@@luisreyes1963 The DOS version isn't any better... I guess it's just a part of japanese nature to maintain good quality. Konami would probably want you to forget the Amiga, DOS and Commodore 64 conversions existed if they saw how bad they are.
@@paul1979uk2000 Not really possible as the Sharp's sprite engine was far and away better than the Amiga's. The Amiga could use the blitter to make up for some of that, but not all. Also the Sharp had native 256 and 32768 color modes. The Amiga could do some cool stuff but its sprite engine was always kinda crappy by Japanese standards (the hardware sprites only looked impressive compared to the popular American/European computers that had no sprites at all).
This sure makes appreciate the nes version of Castlevania, I’m not going to criticize other releases but for me the nes holds a special place in my heart. Thank you for your fantastic work.
I originally played the arcade version way back when before we for a Nintendo. Convinced my dad to get it as our second game. He was skeptical, but fell in love with it. Also, the Amiga version always makes me laugh. Instead of a castle, it's like Dracula lives in a town house with a bunch of jumping redheads instead of zombies. Lol.
Famicom: The original. A nearly perfect game. NES: Lacking features, but otherwise is just as good as it's Disk System counterpart. Playchoice 10: Why didn't they make the timer match the one in-game? Vs.: Making the in game timer go faster works, too. Amiga: I wanna like the graphics, but the sound, music and the enemies are all messed up, and the gameplay is so choppy. DOS: Well at least they used Vampire Killer for the opening level. Too bad it's making me wish they had forgone the music entirely. C64: You know, this doesn't look bad for a Commodore game. I bet it's probably more fun than most of the other PC releases. Sharp X68000: The exception being this one. This is definitely the best PC version, even if it's not a 1:1 port. It's still a great remake. Chronicles (both versions): The Sharp version, but on a system that already had Symphony of the Night. I feel like a port of Rondo was obvious considering the connection to SotN, but I can't complain with Chronicles being so good. GBA: Squished, but still a solid version. Java: It's Java. Wasn't expecting much, and didn't get much. I kinda like Simon's sprite, though. Anniversary: A great emulation. I particularly enjoy the Record feature so I can watch my best runs. MSX (Vampire Killer): There's a reason Kojima had to invent a new genre to get a good game on this thing. The exploration is kinda cool, but Castlevania isn't really a game that the MSX can do justice. Arcade (Haunted Castle): I like the music. Everything else? Not really. Once you learn the game, it can be fun, but it's not what I would call a good game. SNES (SCV4): A great game, to be sure, but I dont think it's as good as the game it's a reimagining of. Level 3 can go fuck itself, but the others are pretty good. The whip and jump controls are improved, but I like the old whip better. The jump is fine, but why use subweapons unless its a triple Cross for boss fights? Your whip is just too good, and it makes the subweapons mostly useless. If you want a game that improves the jump, but keeps the whip while improving subweapons, Rondo of Blood is a perfect example. Even Bloodlines got it right by limiting the angles you can whip and when you can hit from those angles. I like Super Castlevania, but I dont see what makes it the best like some people have said it is.
@@jasonlee7816 That's fair. I believe that they are nearly perfect, but then I've played a lot of the games on this comparison video. Someone who's only knowledge of this game is what they see here may not believe that the game is as good as it is.
I think the Sharp X68000 is the best "refresh" of the original. It's not a complete re-imagining. Just the same game with a fresh coat of paint. There's some new ideas in there, but they're kept sparse. With Super Castlevania, but nothing held back upgrading the core game. In this case I honestly like the overhaul better, but respect the sharp version's excellent presentation.
I like the X68000 Version the most. I like how the footage of the PC MS-DOS version has the correct aspect ratio. The MSX version however was clearly running on PAL 50Hz, you have to set the region to japan so the game runs as it should.
X68000 version (Castlevania Chronicles) is also released in the PS1 therefore americans can play it too if you don't want to spend your money on a very expensive computer.
@@Seven71987 The PS1 version kinda sucks. i don't like that the "original mode" is annoyingly hard because you can only take 4 hits,unlike in the X68000 original were you can take a lot more hits. Also,last time i checked,those X68000 computers are no longer as expensive as they used to be.
@@Mr.madmight266 This is supposed be based on the first Castlevania, that and with the difficulty of Castlevania III U.S where the enemies deal more damage depending on how far you made it through the game as pointed out by SomecallmeJohnny. But face it man, Simon's quest was never easy and neither was Trevor's, Richter's, Christopher's, Sonia's, Leon's, Juste's and the most powerful Belmont of all: Poo
@@Mr.madmight266 I think you played a hack of the X68000 one lol. Original Mode in PS1 Chronicles is literally the OG X68000 game on an emulator. And yes it is annoyingly hard because X68000/Chronicles has some of the worst, most bloated level design in classic Castlevania. Classic CV levels were always meant to be fairly short, so that every segment of a level was itself a small micro-challenge you could overcome with good timing, learning from your mistakes, and practice. Chronicles has that Dracula X SNES problem of levels going on way longer than they should, meaning getting sent back to the beginning doesn't feel like a fitting punishment for your mistakes so much as the game just not letting you ever progress. Almost as bad as Vampire Killer MSX in that regard, though better because unlike that game you can get a Game Over without literally being sent back to the beginning of the game. The OG CV1 on Famicom/NES is so much better designed. As is SCIV frankly. Chronicles is a step above something like The Adventure or Legends sure, but it's sure as hell no CV1. Even American CV3 is less sadistic, and that's saying something.
"Oh god, there's a C64 version? At least, the music's bound to be goo... nevermind." Seriously, this Kris Hatlelid sure is no Hülsbeck, Hubbard or Follin.
Kris Hatlelid was actually a pretty good composer who made some solid SID renditions. He's the guy who arranged the awesome soundtrack for Grand Prix Circuit on the C64, which sounds superior to even the music in the Amiga version. ruclips.net/video/FVaXbC4ENe0/видео.html He was just rushed and had to arrange the soundtracks of both the DOS and C64 ports of Castlevania in a few days.
It probably didn't help that someone had the bright idea that one of the 3 SID voices should be reserved for sound effects. Still, the C-64 version of the game was pretty decent, and quite playable.
It is an absolute horror. The MSDOS version manages to be even worse but at least PCs had the excuse of horrible EGA graphics and crappy sound cards. This Amiga version is a blight on such a fantastic machine.
