Rondo vs Dracula XX in detail

[termis]

I just youtube'd Drac XX to see what it's like (I never saw it in action), and I was actually pretty impressed.  I dunno about the rest of the game, but the backgrounds and the music were good for lv1.

[awack]

                       pce                                             snes         



pce attack and death                                             


                           snes attack and death
                           


pce                                                 snes

I just youtube'd Drac XX to see what it's like (I never saw it in action), and I was actually pretty impressed.  I dunno about the rest of the game, but the backgrounds and the music were good for lv1.

Drac XX is a pretty impressive game, the type of detail, effects and animation im showing are excellent for a 16bit game and are much better than say Castlevania IV.

Speaking of the 1st level, the fire looks nice but the actual bg structures look a bit exaggerated and goofy to me, looking at the shot below(DracXX) you can see that even though the buildings are at an angle, you can see straight through them, to the bg sky.

Rondo                                              DracXX

[Tatsujin]

the worst thing on drac xx is its sloppy and unfair controlls and that it has no strict line. everything seems so heartless made and botchy. if you have never played drac x, you may have fun with it, otherwise i wouldn't even recommend to touch it.

[esteban]

I have to disagree with Tats. It is worth playing XX, and I think you can have fun with it. It has flaws, yes, but I think many folks would enjoy noticing the differences in the games.

An old member here once described XX as a "remix" of Rondo. I think he had it right when he described things that way, except I'd modify things by saying it was a "budget remix" that lacked the polish, creativity, level design and the Fun Factor* (i.e. Maria!) of Rondo.



To continue the discussion on Dracula XX's merits:

I actually like the burning buildings / wavy land, with all the embers raining down because it achieves its goal rather well: to create the feeling that you are in an inferno, that all hell is breaking loose, and that tension is building...

This is an example of "wavy sfx" contributing to the atmosphere of a stage and not simply being a gimmick, novelty, etc.

And the music in XX is good.

I like XX.


But:

XX can't compare to Rondo. The polish on Rondo was always evident (and awack is providing evidence to bolster the case).

That said, I'm glad we have both games to play.


So...

More comparisons, awack!

[Tatsujin]

except I'd modify things by saying it was a "budget remix" that lacked the polish, creativity, level design and the Fun Factor* (i.e. Maria!) of Rondo.

very right. may be i was a little bit to harsh with my statement, but when i got it first and played it, you may imagine how big the disappointment was written in my face.
the really fun of playing it, is to constantly compare with the almost to  infinite superior drac x.

[Tatsujin]

[awack]

                                     pce death of richter

                                   
                                     snes death of richter
                         


pce                                               snes


pce richter hit by fire                         snes richter hit by fire

[awack]

pce......minotaur boss entrance and death



                               
                            snes minotaur boss entrance and death
                             

[esteban]

               
                            snes minotaur boss entrance and death
                             

Oh dear lord, this isn't funny anymore!

[SignOfZeta]

I agree with esteban. XX, from a gameplay perspective, is almost as good as X. The lack of Maria is the only main gameplay fault. Also, while it lacks the rocking soundtrack of the PCE CD, the one that they did come up with is quite nice.

Until I read this thread I had no idea there was so much animation missing though.

[Black Tiger]

Drac XX isn't just Rondo with less content, the gameplay is slightly broken and the level design works against the intended gameplay. I haven't played XX recently, so I can't get into detail about the problems with the control and collision, but you can get clipped by an enemy at full HP and bounce around with zero control until you die.

It's not a terrible game and it's actually great by linear Castlevania standards, but content aside Rondo is so much better simply gameplay vs gameplay wise.

This comparison is most revealing of not so much what the SNES version lacks, but just how much detail and animation Rondo packs in that most people don't fully appreciate. It's further proof that Rondo really is underappreciated if anything and not overhyped.

[Tom]

Drac XX isn't just Rondo with less content, the gameplay is slightly broken and the level design works against the intended gameplay. I haven't played XX recently, so I can't get into detail about the problems with the control and collision, but you can get clipped by an enemy at full HP and bounce around with zero control until you die.

It's not a terrible game and it's actually great by linear Castlevania standards, but content aside Rondo is so much better simply gameplay vs gameplay wise.

This comparison is most revealing of not so much what the SNES version lacks, but just how much detail and animation Rondo packs in that most people don't fully appreciate. It's further proof that Rondo really is underappreciated if anything and not overhyped.

 I'm just going to quote B_T since he said pretty what I wanted to say about the SNES version.

[Arkhan]

Anyone play the dracula x chronicles for PSP?

Games a frigging masterpiece

[Tatsujin]

              
                            snes minotaur boss entrance and death
                            

Oh dear lord, this isn't funny anymore!

[Tatsujin]

Drac XX isn't just Rondo with less content, the gameplay is slightly broken and the level design works against the intended gameplay. I haven't played XX recently, so I can't get into detail about the problems with the control and collision, but you can get clipped by an enemy at full HP and bounce around with zero control until you die.

It's not a terrible game and it's actually great by linear Castlevania standards, but content aside Rondo is so much better simply gameplay vs gameplay wise.

This comparison is most revealing of not so much what the SNES version lacks, but just how much detail and animation Rondo packs in that most people don't fully appreciate. It's further proof that Rondo really is underappreciated if anything and not overhyped.

 I'm just going to quote B_T since he said pretty what I wanted to say about the SNES version.

and I'm just going to do the same again :!: