Castlevania Dracula X:Chronicles

[Gamerforlife]

So I got a PSP and this was my first purchase for it. The Rondo remake is the only game initially available. I have never played the original Rhondo and really wish I could play it first but it has to be unlocked. Oh well, whatever. I played a couple levels and the remake is like everything we know and love about the old pre-Symphony of the Night Castlevania games, but on steroids. And my god, this one is tough. I'd say it's ten times as hard as Super Castlevania on the S-NES, and it's that hard right from the get go. I think any Vania vet will be able to handle it though. It puts those same skills you already have to use, but there's less of a warm up period than other Castlevania games I've played and it seems like you have to be just a bit more evasive with Belmont than I'm used to. That double jump is handy

Symphony of the Night is perfect. With the voices set to Japanese, you're pretty much playing the original Japanese Playstation version, except everything you have to read is translated and the script for the dialogues seem better than the original North American release. They changed some sound effects though, but it's no big deal. It's nice to finally play a proper version of this game. No crappy port job(Sega Saturn), no hit and miss voice acting(NA Playstation version)and no missing FMV sequences(Xbox 360 version)

Both games have the option for japanese voices and they didn't half ass it. EVERY voice in the game will be set to japanese, not just story based dialogue. They kept the proper aspect ratios for SOTN and classic Rondo too, which may annoy some, but you have five gorgeous background wallpapers to choose from, and there's always the tv out option

I can't find anything to complain about. This is a wonderful gift to the North American Castlevania fans, who have been screwed for too long over the years. Now I just wish they could re-localize Super Castlevania and Bloodlines minus the censorship and re-worked story(for Bloodlines that is)

[ZenLogikos]

I can complain that it's available on a ridiculous handheld and not available for a real, current console...

[kevinski]

The Rondo remake is the only game initially available. I have never played the original Rhondo and really wish I could play it first but it has to be unlocked. Oh well, whatever.

I hated having to unlock SotN. I bought the game to play this version of SotN.

I played a couple levels and the remake is like everything we know and love about the old pre-Symphony of the Night Castlevania games, but on steroids. And my god, this one is tough. I'd say it's ten times as hard as Super Castlevania on the S-NES, and it's that hard right from the get go. I think any Vania vet will be able to handle it though. It puts those same skills you already have to use, but there's less of a warm up period than other Castlevania games I've played and it seems like you have to be just a bit more evasive with Belmont than I'm used to.

Oddly, most Castlevania fans feel that Rondo (and its remake) is probably one of the easiest games in the series. I don't know what it is about the game, but I've always had problems with Rondo. I don't particularly enjoy the game for one reason or another, and I find it to be very difficult. My favorite classic-style Castlevania game, for the record, is Bloodlines.

I didn't even like SCIV on SNES, but I think that it's one of the easier classic-style Castlevania games. I actually prefer the SNES counterpart (DX) to Rondo, as the controls feel better.

Symphony of the Night is perfect. With the voices set to Japanese, you're pretty much playing the original Japanese Playstation version, except everything you have to read is translated and the script for the dialogues seem better than the original North American release.

I like the original NA release's dialogue. The problem with the newer English translation is that it basically says the same thing, but feels as though they tried too hard to rearrange different words and whatnot to make them sound different. Not better...different.

They changed some sound effects though, but it's no big deal. It's nice to finally play a proper version of this game.

I'm pretty sure that the different sounds that you're hearing are probably due to poor sound emulation or a lack of familiarity with the Japanese version of SotN (NitM), which has different sound effects for certain enemies. The PSP version is based on the Japanese version of SotN; it isn't a retooled version of the NA version.

No crappy port job(Sega Saturn), no hit and miss voice acting(NA Playstation version)and no missing FMV sequences(Xbox 360 version)

I beg to differ. Of the versions that I've played, the PSP version on DXC is the one that suffers the most from the "crappy port job" thing. Using the Nosedevil familiar can randomly freeze the game, especially when you're in the vicinity of the room leading to Succubus. I had random freezing throughout, and the tacked-on Maria game is worse than that of the Saturn version, despite her having more suitable powers in this one. (And you can tell that it was half-assed, as you'll find yourself getting hit by ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in certain parts of the game. You'll be running around, then you'll just get knocked back and damaged for no reason.)