Veo que me falta jugar algunas versiones como la Amiga, PC DOS, Mobiles. 43:13 La MSX lo probe una vez, pero me parecio tedioso estar buscando llavecitas para encontrar la puerta correcta, parecia un RPG, y casi lo comparo con el CV2, al final no lo pude pasar, no por la dificultad, si no porque me aburria estar buscando llaves ocultos en paredes de donde menos lo pienso y a veces me perdía.
The DOS version is not a good port. 256 colour VGA had been around for 3 years by this point and was common in hardware and games. Adlib music can apparently be forced with a command switch...
Imagine if there was a Castlevania Chronicles on the 32X... That would have been a good port that makes use of all the audio and visual capabilities if it wasn't for the Super 32X not selling well and it being released at, uncomfortably, the same time as the Sega Saturn. Although the Sharp X86000 sounds too good to be translated to Mega Drive code, there are still tricks and clever design that can be used.
32X Castlevania was in development until it got cancelled due to Konami’s stupid policy towards the hardware changes such as the 32X being a commercial failure it became Symphony of the Night also Dreamcast Castlevania was in development until the GameCube, PS2, Xbox were announced then Konami stupidly ordered all Sega Dreamcast games in production be cancelled
@ retrosutra 19:10 WOW! I didn't know the Sharp X68000 was capable to handle the music so well in that version with only 8 FM channels and 1 channel for 16-bit DAC samples... and it's not even a version, it's much better than that considering that is a major remake/remastered version of the original game! If that version should be ported to the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive, this could make the console very succesful to handle all of this good stuff from the X68000, especially the game's OST if they made it right. 28:48 I love how the enemy boss theme and the Stage Clear music sounds much better and different in this remake than what the NES/FDS version had and I also love the way they have remixed the theme of the original game in the Arrange Mode of the PlayStation version, it's just... SO DOPE! AND OH, THAT MIDI GUITAR IN THIS REMIX... IT SOUNDS SO REAL!!! Those developers at Konami must have worked THIS hard to make the X68000 and the SNES versions REALLY stand out from the competitors in a good way, especially the original NES version!
Don't see any difference between first 4 versions. The one of famicom, on nes and other two on arcade (playChoice) and vs castlevania, is the same game.
@@davezanko9051 I don't have an issue with the song order if it's done nicely the sound is just horrible and some of the notes are off and are way too slow, it sounds worse than a music maker ringtone made on a old phone.
Awesome comparison. \m/ castlevania is one of my favorite video games. from this video, I personally like the nes version, the ps1 version, the arcade version, and the snes version.
1094 Castlevania Lament of Innocence 1476 Castlevania III Dracula's Curse 1479 Castlevania Curse of Darkness 1576 The Castlevania Adventure 1591 Castlevania II Belmont's Revenge 1666 Castlevania Resurrection 1691 Castlevania 1698 Castlevania II Simon's Quest 1699 Super Castlevania IV 1748 Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance 1792 Castlevania Rondo of Blood 1797 Castlevania Symphony of The Night 1810 Castlevania Order of Ecclesia 1830 Castlevania Circle of The Moon 1844 Castlevania Legacy of Darkness 1852 Castlevania (Nintendo 64) 1897 Dracula 1917 Castlevania Bloodlines 1944 Castlevania Portrait of Ruin 1999 The Demon Castle War 2035 Castlevania Aria of Sorrow 2036 Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow
This is not a correct timeline. * Super Castlevania IV is a REMAKE of Castlevania 1, not a sequel to Simon's Quest. That was a translation error. * The KCEK Games (Circle, 64, Legacy) are not and have never been officially canon. No Japanese timeline ever included them, Konami of America kept shoving them into their timelines because they sold well, but those timelines also had Legends and Dracula X SNES. They were never officially sanctioned by the CV devs, and KCEK even said they always intended their games to be non-canon spin-offs. * Castlevania Resurrection (Dreamcast) never actually got written so it isn't technically canon.
The NES gave me so much Nostalgia when i came to the 3th Stage called wicked child i fell so good by caming to the 3th Stage with the Great Sound Track
Cv chronicles, Super castlevania 4 and Haunted Castle(technically) are just remakes of CV1, the whole Simon Belmont must defeat Dracula again part in the cv4 scrolling text was added for the American release and makes no sense whatsoever as the text implies a hundred years has passed since Simon defeated dracula prior to this game, also Cv1 was changed to cv 4 in order as Simon is a decendant of Trevor Belmont from cv3 making it somewhat correct in a chronologic order Lament of innocence being the first game in chronological order followed by cv3 then Curse of darkness then the gb games With Christopher Belmont castlevania adventures 1 & 2(Cv rebirth for wii which is a remake/retelling of the story of Cv adventure 1 in the same way as Chronicles/HC/scv4 was to cv1) then Simon's story begins with cv1 & cv2 simons quest followed by harmony of dissonance, rondo of blood/dracula x/ vampire kiss then Symphony of the night followed by order of ecclesia, castlevania bloodlines(generations), Portrait of ruins and then the final games in the timeline aria and dawn of Sorrow. The rest of the games like the 64 ones, circle of the moon and cv legends for gb are side stories and not actually canon to the main games.
Can we expect, since Lords of shadow (only the 1st exists to myself), Lament of of innocense is just a distopic story ? (honestly, the vampire killer making in lament is just ridiculous)
@@msolom9521 I dont think it was a bad story(if you meant that by distopic not sure so sorry if I didnt get the meaning of the word right) it was just simple and it made sense that the whip needed a sacrifice to become the vampire killer unlocking its power against unholy creatures thanks to Saras tainted soul from Walter turning her into a vampire,the whole alchemy story was kinda cool the betrayal of Mathias to his friend leon, lords of shadow parallels both events with Maries death and Gabriel killing her(unknowingly so this time thanks to zobek) and the betrayal of zobek himself with his false friendship only that this time around Gabriel is actually a cronqvist( there is a text in the game that reveals this as he was abandoned and left to the church as its implied he was a bastard of a wealthy family possibly being the cronqvist) and actually him becoming Dracula at the end confirms this, also gandolfi created the combat cross just that this time it's more of a mechanical weapon than a full alchemic one like in the og series, I do prefer the origins in cv los1 than cv loI since the story is well made, written and the acting is amazing but the game got a bit to distant from the lore later on for me atleast, not saying it's bad but if there where no sequels to los I would be kinda bum as I wanted it to be closer to its og counterpart and it kinda did and im glad and I actually enjoyed and liked the trilogy a lot,it even made me like the first game a lot more and I specially liked MoF as for me is closer both in story and gameplay to the og series( feels like a mix between cv3 and cv circle of the moon for me) I wish they would continue the story of los or atleast made a game around Victor Belmont before the events of cv los 2 or of the decendants of Simon Belmont between Mof and los 2.
