Together Retro August 2020 - Birds are Jerks

[Ack]

I'm continuing through the Castlevania Anniversary Collection and now have to write up my thoughts on Kid Dracula, but I've also noticed that the Japanese versions are also available for most games in the set.

While this doesn't make much sense for some (the Kid Dracula port in the collection, for example, is the first official English localization that I'm aware of), I'm curious how much difference there is in the original Castlevania NTSC-J release versus NTSC-U. Does anyone have any insights into this? There were similar versions in the Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle, and a few of those games had some major changes in terms of story presentation and censorship. Anything similar with the Classic-Vanias?

[prfsnl_gmr]

I'm continuing through the Castlevania Anniversary Collection and now have to write up my thoughts on Kid Dracula, but I've also noticed that the Japanese versions are also available for most games in the set.

While this doesn't make much sense for some (the Kid Dracula port in the collection, for example, is the first official English localization that I'm aware of), I'm curious how much difference there is in the original Castlevania NTSC-J release versus NTSC-U. Does anyone have any insights into this? There were similar versions in the Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle, and a few of those games had some major changes in terms of story presentation and censorship. Anything similar with the Classic-Vanias?

The Famicom version of Castlevania III is superior to its NA counterpart, from what I understand. I also think there are some significant changes to the NA version of Castlevania Bloodlines.

[Ziggy]

I'm curious how much difference there is in the original Castlevania NTSC-J release versus NTSC-U. Does anyone have any insights into this? There were similar versions in the Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle, and a few of those games had some major changes in terms of story presentation and censorship. Anything similar with the Classic-Vanias?

Castlevania - The original Famicom Disk System version has quite a few differences form the NES cart. It has a different title screen and file select screen because the FDS could save progress. The file select screen has a music track that's only found here. You enter your name for each file, like Zelda, and your name is displayed during the credits. Eventually, Konami released a Famicom cart version. This is probably the version found in the collection. The FC cart version has the same title screen from FDS, but it doesn't have the file select screen because it lacks the save feature. But, the FC cart does have a normal and easy difficulty selection on the title screen. In the FDS and NES versions of the game, after you clear a stage it counts down the time and hearts left for points. The hearts count down very slowly. In the FC cart version, the hearts count down fast, similar to later Castlevania games. Other than that, and the easy mode, there's really no gameplay differences.

Castlevania II - This game was originally released for the FDS and had game saves, while the NES cart had a password system. It's been said that the NES version actually has better audio than the FDS version. Aside from a poor translation, there's no gameplay differences that I'm aware of.

Castlevania III - This has the most differences between the NES and FC versions. For the FC version, Konami was able to use a badass mapper chip that wasn't possible to use for the NES version. So for that reason, there were a few "cuts". There's a lot of graphical differences, some minor and some more noticeable, too many to list. The biggest difference is the music, which is loads better in the FC version. As for gameplay, the damage structure is different. In the NES version, the damage you take depends on which level you're on (you take more damage in later levels) but in the FC version damage depends on the enemy. In the NES version, if you die against Dracula you are started all the way back at the last door transition. In the FC version, if you die against Dracula you are started right outside his staircase. So with this and the damage structure, I think the FC is way easier. The makers must have thought so, too, which is why they added the "Help Me" 10 lives cheat in the NES version (it's not in the FC version).

Castlevania IV - Another game that has graphical difference but no gameplay differences that I am aware of. All of the graphical differences are NA censoring. Religious symbols, nude statues, blood.

Castlevania Bloodlines - Known as Vampire Killer in Japan. There's some graphical differences. Gameplay-wise, the Japanese version is a little easier than the NA version. I just recently played through the Japanese version for the first time and realized it was a little easier, but I don't have specific examples. I think some sub bosses take more damage with each hit. I know the stupid face/column boss is a lot easier because it shoots less projectiles at you. There might be more stuff like this. I know the NA version also you to set more lives in the option menu. The NA version shows the password after each level because it has limited continues. The JPN version only shows passwords at a game over, but I didn't bother to check if it has limited continues or not. The NA version, each ending has 2 or 3 different screens. It will show you just a little on easy, a little more on normal, and the full ending on hard (unlocked by code or beating the game once on normal). In the JPN version, IIRC it shows you the full ending even on normal difficulty (pretty sure, I'd have to double check this).

As for the graphical differences (usually censoring), the Castlevania Dungeon shows a lot of them. When you click on each game, click on "foreign" to see some screen shots. It doesn't list every change for every game, but you'll get the idea.

https://castlevaniadungeon.net/games.html

[BoneSnapDeez]

Because I'm insane I own the disk versions of the Castlevania 1 & 2.

The biggest differences:
-- Both games have a true save feature
-- There are load times and disk-flipping
-- Different title screens
-- Soundtrack of "Dracula II" sounds much different (and not as good as the NES version)
-- Japanese text in Dracula II when talking to the NPCs, while first game has all(?) English text and yes the same corny "jokes" in the credits

Are these games even part of Castlevania Anniversary Collection or did I just waste your time?

Be a man and play Haunted Castle.

[Ack]

Unfortunately, none of the FDS versions are included. In fact, Castlevania II doesn't have any NTSC-J version available for some reason, despite all the rest having their Japanese counterparts playable.

I will check out the Famicom version of Castlevania later. I want to see this alternate start screen.

[Ziggy]

Unfortunately, none of the FDS versions are included. In fact, Castlevania II doesn't have any NTSC-J version available for some reason, despite all the rest having their Japanese counterparts playable.

That makes sense. If they included the FDS games then they would have to get the save functionality working for them. The first Castlevania had a Famicom cart conversion done, but the only Japanese release of Castlevania II was on the FDS, so it makes sense that there's no Japanese version of II available in the collection.

I will check out the Famicom version of Castlevania later. I want to see this alternate start screen.

You would appreciate it, I think. The original game pays homage to classic horror movies, and the Japanese title screen is made to look like a film print (much like the third game does, but without the scrolling) which adds to it.

[BoneSnapDeez]

The Legend of Zelda and Castlevania followed a FDS ---> NES ---> Famicom release progression. I think they were the only two to do such a thing.

[MrPopo]

Wasn't Metroid also FDS first with save?

[Ziggy]

Wasn't Metroid also FDS first with save?

Yep, a lot more games too. But I believe what Bone was saying is that those two games were first released on FDS, then NES, then FC and no other FDS games later got a FC cart release.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Yeah I was talking about games that went disk, to North American NES cart, to late-stage Fami cart. I think Zelda and Castlevania are the only two.

But there are a surprising number of games that were disks in Japan and carts in North America. Zelda I & II, Castlevania I & II, Kid Icarus, Metroid, and Doki Doki Panic / Mario 2 are the obvious ones but you also have stuff like Volleyball, Dr. Chaos, and Mystery Quest. Sorry if I veered too far off topic, I like the FDS.