just sit by and accept these Hudson rumors and what it may or may not mean for this game, then of course none of the companies involved will take notice, but if we remain vocal in our desire to play this game, surely that demand will sway towards releasing this game.
As for Bloodlines, I see no reason that wouldn't come along eventually. After that there really isn't much else Castlevania that could be released on the service besides Legacy of Darkness on the N64 and the SNES version of Dracula X. Somehow I don't think those games are quite as in demand though.
Yeah, it's finally here! While this ruins my initial plans to finally get all of the more expensive games that I wanted out of the way in one fell swoop, I think those plans had already hit a road block when my mum saw the bill for all the other download purchases I had made.
Anywho, I'll be getting this as soon as my brother finally gets off of the Xbox 360...at 3 in the morning.
Yay now stop commplaining about it
Awesome. Just awesome. I've been waiting for this to hit NA for a long time.
@35. Drake:
Ahh... feck. I keep reminiscing about the times when we didn't have WiiWare. >_>
Edit: Oh yes, 75 get.
@ Rapadash6
I certainly hope Konami may be able to work out some sort of deal with Hudson to get Rondo of blood on the American VC. That's probably my most wanted game and I'd much rather have the original Turbo grafx game. I actually rented Dracula X for SNES before I ever knew there was a better version and I still liked it alot even though it wasn't as good. If the SNES game gets added to VC I'd probably still buy it.
@chunky_droid
Finally, someone who recognizes Deadpool. Most people ask me why I use Spider-man as my avatar. And yes, I'm definitely looking forward to Wolverine.
I agree that getting one good-to-great game is much better than getting 2 or 3 pieces of hud.
I think Dracula X (Vampire's Kiss) is likely too for the sole reason that it exists despite people preferring to get the superior TGCD game.
Good, I'm sure many people around here is happy today; I'm out of points for a while so I'll have to wait to DL this.
I own SNES Dracula X and love it, my favorite Castlevania before the Metroidvania change, I hope we get Rondo of Blood, I'd really like to see what's all the fuzz about it.
I really doubt we'll ever get SOTN, but Terranigma's idea of getting the slightly weaker saturn version sounds promising.
Finally! Let's hope next week is just as good (for the VC, that is).
Already downloaded it, it's my favorite game from the original NES series, I like the way 2009 is looking, we had Kirby Dream Land last week, and now Castlevania III, we also have Ogre Battle, and Super Punch Out to look forward to.
I don't care about the quantity of games we get each week, but the quality. Thank you Nintendo.
Sounds like a pretty good week. I think that Rondo of Blood would make its way to the VC eventually. Besides, what does Hudson have to do with releasing Rondo of Blood? Arn't they in charge of all TG-16 games coming to the VC?
Wow, not a single complaint from what I speed read. I think I just got a warm fuzzy feeling of nintendo love.
I recently downloaded Super Castlevania IV for some nostalgia and haven't been able to put it down. Funnily enough though, I thought people said SCIV was supposed to be an upgraded version of Castlevania I but alot of the screen shots for Castlevania III look very similar to Super Castlevania IV.
@Rapadash6: Oh, you make me LAUGH! If you think that being vocal about a problem actually makes companies sit up and take notice, try checking out Starmen.net or any PS3 BC thread you like. People make noise, and in places where they ARE heard, but still nothing changes. Not to say you should keep quiet, but that you shouldn't put TOO much hope in actually being heard.
@niner: I haven't seen enough of Deadpool to recognize him on sight, but I do like him from what little I know (which is limited ENTIRELY to his appearance in Marvel Ultimate Alliance). Didn't know he was in the upcoming Wolverine movie, though. Then again, I haven't been following that movie AT ALL (though I'll probably want to see it at some point).
@timp29: Yeah, it's great when people can agree that quality beats quantity, and more importantly, when NINTENDO agrees as well. But a part of me can't help but watch to see when it'll all go down the toilet back to weeks of single-release crap...
But when I REALLY want to feel warm fuzzy Nintendo love, I play Brawl. The ULTIMATE in fan service (until the next Smash, anyway)!
I wonder when mega man 4 will come out?