@@kurokoro Agree, the story of LoS 1 is great. The main weapon is not alchemy but not totally mechanical to me cause its name, clearly a religious reference (so kind of mystic power). In Lament, this sacrifice seems too "drama" to convince me. Honnestly, I feel betrayed by LoS 2, after playin the E3 demo of the game, I expected something else, more like Gabriel becomes the powerfull Dracula till his own fall, facing the 1st epic fight against his family. Instead, we've got the rat possession ... ( I know, there's more than that but ... voilà). Finishing by distopic, just because there're two making of vampire killer, and I decide LoS1 is the real one (just a point of view)
@@msolom9521 Oh ok now I get you but since its a reboot is a different take on the origin but to each their own and I respect your decision to choose this one,the rat parts didnt bother me and really people made a lot of complaints for something that was used just a few times also Dracula can turn into rats and other animals in lore, I really dont think that makes los 2 a bad game and it was hated for nonesense( atleast thats my opinion I dont think its perfect but it didnt dissapoint me), in Mirrors of fate is focused more on the struggle and relationship between the Belmonts and Dracula and the secret that binds them, it was a great tale and if you haven't played it I dont want to spoil it but really explains a lot and the ending was so nostalgic that I just really love that game, tbh about it the los trilogy is very dramatic and tragic I may say more so than cv LoI( which I dont think its bad and quite the contrary I love it), Yeah the Combat Cross has a major religious symbolic reference they also kinda fused both the vampire killer and the boomerang cross into it except you dont throw the combat cross lol which Its a feature I actually wanted it to have kinda like thors hammer but CV as a whole is a huge reference to religion in a way (also the name Gabriel and giving him wings plus he fights lucifer is a huge religious reference), Leon and Gabriel where both knights of religion Leon being a Crusader and Gabriel a knight of the brotherhood of light and both ended departing from that title became hunters of the night (and their decendents) with the exception of Gabriel becoming a lord of shadow himself. P.S I love that Simon uses the leather whip at first in Cv los Mof a nice reference to the og whip.
Despite all the parts that came after, and even if the Lords of Shadow/Mirror of Fate Roobot series tells the best story for me - Super Castelvania IV - still transports the most coherent atmosphere.
The C64 and DOS conversions by Unlimited Software sound like the arranger only ever listened to the NES version only once while piss drunk, then wrote all the notes from memory.
That would be excessive, since the texture pack is not an official release. But the "3rd iteration" J2ME game, which was the source of the graphics for that HD Pack would've been welcome in this video.
Considering the sound hardware chip in the C64, I thought it sounded quite bad, the C64 was known for sounding much better than the Nes with a lot of games.
Definitely, I agree. In general the C64 version is the most NES like in terms of gameplay though. If they would have implemented holy water similarly and taken a little more care with mechanics, it would be close. The controls are quite good for a "press up to jump" port. Still think it's probably the most faithful early home computer port. CV1 Amiga on the other hand, can rot. That port is torture to play. Probably one of the worst games ever made.
@@Krayzar It's all about the quality of the ports, the C64 and the Amiga got some really bad ones but with more care and attention, both those hardwares could do much better, especially with arcade ports. The Amiga version was really bad but I even learned when I was a kid using the Amiga, avoid arcade and Japanese games on the platform because either little effort goes into them or they are being made to look worse than they should to make Japanese home computers and consoles look better, I say that because the pattern was too consistent with games from that region.
Controls are stiff as heck, too. Makes it difficult to play. Especially since, like a lot of Amiga games, it uses the default 1-button joystick inherited from the C64. Still the most annoying thing about Amiga games.
It really is amazing how the NES version stomps on almost all others, mimicking the arcade almost flawlessly despite not being the most powerful machine on this list. Makes me wonder how they botched ports on other more powerful machines. Only version I'd say wrecks them all is the x68000 version even if it isn't actually a port but a remake.
Well the "arcade version" IS the NES version. The PlayChoice and Vs. arcade cabinets were just NES hardware in an arcade form. So the first four versions compared in this video were completely redundant. The NES/Famicom/Arcade version is the original, and the real thing. It came out simultaneously on the MSX2 in Japan, so that could also be considered an original Castlevania version, although the level design is different. All other versions are ports.
@@robertmiles9942 Exactly. The NES game is the original. Any differences from the Famicom Disk version are just localization tweaks. And it is the original; the MSX version came out a month later in Japan, meaning they were in development at the same time, but if you look at the closing credits of the MSX version, there's a thank you to the head programmer of the Famicom version. Some folks get confused about that because the MSX version was released in Europe as Vampire Killer before the Famicom original was released as Castlevania in Europe. But the Famicom game is the very first game in the series, and not a port of any other game.
I'm honestly impressed by the Commodore 64 port of this game. The fact that a home computer from 1982 with a CPU from 1975 could run a decent version of a 1986 Famicom Disk System game is awesome, really. Of course, it helps that the Famicom and Commodore 64 use the same processor at the core (the MOS Technology 6502), but it's still impressive.
If you look at the recent port of SMB to the C64, I think you see that with time the C64 can do much of what the NES can. I'd like to see them further improve upon the C64 port, as Konami had nothing to do with it.
@@earthlydescent Indeed it could. I mean, the Commodore 64 packed more RAM on board than the NES did. Certainly it was a capable 8-bit computer with great games.
The MSX version had great background music. However, the game could not be interrupted because there was no way to save the game, even though the levels were large. The content was also different from the NES version, which was frustrating for children who could not play the NES version.
@@luisreyes1963 There's a reason I bought it the day it came out. It wasn't a major release (indeed if i recall correctly it was essentially a bargain title from its release in the US). I had known about the X68000 version so I jumped all over that thing when I could get it.
Weird to call the one on the 68000 chronicles when that is the PlayStation title and it is just Akumajo Dracula so I guess using the translation everyone else uses it would just be Castlevania again.
The NES and Famicom versions aren't really the same, since the Famicom cartridge release came years later, with an added Easy dificulty which gives the player 30 hearts, 10 lives and you don't lose your power-ups (sub-weapons and/or multipliers) when you die. The easy mode also removes the dreaded knockback. Don't go "ooooh, it's easy", because no. The game still is hard as balls, it's just less stress inducing
Looks like someone tried to play the C64 version on a PAL machine. You need to put your emulator in NTSC mode for NTSC games, please. It's running at 4/5 normal speed, that's why the music sounds weird.
