(8/29/2015 - 9/04/2015) Game of the Week: Akumajo Dracula X - Chi no Rondo

[SamIAm]

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August 29 - September 4: Akumajo Dracula X - Chi no Rondo
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(chosen by o.pwuaioc)

It almost makes no sense to introduce a game that needs no introduction, yet here it is anyway. Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo was released in 1993 and is the predecessor to Symphony of the Night.

This game is mostly standard Castlevania fare. You play as a whip-wielding Richter or magic-wielding Maria and traverse fairly linear stages to reach Dracula’s castle. However, a few things make it unique. For one, there are multiple paths to take depending on which route in a level you go. It also pioneered the “item crash,” which allows for charging up a sub-weapon for extra damage.

The game is gorgeous with large sprites (check out the Behemoth!) and a great soundtrack. It’s fairly difficult, but not overwhelmingly so. Veterans of Castlevania series will find themselves comfortably at home with the mechanics.

There was a Super Nintendo version of the game that was noticeably inferior, and a PSP remake was released, but I have not played it, since it is in 2.5D, and we all know that is far uglier than 2D.

While the game is in Japanese, it does not really affect gameplay. Still, however, there is a Romhacking patch which apparently uses the PSP version to dub over the original.

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GOTW Schedule:
1. 8/22/2015 - 8/28/2015: Override (lukester)
2. 8/29/2015 - 9/4/2015: Rondo of Blood (o.pwuaioc)
3. 9/5/2015 - 9/11/2015: Street Fighter 2 (Nec.Game.head)
4. 9/12/2015 - 9/18/2015: Bloody Wolf (Gentlegamer)
5. 9/19/2015 - 9/25/2015: Kabuki Itoryodan (Sadler)
6. 9/26/2015 - 10/2/2015: R-Type (crazydean)
7. 10/3/2015 - 10/9/2015: Fray CD: Xak Gaiden (nullity)
8. 10/10/2015 - 10/16/2015: Wizardry 3&4 (BigusSchmuck)
9. 10/17/2015 - 10/23/2015: Lords of Thunder (SamIAm)
10. 10/24/2015 - 10/30/2015: TV Sports Hockey (gredler)
11. 10/31/2015 - 11/6/2015: Blazing Lazers (escarioth)
12. 11/7/2015 - 11/13/2015: Genpei Toumaden (VenomMacbeth)
13. 11/14/2015 - 11/20/2015: Hyper Wars (_joshuaTurbo)
14. 11/21/2015 - 11/27/2015: Drop Off (turboswimbz)
15. 11/28/2015 - 12/4/2015: World Court Tennis (grolt)
16. 12/5/2015 - 12/11/2015: Atlantean (jtucci331)

Rules:
-All members are allowed one submission. When there are no further submissions, we will have a reset and everyone will be able to submit another game.
-Each game may only be submitted once.
-If you wish to retract your submission, please do so at least two weeks before your game is due. Your next submission will go to the back of the cue.
-Please don't submit games that have a high language barrier or will take too long to complete (particularly RPGs).

[SamIAm]

Many thanks to o.pwuaioc and lukester for writing the blurbs for their respective GOTW! It makes my job easier and it results in better blurbs.

I'll only add that I know a lot of you have played Rondo of Blood just about to death. We've all done that with some of our favorite games. Well, now is a good time to revisit the game and take the path you rarely take. It's also the perfect chance to reflect on little things that you love in the game, and share those things to get more people excited about it on a deeper level.

In short, no excuses! Play!

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In other news, there is plenty of room (unlimited room, really) for new submissions. Don't be shy.

I fixed a date problem with crazydean's submission, and I also did a little switcheroo with jtucci31's submission since he wanted to change it.

[wildfruit]

Looks like I'll have to bring the wii out of hiatus for this on Monday morning.

[grolt]

I'd love to be able to play this on the Turbo hardware but with the English patch.  I see that there are BIN/CUEs of this patched game available, but I haven't burned a disc like that since I was a teenager with little disposable income in the Dreamcast days.  Is there some kind of method or tutorial for burning TG-CD games?  Naturally, I buy the physical copies of every game, but for patched ones like this and the amazing-looking Ys IV I'd sure love to be able to play those without emulation.  Sorry if this is off-limits to talk about here or if there are already threads addressing this - quick searches have proved fruitless.

[esteban]

 

[grolt]

Yep, definitely an import.

[Gentlegamer]

I'd love to be able to play this on the Turbo hardware but with the English patch.  I see that there are BIN/CUEs of this patched game available, but I haven't burned a disc like that since I was a teenager with little disposable income in the Dreamcast days.  Is there some kind of method or tutorial for burning TG-CD games?  Naturally, I buy the physical copies of every game, but for patched ones like this and the amazing-looking Ys IV I'd sure love to be able to play those without emulation.  Sorry if this is off-limits to talk about here or if there are already threads addressing this - quick searches have proved fruitless.

Use ImgBurn, burn at slowest available speed.

[lukester]

Looks like I'll have to bring the wii out of hiatus for this on Monday morning.

That's what I'm playing it on too.

It's fun replaying this game, finding all the secrets like before.

There's so much attention to detail it's astounding.

I never noticed before that when Death changes his cloak to brown, he spits before he flies at you.

This, New Adventure Island, Bonk 1 and 2, Parasol Stars, Ninja Spirit, and Legendary Axe I and II are the A list platformers for the system.

[o.pwuaioc]

Who's else is playing this? I hope I made an all-right choice. This GotW gives me a good chance to play through all the way on real hardware.

[esteban]

Who's else is playing this? I hope I made an all-right choice. This GotW gives me a good chance to play through all the way on real hardware.

I will be playing it once I beat Override (I have the damn game in a box somewhere).

Or, maybe I'll just play Dracula X now.

[pulstar]

I'll be playing this week. Good excuse to play through again.

[Gentlegamer]

I'll have to use this week to revisit my stalled save game. I'm at the last stage, but it's tough.

[lukester]

Got the 100% with Richter. However, I used Maria for Stage 5' since it was very tough.

It's the perfect Castlevania game.

[Gentlegamer]

You have to use only Richter or you're a filthy casul.

[lukester]

You have to use only Richter or you're a filthy casul.

Did that a few years ago, so whatever.

I'll give it another go later.