@Stuffgamer1: Deadpool is an excellent comic book character and is well worth a read if you get a chance. And I want some sort of Little Big Planet style love for the next Smash too, like 3rd party company packs, which include characters, music and stages. And just to get back on topic, throw Alucard and Simon Belmont in as DLC
As much as i love this game i wonder why is Konami taking so much time to release Contra and rondo and bloodlines.
Bummer, I was hoping for SSB. Call it my Earthbound, but I can't help but want it after it was announced for Japan this month.
http://markyvigoroth.deviantart.com/art/Dark-Mister-109307956
Well, I said that I was going to draw him...
68. Bendover83: I can't wait for Bloodlines, wonder if Europe will get Bloodlines and not Generaions (same game, I know, but Generations is censored) or if we'll both get Bloodlines ... or both get generations (god, I hope not).
I might get this game. Now if we could get a week like this, one quality game each week.
Just downloaded it, will play it tomorrow, hope it's good. I also redownloaded Castlevania 1, finally got past that part I was stuck on. If C3 is even half as good as the original, I think I'll have nothing to worry about.
@Stuffgamer1
Tell me about it. Square-Enix has been ruining the Dragon Quest series. With the last DS incarnation being one of the worst translations in recent video game history. Rivaling that of old censored NES games. And I've been contacting them in any way I can, including on their main site and through 'back channels'. But I doubt any of my inquires will be headed and their practices of altering and destroying to Dragon Quest series will continue into the future. At a loss of sales and interest in a new franchise to them.
Still, that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. There's still the small glimmer of hope that our constant inquiries, not to mention their faulty sales, will provoke needed change.
Donno if the same can be said for Nintendo however. Nintendo does what it wants. Even if it will hurt them. And if it wants to just release one game from now until the end of the Wii's lifespan, it will.
Also, Deadpool = win.
I liked this game alot when I was younger. When Nintendo sees how many people download this game, they should get Konami to make a Castlevania 5 for WiiWare. Alot of people downloaded Mega Man 9, so it is worth doing in my opinion.
I hope Nintendo has a good release for February 13th...Friday the 13th? lol...
Also, I think they should release the Tiny Toons games soon, that article a while back made me miss that game.
Anyone else looking into the game The Conduit? It looks rather pleasing...
@Kenryoku_Maxis: I still liked DragonQuest(Warrior) IV DS, but I've never played the original so I am missing the true classic. I'm not sure if I'll get V or VI for the DS later. I have III on Gameboy Color, IV (of course), and VIII and they're all good. imo.
they are aparently sending good VC games untill the good Wii games come out. Super Punchout sould be the last "good" VC title for a while. its a hype for Punchout Wii
@Kentyoku_Maxis
Any cause is worth fighting for. Its disheartening when people don't seem to care but keep up your grievances with Square Enix as you have a valid point.
Re: Deadpool, don't know the character in question but anybody created by Rob Liefield is suspicious in my opinion
It's nice to see a truely 'A' title released. As for it being the second week of 'great' releases... aaahhh yeeeah. About that. Kirby? Really? That game is about as vanilla as it gets. VERY meh. If it was more challenging, or varied perhaps I'd have gotten more excited (And before anyone says it, I'm not saying it's a BAD game... just not evidence of a second coming or a VC revival). I'd say Castlevania III is a tremendous chance for a 180 for the VC. Build off of this Nintendo. Keep it coming!!!
I have the cart and won't need the download, but it's nice to see.
@7th lutz - Oh my... Shining the Holy Ark is amazing. It is such a deep game and very engrossing. So much to do. What other RPG's did you get?
Shining Wisdom is a funny one... the story is sort of 'meh', and the graphics certainly aren't pushing a system that was built for 2-D. But it succeeds where many deeper and more technically buff games have been failing. It's freakin' fun!!!! The game play is very entertaining if not groundbreaking, and the localization is typical Working Designs. It's sort of a light-hearted Zelda for the Saturn. This game took an unfair beating in reviews, but it kept me entertained from start to finish. The music is nice too. Just don't let some of the differences in the translation mess it up for you. It's a case of Sega of Japan being the usual arrogant D-Bags that they are and not releasing rights to certain TM'd names and story points. Lot's of fun little items, and quests. I look forward to hearing what you think!!!
Personally, I spent a lot of time playing with the monkey suit... if only you could fling poo!
