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

[Bardoly]

I played through and beat this game over the last two days.  I tried to do a Richter-only run, but a couple of the stages were quite brutal, so I wimped out and let Maria take 'em down.  After finally getting to Dracula, I did go ahead and beat him with both characters.  Now I just need to go back and 100% this game.

[SamIAm]

100%

[jtucci31]

Best part of the game

[Necromancer]

My favorite part is Maria's cute and funny tantrum slide.

[ccovell]

Best part of the game

... because it proves that he really is German?

"3"

[technozombie]

I 100%'ed this game around Christmas of last year. I never figured out how to do Maria's move demonstrated in the special video though. I didn't have too much trouble with the Minotaur but the Boss rush part took me quite a while.

[Gredler]

Best part of the game

"Drei Würstchen bitte!"

[grolt]

I was able to give this a go last night thanks to Lost Monkey sending me over a copy of the patched game.  It actually played well on my system, much better than the burns I've been doing for Ys IV, which leads me to believe either my media is bad (likely) or I am doing something wrong in the burning process (less likely).

As for the game, I've always found the 2D Castlevanias to be clunky (limited attack directions, having to "engage" with the stairs before you can slowly walk up them) and this one continues that trend, but the presentation is just so beautiful it's really easy to overlook the archaic NES-era gameplay.  They have an excellent Save/Menu system that makes it easy to play the game in chunks and work away at your progress.  I'm not very far, only 24%, but I've enjoyed what I've played so far.  The way the cut scenes and the presentation works in seamlessly with the gameplay is beautiful and ahead of its time.  Shame Nintendo's strong arm policy towards third-party developers robbed us from getting a legit release of this game in NA.

[Damon Plus]

I don't have the Turbo original. However, I managed to play it and understand why so many people were disappointed by Dracula X. The name is very appropiate, as they rollaly f***** up the game! The original version was one of the best castlevanias in the entire series.

[o.pwuaioc]

As for the game, I've always found the 2D Castlevanias to be clunky (limited attack directions, having to "engage" with the stairs before you can slowly walk up them) and this one continues that trend, but the presentation is just so beautiful it's really easy to overlook the archaic NES-era gameplay.

The only complaint I really have concerning "archaic NES-era gameplay" is actually also a fault with the PC Engine: pressing up and attack for the sub-weapon. Unfortunately, the PCE launched with only two button controllers, so that's what we were stuck with, but I think it would have been much better if it had a three button controller and that third button in Dracula X was the sub-weapon.

[Gentlegamer]

Pressing up and attack for sub-weapon lets you spam whip while also using the sub-weapon.

[johnnykonami]

I like pressing up and attack for the subweapon too.  I've been playing since Castlevania 1 so it feels pretty natural to me!

[munchiaz]

I was playing with Ricter and tried to do an item crash and accidently reset my pc duo r.....so I picked Maria and bodied the game

[seieienbu]

100% but a couple of days late.  Oh well, at least I could finish it while it was still relevant at least.  Dracula X is always satisfying to play and this time was no different.

[grolt]

Pressing up and attack for sub-weapon lets you spam whip while also using the sub-weapon.

That's cool but my problem is that whenever I am doing some tough plat forming or jumping I tend to accidentally hit up and attack and will often waste the sub-weapon unintentionally.