An underrated aspect of the hallway before Death: while the enemy placements are unforgiving, it is still incredibly fair in that there are no bottomless pits that lead to cheap deaths. In fact, there isn’t a single bottomless pit in the entire 5th stage, which is crazy to think that it’s the 2nd-most difficult in the game.
It feels really strategic compared to it's peers. It's not a twitch platformer. Every move must be considered because you are committed to them and the game usually give you plenty of time to consider each action.
Correct. That's why, if they want to continue 3D Castlevania games, souls like is the way to go. It's the same thing but in 3D. If you rush in flailing away you're going to die. You have to look for patterns and wait for your moment to attack.
@@Flayne009 Yeah, FromSoft Souls-ish games in my mind have essentially picked up where Castlevania left off after Order of Ecclesia and Rebirth. It's got the deliberate pacing, the environmental story telling, the bleak gothic setting. It's great.
I don't know why so many people say that this game is hard. I first beat this game when I was 10 years old. It's just a matter of not rushing into the levels; learning the level/ enemy layouts and enemy and boss patterns.
5:34 I've *always* heard about SMT's Matador being a test of knowledge for players, but I didn't know about this. That's funny x) Ironically, It's the Creature I tend to struggle with, unlike Death & the Cross you're offered before THE hallway, if you die on the way to him, the only Subweapon you're given is the Knife... unless you get a Game Over: then there's Holy Water waiting at the beginning. If anything, that's my biggest gripe with the game: if you have Holy Water, being good at the game, caring about boss design and all, is all optional. I genuinely feel sorry for the poor guy(s) who had to design Medusa and Dracula's second phase: I have no idea what they really do and I don't need to fix that, since you have to try to reach them *without* HW. I guess it's that and Dracula's first phase. It's like, the longest fight in the game and arguably the easiest. I always die to him from boredom-induced carelessness x) But otherwise, I really like this game (...just look at my channel). It's a perfect way to get into fair but tough, old games. Like you say, Game Overs really are a slap on the wrist, you lose 2 minutes, at most... and I wish the same could be said about a lot of stages in 3.
Speaking about the Castlevania's rigidity, what comes to mind is how Konami walked back from the practically perfect, smoothest controls of Castlevania V to much stiffer one of Castlevania Rondo of Blood. This is when I you understand that this is the conscious decision, akin to the ammo deficit in survival horror games.
Playing Castlevania II: Simon's Quest in 2024, however, is...a mess. Everything that AVGN said about it years ago was true: especially the parts in the dungeons where Simon Belmont can just fall through the floor. Unless some people like gameplay similar to Zelda II, Simon's Quest is definitely not a game that holds up today.
@@Big_Dai Not even then (I first played it about 20 years after its prime), it's just well designed... aside from maybe that clusterfuck room before the Dracula checkpoint, though that could just be me being bad.
@@VonFirflirch If you manage to hold onto the holy water by this point ( or even better the stopwatch) if used at just the right time (meaning the stopwatch) you can pretty well safely maneuver that last stretch before the steps to the final battle with Dracula; with very limited damage. Once you get to the staircase from there; you can fight Dracula over and over with continuing at the bottom of the staircase until you beat the bastard.
@@nickparsons337 Right, I keep forgetting about the Stopwatch, somehow. If there's one in the stage, I probably tried that, yeah, that's gotta be how you're meant to cross that one room. When it comes to Holy Water fro Dracula, you get one in his room, so it's damn near impossible not to have it. Phase 1 is so easy (if boring and long), the checkpoint gets you more than enough Hearts for Phase 2, too.
An underrated aspect of the hallway before Death: while the enemy placements are unforgiving, it is still incredibly fair in that there are no bottomless pits that lead to cheap deaths. In fact, there isn’t a single bottomless pit in the entire 5th stage, which is crazy to think that it’s the 2nd-most difficult in the game.