This looks like a Great Year already, Maybe this whole 1 game week thing isn't so bad.
I mean, Seriously guys, Now How often did we see a New and Old Game every week, BEFORE the VC came out. For me, Not really.
I cant wait to get some more wii points for this.
Its really nice to hear that people are coming to terms with single releases.
I better enjoy this nirvana while it lasts though because people are just going to flip out again when next week comes around and brings Clayfighter.
Bah, now you guy's get to play the best NES game without slow-down or borders. I hate pal. Wish mine would play like that. Also, Super Mario Bros. on the Wii looks terrible. Is there no chance whatsoever of Nintendo fixing these games for Eu then?
Shining Wisdom is a funny one... the story is sort of 'meh', and the graphics certainly aren't pushing a system that was built for 2-D.
Well it was one of the first Saturn games created. Certainly its no Magic Knight Rayearth in terms of graphics (which I also owned, played, loved and completed) but then MKR was released at the end of the Saturn's life. Shining Wisdom was an enjoyable game though until I grew bored of it and if it was ported to WiiWare, I'd get it again. I sold it before I completed it, maybe I'd have more tolerance for wherever I gave up on these days than I did back then.
@Outrunner,
Email them and complain, maybe by the time of the Wii HD they'll have gotten the message.
@Outrunner--Do you have the component cables for the Wii? I have them, and I think the VC games look amazing, except for the N64 games, which haven't aged well graphics wise in my opinion.
@Manicfatty: I believe most people are getting excited about the past few weeks purely because, in my opinion, that although Kirby may be bland, he's one of Nintendo's top mascots, and Nintendo know it will be an instant download for many. Unlike Enduro Racer, which I'm sure had its share of downloads, but isn't a main player like a Kirby or a Castlevania, Zoda's Revenge, while not popular, is a top quality title, so in that way it seems like the VC is on the rise again.
@LinktotheFuture: It has nothing to do with his connection, Nintendo didn't optimise any VC games upon re-release in PAL territories, meaning his plays 10% slower and has borders. And that's purely the reason why I didn't by my Wii from Australia and got it from Canada instead . Oh, and I didn't think the N64 games did too badly myself but try and play a PSOne game in HD, pure torture!
That is a bummer about the PAL VC. That would pretty much ruin the whole thing for me. You have my simpathy.
Oh, and I didn't think the N64 games did too badly myself but try and play a PSOne game in HD, pure torture!
For the most part I've actually thought that PSOne games look alright, although in Rayman 1 the colors were all different, usually brighter shades, but otherwise I've yet to have a problem, nor have I seen any negative changes with the N64 games. I do agree that the N64 games haven't aged well, but to be honest, I thought those games were ugly back when they were state of the art, so I'm used to it(mostly, the characters' faces in S&P are just plain scary, but that may have been intentional).
Anywho, so far I've been enjoying Castlevania 3, from what little I've played (got in 20 min. this afternoon, but that's all so far). While the first level was bland and uninspiring, especially compared to Castlevania 1, but it really picks up after that. The only things I don't really like are that the music is too soft, and the Medusa heads are even more annoying than usual[angry face] . Can't wait until I get a chance to play it again!
PS1 games look just fine on my PS3, at least those I've tried so far. That would be Spyro the Dragon, Alundra, and Top Shop. I'm playing Paper Mario on VC right now, and I noticed that the space and visible lines between polygons in the environments is MUCH more visible than before. Doesn't affect the gameplay any, so I'll keep on enjoying this classic game, but still...
Regarding Kirby's Dreamland 3: Say what you will about the game, but it has its good points. And if you say it's too easy, you've OBVIOUSLY never gotten a 100% save file. Either that, or you're a gaming difficulty masochist.
@Manicfatty
I also got Chrono Trigger -ds, Dragon Quest 4-DS, Crystal Warriors-Game Gear, Baroque-Wii, and Dragon Quest Swords : The masked Queen and the tower of Mirrors-Wii.
I got Crash Bandicoot and Spyro, and the textures and polygons just seem a lot more pronounced, I never really liked the graphics on the PSOne to begin with though, just the 2D games like Oddworld and Castlevania, and to an extent Grand Theft Auto.