@ retrosutra 12:41 They somehow managed to make the music even worse on the MS-DOS and C64 versions, especially with that FM synthesis sound card in DOSBox (AdLib/Sound Blaster). Oh, my bleeding ears!! Well, I love the way they've made the Stage Clear music sounding more happier with major chords instead of the minor chords in the original NES version, but there's no enemy boss music and the graphics on the DOS port seems to lack a lot due to many graphical memory restrictions. That was pathetic, too lame! USI is really such a lazy and boring developer with ABSOLUTELY no chance to make the games on the DOS get identical to the original console versions!
I'm sure it's been said, by now, but _Castlevania Chronicles_ was not a port. It was a reimagining, just like _Super Castlevania IV_ and _Haunted Castle._
MSX Version is being emulated in an european MSX with 50hz... music is just slower because of this. has to be emulated on american msx or japanese for the right sync
The problem with these terrible Amiga ports was that it was usually done by small, cheap studios who were given ridiculously short deadlines. The system was capable of so much more.
I am disappointed. No obligatory Spectrum port? What was Konami thinking! Ever great game needs an obligatory Spectrum port to ruin it. But we do have the C64 and MSX, though to be honest they aren't half bad really. They played to the strengths of the MSX to make the most of its limitations and actually made a decent port for that system. But the only disappointing ports are Amiga and the awful PC port. I am surprised the game used EGA modes, I thought it had a VGA mode as well but it appears they didn't bother with 13h modes. That would have helped it out quite a bit as at least they would have had some smooth scrolling and latched writes. But great comparison as always! I loved this game as a kid on the nintendo.
Vampire Hunter on the MSX2 is an intetesting variation but it's also really tough and unfair. The worst of the bunch is the arcade version. The only reedeming factor is the soundtrack which is of the usual high quality on the series.
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Man the Arrange version of Chroincles goes HARD on the music
Some people hate it. But I love that soundtrack.
The Sharp X68000 never ceases to amaze me, there's a reason why they are still so expensive
Those Japanese can put out a high quality PC game, unlike the awful renditions of Castlevania for the Amiga & C64.
@@luisreyes1963 The DOS version isn't any better...
I guess it's just a part of japanese nature to maintain good quality.
Konami would probably want you to forget the Amiga, DOS and Commodore 64 conversions existed if they saw how bad they are.
x68k version looks like bloodlines port
@@luisreyes1963 the C64 version is actually pretty good.
I once saw a copy of the game at a convention but didn't buy it because the system is so expensive
I wept tears of joy when I saw the Amiga version. Actually, no - I just wept.
Gah! Eww. Yes. For a system that powerful, it sure had some god awful ports! At least change that horrible music!
@@jammadamma Yep, the Amiga version should have been more in line with that Sharp version considering the hardware the Amiga had.
@@paul1979uk2000 Not really possible as the Sharp's sprite engine was far and away better than the Amiga's. The Amiga could use the blitter to make up for some of that, but not all. Also the Sharp had native 256 and 32768 color modes. The Amiga could do some cool stuff but its sprite engine was always kinda crappy by Japanese standards (the hardware sprites only looked impressive compared to the popular American/European computers that had no sprites at all).
The Sound Track Vamire Hunter and Wicked Child get switched and with weird enemies in the 1st Stage with Barefoor Women???
However, the amiga had a very sophisticated sound chip. It deserved a better ost.
49:56 this soundtrack still gives me a cold shiver. So good.
The guy even divides the video in named time stamps for us... Bro, thanks for the great work! Sub and liked, as always!
Amiga is my fave computer of all time, but come on everyone together "WHAT WERE THEY THINKING".
there's a nev version on the road ruclips.net/video/ESL4mIexG3s/видео.html
This sure makes appreciate the nes version of Castlevania, I’m not going to criticize other releases but for me the nes holds a special place in my heart. Thank you for your fantastic work.
GBA is a tight port too
I originally played the arcade version way back when before we for a Nintendo. Convinced my dad to get it as our second game. He was skeptical, but fell in love with it.
Also, the Amiga version always makes me laugh. Instead of a castle, it's like Dracula lives in a town house with a bunch of jumping redheads instead of zombies. Lol.
Vampire Hunter for the MSX looks like an interesting take on the game with adventure elements.
Yes, but its obviously MSX2, not MSX version.
Apparently the game was actually a sequel to the original but I don’t know for sure
@@tseriesisadisease3090 no, both games were developed during the same time
@@kristianferencik8685 ok thanks for telling me
That's what the second game tried to do
no Castlevania Harmony of Despair?
Stage 10 is literally the whole NES game adapted to the new gameplay mechanics
I don't know if that counts since that was paid DLC
@@arthursnyder6424 Dlc or not it still counts .
Famicom: The original. A nearly perfect game.
NES: Lacking features, but otherwise is just as good as it's Disk System counterpart.
Playchoice 10: Why didn't they make the timer match the one in-game?
Vs.: Making the in game timer go faster works, too.
Amiga: I wanna like the graphics, but the sound, music and the enemies are all messed up, and the gameplay is so choppy.
DOS: Well at least they used Vampire Killer for the opening level. Too bad it's making me wish they had forgone the music entirely.
C64: You know, this doesn't look bad for a Commodore game. I bet it's probably more fun than most of the other PC releases.
Sharp X68000: The exception being this one. This is definitely the best PC version, even if it's not a 1:1 port. It's still a great remake.
Chronicles (both versions): The Sharp version, but on a system that already had Symphony of the Night. I feel like a port of Rondo was obvious considering the connection to SotN, but I can't complain with Chronicles being so good.
GBA: Squished, but still a solid version.
Java: It's Java. Wasn't expecting much, and didn't get much. I kinda like Simon's sprite, though.
Anniversary: A great emulation. I particularly enjoy the Record feature so I can watch my best runs.
MSX (Vampire Killer): There's a reason Kojima had to invent a new genre to get a good game on this thing. The exploration is kinda cool, but Castlevania isn't really a game that the MSX can do justice.
Arcade (Haunted Castle): I like the music. Everything else? Not really. Once you learn the game, it can be fun, but it's not what I would call a good game.
