Castlevania Fans -

[taigr81m]

I liked Castlevania: Circle of the Moon and both N64 games. I own many, but haven't played them that much.

glad to know that i'm not the only member that likes the N64 games 

by the way, i'm working on covers and manuals today. I'll dust off the Claymates and hammer at it some more. I want to finish all of the covers that i had started. back to work. i am slow and tired today. off i go ...

[Dravenae]

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood! Love that game

[palmer6strings]

I highly recommend the new Lords of Shadow Castlevania too. It's not linked to the original series, but it's a great game and I can't wait to play the sequel.

How is it not linked to the series? It's a prequel to all the games showing how dracula came to be... Then Mirror of fate showed how Alucard came to be. If you think about how all the storylines go they really screwed up because Simon is in a crapton of games so he has to be like a bazillion years old...

My personal favorite is Symphony of the Night. Then the DS games and the GBA games.

[Arseen]

by the way, i'm working on covers and manuals today. I'll dust off the Claymates and hammer at it some more. I want to finish all of the covers that i had started. back to work.

Good to hear they are chucking along.

by the way, i'm working on covers and manuals today. I'll dust off the Claymates and hammer at it some more. I want to finish all of the covers that i had started. back to work.

I know the feeling, I'm feeling so lazy.
I know I should scan and do few covers but I just can't seem to do nothing...

OK, must lift my arse from mi bed and do few.

[Megatron]

I really think that where to start depends on the type of game you prefer - a platformer where you go to the end of a stage (Mario, Mega Man, etc) or a Metroid style game where you go all over and have constant backtracking, RPG elements, powerups etc.  Or...the 3D stlye games like Mario 64, Shadow of the Colossus and God of War.

The NES and SNES Castlevanias are stage based, 3 lives, continues, etc.  Super CV IV on the SNES is often hailed as the best.


The other type is typically on handheld games, and those are lovingly nicknamed Metroid-Vanias, due to the game play similarities of Metroid.  The whole game takes place in a castle area, with lots of rooms, sewers, floors, towers, etc.  These have a lot of backtracking and leveling up.  They also involve saving, as usually one death and game over.  Symphony of the Night for the PSone is the undisputed king of this genre, and the first one in this style.

The 3rd style is the 3D games.  These are the N64, PS2/Xbox/PS3/360 titles.  These...vary in quality.  The N64 ones are a little difficult to get the hang of, as they were very early in 3D tech.  And some of the PS2 titles are just boring.  If you like this route, I'd recommend either Curse of Darkness for PS2 or Lords of Shadow for PS3/360.  These seem to be the most fulfilling titles.  Just be warned, Lords of Shadows is like God of War with a whip.  If you don't like GoW or DMC, then these probably aren't the titles for you,  

My personal faves:
Platformers:  
1:  Super Castlevania IV (SNES)
2:  Castlevania Bloodlines (Genesis)
3:  Castlevania 1 (NES)
4:  Castlevania 2 (NES - RPG like, not stage based)
5:  Castlevania 3 (NES) - This one is HARD

RPG/Metroid-Vania
1:  Symphony of the Night (PS1, PSP, PSN, XBlive) Probably the best in the series IMO
2:  The DS/GBA ones all feel the same to me

3D/God of War style
1:  Lords of Shadow (PS3, 360)
2:  Curse of Darkness (PS2, Xbox)

the N64 titles are pretty bad, I love them...but i grew up with them.  They are frustrating and the camera is terrible.  But if you like a challenge, go for it...but don't judge the series based on these.  I'd say play any of the NES/SNES and PSone games before you judge the series as a whole

[Megatron]

Or, if you got time, AVGN summarized most of the earlier games through N64

NOTE:  THESE VIDEOS CONTAIN SPOILERS!
Not that there's much to spoil in some of these games, but they do show the endings of some of the games, final bosses, etc.

http://cinemassacre.com/2009/10/08/castlevania-part-1/

http://cinemassacre.com/2009/10/21/castlevania-part-2/

http://cinemassacre.com/2009/11/05/castlevania-part-3/

http://cinemassacre.com/2009/11/19/castlevania-part-4/

[wiggy]

Castlevania Symphony of the Night is considered the best in the series. However, I'd go with Super Castlevania IV for SNES if those are the systems you're limited too. As a note, Castlevania 64 and Castlevania Legacy of Darkness are considered the worst in the series. They are truly terrible.

I 100% agree with ALL of this.  This is exactly how I'd recommend you start. Starting with what is considered the best means that you'll almost certainly be dissapointed with the rest of the series after.

I'll add that the DS and GBA titles follow the Symphony of the Night formula (often known as Metroid-vania) and are quite enjoyable as well.  The NES titles (1-3) are most definitely worth playing. I personally can't stand any of the 3D titles. I don't think 3D works well for the Castlevania series.

I like the N64 Castlevania games. Much fun but then I know how to use the controller. Alot of people hate games that are not snes because they cannot play them well. I like alot of the N64 games but every 3-d game has pros and cons. I do not collect games, i play them.

Are you saying that the rest of us don't (know how to use our controllers or play our games)?

Wow.  It's pretty arrogant to infer that someone who has an opinion, which does't perfectly align with your own, has somehow arrived at it because of a failing of some sort. 

[SNESkid16]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I'm getting the feeling that SOTN is undoubtedly the best in the series, but I think I may start with one of the GBA versions. They are all fairly inexpensive, and I like that they have RPG elements. Possibly Harmony of Dissonance?

 

[Megatron]

The GBA versions went:  Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance and Aria of Sorrow.  Been a real long time since I've played them so I don't remember if any are direct sequels, but I feel like 2 of them are connected plot wise, I just don't remember which 2.  Someone who has played them more recently may have a better memory.

As for quality, HoD was probably the best gameplay/story.  Circle was basic and fun.  Aria was...different, at least in terms of story.  Personally, it was kind of a weak entry for me.  It  took place in the future I think.  All in all a good trio of games. 

[Retro Deckades]

The GBA versions went:  Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance and Aria of Sorrow.  Been a real long time since I've played them so I don't remember if any are direct sequels, but I feel like 2 of them are connected plot wise, I just don't remember which 2.  Someone who has played them more recently may have a better memory.

Aside from an overarching timeline/chronology, no two GBA games were connected story-wise. However, the final GBA game, Aria of Sorrow, was followed by Dawn of Sorrow on the DS, which was a direct sequel featuring the same protagonist.

As far as Castlevania goes, it's a series I've only gotten into the last 8 years or so, but I can honestly say that I've enjoyed every 2D version of the game I've played. Some are better than others, but if you end up liking what you play initially, I'd recommend trying out each and every 2D iteration.

Unfortunately, I can't say much about the 3D versions, but it's a safe bet that I would own both Lords of Shadow and its upcoming sequel if they were available on the Wii U.

[Megatron]

Aside from an overarching timeline/chronology, no two GBA games were connected story-wise. However, the final GBA game, Aria of Sorrow, was followed by Dawn of Sorrow on the DS, which was a direct sequel featuring the same protagonist.

Thank you!  I knew there was a direct sequel in there somewhere.  I need to go back and play those again.

[venkman00]

Super Castlevania IV on the SNES. Trust me.

[palmer6strings]

Super Castlevania 4 is a great game... until you get to the rotating spike level... I can literally walk straight through all the levels with no hits till i get to this level. Freaking pisses me off....   

[wiggy]

I'm guessing you're not a fan of the spinning room with the spikes in Super Ghouls and Ghosts then?

[palmer6strings]

Truthfully I've never state interested in G'n G to much. I know almost the same game. Lol.