The main problem I had with Paper Mario on VC, is that the text looks pretty bad, but I'll admit I finished Thousand Year Door before I downloaded the N64 game so the downgrade was pretty extreme.
I don't know, in my fond memories of the N64 at the time it came out, I thought the graphics were cool, but I downloaded Mario Kart 64, and the graphics are horrible, and it doesn't look like the game I remember, but maybe it is just me remembering it wrong.
97. Viral: Hell yeah! After I see a review (and if it gets a decent score) I'm gonna go ahead and buy that along with a WiiSpeak!
@LinktotheFuture: Actually, now that I think of it, Mario Kart 64 did look a lot more pronounced, due to the Karts being sprites and the N64 trying to anti-alias everything INCLUDING the sprites doesn't help it in prog scan. But 3D looks great IMO.
Really Good week! Seriously! Since the 1 game per week, Nintendo release better game (Castlevania, KD III, Metal slug 2, etc)!!!
Hopefully SSB will coming this month!
I like this game but i had enough of it on the NES.But if you have to get a VC Game this week CV3 as people want to call it is most likely your cup of tea.
As for me i am going to continue being picky with my Wii Points in fear of wasting them and then say Tetris Attack comes out and i have no points at the time.Doing this i save and don't make a mistake with my points like when i got Wario's Woods.Sure Wario's Woods is a great Puzzle game in it's own right but a Recommanded game it is not.If i had to say anything it's a Hummm.... type.
So get a game you know you will like/want and you'll be much much happier.
@WolfLink22: If Nintendo had only put the SNES version of Wario's Woods on VC, you probably would have liked it more. It's much better with not only higher quality graphics and music, but also better controls (more buttons = fewer button + d-pad direction combos!). But I agree with you about impulse buying random downloads. My brother has bought SEVERAL stinkers doing that, while I have nothing but the cream of the crop (and not even all of that just yet).
@MIckeymac-Yep, faces alone can really make a game look ugly. S&P is a good example for VC but one of my favorite games from yonder is unforcunately another one: Skies of Arcadia: Legends. OVerall, the graphics were alright, but some of the faces were pretty retched for a DC/GCN game.
@Stuffgamer1 yeah i think i would have too.I know i like Tetris Attack tho and i hope we get it this year.
But like i said if you liked the first CastleVania then the 3rd one is more for you then the second one was.
If anyone likes weird quirky games, try De Blob. It's actually quite relaxing for a game. And Friday the 13th of February better have some good VC sweetness because that's just a cool date. Maybe they'll give us a horror game like Nightmare on Elm Street. lol
I got Castlevania III, I was thinkin of not cuz I got the original NES cartridge. So
Friday the 13th comes both in February and in March. Cause Resident Evil 5 comes out on Friday the 13th in March. So maybe both those Friday's will be good over there.
@ Mickeymac (#110): "I do agree that the N64 games haven't aged well, but to be honest, I thought those games were ugly back when they were state of the art."
Really? Maybe you just can't remember, or you played the wrong games^^, because i don't believe that you really thought 10 years ago that Ocarina of Time or Banjo-Kazooie looked ugly.
i agree with ness, even when i was twelve i thought that n64 game were pretty ugly with their blocky pointy everything, with the exception of the pokemon stadium games, where the graphics were actually rather smooth. it made me miss sprites so much
Yeah I have component cables for my Wii and a 32'' HD TV. The games look good but the nes ones look awful. Some of the MD ones don't even work!
@Wariofan
I won't flip out when Clayfighter is released. Its not the best fighting game, but I used to play it alot in high school and would probably download again.
So I promise not to flip out that on that monday:)
@Zinjak: I think you mean you agree with Mickeymac. Ness was just quoting Mickeymac's complaint and trying to refute it.
Anyway, I agree on the point that N64 made me miss sprites. PS1 equally so. That's why I'm known in some places for the controversial statement that Final Fantasy VI had better graphics than FFVII. Simple fact is, NES 2D ages MUCH better than N64 3D. There are rare exceptions like Ocarina of Time (and Majora after it, of course), though even those games could do with an amazing remake. Oh, well. It is what it is. I care more about gameplay than graphics, really, but the N64/PS1 era often failed there as well with wonky early-3D controls.
I love the Metroidesque exploration in late Castlevanias but what's up with the grinding and leveling? It's supposed to be an action/adventure!