SNES (SCV4): A great game, to be sure, but I dont think it's as good as the game it's a reimagining of. Level 3 can go fuck itself, but the others are pretty good. The whip and jump controls are improved, but I like the old whip better. The jump is fine, but why use subweapons unless its a triple Cross for boss fights? Your whip is just too good, and it makes the subweapons mostly useless. If you want a game that improves the jump, but keeps the whip while improving subweapons, Rondo of Blood is a perfect example. Even Bloodlines got it right by limiting the angles you can whip and when you can hit from those angles. I like Super Castlevania, but I dont see what makes it the best like some people have said it is.
some people might not see what makes Castlevania Famicom/NES as good as each other or nearly perfect
@@jasonlee7816 That's fair. I believe that they are nearly perfect, but then I've played a lot of the games on this comparison video. Someone who's only knowledge of this game is what they see here may not believe that the game is as good as it is.
chances are Amiga Castlevania might be or probably is a lazy remake of the C64 or NES or PC (DOS) version
@@jasonlee7816 Yes. I dont believe much effort was put into this version.
@@Emberson-9000 Someone who has played the game through does not believe that the NES version is a nearly perfect game, either.
I think the Sharp X68000 is the best "refresh" of the original. It's not a complete re-imagining. Just the same game with a fresh coat of paint. There's some new ideas in there, but they're kept sparse. With Super Castlevania, but nothing held back upgrading the core game. In this case I honestly like the overhaul better, but respect the sharp version's excellent presentation.
I like the X68000 Version the most. I like how the footage of the PC MS-DOS version has the correct aspect ratio. The MSX version however was clearly running on PAL 50Hz, you have to set the region to japan so the game runs as it should.
X68000 version (Castlevania Chronicles) is also released in the PS1 therefore americans can play it too if you don't want to spend your money on a very expensive computer.
@@Seven71987 The PS1 version kinda sucks. i don't like that the "original mode" is annoyingly hard because you can only take 4 hits,unlike in the X68000 original were you can take a lot more hits. Also,last time i checked,those X68000 computers are no longer as expensive as they used to be.
@@Mr.madmight266 This is supposed be based on the first Castlevania, that and with the difficulty of Castlevania III U.S where the enemies deal more damage depending on how far you made it through the game as pointed out by SomecallmeJohnny. But face it man, Simon's quest was never easy and neither was Trevor's, Richter's, Christopher's, Sonia's, Leon's, Juste's and the most powerful Belmont of all: Poo
@@Mr.madmight266 I think you played a hack of the X68000 one lol. Original Mode in PS1 Chronicles is literally the OG X68000 game on an emulator.
And yes it is annoyingly hard because X68000/Chronicles has some of the worst, most bloated level design in classic Castlevania. Classic CV levels were always meant to be fairly short, so that every segment of a level was itself a small micro-challenge you could overcome with good timing, learning from your mistakes, and practice. Chronicles has that Dracula X SNES problem of levels going on way longer than they should, meaning getting sent back to the beginning doesn't feel like a fitting punishment for your mistakes so much as the game just not letting you ever progress. Almost as bad as Vampire Killer MSX in that regard, though better because unlike that game you can get a Game Over without literally being sent back to the beginning of the game.
The OG CV1 on Famicom/NES is so much better designed. As is SCIV frankly. Chronicles is a step above something like The Adventure or Legends sure, but it's sure as hell no CV1. Even American CV3 is less sadistic, and that's saying something.
Let’s Compare Castlevania
1: Famicom Disk System (1986)
2: NES (1987)
3: Arcade (Playchoice-10) (1987)
4: Arcade (Vs Castlevania) (1987)
5: Amiga (1990)
6: Pc Dos (1990)
7: Commodore 64 (1990)
8: Sharp X68000 (Castlevania Chronicles) (1993)
9: Playstation (Castlevania Chronicles) (2001)
10: Playstation (Castlevania Chronicles) (2001)
11: Game Boy Advance (Classic NES Series) (2004)
12: J2me (2004)
13: J2me (2004)
14: Castlevania Anniversary Collection (2019)
15: Msx (1986)
16: Arcade (Haunted Castle) (1988)
17: Super Nintendo (Super Castlevania Iv) (1991)
29:14 - Somecallmejohnny - It's party time!
Until today for me, Super Castlevania IV continues to be one of the best games ever.
"Oh god, there's a C64 version? At least, the music's bound to be goo... nevermind."
Seriously, this Kris Hatlelid sure is no Hülsbeck, Hubbard or Follin.
Yeah, I expected a good SID rendition of the original theme and huh, well, they tried, but that's about it. 😉
Kris Hatlelid was actually a pretty good composer who made some solid SID renditions. He's the guy who arranged the awesome soundtrack for Grand Prix Circuit on the C64, which sounds superior to even the music in the Amiga version.
ruclips.net/video/FVaXbC4ENe0/видео.html
He was just rushed and had to arrange the soundtracks of both the DOS and C64 ports of Castlevania in a few days.
It probably didn't help that someone had the bright idea that one of the 3 SID voices should be reserved for sound effects. Still, the C-64 version of the game was pretty decent, and quite playable.
Finally a video about Castlevania 1!
I hoped you'd do one.
Thanks for this video comparison!!!
The Amiga version cracks me up.
It is an absolute horror. The MSDOS version manages to be even worse but at least PCs had the excuse of horrible EGA graphics and crappy sound cards.
This Amiga version is a blight on such a fantastic machine.
I'm love your RUclips CHANNEL! (I'm brazilian :D)
Why does the DOS one sound like how I imagined an 80s club would sound?
Title Screen, Game Start, Stage Start, Boss Battle, Stage Clear, and Game Over
Veo que me falta jugar algunas versiones como la Amiga, PC DOS, Mobiles.
43:13 La MSX lo probe una vez, pero me parecio tedioso estar buscando llavecitas para encontrar la puerta correcta, parecia un RPG, y casi lo comparo con el CV2, al final no lo pude pasar, no por la dificultad, si no porque me aburria estar buscando llaves ocultos en paredes de donde menos lo pienso y a veces me perdía.
13:14 Ah, the days of DOS... The days when every human character had literal white skin.
Aww my ears
The limitations of EGA graphics.
The DOS version is not a good port. 256 colour VGA had been around for 3 years by this point and was common in hardware and games. Adlib music can apparently be forced with a command switch...
@@timp2751 Did I say it was?
Imagine if there was a Castlevania Chronicles on the 32X... That would have been a good port that makes use of all the audio and visual capabilities if it wasn't for the Super 32X not selling well and it being released at, uncomfortably, the same time as the Sega Saturn. Although the Sharp X86000 sounds too good to be translated to Mega Drive code, there are still tricks and clever design that can be used.