I'm a huge SotN fan, and I hate the DXC rendition of SotN.

[Gamerforlife]

Symphony of the Night is perfect. With the voices set to Japanese, you're pretty much playing the original Japanese Playstation version, except everything you have to read is translated and the script for the dialogues seem better than the original North American release.

I like the original NA release's dialogue. The problem with the newer English translation is that it basically says the same thing, but feels as though they tried too hard to rearrange different words and whatnot to make them sound different. Not better...different.

No crappy port job(Sega Saturn), no hit and miss voice acting(NA Playstation version)and no missing FMV sequences(Xbox 360 version)

I beg to differ. Of the versions that I've played, the PSP version on DXC is the one that suffers the most from the "crappy port job" thing. Using the Nosedevil familiar can randomly freeze the game, especially when you're in the vicinity of the room leading to Succubus. I had random freezing throughout, and the tacked-on Maria game is worse than that of the Saturn version, despite her having more suitable powers in this one. (And you can tell that it was half-assed, as you'll find yourself getting hit by ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in certain parts of the game. You'll be running around, then you'll just get knocked back and damaged for no reason.)

I'm a huge SotN fan, and I hate the DXC rendition of SotN.

Well I'll just touch a few things you mentioned for now. I don't think the English voices in the NA PS 1 version are as horrible as many people say, but they aren't as good as they should be either. I much prefer having the option to listen in Japanese with English text, which the DXC version gives me. I'm not impressed by the new voice acting overall, but with the Japanese language option available, it just doesn't matter. I wish MORE games would just give players this option. I honestly wouldn't care if every Japanese game ever released from this day forth had NO English dubbing at all. I'm more than happy to just hear the original language with subtitles. It would get games over here in the US a lot faster too and companies wouldn't have to waste money on english voice actors. When I play a game made in an English speaking country, I expect English dialogue, but I don't understand why games or movies from non-English speaking parts of the world HAVE to have English dubs. Subtitles are a simple, easy solution

The script is better in some parts. Shaft's plan make just a little more sense and some scenes come off as less melodramatic. I don't think it was just re-arranging words to make them sound different. It makes some of the dialogue sound a bit less awkward. Course, I didn't care that much about the script. I'm just glad to have better voice acting(via the Japanese language option). It makes those scenes less cringe inducing and embarrassing(if anyone else is in the room with you)

And no I don't think the DXC version of SOTN is a crap port. SOTN has ALWAYS had bugs and glitches. This one adds a few more, but they're easy to avoid. You simply make sure you don't have the 2 new familiars out when facing a boss. No glitch, problem solved. Given that the 2 new familiars are just palette swaps of two of the original ones, it's not like we need to use them anyway. Personally, I can accept a few easily avoidable glitches compared to the horrendously downgraded graphics on the Saturn version. Not to mention the tons of extra load times and slowdown that version had. THAT is a crappy port job.

As for the tacked on Maria mode, well I honestly don't care about Maria mode. It was never meant to be in the game and was pretty much a tacked on extra in the Saturn version as well

I still stand by my statement that this is the best version of SOTN, but it's just my opinion. That being said though, hating DXC seems almost like a sin to me. This is a labor of love for Castlevania fans living outside of Japan. A North American release of Rondo would have been enough, but IGA went the extra mile and gave us a re-make AND a definitive version of SOTN that finally addresses everyone's biggest complaint about it. Plus, an original Japanese language option for obsessive purists like myself

THIS is how you do re-release and compilations. THIS is how you show fans some respect. Wish those jackasses at Square could learn a thing or two from this

[MrPopo]

I have to agree, when it comes to voices. I always prefer to have the option to listen to the Japanese voices over the American ones for games from overseas. At the same time, I think American games can have good voice acting. For example, Gears of War I feel has good voice acting. The voices match the characters, and the pacing is pretty good. However, I've found that Japanese games never seem to come off properly with english voice actors. I think it is the cultural differences, that even with translation and localization, the dialog still doesn't quite feel like how an American would talk.

