Castlevania: Bloodlines - Can it compare to Super Castlevania IV? (Sega Genesis) | Cannot be Tamed

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  • Опубликовано: 7 янв 2025
  • Today I'm reviewing the only Castlevania game made specifically for a Sega console? Is it a good entry in the series? How does it compare to its Super Nintendo counterpart? Watch to find out.
    #SegaGenesis #Castlevania #Bloodlines
    Castlevania: Bloodlines was played on a model 2 Genesis using a MegaSD cart and recorded on a AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus. Music comes from the game soundtrack.
    If you're interested in the Mega SD, you can fine one here *affiliate link*: stoneagegamer....
    Intro artwork, logo and banner by: @theMagdalenRose
    "Cantina Blues" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
    Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
    creativecommons...

Комментарии • 1,5 тыс.

  • @OnlyGamingClips
    @OnlyGamingClips Год назад +21

    I honestly prefer Bloodlines over Super Castlevania 4. I have both collections on Switch and I always find myself playing a run as Eric LaCarde. I prefer the speed of Bloodlines to S. CVania 4. But after I got the Advance Collection, I'm either playing Circle of the Moon, or Aria of Sorow.

  • @DanielHuman1996
    @DanielHuman1996 3 года назад +210

    I love when Pam goes goth, Mistress of the Dark!

    • @1989Ezal
      @1989Ezal 3 года назад +15

      Elvira is Mistress of the dark.

    • @EffySalcedo
      @EffySalcedo 3 года назад +7

      yes 👏👏 Pam got it 😁

    • @mrtwit5212
      @mrtwit5212 3 года назад +3

      Hey Pam...ever thought of doing old scary movie reviews?

  • @ryanspengler4877
    @ryanspengler4877 3 года назад +403

    This is the Pam the world needs... Pamsylvania...🧛‍♀️

  • @RickyHadou
    @RickyHadou 3 года назад +25

    Bloodlines was my first Castlevania and it’s my favorite till this day. The soundtrack is what enticed me to this game and I’m forever grateful .

  • @indeimaus
    @indeimaus 3 года назад +169

    the ol' youtube recommends a random video and it turns out to be fantastic bit!

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +27

      Thanks for checking it out, welcome to the channel!

    • @reptilez13
      @reptilez13 3 года назад +1

      Of all people its Indiemaus!! Crazy lol

    • @LuxxVeritas
      @LuxxVeritas 3 года назад

      IKR! How’d you sneak into my feed🤔 especially when I’m always “don’t recommend”-ing everything😂

    • @andreasaristidou2578
      @andreasaristidou2578 3 года назад

      Had the same feeling! Great video

    • @metalagent47
      @metalagent47 3 года назад

      same

  • @Levitz9
    @Levitz9 3 года назад +20

    IIRC, this was Michiru Yamane's first game where she served as a composer! I love her music. She went on to compose for the Kingdom Hearts games.

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +14

      Yoko Shimomura is the Kingdom Hearts composer (and also the best soundtrack, Parasite Eve). Michiru Yamane mainly composed Konami games (Suikoden, Symphony of the Night).

  • @Pan_Z
    @Pan_Z 3 года назад +22

    0:53 Elizabeth Bartley is supposed to be Elizabeth Báthory. In Japanese her name is written as バートリー (Baatorii). The translator probably didn't make the connection.

  • @SECONDQUEST
    @SECONDQUEST 3 года назад +44

    I love Bloodlines, was one of the first castlevanias I played as a kid. I really enjoy playing Eric, the sounds of his charge jump is very nostalgic. I also liked to show friends the spear spin you can do by attacking and pressing left and right back and forth. Sorta useless but really flashy for the time

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +20

      I never even realized that was a move for Eric in the time I played him.

    • @MrPantera1987
      @MrPantera1987 3 года назад +1

      Played a while ago, but I think it's useful for defending against thingies thrown by some enemies at ya.

  • @spriles
    @spriles 3 года назад +10

    Pam, you're killing me. You did the music dirty! Reincarnated Soul, Old Sinking Sanctuary, Iron Blue Intention, Calling From Heaven are amazing!

  • @RON_FBG
    @RON_FBG 3 года назад +16

    I personally liked bloodlines better than super castlevania 4

  • @hungrygoriya
    @hungrygoriya 3 года назад +8

    The whip noise is so strange in Bloodlines... I found it really distracting. I appreciated your insights here... nice work!

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +6

      Thanks! some Genesis sound effects are just awful.

    • @jaytpmc
      @jaytpmc 3 года назад

      The ONLY issue with the game

  • @shotoclone6315
    @shotoclone6315 3 года назад +48

    "Looks arent everything"
    Sure... Miss high cheekbones & dreamy eyes, with an enchanting buxom goth look.

  • @davezanko9051
    @davezanko9051 3 года назад +7

    Ends by saying "looks aren't everything", all while dressed up in a very appropriate (and very stunning) outfit. Love the sense of humor behind that. One of the reasons this is such a great channel.

  • @tk848
    @tk848 3 года назад +16

    Wow what a coincidence. I've been playing Bloodlines the last few days. It's included in the Castlevania Collection on PS4.

    • @kadosho02
      @kadosho02 3 года назад

      How does it play within the collection? Thought about buying it, if it was ever on sale 🦇

    • @tk848
      @tk848 3 года назад +1

      @@kadosho02 it plays really well. I bought it about a month ago for 7.99. I'm not sure if that price is still the same.

