Saturn Castlevania SOTN, what region is the best version?

[AdamGomez1987]

Haha, seriously? That honestly amazes me. I wouldn't be surprised if those people just found the game too hard and blamed the game itself. The game is indeed challenging, and it kicked my ass up and down when I first played it, but it is not unfair. Also the visuals are beautiful. I love how the sprites are so vivid and colorful and the backgrounds use a lot of black, which creates contrast in turn making the colors pop more. I have a tough time deciding if I like Rondo or IV better.

I need to go back and play the SNES version, I don't remember much from it. I played Symphony of the Night and it's a fun little game, can get a little confusing and may find yourself leveling on certain stages which is a time eater ( not as bad as Final Fantasy 8 though with trying to gather your spells from monsters, OUCH!! >.o )

[ethinethin]

I need to go back and play the SNES version, I don't remember much from it.

The SNES version of Rondo (Dracula X) has some good music and some fairly challenging gameplay, but it's sort of a bastardized version of Rondo. I recently bought and played through the TG-16 version of Rondo of Blood via the Wii virtual console and it's one of my favorites in the Castlevania series. It's a little difficult, but still immensely enjoyable. There are so many references to previous games (for example: Simon's quest village sprites), and if you've played SotN, you'll recognize parts that are later referenced (for example: why the bridge leading up to the clock tower is in ruins in SotN).

I heard the unlockable "original" version of Rondo on the Dracula X Chronicles stutters a bit, but I have never played it. The version on the Wii Virtual Console runs great, and not much is lost from not being able to read or understand Japanese, although all the cutscenes are in German or Japanese.

[abeaver]

Yeah, Dracula X on the SNES is more or less its own game that uses Rondo as an inspiration. The layouts and level graphics are different, also Richter seems to walk at a much slower pace despite his walking animation being sped up. Maria isn't playable either. I don't like it nearly as much as the real Rondo, but it isn't a bad game at all.

[Rurouni_Fencer]

If you want to play the Japanese SotN, (Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight,) get a RAM cart and buy the actual disc! The Dracula X Chronicles port on the PSP, while not a bad conversion completely, does suffer from some hiccups and it doesn't include the two extra stages that were added to the Japanese Saturn version.

If you're looking for a fun romp down memory lane in SotN, the PSP collection will sate you, (besides, the Playstation's SotN is much better than the Saturn's NitM.) But if you're interested purely for curiosity's sake to see what Japanese Saturn owners got in their port of the Castlevania game, (a playable adult Maria, as well as two exclusive levels,) an actual disc of the Saturn's Dracula X: NitM is the only way to do so!

[bryan_65]

Is the Saturn version still playable and will you now where to go knowing no Japanese?

[abeaver]

The game doesn't really tell you where to go in English either. You just need to remember to buy the artifact that lets you go through the sealed doors, and to equip the Sun and Moon Rings in the clock room. Other than that, as long as you know what the items/weapons do, you should be fine.

Oh, and it should probably be mentioned that for some reason, you have to pause and hit L to activate the map, which takes much more time than simply hitting select in the Playstation version.

[Breetai]

Between the PS1 and Saturn versions, I honestly prefer the PS1 version. I have beaten both numerous times in both English and Japanese.

I have never played through the PSP version.

I am curious how you feel that way for. Is it the controller, the game itself? What made the PS1 more preferrable to you over the Saturn?

I played through the PS1 version a number of times before trying the Saturn version. One annoyance on the Saturn is that the map is only accessible from the menu and takes a few seconds to load. Not a huge deal, but it is only one quick button press on the PS1 version with no loading at all. Some of the graphical effects on the Saturn are not up to par with the PS1 version. Likewise, the screen on the Saturn is slightly distorted. It is not something really noticeable if you just play it casually, but I noticed right away.

NONE of those are huge deals, but they are just enough for me to pick the PS1 version over the Saturn if I have access to both. The Saturn does have a few extra areas and a playable Maria, but those are things I personally do not care about too much. Others like the Saturn version more of these reasons.

In the end, they are the same game. Both are awesome.

[Gamerforlife]

Ultimately, hearing that Koji Igarashi hated the Saturn version kind of turned me off to it. Plus, I view it as an embarrassment on the system that was supposed to school the Playstation in all things 2D. The PSP version has a new english dub, a new script, an option for the japanese language track, ALL of the familiars from the different versions of the game and a playable Maria that is more balanced than the game breaking character she was in the Saturn version. It's missing the Saturn's version's extra stages and enemies, but they were pretty crappy anyway. The PSP version also removed a glitch or two I believe, like the one that let you build up tons of cash without earning it. Koji calls it the best version of SOTN and I'm inclined to agree with him.

The Rondo port on Dracula X Chronicles is not perfect, but it's good. It's hard to do Maria's special move and some people say there are minor sound sync issues. I think the Rondo remake makes up for it. I like the new graphics and sound and Maria's special is easy to pull off in that version. There's an epic new Dracula fight in the remake as well. Unless, you're partial to old school sprites and the anime aesthetic(which is completely understandable), the Rondo remake in Dracula X Chronicles is better than the original.

This collection seems like a labor of love from Koji, who wanted to take two very important games and present them in the best way possible

[deathsled]

SOTN for Saturn was the first version I ever played. I bought it new back in the day from a local store that imported games. I had no problem playing through it back then, however it was only until after I sought out some additional information on the fledgling (at the time) internet that I learned that I had not actually beaten the game and that I was only halfway though haha.

[Anthony817]

So, I don't have to have the ram cart for this to boot do I?

Also, I tried looking for the backup on Snesorama, and ALL links were down.

Anybody else know where I can snag this game?