And did I mention it would have been expensive to make the cartridges for this?
32X Castlevania was in development until it got cancelled due to Konami’s stupid policy towards the hardware changes such as the 32X being a commercial failure it became Symphony of the Night also Dreamcast Castlevania was in development until the GameCube, PS2, Xbox were announced then Konami stupidly ordered all Sega Dreamcast games in production be cancelled
Castlevania Chronicles (original style) was my favorite because they reimagined Classic Simon in a new outfit
Great video.
Question: Was Vampire Killer for the MSX considered since is a parallel version of the FDS version?
It kind of released in Europe a month earlier before the US version but i guess it released parallel to the FDS version.
for your question, no.
The Java version may look kinda bad but God does it sound good.
Simon got the animan studios walking
@
retrosutra 19:10 WOW! I didn't know the Sharp X68000 was capable to handle the music so well in that version with only 8 FM channels and 1 channel for 16-bit DAC samples... and it's not even a version, it's much better than that considering that is a major remake/remastered version of the original game! If that version should be ported to the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive, this could make the console very succesful to handle all of this good stuff from the X68000, especially the game's OST if they made it right.
28:48 I love how the enemy boss theme and the Stage Clear music sounds much better and different in this remake than what the NES/FDS version had and I also love the way they have remixed the theme of the original game in the Arrange Mode of the PlayStation version, it's just... SO DOPE! AND OH, THAT MIDI GUITAR IN THIS REMIX... IT SOUNDS SO REAL!!! Those developers at Konami must have worked THIS hard to make the X68000 and the SNES versions REALLY stand out from the competitors in a good way, especially the original NES version!
muy buena recopilación Gracias!!!!!
Don't see any difference between first 4 versions. The one of famicom, on nes and other two on arcade (playChoice) and vs castlevania, is the same game.
Amazing video ^^
That's gonna be an hour well spent ^^
46:37 This is my jam!
That Sharp x68000 version looks and sounds amazing.
Amiga: Such an awesome soundtrack
Dos/Como64: My ears are bleading.....
X68: What a badass version
The zombies from the Amiga Versions really creeps me out, they are so strange looking!
Novatrade sure took some shitty liberties with this "port"! And it's not like Amiga couldn't handle smooth scrolling or not-janky-ass controls.
I like simons sprite but the rest of the game and the music sounds horrible...
They creep you out? I found them hilariously terrible. They looks so cheesy.
@@kurokoro Especially since it's the wrong damn song. Wicked Child is one of the best tracks in the game, but it doesn't go on the first level!
@@davezanko9051 I don't have an issue with the song order if it's done nicely the sound is just horrible and some of the notes are off and are way too slow, it sounds worse than a music maker ringtone made on a old phone.
Awesome comparison. \m/ castlevania is one of my favorite video games. from this video, I personally like the nes version, the ps1 version, the arcade version, and the snes version.
1094
Castlevania Lament of Innocence
1476
Castlevania III Dracula's Curse
1479
Castlevania Curse of Darkness
1576
The Castlevania Adventure
1591
Castlevania II Belmont's Revenge
1666
Castlevania Resurrection
1691
Castlevania
1698
Castlevania II Simon's Quest
1699
Super Castlevania IV
1748
Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance
1792
Castlevania Rondo of Blood
1797
Castlevania Symphony of The Night
1810
Castlevania Order of Ecclesia
1830
Castlevania Circle of The Moon
1844
Castlevania Legacy of Darkness
1852
Castlevania (Nintendo 64)
1897
Dracula
1917
Castlevania Bloodlines
1944
Castlevania Portrait of Ruin
1999
The Demon Castle War
2035
Castlevania Aria of Sorrow
2036
Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow
This is not a correct timeline.
* Super Castlevania IV is a REMAKE of Castlevania 1, not a sequel to Simon's Quest. That was a translation error.
* The KCEK Games (Circle, 64, Legacy) are not and have never been officially canon. No Japanese timeline ever included them, Konami of America kept shoving them into their timelines because they sold well, but those timelines also had Legends and Dracula X SNES. They were never officially sanctioned by the CV devs, and KCEK even said they always intended their games to be non-canon spin-offs.
* Castlevania Resurrection (Dreamcast) never actually got written so it isn't technically canon.
They all do a passable job on the chiptunes too. They understood how important and good the soundtrack was.
Super Castlevania is just the best looking and playing game here.
The C64 port, actually ain't half bad.
I was surprised how smooth it looked.
The NES gave me so much Nostalgia when i came to the 3th Stage called wicked child i fell so good by caming to the 3th Stage with the Great Sound Track
Not going to look at opcode's Colecovision port of Castlevania? It requires Super Game Module (2 I think) but it's hella impressive
The best version was saved for last, love it!
No Bloodlines (Genesis)? The first stage is also a remake of the NES one and I would say it's a lot more faithful than the SNES one.
Yes, maybe we should have included it as a bonus at the end of the video.
It's a completely different game. By that logic you should also throw Rondo of Blood into this vid.
@@MastaGambit the first stage is a remake of the NES stage.
where to get the j2me port? also, is that the android soundfont you're using?
First look at zombies on amiga, and you already know that they f****d it up hard.
You couldn't wait 2 more days till spooktober when this would have been perfect
Castlevania content is always perfect. Only knaves limit their spooky time to one month
@@joemignogna6486 agreed but if only we were able to start spooktober like this
Ok
Hi, can you tell me how to play the mobile phone versions?
Cv chronicles, Super castlevania 4 and Haunted Castle(technically) are just remakes of CV1, the whole Simon Belmont must defeat Dracula again part in the cv4 scrolling text was added for the American release and makes no sense whatsoever as the text implies a hundred years has passed since Simon defeated dracula prior to this game, also Cv1 was changed to cv 4 in order as Simon is a decendant of Trevor Belmont from cv3 making it somewhat correct in a chronologic order Lament of innocence being the first game in chronological order followed by cv3 then Curse of darkness then the gb games With Christopher Belmont castlevania adventures 1 & 2(Cv rebirth for wii which is a remake/retelling of the story of Cv adventure 1 in the same way as Chronicles/HC/scv4 was to cv1) then Simon's story begins with cv1 & cv2 simons quest followed by harmony of dissonance, rondo of blood/dracula x/ vampire kiss then Symphony of the night followed by order of ecclesia, castlevania bloodlines(generations), Portrait of ruins and then the final games in the timeline aria and dawn of Sorrow. The rest of the games like the 64 ones, circle of the moon and cv legends for gb are side stories and not actually canon to the main games.