    • @dextersbeard3472
      @dextersbeard3472 3 года назад

      @@kadosho02 it plays great you can get a physical edition of the collection on limited run games website

    • @kadosho02
      @kadosho02 3 года назад

      @@dextersbeard3472 I'm good, bought the digital version on sale. The waiting with LRG, kinda bugs me. Great product, and price though. Just the whole 3-4 months (who knows how long) till it arrives

  • @mattecandini9066
    @mattecandini9066 3 года назад +39

    Bloodlines is unique, addictive, dual character, custom-programmed for the megadrive. An absolute masterpiece

    • @worsethanhitlerpt.2539
      @worsethanhitlerpt.2539 11 месяцев назад

      Its way shorter than the SNES version and the quality is pretty crap though the first 3 levels are psychedelic and very cool

  • @RyanLeCocq
    @RyanLeCocq 3 года назад +64

    Anytime I open up my subs panel and see you dressed up, I’m like “Oh hell yeah, it must be vampires!”

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +43

      My one reason to dress up!

    • @YDwelve
      @YDwelve 3 года назад +17

      @@Cannotbetamed1 Dress up or... drop the disguise? O_o

    • @mrmagoo-i2l
      @mrmagoo-i2l 3 года назад +4

      @@YDwelve I knew it, they walk among us.
      Aaaaggghhh.

  • @TheMultiGunMan
    @TheMultiGunMan 3 года назад +11

    I was a HUGE Sega Genesis guy when I was a teenager (the Genesis and SNES were the two big consoles back in my teen years). Thank you for doing this video. Please do more Sega Genesis videos.

  • @ErinPlays
    @ErinPlays 3 года назад +9

    Your outfit is so on point for this review! And even though I love this game, I do agree with you about the skies being a bit ugly. Great review as always and thanks for the shout out!

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +3

      Thank you! Your video on the meanest parts really helped me out.

    • @ErinPlays
      @ErinPlays 3 года назад +1

      @@Cannotbetamed1 yay! I’m so glad 😄

  • @Bojanglez667
    @Bojanglez667 3 года назад +7

    Nice video, I have very fond memories of this game from childhood, which is why I find this one to be almost my favorite, only being eclipsed by Castlevania III.

  • @cnk9822
    @cnk9822 3 года назад +20

    The funny thing about this game is that it combines the story of the Dracula books by Bram Stoker for some reason.

    • @MrLtia1234
      @MrLtia1234 3 года назад +1

      yeah, from this point the original Dracula became Castlevania canon! :-)

  • @fredericnouri2016
    @fredericnouri2016 3 года назад +14

    16-bit speaking, I think Super Castlevania IV was the best possible showcase of what the Super Nintendo was capable of.
    I played Bloodlines recently though and it's a great title.
    I love your videos my dear !

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +2

      Thank you!

    • @DesertRainReads
      @DesertRainReads 3 года назад +2

      At the time, absolutely, and SCIV is still a masterpiece. Bloodlines is a fantastic game too, but SCIV is an absolute classic.

    • @charlesgraves2147
      @charlesgraves2147 2 года назад

      I think the R-Type series showed of the most graphically. But this was a dope game too.

  • @SECONDQUEST
    @SECONDQUEST 3 года назад +65

    Aww. Bloodlines has some of my favorite tunes.

    • @NintenDub
      @NintenDub 3 года назад

      You bet your fuggin ass. The genesis was a horrendously programmed mess by devs resulting in diarrhea sound and music 80% of the time.absolute dogshit. This game is the pinnacle genesis music. In instrumentation, samples,m and composition. Above phantasy star and a lot of the other touted musical gems. The genesis has digshit music. And bloodlines music seems like it was programmed by something not human

    • @gypate74
      @gypate74 3 года назад +4

      Same composer as symphony of the night, a really talented woman.

    • @willthomas2310
      @willthomas2310 3 года назад +10

      @@NintenDub I disagree! When people make statements like that, it's clear to me they didn't play many genesis games growing up or at all. When it came to american composed games, they usually left much to be desired. Japanese composed games worked magic around the genesis soundchip, cause they used a entirely different programming system for the music. Listen to the Sonic franchise, shinobi franchise, Thunder force franchise, SOR franchise, Dynamite headdy, Gunstar heroes, Midnight resistance, Gauntlet 4, Devilish, Musha, Ristar, capt America & The avengers... just to name a few. All had sum of the hottest soundtracks in the 16 bit generation

    • @kingboobs20
      @kingboobs20 3 года назад +4

      @@NintenDub Here have a downvote.

    • @clarencegutsy7309
      @clarencegutsy7309 3 года назад +4

      @@willthomas2310 Love to see someone else recognize how good Gauntlet 4's music was.

  • @nathanixslade
    @nathanixslade 3 года назад +5

    Very professional and honest review like i see in Metal Jesus channel. keep the good work, youtube needs more channels like this.

  • @philosophyoftrucking
    @philosophyoftrucking 2 года назад +5

    First rule of sexy Pam: don’t talk about sexy Pam.

  • @evanseifert8858
    @evanseifert8858 3 года назад +6

    I kind of like the limitations on diagonal attacks. The eight-way whip really overshadowed the subweapons in 4, so it makes sense that they wanted to tone it down.

    • @biged3561
      @biged3561 3 года назад

      I agree the whip had too much freedom and didn’t compensate the enemies for the changes and made getting the sub weapons almost pointless

  • @gleng8125
    @gleng8125 3 года назад +27

    Move over Elvira! Love when Pam gets her Vamp on 🧛‍♀️

  • @Wildseven88
    @Wildseven88 3 года назад +8

    Absolutely love this game and its music. It was my first Castlevania and have so many happy memories sat in front of the Megadrive as a kid trying to beat this!

