Will I like Castlevania Bloodlines and Contra: Hard Corps?

[pakopako]

The game definitely has a different feel. Movement is less restricted and attacking enemies is easier, platforming has a little more emphasis.

Totally agree with this.

While CV:BL offers a different pace to the series as SCV4 did (whose loose control scheme polarized some of the fan-base -- I liked the easier-to-use Simon), it also retains a lot of restrictions from the original NES games. The difficulty is moderate, the dual-character idea adds to replay-value, and the atmosphere is trademark CV. A worthwhile time.

Contra: Hard Corps is.... indeed ball-crushingly hard, but Contra fans are likely accustomed to punishment.

Also. Totally. True.

The short Brownie robot is the most worthwhile, the tall Werewolf is going to be a bullet-magnet. This is the hardest Contra yet in the generation (not counting the plodding-adventure, Contra Force) -- not only are the enemies more devious, but the game is also very sped up (in fact, I remember you had a slide/fash function). Mix in some trademark bullet-storms, and you have a... bone-crushingly hard game. A rewarding game, but only if you can still keep up.

[Erik_Twice]

Hery, thanks for all your responses, I appreciate them a lot

I think I will give Bloodlines a try. Being European, I can't play the originals on my NES without some terrible slowdown and it really looks similar to it.

I have heard that Super Castlevania was designed with CVIII mechanics in mind, which is pretty obvious from the level design. There are some good videos out there that show it and it's hard to argue. Coupled with the steep boxed price and the reduced amount of games I want for the SNES I probably won't get it. That's another point for Bloodlines.

But there's a problem: I heard the European version was censored and has different enemy placement. Can someone chime on this?

BTW, I'm seeing cardboard boxes. How can I know which games have a clamshell box? Cardboard sucks


Similarly, the European version of Hard Corps is still censored like the original Contras. If I get it I will import it, I'm going to get a 50/60hz switch anyways.

[Dylan]

But there's a problem: I heard the European version was censored and has different enemy placement. Can someone chime on this?

I've never heard anything about different enemy placement, and it sounds unlikely to me. There is indeed censorship in the PAL version however, a lot of the corpses in levels were removed and blood effects were changed. I believe those are the only differences.

[brunoafh]

One last post from me. If this video doesn't make you want to play the game, there is no hope for you in this world.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6z14xfCHV4#t=0m48s

[Erik_Twice]

I've never heard anything about different enemy placement, and it sounds unlikely to me. There is indeed censorship in the PAL version however, a lot of the corpses in levels were removed and blood effects were changed. I believe those are the only differences.

It sounds unlikely to me too, bu I saw it on Wikipedia, the most reliable place of the internet (TM) so I wanted to check.

Hard Crops is really, really cool. But the censored European version is incredibly expensive and I'm not sure I can run an Amerian cart with only a 50/60Hz Switch, and to be frank the American version isn't cheap either. Dammit. Retrogaming is so hard sometimes.

[o.pwuaioc]

Contra: Hard Corps is easily my favorite Contra game and probably one of my favorite games on the Genesis. Such an excellent game. If you're bothered by extreme difficulty it probably won't be for you though. It's not that hard, but definitely requires lots of patience and memorization.

I finally got Contra: Hard Corps in the mail today. Everyone else can get all excited about Diablo III, but me? I'm too hard core for that.

[Ziggy]

But there's a problem: I heard the European version was censored and has different enemy placement. Can someone chime on this?

http://www.castlevaniadungeon.net/games/cvbforeign.html

[AppleQueso]

I have heard that Super Castlevania was designed with CVIII mechanics in mind, which is pretty obvious from the level design. There are some good videos out there that show it and it's hard to argue. Coupled with the steep boxed price and the reduced amount of games I want for the SNES I probably won't get it. That's another point for Bloodlines..

If/when you do eventually get an SNES, I'd say it's still worth picking up. It's got some sloppy design, sure, but it's not broken or anything like that in the slightest. It's still really fun.