This game is just an escort mission for the Holy Hand Grenade
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It feels really strategic compared to it's peers. It's not a twitch platformer. Every move must be considered because you are committed to them and the game usually give you plenty of time to consider each action.
Correct. That's why, if they want to continue 3D Castlevania games, souls like is the way to go. It's the same thing but in 3D. If you rush in flailing away you're going to die. You have to look for patterns and wait for your moment to attack.
@@Flayne009 Yeah, FromSoft Souls-ish games in my mind have essentially picked up where Castlevania left off after Order of Ecclesia and Rebirth. It's got the deliberate pacing, the environmental story telling, the bleak gothic setting. It's great.
Awesome. I've missed seeing your uploads in my feed
I don't know why so many people say that this game is hard. I first beat this game when I was 10 years old. It's just a matter of not rushing into the levels; learning the level/ enemy layouts and enemy and boss patterns.
Stairs are everywhere and they are commitments... Hard truths from a hard game...
5:34
I've *always* heard about SMT's Matador being a test of knowledge for players, but I didn't know about this. That's funny x)
Ironically, It's the Creature I tend to struggle with, unlike Death & the Cross you're offered before THE hallway, if you die on the way to him, the only Subweapon you're given is the Knife... unless you get a Game Over: then there's Holy Water waiting at the beginning.
If anything, that's my biggest gripe with the game: if you have Holy Water, being good at the game, caring about boss design and all, is all optional. I genuinely feel sorry for the poor guy(s) who had to design Medusa and Dracula's second phase: I have no idea what they really do and I don't need to fix that, since you have to try to reach them *without* HW.
I guess it's that and Dracula's first phase. It's like, the longest fight in the game and arguably the easiest. I always die to him from boredom-induced carelessness x)
But otherwise, I really like this game (...just look at my channel). It's a perfect way to get into fair but tough, old games. Like you say, Game Overs really are a slap on the wrist, you lose 2 minutes, at most... and I wish the same could be said about a lot of stages in 3.
Speaking about the Castlevania's rigidity, what comes to mind is how Konami walked back from the practically perfect, smoothest controls of Castlevania V to much stiffer one of Castlevania Rondo of Blood. This is when I you understand that this is the conscious decision, akin to the ammo deficit in survival horror games.
THE RETURN OF THE KING
Playing Castlevania II: Simon's Quest in 2024, however, is...a mess. Everything that AVGN said about it years ago was true: especially the parts in the dungeons where Simon Belmont can just fall through the floor. Unless some people like gameplay similar to Zelda II, Simon's Quest is definitely not a game that holds up today.
Uh oh. Don’t watch my video next week.
Played for the first time this year. It’s super good. I prefer Dracula’s Curse and Bloodlines though.
I absolutely hate this game i don't know how anyone had the patience to play it
A product of its time, the knowledge on game design, expectations and limitations. Had to play it then.
@@Big_Dai
Not even then (I first played it about 20 years after its prime), it's just well designed... aside from maybe that clusterfuck room before the Dracula checkpoint, though that could just be me being bad.
@@VonFirflirch If you manage to hold onto the holy water by this point ( or even better the stopwatch) if used at just the right time (meaning the stopwatch) you can pretty well safely maneuver that last stretch before the steps to the final battle with Dracula; with very limited damage. Once you get to the staircase from there; you can fight Dracula over and over with continuing at the bottom of the staircase until you beat the bastard.
@@VonFirflirch I forgot to add; you definitely want the holy water for the Dracula fight
It'll make it easier in the end.
@@nickparsons337
Right, I keep forgetting about the Stopwatch, somehow. If there's one in the stage, I probably tried that, yeah, that's gotta be how you're meant to cross that one room.
When it comes to Holy Water fro Dracula, you get one in his room, so it's damn near impossible not to have it. Phase 1 is so easy (if boring and long), the checkpoint gets you more than enough Hearts for Phase 2, too.