  • @popcornchokes84
    @popcornchokes84 3 года назад +8

    Pumped for some Castlevania during my lunch break. Thanks!

  • @godzillagorilla986
    @godzillagorilla986 3 года назад +11

    I've literally learned more in this review that the last 20 years of reviews. I'm not sure how others left SO MUCH out.
    You're criticisms were fair enough. No diagonal whip slash. Bad backgrounds. Crappy sound effects. But all in all, still a pretty good game.
    Now, what about Rhondo of blood??? And it's comparisons?

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +5

      I still need to play that one.

    • @InsidiousOne
      @InsidiousOne 3 года назад

      Dracula X for SNES is way underrated.

  • @markwayman8260
    @markwayman8260 3 года назад +2

    I'm playing this for the first time currently. I'm enjoying it. Thanks for your video! 😊

  • @destructiveforce7943
    @destructiveforce7943 3 года назад +8

    Man, I loved bloodlines. It's one of my favorite Castlevania games. LeCarde was my favorite character. He also has a move that allows him to spin the staff, damaging anything in front of him, above him, and then the opposite direction, and sometime striking things multiple times as the staff spins (my favorite move).

    • @worsethanhitlerpt.2539
      @worsethanhitlerpt.2539 Год назад

      The SNES version is way longer with better graphics and music. Bloodlines is OK but its kinda dumb the animation on the characters is jerky and the special FX are not
      very impressive

    • @Jo_Ta
      @Jo_Ta 6 месяцев назад

      @@worsethanhitlerpt.2539 More pixelated, best sound but worse soundtrack, less smoother playability, too easy and worse performance. On the other part, the FX are different, not better or worse. Both are great games but Super Castlevania IV has more name than game.

  • @mkendall8393
    @mkendall8393 3 года назад +1

    Here because of a RUclips recommendation as well. For once they were spot on. You are more professional than most reviewers. Great job and subscribed as well! Keep it up great content!

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +1

      Thanks so much, welcome to the channel

  • @hemangchauhan2864
    @hemangchauhan2864 3 года назад +19

    Banger OST.
    Main theme is one of the best in the series.

    • @limen008
      @limen008 3 года назад +6

      I feel like the last stage music "Calling From Heaven" is criminally underrated

    • @RockoEstalon
      @RockoEstalon 3 года назад +2

      I found weird the criticism of the Sountrack. Reincarnated Soul, The Sinking Old Sanctuary , Calling From Heaven and, obviously, Iron Blue Intention are great tracks. The only track I would call weak is The Prayer of a Tragic Queen. The Discolored Wall (Stage 3) is also a little lacking but that's more like an ambiance track.
      Obviously, Michiru Yamane would outdo herself a few years later in Symphony of the Night.

  • @slappymcphee
    @slappymcphee 3 года назад +1

    So glad that I found your channel. Have been digging through your back catalog and your intonation along with facial expressions show that you are working to be engaging. Truly a pleasure to view.

  • @seblastoise9332
    @seblastoise9332 3 года назад +12

    Finally unlocked "Goth Pam" outfit! I love it!

  • @mikhailkrauser9255
    @mikhailkrauser9255 3 года назад +1

    Great video, great thumbnail. Something about this video feels much more grounded/grass roots than heavily over produced content, while still having really good quality and effort put in. It's refreshing for sure. Keep up the good work!

  • @lopoisaac
    @lopoisaac 3 года назад +7

    I'm impressed by some effects in this game, like the fake reflections and the rotation of the sprites (even the snes needed the Super FX chip!). I suspect the reason of the lack of detail in the backgrounds could be due to all these sprites and effects on the screen (maybe the developers decided to simplify in order to gain speed?). Thanks for the extensive review Pam, you're the best!

    • @Prizrak-hv6qk
      @Prizrak-hv6qk 3 года назад +4

      Yes. Some of those special effects are very costly. Plus, it's only an 8 mbit cart, which is pretty low for a game with such level variety. Shinobi 3 is also an 8 mbit cart but that game mostly avoids the gimmicky special effects, choosing to maintain a constant level of excellent sprite and background detail throughout. Gunstar Heroes had the effects AND detail on an 8 mbit cart, but Treasure were simply wizards with the Genesis, so that doesn't count. :) Konami were no slouches either though. I am guessing that Bloodlines was probably rushed to meet the 1993 xmas season. It's telling that the US version came out first, in December of 1993.

    • @davidaitken8503
      @davidaitken8503 3 года назад +1

      I honestly always thought the effects in this game looked really cheesy. My brother actually thought the reflections in the water weren't displaying properly on his emulator. The first level of Sparkster for the SNES does this effect far better. Where are there sprites rotating anywhere in this game? It's been a while since I played through it but I don't think there are any.

    • @Prizrak-hv6qk
      @Prizrak-hv6qk 3 года назад +2

      @@davidaitken8503 The reflection does look slightly better on the SNES because they applied a transparent layer over it. The Genesis obviously doesn't do true transparencies, so they couldn't do it there, making it look a bit less impressive. On the other hand, the Genesis effect is a bit more technically impressive simply because transparency moves to mimic the water swaying. I don't know why your brother thought that it looked "broken". Maybe his emulator was indeed shitty. Then again, it does looks A LOT better on a CRT as opposed to modern displays. It was pretty amazing back in the day. There is sprite and background rotation effects all over this game. For an obvious example of sprite rotation, check out the big statue head that rolls to the side as you hit it, on the "reflection level". Seamless sprite rotation done in software. I do agree that a lot of the effects in this games, while being very impressive during the xmas or 93, look a bit gimmicky now. The game would've aged better if they invested into more traditional graphics detail and animation instead of all the (then) cool special effects.

