Castlevania Bloodlines vs. Dracula X

Welcome to 16-Bit Brawl, a sequence the place we pit two Sega Genesis and Tremendous NES video games towards each other to see which one comes out on prime. This time, for the spooky season we’re going to check out some basic Konami motion, evaluating a pair of Castlevania video games! Who had the higher entry? Let’s discover out. 

What with it being October and all, it appeared like the proper time to check some Castlevania classics. Who would not need to play Castlevania in the course of the Halloween season, proper? Konami blessed the Genesis with only one Castlevania recreation, Bloodlines, the place the Tremendous NES obtained two, Tremendous Castlevania IV and Castlevania: Dracula X. As Tremendous Castlevania IV recreation out all the way in which again in 1991, we’re going to be pitting the second SNES recreation, Dracula X, towards the generally divisive Genesis vampire killing simulator, Bloodlines. 

So with out additional ado, let’s take a better have a look at the rivals.

First, we’ve Castlevania: Bloodlines for Sega Genesis. The place Castlevania was virtually completely a strictly Nintendo affair since its inception, this introduced the sequence to Sega followers for the primary time, and boy did Konami come out swinging! Bloodlines is a technical marvel, with some actual showstopping visible results in a number of phases. It’s the origin level for a lot of all-time basic Castlevania songs, and options two playable characters, every with fascinatingly completely different approaches to killing monsters. It’s positively obtained its personal persona, for higher or worse, in addition to its personal set of detractors on the market, however it’s nonetheless usually considered one of many higher basic Castlevania entries for a purpose. This recreation guidelines. 

Over on the Tremendous NES, we’ve Castlevania: Dracula X. This can be a bizarre one because it’s technically a port of the wonderful Rondo of Blood for the PC Engine, which by no means got here out in North America, however it’s really actually its personal factor, sharing little or no by way of precise, tangible recreation design. It’s the second Castlevania recreation on the platform, following up the legendary Tremendous Castlevania IV with an incredible new artwork path and soundtrack, but in addition adhering to a rigidly conventional gameplay type. Its a looker, however does it have what it takes the place it counts? 

Now that we’ve taken a better have a look at the combatants, let’s see how they fare. 

Graphics (1 level)

Man, it is a robust class as a result of each of those video games are significantly spectacular wanting. They each have some extremely cool environmental results, just like the reflection stage in Bloodlines and the loopy fires burning within the background in Dracula X. They’re each fairly well-animated too, which suggests this class goes to have to return all the way down to artwork path, and in that I’ve to present the nod to Dracula X. 

The artwork path in Bloodlines is implausible, don’t get me flawed, however Dracula X/Rondo of Blood is the place the “home type” Castlevania caught with by way of Symphony of the Night time and past got here from, and it’s phenomenal. The way in which the Medusa heads flip whereas they fly, the element on the Bone Pillars, and let’s not overlook Richter Belmont’s iconic blue outfit, it’s all just some notches higher than what’s on the Genesis. It’s a detailed name, however Dracula X will get the purpose. 

Dracula X – 1

Bloodlines – 0

Sound (1 level)

And right here we’ve ANOTHER extremely shut name. I’ve stated it earlier than, I personally are likely to lean towards the Tremendous NES’s sound as being extra pleasant, however when composers actually make the most of the Genesis’s strengths, that system could make some loopy good music. And Bloodlines is for sure a type of video games. That is an all-time nice soundtrack. Simply killer observe after killer observe. 

However, similar to within the visuals division, I feel Dracula X is simply that a lot better. On the subject of unique tunes, I feel it’s a wash. Each video games come exhausting with unique songs which might be undeniably superior on all fronts. However each video games additionally embody new renditions of older Castlevania tunes, and that is the place I feel Dracula X takes the benefit essentially the most. The SNES variations of Vampire Killer and Bloody Tears alone are among the many better of all time. The Genesis variations of those self same songs are strong, however they merely can’t examine. It’s one other shut name, however the Tremendous NES has it as soon as once more. 

Dracula X – 2

Bloodlines – 0

Gameplay (2 factors)

Ahh, lastly a class that is a simple name to make. Castlevania: Dracula X might have all of the type on the planet, however when it comes down to truly taking part in the sport, there’s no query in my thoughts that Bloodlines is the superior expertise. Take the phases I discussed earlier within the graphics comparability for instance. The flames within the background in Dracula X are superb wanting, however they’re simply window dressing. 

The reflection in Bloodlines is definitely woven into the gameplay. That is type of a foolish instance, however Bloodlines is a way more artistic recreation by way of its total design. It’s additionally obtained much more gameplay selection and replayability because of the 2 characters. Richter is for sure a cooler character than John Morris or Eric Lacarde, however when evaluating these two video games, each John and Eric are far more enjoyable to regulate than Richter. Righter’s actions in Dracula X are far too inflexible, and I say this as a fan of basic Simon Belmont NES controls. He walks too dang sluggish, and the harm knockback is absurd. In the meantime, even simply evaluating the whip wielders, John Morris can whip in a number of instructions! Richter can do a enjoyable little backflip, however his different cool strikes just like the slide and uppercut aren’t in Dracula X, so he doesnt’ get credit score for them right here. You then add in Eric and his cool spear, and it’s over.

Dracula X remains to be a strong recreation, and its presentation can carry its considerably bland gameplay fairly far, however regardless that each video games get frustratingly troublesome towards the tip, Bloodlines simply performs higher. The factors go to Genesis. 

Dracula X – 2

Bloodlines – 2

Nicely people, we’ve one other tie, however the place prior to now I’ve been completely content material to depart it at that, I can’t this time round. I like Dracula X. It’s a stunning recreation with a killer soundtrack, however I can’t in good conscience say that it’s total pretty much as good as Bloodlines. Its presentation does’t match Bloodlines ambition, and so I’m going to interrupt the tie right here and award an additional bonus level to Bloodlines. The graphics and sound classes had been each extremely shut, whereas Bloodlines kinda blows the gameplay class out of the water. Heck, Bloodlines even has higher field artwork. It’s a particular case to make sure, as a result of generally two video games are simply pretty much as good as each other, however that is a type of situations the place there’s a transparent winner, level totals be damned. 

Dracula X – 2

Bloodlines – 3

The winner is Castlevania: Bloodlines for Sega Genesis. 

Nicely, there you will have it. I’ve to confess that I went into this gorgeous biased. I’ve by no means been a lot of a fan of Bloodlines, and I’ve all the time beloved Dracula X. However within the curiosity of equity, I performed each video games again to again, stage by stage. I’d play one stage of Bloodlines, then one stage of Dracula X, then again to Bloodlines, and so forth, and you already know what I realized? Dracula X is nearly all flash and no substance. It’s a superbly advantageous recreation, however Bloodlines’ ambition impressed the heck out of me. It took components of Tremendous Castlevania IV’s freedom of motion and meshed them with the inflexible controls of the NES originals in a very sensible manner. It’s nonetheless a ache within the butt to play, and my nostalgic connection to Dracula X signifies that I personally return to that one far more usually, however I’ve realized to understand Bloodlines for what it’s, and that may be a higher recreation than Dracula X. 

And that’s it for this version of 16-Bit Brawl. If in case you have a pair of video games you’d wish to see us pit towards each other, or simply genuinely disagree with my evaluation right here, tell us. See you subsequent time!