It's even worse with movies/anime, where you now have the limitation of needing to match mouth movements. It turns a hard job into a real bitch of one, which is why I refuse to watch a film in anything but the original language. Of course, with games, I don't let an english only VA prevent me from purchasing it, or I'd never experience gems such as Persona 3.

[Gamerforlife]

I have to agree, when it comes to voices. I always prefer to have the option to listen to the Japanese voices over the American ones for games from overseas. At the same time, I think American games can have good voice acting. For example, Gears of War I feel has good voice acting. The voices match the characters, and the pacing is pretty good. However, I've found that Japanese games never seem to come off properly with english voice actors. I think it is the cultural differences, that even with translation and localization, the dialog still doesn't quite feel like how an American would talk.

It's even worse with movies/anime, where you now have the limitation of needing to match mouth movements. It turns a hard job into a real bitch of one, which is why I refuse to watch a film in anything but the original language. Of course, with games, I don't let an english only VA prevent me from purchasing it, or I'd never experience gems such as Persona 3.

Yeah, I agree it's more of an issue with Japanese games. I see games made outside of Japan with quality voice acting all the time, but it always seems more hit and miss with Japanese games. Having an option to switch to Japanese voices is nice because it makes everyone happy. You keep the purists like me happy and everyone else can go ahead and just listen to the English dub if they want. Nippon Ichi does this with Disgaea games and I like it.

I'll play a Japanese game with English dubbing if it's my only option though. With many rpgs you don't really get a choice. And some companies like Square have gotten pretty good about dubs. Though there are other things about Square that really annoy me like those enhanced International versions they put out in Japan for all their games about a year after their North American releases, which is pretty much like giving American fans the middle finger. You buy a Final Fantasy game or Kingdom Hearts game, within a year Square makes it obsolete and you can't even play the new version unless you can import and know a little Japanese. But this is a rant for another day

[ZenLogikos]

Whether it's games or movies, I find the country of origin to be irrelevant. My preference is based on subject matter. If the game or movie is Asian-themed, then I want to hear Asians talking. It's called authenticity. 'Voice-acting quality' is a false argument. If you can't understand the language you're listening to, you don't know whether THAT language is poorly voiced either. You might as well turn the sound off. So the argument in that case is: "Ignorance is bliss?"

[Gamerforlife]

Whether it's games or movies, I find the country of origin to be irrelevant. My preference is based on subject matter. If the game or movie is Asian-themed, then I want to hear Asians talking. It's called authenticity. 'Voice-acting quality' is a false argument. If you can't understand the language you're listening to, you don't know whether THAT language is poorly voiced either. You might as well turn the sound off. So the argument in that case is: "Ignorance is bliss?"

I don't know if I'd agree with that. It really comes down to things like delivery, tone and the actual sound of an actor's voice. You can pick up on things like that even if you don't know the language. I was recently trying to decide if I wanted the American or Japanese version of Mega Man X:Maverick Hunter X. I ended up going with the import version. I had watched some youtube vids to evaluate the voice acting between both versions. Dr. Light actually sounds like an old man in the import version. In the American one, he doesn't. Also, I listened to the English dialogue for one of the end of stage bosses and the delivery was so flat I couldn't stand it. Vile sounds very serious and dangerous in the Japanese version. In the English one, It's just not the same. Sure I guess it's possible that a Japanese speaker might have a different perspective, but I have to go with my own judgment and the import version just sounds better to my ears.

I take things on a case by case basis though. Some games and anime actually have awesome english dubs. I've never even watched Cowboy Bebop in Japanese, because the dub was so good. I not saying it's better, since I have no basis for comparison, but it's so good I never even worried about it. I've never seen an Asian movie or Hong Kong action flick with a good dub though. So I just automatically switch the DVD to original language with subtitles whenever I get ready to watch one.

EDIT:Oh and I found English scripts online for Maverick Hunter X, if you're wondering how the heck I'll follow the cut scenes(although you probably weren't)

[ZenLogikos]

It may also be that I have fairly low expectations for voice acting. I guess a "serviceable" job is all I'm looking for.

[MrPopo]

That's why dual language tracks are always the way to go when space permits. That way it pleases everyone.