    • @davidaitken8503
      @davidaitken8503 3 года назад +1

      @@Prizrak-hv6qk My criticisms of the graphic effects are in comparison to other games of the era, including Super Castlevania 4. I'm not unfairly comparing it to some newer game nor am I dissing games from this era in general as they are some of my favorites. Though I didn't get the opportunity to play Bloodlines on original hardware, I grew up on 8 and 16 bit game systems and have seen plenty of games on NES, Turbo Grafx 16, Sega Genesis, and Super Nintendo on a CRT the way they were intended. The water bobbing up and down is part of the reason it looks so cheesy. It doesn't really make sense, and the vertical line heavy pillars in the scene doesn't help matters.
      I hate to tell you this, but that big statue head is not using sprite rotation in any form. They are just shifting horizontal and vertical lines a bit. This is the same way they pull off the even cheesier wobbling tower that has the center of the screen as its' central axis and not the base of the tower as it should. If you want to see what the effect should actually look like with proper rotation that actually affects gameplay, you should play the introductory level of Super Metroid. While escaping the space station, the tower starts to sway from side to side. It's very cool.
      Every time someone claims a Genesis game is using rotation effects of some kind, it seems like it's usually just the horizontal and vertical line shift trick. It isn't particularly hard to do and it offers extremely limited range because you can only shift things a little bit off before the image falls apart. It isn't rotation, just a little bit of wobble. The first level boss of Contra 3 and the helicopter in Time Trax are examples of some of this image manipulation on SNES. Mega Turrican on the Genesis actually has some sprite rotation, scaling, and even mozaic effects in it, but that is done by the master coders at Factor 5. No one else can even come close.

    • @Prizrak-hv6qk
      @Prizrak-hv6qk 3 года назад +1

      @@davidaitken8503 I don't get your point. Of course none of the Genesis games have true sprite or background rotation and scaling. It's just not something that the Genesis VDP had built into it. So, every time you see it in a Genesis game, it is simulated using various software tricks. However, some devs did make it look pretty convincing/seamless. The stock SNES couldn't do sprite rotation (or scaling) either... only background. They often used the trick of switching a sprite to a background tile and rotating that, in order to make it looks like a sprite is scaling or rotating. I am very aware of Super Metroid. For (simulated) rotation that effects the gameplay on the Genesis, check out the bonus stages in Sonic 1. Red Zone rotated the whole play area and Panorama Cotton has scaling and rotation effects all over the place. Anyway, I rented Bloodlines when it came out, long after I had a SNES as well and I still found it to be a pretty impressive looking game. The graphics had a lot more depth to them on a CRT than you get with an emulator on an LCD. Some Genesis games are just like that. Off the top of my head, Alisia Dragoon is another really good example of a Genesis game that suffers greatly from being played on an LCD now.

  • @icelevel2437
    @icelevel2437 6 месяцев назад +1

    Very informative vid thank you. Looking forward to giving this a try in the Anniversary Collection as Portrait of Ruin is my favourite game and I am going through each game.

  • @fenomozo9108
    @fenomozo9108 3 года назад +7

    I get the visual critique and the sfx one too, but the music is pretty memorable!!

    • @davidaitken8503
      @davidaitken8503 3 года назад +1

      No old school Castlevania game has bad music but I would definitely put this behind Castlevania 1, 2, 3, 4, and Rondo of Blood.

  • @CastleKingside
    @CastleKingside Год назад +1

    I remember having fun with this game.
    Didn't notice how bad those backgrounds were until you mentioned it.

  • @PheonixKnght
    @PheonixKnght 3 года назад +20

    Always love seeing you dressed up talking about vampires.

  • @JoshuaJacobs83
    @JoshuaJacobs83 3 года назад +1

    So glad RUclips recommended this video. I lost my channel a while back and forgot the name of your channel. Great videos as always

  • @thiagodeandradeneves4585
    @thiagodeandradeneves4585 3 года назад +15

    Love this game, always played with Eric.
    Oh, and you look extra classy as Castlevania Pam 🦇🍷

  • @mukepon.
    @mukepon. 3 года назад +1

    Thank you for always having a fun video😊

  • @michaeljoseph9390
    @michaeljoseph9390 3 года назад +9

    1- I had never heard of Elizabeth Báthory before you mentioned her in this video. Her story was fascinating.
    2- your shirt has the perfect gothic vibe for this review.

    • @mrmagoo-i2l
      @mrmagoo-i2l 3 года назад

      Theres a Biographics RUclips video about her, one of the better ones. Caligula is pretty good as well.

  • @weezking
    @weezking 3 года назад +1

    RUclips sneaked you into my feed and well, for the first time did not disappoint. I saw "Castlevania review" and I said "Don'tmind if I do !" . Great video and will definitely check out the rest of your video's.

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +2

      Thanks so much, welcome to the channel!

  • @BB-te8tc
    @BB-te8tc 3 года назад +34

    I loved Konami's Sega Genesis output. Everything felt like an alternate universe take on a hit SNES game. Can only imagine what a Metal gear game would look like on the Genesis.

    • @candmmi
      @candmmi 3 года назад +11

      Contra Hard Corps beats Contra 3 hands down

    • @mrlaidback83
      @mrlaidback83 3 года назад +7

      @@candmmi tell me about it. I especially hated the nauseating, rotating overhead levels.