It bugs me that we have to have either/or - the linear progression of Super Castlevania or Dracula's Curse (even though it has multiple paths), or the lovely exploring, even puzzle solving of some of the GBA Metroidvanias tied down to a boring grind system.
It's so hard to balance a level/exp system: in the beginning, the game is frustrating because you need to hit all enemies like a thousand times to kill them, and in the end you've gone around the areas so many times that you can swat the monsters like flies. What happened to the player's skill improving, not the "level" of the "character"?
Stuff like the hearts in Zelda is OK since you get them as the game progresses, you don't have to re-beat re-spawned enemies in re-explored areas to get them.
My most horrible example yet was Lagoon for the SNES. "Regular enemies" were so scarce and easy (even with your puny sword) that you had to walk around the castles so many times to get to a level where you had even the slightest chance against the bosses.
What happened to the player's skill improving, not the "level" of the "character"?
Rush through the game without hanging around anywhere long to grind. People like these games because if they're wlling to put in the time doing boring grinding, they can make the game as easy as they wish. If you want a hard game, then do the bare minimum of hanging around. My only gripe is that some of the rare items really are rare. I'd like to know how many of the same enemy I have to kill before the item drops - perhaps using a special item to do so.
@2097
You don't have to grind if you don't want to, just kill every enemy that gets in your way and you'll be fine. I actually like the leveling in the Metroidvanias, since it basicly rewards you for exploring (assuming that you're killing enemies while doing so), as well as making it easier to explore old stomping ground.
@Zinjak & Stuffgamer1
I completely agree with both of you on all points.
@2097
People like me like the fulfillment of playing a game where your character gains lots of experience and finds lots of amazing items, while also has a massive area to explore. In this way, Symphony of the Night was the perfect example of this gameplay. As well as having amazing sprites with fluid movement. The problem with the subsequent GBA and DS incernations wasn't the 'grinding' or difficulty, as those were balanced fine. It was that the other elements that were done so well in Symphony of the Night (lots of weapons, items, familiars to find that were all fun to try out) were dumbed down, replaced by gimmicks like Souls or Paintings, etc. And in this way, the game mostly just became a system of hack-n-slash and get to the next boss with no real drive to explore aside from collecting all the mandatory equip items and the most powerful weapon (or in Dawn of Sorrow...nothing to collect at all but Souls and money). And perhaps worst of all, the sprites were vastly limited, even on the DS incarnations. Leaving Alucard's fluid and very versatile gameplay for a slow and clunky attack pattern with all weapons (that most often left you open for attacks with enemies just walking into you mid-swing).
In the end, this turned all the games from SotN on into 'SotN-Lite' games. Because there's just a lack of drive to explore beyond your boundaries and anything more to the game besides what they wanted you to do in the first place. Which is what makes great games (and games like CVIII or SotN) great.
@Bass X0: I'm pretty sure at least one of the Metroidvania games on GBA and/or DS lists number of kills in your bestiary. It can get pretty crazy, going into the hundreds for the jerks with the REALLY rare drops.
As far as leveling goes, I like it in a game because it keeps the difficulty from being totally set (like Bass mentioned). In a game without leveling, there's nothing I can do if I get my butt handed to me in battle but try again and hope I do better. That gets old after a while. Also, I'm a true RPG geek, simply thinking that any games that gives you stats and character improvements based on enemy kills is better than it would be without them. I'm actually very fond of Paper Mario because it has the stats, but it makes them VERY easy to understand. Attack - Defense = Damage. I wish more RPG's made that much sense instead of using numbers that look randomly generated. And games with HP in the thousands is really unnecessary. I like playing classic-style games (most of which ARE on the old side) where you start with 30-some-odd HP and 999 is the max. Just my thing, I guess.
Also, regarding those Metroidvania games further: Each and every one of them gives us anal-retentive completionists HUGE reason to wander around the entire castle, and kill every enemy as many times as it takes to get the bloody item drops... And I don't agree with 2097's view that they get too easy at the end. Actually, it usually seems to me that the enemies are growing in strength disproportionally to my character, in the "higher" range. Which makes improved skill ESSENTIAL! I loved Portrait of Ruin, but stopped playing upon reaching enemies in the Nest of Evil that would be an EXTRA pain in the tush to get item drops from due to having to fight past so many enemies just to get another try. I should really try that again, though. It WAS a great game...