Can we expect, since Lords of shadow (only the 1st exists to myself), Lament of of innocense is just a distopic story ? (honestly, the vampire killer making in lament is just ridiculous)
@@msolom9521 I dont think it was a bad story(if you meant that by distopic not sure so sorry if I didnt get the meaning of the word right) it was just simple and it made sense that the whip needed a sacrifice to become the vampire killer unlocking its power against unholy creatures thanks to Saras tainted soul from Walter turning her into a vampire,the whole alchemy story was kinda cool the betrayal of Mathias to his friend leon, lords of shadow parallels both events with Maries death and Gabriel killing her(unknowingly so this time thanks to zobek) and the betrayal of zobek himself with his false friendship only that this time around Gabriel is actually a cronqvist( there is a text in the game that reveals this as he was abandoned and left to the church as its implied he was a bastard of a wealthy family possibly being the cronqvist) and actually him becoming Dracula at the end confirms this, also gandolfi created the combat cross just that this time it's more of a mechanical weapon than a full alchemic one like in the og series, I do prefer the origins in cv los1 than cv loI since the story is well made, written and the acting is amazing but the game got a bit to distant from the lore later on for me atleast, not saying it's bad but if there where no sequels to los I would be kinda bum as I wanted it to be closer to its og counterpart and it kinda did and im glad and I actually enjoyed and liked the trilogy a lot,it even made me like the first game a lot more and I specially liked MoF as for me is closer both in story and gameplay to the og series( feels like a mix between cv3 and cv circle of the moon for me) I wish they would continue the story of los or atleast made a game around Victor Belmont before the events of cv los 2 or of the decendants of Simon Belmont between Mof and los 2.
@@kurokoro Agree, the story of LoS 1 is great. The main weapon is not alchemy but not totally mechanical to me cause its name, clearly a religious reference (so kind of mystic power). In Lament, this sacrifice seems too "drama" to convince me.
Honnestly, I feel betrayed by LoS 2, after playin the E3 demo of the game, I expected something else, more like Gabriel becomes the powerfull Dracula till his own fall, facing the 1st epic fight against his family. Instead, we've got the rat possession ... ( I know, there's more than that but ... voilà).
Finishing by distopic, just because there're two making of vampire killer, and I decide LoS1 is the real one (just a point of view)
@@msolom9521 Oh ok now I get you but since its a reboot is a different take on the origin but to each their own and I respect your decision to choose this one,the rat parts didnt bother me and really people made a lot of complaints for something that was used just a few times also Dracula can turn into rats and other animals in lore, I really dont think that makes los 2 a bad game and it was hated for nonesense( atleast thats my opinion I dont think its perfect but it didnt dissapoint me), in Mirrors of fate is focused more on the struggle and relationship between the Belmonts and Dracula and the secret that binds them, it was a great tale and if you haven't played it I dont want to spoil it but really explains a lot and the ending was so nostalgic that I just really love that game, tbh about it the los trilogy is very dramatic and tragic I may say more so than cv LoI( which I dont think its bad and quite the contrary I love it), Yeah the Combat Cross has a major religious symbolic reference they also kinda fused both the vampire killer and the boomerang cross into it except you dont throw the combat cross lol which Its a feature I actually wanted it to have kinda like thors hammer but CV as a whole is a huge reference to religion in a way (also the name Gabriel and giving him wings plus he fights lucifer is a huge religious reference), Leon and Gabriel where both knights of religion Leon being a Crusader and Gabriel a knight of the brotherhood of light and both ended departing from that title became hunters of the night (and their decendents) with the exception of Gabriel becoming a lord of shadow himself.
P.S I love that Simon uses the leather whip at first in Cv los Mof a nice reference to the og whip.
Castlevania (NES) US and Japanese versions are my favorites.
DOS music made me want to jab pencils into my ears. Goodness.
Despite all the parts that came after, and even if the Lords of Shadow/Mirror of Fate Roobot series tells the best story for me - Super Castelvania IV - still transports the most coherent atmosphere.
Those zombies in the amiga version 🤣🤣🤣
On Commodore 64 Simon Belmont walks with some level of funk
The C64 and DOS conversions by Unlimited Software sound like the arranger only ever listened to the NES version only once while piss drunk, then wrote all the notes from memory.
Fun fact. That's actually what happened.
43:12 MSX2版のBGMが異様に遅い…
恐らく、日本仕様ではなく欧州仕様のMSX本体かエミュレータですね。
There is one missing from this list. Castlevania: A Spectrum Interlude for the Spectrum 128K. I've played it on my ZX Spectrum Next and it's good.
Dude! Why couldn't we get a port of the Sharp X6800 version of Castlevania on the Castlevania Collection for current-gen consoles?
Please,link to 2 J2ME versions!
Missed the opportunity to add Castlevania HD texture pack for NES as a BONUS
That would be excessive, since the texture pack is not an official release. But the "3rd iteration" J2ME game, which was the source of the graphics for that HD Pack would've been welcome in this video.
Good comparison, but I would've added the Intellivision hombrew version; it's really impressive considering the system's limitations!
I'm surprised the C64 port looked and sounded as good as it did.
Considering the sound hardware chip in the C64, I thought it sounded quite bad, the C64 was known for sounding much better than the Nes with a lot of games.
It sounds like the version used is the C64 PAL version. NTSCs music does sound slightly better on hardware, but definitely not up the usual C64 snuff.
@@Krayzar It did seem a little slow but the actually quality of the song sounded bad by C64 standards.
Definitely, I agree.
In general the C64 version is the most NES like in terms of gameplay though. If they would have implemented holy water similarly and taken a little more care with mechanics, it would be close.
The controls are quite good for a "press up to jump" port. Still think it's probably the most faithful early home computer port.
CV1 Amiga on the other hand, can rot. That port is torture to play. Probably one of the worst games ever made.
@@Krayzar It's all about the quality of the ports, the C64 and the Amiga got some really bad ones but with more care and attention, both those hardwares could do much better, especially with arcade ports.
The Amiga version was really bad but I even learned when I was a kid using the Amiga, avoid arcade and Japanese games on the platform because either little effort goes into them or they are being made to look worse than they should to make Japanese home computers and consoles look better, I say that because the pattern was too consistent with games from that region.
I'm a huge Castlevania fan. Used to own Chronicles for the PS1 and didn't think much of it at the time. Looks like he's power walking all the time.