    • @davidaitken8503
      @davidaitken8503 3 года назад +2

      @@candmmi Nope. Not even close. Like Bloodlines, Contra Hard Corps felt like a big step backward from the SNES game, not only in visuals and audio, but especially with the much more limited control.

    • @davidaitken8503
      @davidaitken8503 3 года назад +2

      @@mrlaidback83 It's hilarious how Sega fanboys always bash the overhead levels of Contra 3 even though they were excellent additions to the game, much like the hallway levels in the original Contra and the overhead levels in Super C. Contra 3 is a bonafide masterpiece.

    • @mrlaidback83
      @mrlaidback83 3 года назад +7

      @@davidaitken8503 You sound exactly like a Nintendo fan boy calling me a Sega Fan boy just because because of a difference in opinion. Contra 3 may be a masterpiece to you but not to me. I had a lot more fun with Contra Hard Corps and so therefore, it's definitely the better game imho.

  • @itsalolmor
    @itsalolmor 3 года назад +2

    The production value on your channel has improved tremendously, congrats! And thanks for the video!

  • @belmontlegionplays3853
    @belmontlegionplays3853 3 года назад +8

    Bloodlines has one of the best genesis soundtracks that can stand on its own but it just happens to be paired with an awesome Castlevania game.

    • @upgamerFranzo
      @upgamerFranzo 3 года назад

      Similar to how Eric is a spaniard, and his surname was probably meant to be Ricardo rather than the French-sounding Lecarde.

  • @Herugor
    @Herugor 3 года назад +1

    Great analysis. There aren't many people on youtube pointing out the parts of a great game that they don't like. Instant sub.

  • @GameSack
    @GameSack 3 года назад +10

    I disagree with some of your criticisms, but you know what? That's OK! It's a videogame. I'm more likely to criticize the wonky stair-walking animation where the characters themselves do not place their feet on the top of the stairs. Also the goofy walking animations in general. It seems like your main complain was the skies. And there's no accounting for taste when it comes to music. While I love Bloody Tears, Vampire Killer, and Beginning (the 3 standout tunes from the original 8-bit games) I love the "new" stuff even more, and that goes for Super Castlevania IV as well. I've always considered Eric as the game's "Easy Mode" but it's worth it to play through the game with both characters as there are (very small) parts of the game you'll see with Eric that you won't see with John. I'm glad that you had fun with the game! Everyone should play it.

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +2

      There were more dull looking levels that I didn't mention, the clockwork and pistons were quite plain in their design. But overall, the looks aren't as important as how fun it was and how good the movement controls are. I probably should have played with Eric first.

  • @anthonywheeler2082
    @anthonywheeler2082 3 года назад +1

    I'm glad you're reviewing more Castlevania games. I always appreciate your reviews and how you never hold back.

  • @Miicrowahvei
    @Miicrowahvei 3 года назад +3

    I never thought the backgrounds were plain or ugly, quite the opposite. I like a lot of black also, like in NES games, because it's mysterious. For those who do think the backgrounds are plain, fortunately the examples in this video belong to segments that take up only a little bit of the game.

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +1

      No, the plain and ugly backgrounds make up about half of the levels.

    • @aryinc
      @aryinc 3 года назад

      makes it look like a nes game in that regards or one of those instances where a genesis game gets ported over to the mastersystem. Like it shows it's struggle with colour. I also tought bloodlines looked quite beutifull, bloodlines definitely looks better then the europe version but then i saw shinobi 3 aggainst it and good god. My brother once had the europe version but he's and impulse seller sometimes. Now goes up towards 2/300 in stores. Tough some things this castelvania does are technical marvels, like the tower of pisa. But could have been done better i agree, they could have done more.

  • @JessesAuditorium
    @JessesAuditorium 3 года назад +1

    The color matching doesn't go unnoticed 🩸

  • @skijumpnose
    @skijumpnose 3 года назад +7

    Forgot to say i love the soundtrack of this game and cool that you mentioned Gunstar Heroes! One of the best Genesis games.

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +3

      I played some Gunstar Heroes to get the footage I used in this and I did so badly at it. I could not remember how to pick up items, and wasn't planning on playing long enough to bother figuring it out.

  • @z0ktwf680
    @z0ktwf680 Год назад +1

    i liked both castlevanias, but in Bloodlines i prefeer to play as Eric for the same reason, John whip i feel the frames it have its delay its too quick, so made it a bit hard to use.
    Super Castlevania IV i liked a lot the whip mechanics and the frames of it attack it have the perfect delay, but enemies are so basic that they are just a piece of cake, even bosses.
    Now, i didnt know you can use john whip in different angles the first time i played it because i got my game without instructions manual so i played the game entirely without it, after figuring out you can whip in different angles i found out it wasnt like SCV iv i was getting hit way more times than jump and whip way, in other hand in-game you dont have hints you could use your whip on the ceilings or in other ways, so basically you can live without even using those features, but if you play as Eric you find its easier to use the spear as it also can attack in different angles and with a good delay on its frames, do a spinning spear, and the jump that its better than swinging on ceilings.
    Castlevania IV sadly main problem its the difficulty, enemies are like if they were ported directly from the NES and not reworked around the new whip mechanics (unlike blood lines where enemies have a better ai), so having enemies with the basic AI like the Old NES games agaisnt your new whip mechanics wouldnt be a hard game, it feels like they worried more about in the graphics and effect deparment than gameplay. only true menace in this game are the jumps and the spike traps (and ouf couce knocked back by medusas)

  • @LameDadRetroGamer
    @LameDadRetroGamer 3 года назад +6

    One of my favorite series. The older 2d style platforming games are true masterpieces. Great video

  • @devmag52
    @devmag52 3 года назад +2

    I just discovered your channel in my search for Shining Force history and reviews. Lucky me!