I can't wait to try it I already beat the first Castlevania today, so only Simon's Quest stands between me and this
Piping into that discussion about N64 games, yeah, I had a hard time getting into the visual style of many of them, especially the character models. Ocarina of Time came the closest to tolerable I'd ever seen, and still, they looked kinda creepy.
Otherwise, finally, the gaping hole in Castlevania on the NA VC is filled. I don't know if I prefer this one or IV, but they are both, in my top ten on each respective platform (probably . . .).
I wonder if we'll see the N64 castlevanias. If so I hope they skip the first one as all it is is an unfinished version of the second one.
Instead of the N64 Castlevanias, I hope Nintendo would just focus on releasing more NES and SNES games. Pro Wrestling and Super Mario Kart would be great additions in my opinion.
Pro Wrestling? No way, give me the N64 Castlevania games.
I have fond memories playing Pro Wrestling, it isn't the best game, but it is fun. I love the Back Brain Kick.
Yeah, I'm skipping on the 3D Castlevania's including the N64 ones. To be honest, the only other Castlevania game that I need to come to the VC is Castlevania Bloodlines (hopefully the Genesis version).
Edit: Oh wait, Bloodlines was only released on the Genesis, so I guess I don't have to worry about it.
Edit again: Actually, I might want to give the PS2 ones a shot, they actually sound pretty good.
Edit Thrice: And Kid Dracula(Akumajou Dracula Special: Boku Dracula-kun), we gotta get Kid Dracula over here!
The only thing you have to worry about for Bloodlines is if Nintendo decides to release Generations here instead. Yeah it's the same game, but it's censored. I know europe is probably getting Generations, but I hope we don't have to ...
@136. Cally: the gap is not filled yet, remember, Bloodlines!
@Shadx
Of course NA won't get Generations, it was only for the PAL regions. Personally, I hope they get Bloodlines, even if it has to be an import. Although, AU will probably get the uncensored version of New Generations, since that's what they got in the first place, apparently.
@Shadx
Surely. I just meant staring at the list of Castlevania 1,2 and 4. I've been all, "WHERE'S THREE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!"
It's IGA's (of the "Metroidvania" fame) favorite, which he references all the time with descendant characters like Alucard and Sypha. The optional characters thing was really mind-blowing back then, even if it's debatable which ones are worthwhile (Trevor could pretty much do everything himself anyway). Different Epilogues per character with all the different paths mean four different playthroughs--including lonely Trevor.
I actually liked Sypha, because of her amazingly powerful lightning spell.
RE: N64 graphics:
I don't think N64 graphics have aged well at all either. Most of the games look like a series of 3D triangles and boxes with pixelated faces drawn on them. Sure, the PS1's 3D games don't look so hot by today's standards either, but for some reason, they look more tolaerable despite a lower polygonal count and jaggier look. They too, though, have aged horrendously.
@Mickeymac. Oh yeah! I'd love to see Kid Dracula on VC!
"Whips FTW! Magic WTF?"
I think it's the other way around.
@Shadx
Well, considering the fact that Castlevania 3 had never been rereleased until now, I think it's pretty understandable that you wouldn't have played it before.
@Ricardo91
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, especially for games like Metal Gear Solid and WipEout 3, which aged better than I expected, although they still are pretty hard to look at.
@146. Ricardo91: Meh, I guess so, I've never played one of the Castlevanias that don't use whips, so I guess I can't really judge them, fack it, I'm gonna go delete that comment! FOR THE HORDE! Ha HA! Nopw it looks like you 2 were replying to nothing! Ha HA! (just kidding). I guess magic really is the way to go. It sure is in Secret of Mana ......
@Stuffgamer1 - werd. Fellow RPG n3rd here and I am alone in my love of the "Metroidvania" games among my friends. None of them understand the sense of accomplishment that comes with leveling up or exploring every dark corner of the levels.
@Ricardo-Its because the texture capabilites for the N64 was so poor, (acceptable ones are usually expansion pack-required games)
Here's hoping we get Castlevania: Bloodlines next.
Keep the Castlevania coming Konami!
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