If someone could mesh together the MSX and NES/Famicom versions I believe it would be a true masterpiece
I think the Amiga version looked really interesting, its a shame the scrolling is a bit weird
Controls are stiff as heck, too. Makes it difficult to play. Especially since, like a lot of Amiga games, it uses the default 1-button joystick inherited from the C64. Still the most annoying thing about Amiga games.
It really is amazing how the NES version stomps on almost all others, mimicking the arcade almost flawlessly despite not being the most powerful machine on this list. Makes me wonder how they botched ports on other more powerful machines. Only version I'd say wrecks them all is the x68000 version even if it isn't actually a port but a remake.
Well the "arcade version" IS the NES version. The PlayChoice and Vs. arcade cabinets were just NES hardware in an arcade form. So the first four versions compared in this video were completely redundant. The NES/Famicom/Arcade version is the original, and the real thing. It came out simultaneously on the MSX2 in Japan, so that could also be considered an original Castlevania version, although the level design is different. All other versions are ports.
@@robertmiles9942 Exactly. The NES game is the original. Any differences from the Famicom Disk version are just localization tweaks. And it is the original; the MSX version came out a month later in Japan, meaning they were in development at the same time, but if you look at the closing credits of the MSX version, there's a thank you to the head programmer of the Famicom version. Some folks get confused about that because the MSX version was released in Europe as Vampire Killer before the Famicom original was released as Castlevania in Europe. But the Famicom game is the very first game in the series, and not a port of any other game.
the msx version was the only "vania"?
I'm honestly impressed by the Commodore 64 port of this game. The fact that a home computer from 1982 with a CPU from 1975 could run a decent version of a 1986 Famicom Disk System game is awesome, really. Of course, it helps that the Famicom and Commodore 64 use the same processor at the core (the MOS Technology 6502), but it's still impressive.
If you look at the recent port of SMB to the C64, I think you see that with time the C64 can do much of what the NES can. I'd like to see them further improve upon the C64 port, as Konami had nothing to do with it.
@@earthlydescent Indeed it could. I mean, the Commodore 64 packed more RAM on board than the NES did. Certainly it was a capable 8-bit computer with great games.
@@reillywalker195 The C64 is a fantastic machine.
Why does both Haunted castle and Chronicles have that weird hunch?
I'm looking at 15:14 and I was like "wait, was that cross boomerang is supposed to do that in DOS?"
"TAKE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"
The MSX version had great background music. However, the game could not be interrupted because there was no way to save the game, even though the levels were large. The content was also different from the NES version, which was frustrating for children who could not play the NES version.
29:04 Castlevania Chronicles? More like Castleravia Chronicools
Wait, are you sure those were the EARLIEST J2ME versions? I swear there was an 8-bit version with non detailed graphics.
Castlevania Chronicles is my favourite version.
So glad it's available for the PS1, if you can find a copy of it that is. 😕
@@luisreyes1963 There's a reason I bought it the day it came out. It wasn't a major release (indeed if i recall correctly it was essentially a bargain title from its release in the US). I had known about the X68000 version so I jumped all over that thing when I could get it.
Weird to call the one on the 68000 chronicles when that is the PlayStation title and it is just Akumajo Dracula so I guess using the translation everyone else uses it would just be Castlevania again.
Played NES and Chronicles games. I like boss theme in Chronicles arrange mode the most.
The Arcades with Nintendo Games inside called Play Choise 5 it has famous NES Games in Gaming Halls with Billiard
The NES and Famicom versions aren't really the same, since the Famicom cartridge release came years later, with an added Easy dificulty which gives the player 30 hearts, 10 lives and you don't lose your power-ups (sub-weapons and/or multipliers) when you die. The easy mode also removes the dreaded knockback.
Don't go "ooooh, it's easy", because no. The game still is hard as balls, it's just less stress inducing
My favorite game.
The MSX 2 version was actually harder. You have to look for those keys.
Looks like someone tried to play the C64 version on a PAL machine. You need to put your emulator in NTSC mode for NTSC games, please. It's running at 4/5 normal speed, that's why the music sounds weird.
@
retrosutra 12:41 They somehow managed to make the music even worse on the MS-DOS and C64 versions, especially with that FM synthesis sound card in DOSBox (AdLib/Sound Blaster). Oh, my bleeding ears!! Well, I love the way they've made the Stage Clear music sounding more happier with major chords instead of the minor chords in the original NES version, but there's no enemy boss music and the graphics on the DOS port seems to lack a lot due to many graphical memory restrictions. That was pathetic, too lame! USI is really such a lazy and boring developer with ABSOLUTELY no chance to make the games on the DOS get identical to the original console versions!
i just notice Simon B have a sword with him why he not using it ?
@Roger’s No-Commentary Videos isn't that knife ?
I didn’t know there were castlevania arcades. Cool
Also whoever played all this had got some skill
You forgot to include the SC-55 music in PSX Castlevania Chronicles. That music was the best, better than arranged imo.
I'm sure it's been said, by now, but _Castlevania Chronicles_ was not a port.
It was a reimagining, just like _Super Castlevania IV_ and _Haunted Castle._
This is true, but it's hard to deny that it is far more faithful to the NES original than those last two games.
True 'nuff.
Amiga leggy zombies!
I love this game!
MSX Version is being emulated in an european MSX with 50hz... music is just slower because of this. has to be emulated on american msx or japanese for the right sync
Man, I love that cheap Merman in the Amiga version. That's some quality game design right there.
The problem with these terrible Amiga ports was that it was usually done by small, cheap studios who were given ridiculously short deadlines. The system was capable of so much more.
Super castlevania 4 🐐
I am disappointed. No obligatory Spectrum port? What was Konami thinking! Ever great game needs an obligatory Spectrum port to ruin it. But we do have the C64 and MSX, though to be honest they aren't half bad really. They played to the strengths of the MSX to make the most of its limitations and actually made a decent port for that system. But the only disappointing ports are Amiga and the awful PC port. I am surprised the game used EGA modes, I thought it had a VGA mode as well but it appears they didn't bother with 13h modes. That would have helped it out quite a bit as at least they would have had some smooth scrolling and latched writes. But great comparison as always! I loved this game as a kid on the nintendo.
The C64 and MS-DOS ports are done by the same group that did TMNT for those systems IIRC
Vampire Hunter on the MSX2 is an intetesting variation but it's also really tough and unfair. The worst of the bunch is the arcade version. The only reedeming factor is the soundtrack which is of the usual high quality on the series.
C64 version looks and sounds fairly good.
Amiga always has the best music.