  • @briandaniel7514
    @briandaniel7514 3 года назад +8

    Castlevania will always be one of my all time favorite games ever... The original castlevania was the third game I ever owned and symphony of the night is still one of, if not, my favorite games ever...

    • @atranfanatic
      @atranfanatic 3 года назад

      Rondo Of Blood here, but Symphony comes in second.

  • @eidolon0170
    @eidolon0170 3 года назад +1

    Glad I found you! Great video. I could watch you talk about Castlevania forever tbh. Keep up the quality content.✌️

  • @Leeon_King
    @Leeon_King 3 года назад +6

    3:11 I can just feel the frustration in those swings lol

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +6

      haha, I was questioning if I was just bad at the controls or if diagonal swings weren't an option.

  • @GeorgiaRidgerunner
    @GeorgiaRidgerunner 2 года назад +2

    Bloodlines and scv4 are my favorite castlevania games of the 16 bit era

  • @rhyss4761
    @rhyss4761 3 года назад +12

    I'm drinking the blood of nostalgia and I can't stop!

  • @ricardocosta4694
    @ricardocosta4694 3 года назад +1

    Congrats! That's a very nice theme to talk about!!!

  • @AutismFamilyChannel
    @AutismFamilyChannel 3 года назад +16

    This game often gets overshadowed by it's Super Nintendo counterpart, but I feel that its soundtrack is superior, having two characters to choose from is better, and the locales are more varied. #4 does have better character mobility and actions, but there's just something about Bloodlines that makes it more replayable to me.

    • @MegaAshWilliams
      @MegaAshWilliams 3 года назад +1

      Sega. SEGA. We've got Sega here.... See, nobody cares.

    • @generaftery9351
      @generaftery9351 3 года назад +2

      Everything you said. I like to play up until munitions factory just to hear iron blue intention. I never grow tired of that track. This and the first game are my favorites. If i have to hear one more time about 4's amazing multi-directional whipping, and Symphony being the best installment I'll vomit. NES Castlevania, Rondo, Chronicles and Bloodlines are my personal favorites. They're all tied for first place. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

    • @AutismFamilyChannel
      @AutismFamilyChannel 3 года назад +1

      @@generaftery9351 Yes, sometimes the metroidvania aspect of newer Castlevania's feels daunting and not as repayable to me. Sometimes I just like to spend one afternoon in the castle and call it a day, rather than a weeklong adventure...which is also great, just a bit too much sometimes.

    • @ricsim78
      @ricsim78 3 года назад +1

      Better soundtrack than Super Castlevania 4? LOL no way. It is good but Super Castlevania is by far the better game with a superior soundtrack. To each their own, I guess. I actually do not like Bloodlines much, the bosses are cool, as is some of the graphic effects. But the characters, the animations of John, the fact he is not even a damn Belmont, and the control limitations are horrible. The Genesis color limitation rears its head again, but graphics are really good.

    • @partycity1113
      @partycity1113 3 года назад

      @@MegaAshWilliams who ask you WHO ASK you see no ask you

  • @mobb82
    @mobb82 3 года назад +1

    RUclips recommended this video and boy was with worth it to watch. Great job CbT. :) Subscribed immediately.

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +1

      Thanks so much, welcome to the channel!

  • @donaldmatheson6200
    @donaldmatheson6200 3 года назад +5

    This was my first Castlevania game and I still love it. Missed out on the NES titles when they were new as I was still ZX spectrum bound in those days.

  • @DamienPaulLabonte
    @DamienPaulLabonte 3 года назад +2

    The first nes game I saw was Castlevania. My exclamation was "LOOK AT THE COLOURS!
    Excellent series. Thank you for sharing!

  • @wilytyote
    @wilytyote 3 года назад +6

    People usually prefer SCIV, but I always thought this had more of the NES Castlevania feel. There's a decent patch that improves the game's color palette, as well.

    • @personavisceration371
      @personavisceration371 3 года назад +1

      I prefer Bloodlines, but IV always felt so much more ploddingly slow like the NES titles. Honestly, I put Bloodlines closer to Rondo as the characters and the entire game feels faster. The only thing that holds this back is lack of an 8 way whip like Pam mentioned.

    • @wilytyote
      @wilytyote 3 года назад +1

      @@personavisceration371 I agree with all your points. I will say that the lack of an 8-way whip can be good or bad depending on the style of CV you're in the mood to play.

  • @raphacanale
    @raphacanale 3 года назад +1

    I love this game, but I think it's quite short. Great vídeo! Cheers from Brazil.

  • @eyetunes7754
    @eyetunes7754 3 года назад +7

    Love me a Succubus reviewing Castlevania. Please do Symphony of the Night next

  • @ischmidt
    @ischmidt 3 года назад +1

    The algorithm gifted me with this video this morning, and I like it. I have to stick up for the OST though - this was composer Michiru Yamane's first Castlevania game, and I think she did an outstanding job on a system not known for great music. Several of the tracks in this game became fan-favorite parts of the series canon and were remixed in later games.

  • @urinefromuranus
    @urinefromuranus 3 года назад +4

    Went on a big castlevania kick earlier this year, this was one of my favorite ones

  • @thisguy3500
    @thisguy3500 3 года назад +1

    Bloodlines is one of the few Castlevania releases, on console, that I never got a chance to play through. That John Morris character looks to be a reference to Quincey P. Morris from Bram Stoker's Dracula.

  • @M3LCH10R1
    @M3LCH10R1 3 года назад +18

    I don't think I'll ever get enough goth Pam.

  • @counterstrike89
    @counterstrike89 3 года назад +2

    Gunstar heroes was amazing, love that music and effects.

  • @CyborgHobbit42
    @CyborgHobbit42 3 года назад +22

    "...like John has somehow found himself in an 8-bit game". Perfect way to describe that.

    • @davidaitken8503
      @davidaitken8503 3 года назад

      The whole game looks 8-bit. It reminds me of the Genesis version of Battle Toads where there are certainly some visual enhancements, but overall it still looks very 8-bit. The graphics in Castlevania 3, despite the NES hardware limitations actually look better in a lot of ways with more properly proportioned characters that look less cartoony and goofy than many of the characters in Bloodlines.

    • @rancidtastetv4953
      @rancidtastetv4953 3 года назад +3

      @@davidaitken8503 It looks better than SCIV for me

    • @davidaitken8503
      @davidaitken8503 3 года назад

      @@rancidtastetv4953 Only a complete idiot would claim Bloodlines looks better than SCIV. It isn't even in the same league. I always laugh when Sega fanboys think the cheesy attempts at special effects with the water and the tower rocking back and forth are impressive. The backgrounds are just plain ugly and the characters look goofy. Castlevania 4 is one of the best looking 16 bit games. I'm sorry you have such bad eyesight. What's next? Are you going to claim Sparkster for Genesis has more impressive visuals than Sparkster for SNES?

    • @davidaitken8503
      @davidaitken8503 3 года назад

      @@DTW-bx2vy Not only does Bloodlines not capture the original design and art style of the Castlevania series, it actually looks inferior to it. Castlevania 3 has properly proportioned characters, more detailed background art, and no goofy looking multi-jointed gear bosses or face-crotch Dracula's.

    • @rancidtastetv4953
      @rancidtastetv4953 3 года назад +2

      @@davidaitken8503 Now say it again without crying

  • @sfighter0085
    @sfighter0085 3 года назад +1

    Finally decided to watch one of these. Like "Erin Plays", I first saw you in AVGN's "Aladdin Deck Enhancer" episode. I was thinking of checking you out, but I've been beyond distracted.
    This is the first video I've watched on here and it is excellent, you have a way with analyzing a games pros and cons. I've heard mostly food things about this installment, and it even won on "Console Wars". While the game does look great in most aspects, the backgrounds do look like they could've had a little more done.
    Anyway great video Pam, you just earned a subscriber. 😀

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +1

      Thanks so much, welcome to the channel

  • @TimDavis77
    @TimDavis77 3 года назад +9

    Glad to see Castlevania: Bloodlines getting the Pam treatment.

  • @ruffusgoodman4137
    @ruffusgoodman4137 2 года назад

    Best part of your reviews is attention to details and criticism where it is valid, even if in your opinion. Makes it very engaging!

  • @slopesgameroom
    @slopesgameroom 3 года назад +36

    Such an awesome title. And the genesis release is so much better than what we got in europe

    • @mrmagoo-i2l
      @mrmagoo-i2l 3 года назад +1

      I didn’t even know that it was a mega drive game, I know it’s Capcom now but I always thought it was a Nintendo thing.
      I guess it’s the same sort of situation as final fantasy. I can’t think of a Square game on Sega.

    • @nathandaniels4823
      @nathandaniels4823 3 года назад +4

      Capcom? Am I missing a joke here?

    • @Jbrodack
      @Jbrodack 3 года назад +1

      I have no idea what Mugwump is even trying to say. This was Konami.
      But I don't what happened with Konami releases in Europe. There was the whole proboctor thing. Super censored.

    • @peachycreations8787
      @peachycreations8787 3 года назад

      Eh it was released in Europe dude?

    • @Mr.madmight266
      @Mr.madmight266 3 года назад

      @Slope's Game Room It's still the same game dude. Although,if you're talking about the 50hz issue then i can definitely agree that it sucked that games played slowly.

  • @jimdietz784
    @jimdietz784 3 года назад +1

    One of my favorite RUclipsrs talking about some of my favorite games! yay!

  • @s.t.houtdoorsnz.1454
    @s.t.houtdoorsnz.1454 3 года назад +5

    Imo it's one of the best genesis games, it may lack in some colour areas but the soundtrack and atmosphere is just incredible (I actually loved the tunes to this) and like you say the sprite work on bosses.
    I think it's my favourite atmospheric castlevania next to rondo of blood.

  • @lazyPawdy
    @lazyPawdy 3 года назад +1

    New sub. Thanks RUclips for the recommendation! Been watching a bunch of old game/retro reviews lately, took them forever to recommend yours. Keep it up!

  • @nhlcbj
    @nhlcbj 3 года назад +13

    Lady Pamitrescu, so we finally meet

  • @johnnytrash2839
    @johnnytrash2839 3 года назад +1

    Spot on with the comments on the backgrounds. I didn't play this back in the day like I did Castlevania IV, but something has always felt a bit lackluster about its' design; the comparison to Shinobi III hit the nail on the head.

  • @Learn4Live
    @Learn4Live 3 года назад +4

    This game has interesting level's designs, and I like how versatile are the weapons and bosses. Your review explained very well the strengths and weaknesses of this Castlevania: Bloodlines.

  • @MarkAMcMillan
    @MarkAMcMillan 3 года назад +2

    How fortuitous that your videos popped up on my feed! Excellent games, excellent reviews and excellent cosplay! Nice work, Pam, you just got a new subscriber!

    • @Cannotbetamed1
      @Cannotbetamed1  3 года назад +2

      Thanks so much, welcome to the channel!

  • @CrypticusOfficial
    @CrypticusOfficial 2 года назад +4

    My favorite of all CastleVania games. I love the weird, Treasure-style bosses & level mechanics.

  • @charlesanthony6368
    @charlesanthony6368 3 года назад +1

    2-6 fushia and pea green just needs happy trees lol, thanks for mixing the chiptunes into the episode so well it sounded great. 👍👍

  • @BoogiepopFearGhoul
    @BoogiepopFearGhoul 3 года назад +5

    I think the attacks are more limited in this game because the designers realized that the Castlevania IV system was broken. I'm not sure why the backgrounds are more plain than expected, but perhaps it was because Konami had very little experience developing for the Mega Drive.

    • @davidaitken8503
      @davidaitken8503 3 года назад

      Castlevania 4's attacks are not broken. They just needed to make more attack variation in the enemies to give them a fighting chance. I play the second quest exclusively (copy down that password). They send a lot more enemies out at you. Bloodlines felt like a big step backward from Castlevania 4's flawless controls, graphics, music, and sound effects.

    • @BoogiepopFearGhoul
      @BoogiepopFearGhoul 3 года назад

      @@davidaitken8503 If the enemies weren't modified to reflect the change in attacks, such that they could be despatched with ease, then the attackes were broken. The Castlevania IV system is the equivalent of changing Super Mario Bros. so that Mario starts the game with a fire flower that he can't possibly lose.

    • @davidaitken8503
      @davidaitken8503 3 года назад

      @@BoogiepopFearGhoul Nope. You need to play the second quest. They send a lot more enemies at you from all directions. Castlevania Bloodlines is laughably inferior to Castlevania 4 and is a huge step backward.

    • @davidaitken8503
      @davidaitken8503 3 года назад

      @Tom Ffrench You have more variety and flexibility with the single character in Castlevania 4 compared to both characters combined in Bloodlines. The boss fights aren't better in Bloodlines. I thought you said you never played this game. You're just a troll bot, as I suspected.

  • @emotionz3
    @emotionz3 3 года назад +2

    I couldn’t agree more about the backgrounds. No parallax scrolling and lack of texture detail make it look very 8-bit. It’s still a really fun play! I think what makes Bloodlines so amazing is it came out 2 years before Symphony, so that is quite some progress haha

  • @SanicSez
    @SanicSez 3 года назад +5

    Pretty sick video, James Rolf would dig this. Great history tie in, I didn't know about her. Castlevania needs more love, and I was unaware of the mechanics of this game. Makes it seem like they wanted you to pick the lance guy. We all know Rondo of blood Japanese release is king of this era though

  • @RoyceMusic333
    @RoyceMusic333 Год назад +2

    This is the Best soundtrack of all castlevania IMHO. Thanks for sharing.

  • @TheCantrell
    @TheCantrell 3 года назад +6

    Some of the tunes in this game live in my head. I've had this one since near launch, and it's given me a lot of great hours.

    • @mrmagoo-i2l
      @mrmagoo-i2l 3 года назад

      Yeah, the old fashioned tunes are great.
      The sound effects from the Atari days stick with me.
      Megaman’s music has got to be the best though. Castlevanias tunes are pretty good.
      It sounds a bit cheesy to say, but how anyone can’t see that games are art must be crazy.
      I bought the vinyl of Hyper Light Drifters sound track, sounds fantastic when not digitally compressed. The composer at team Cherry is pretty cool as well. Some massive talent in the indie scene.

  • @theunfungamer7263
    @theunfungamer7263 3 года назад +1

    Great review. Bland visuals but good animations is a spot on description

  • @pkkingcrimsonrequiem1332
    @pkkingcrimsonrequiem1332 3 года назад +34

    Bloodlines is the one time the Genesis nailed the orchestral sound.

    • @cbarger2327
      @cbarger2327 3 года назад +3

      There are a few games on Genesis that get it right. Check out Gauntlet IV’s amazing soundtrack.

    • @chavesa5
      @chavesa5 3 года назад

      I'd say I want to know how they pulled it off, but honestly I have no clue how any of that magic works.

    • @pkkingcrimsonrequiem1332
      @pkkingcrimsonrequiem1332 3 года назад +6

      @@chavesa5
      Said magic is FM synth. Under the right hands the YM2612 could do wonders.

    • @emmanueloverrated
      @emmanueloverrated 3 года назад +3

      Check Beyond Oasis if you want orchestral arrangement.

    • @secondghost
      @secondghost 3 года назад +3

      Very few games really take advantage of the music the Genesis can play.
      Bloodlines
      Vapor Trail
      Super Hydlyde
      Jurrasic Park
      Those games have some of the very best music the system has to offer. Check them out if you get a chance.

  • @baronvoncrask9412
    @baronvoncrask9412 3 года назад +1

    Such an awesome video! Castlevania is always such a classic! Keep on being awesome!

  • @megaman1806
    @megaman1806 3 года назад +3

    I don't know why but Pam is reminding me of Miriam from ROTN.

  • @TheJimbo1791
    @TheJimbo1791 3 года назад +1

    Love your channel and all the details like the goth look while reviewing game of BLOOOOD. I just love your style in every video. Keep it on. Thanks.