Castlevania Rondo of Blood on Virtual Console

[DreadIsReal]

Hey guys,

Just saw that Castlevania Rondo of Blood is now available for download on the Wii for 900 points. It's about time too. It's a great entry into the franchise and a great way to pass time until Lords of Shadow.

[Breetai]

I downloaded it on the Wii about two years ago. :P

This, Castlevania III, Super Castlevania IV and Symphony of the Night are really the only four Castlevania games you'll ever need.

[Nintega Grafx-16]

Is the game translated by any chance? Or did Nintendo or Konami leave it in Japanese?

[YoshiM]

Is the game translated by any chance? Or did Nintendo or Konami leave it in Japanese?

I read that it hasn't been translated.

[j_factor]

Hopefully the price on a real copy of Rondo will come down a bit.


I downloaded it on the Wii about two years ago. :P

This, Castlevania III, Super Castlevania IV and Symphony of the Night are really the only four Castlevania games you'll ever need.

Bloodlines and Circle of the Moon would like a word with you.

[DreadIsReal]

Let's not forget about the DS Castlevania titles as well, especially Dawn of Sorrow, I believe its 2-d gaming at its finest.

[Baloo]

Oh yes, Rondo of Blood! I'm definitely getting this when I get the chance.

[theadeptgamer]

I read that it hasn't been translated.

I just downloaded Rondo of Blood. No changes were made to the game. The name entry, stage names, and sound tests are in English (A few music titles are exceptions.), and the opening voice acting is still in German with Japanese subtitles.

If the language barrier becomes an issue, then try getting a translation guide from GameFAQs or any Castlevania site to find out what's going on.

[Graham Mitchell]

Those of you desparate for an English translation should check out Dracula X Chronicles on the PSP. I bought a PSP just to get this game, in fact, because it contains RoB in it's entirety.

The intro subtitles in this version are in English, and all the voice acting in the game is switched to English. The voice acting is so laughable, in fact, that it creates the illusion that this is how the English version of the game would have been were it released in the U.S. in the early 90's.

[DuckTalesNES]

Isn't Castlevania X the same game though? Why not just get that instead of getting a PSP for RoB.

[kupomogli]

Isn't Castlevania X the same game though? Why not just get that instead of getting a PSP for RoB.

Dracula X is an entirely different game on the SNES than Rondo of Blood on the PCE. Rondo of Blood in Japan is Dracula X while our Dracula X in Japan is Dracula XX.

Anyways. Dracula X Chronicles is the definitive version of Rondo of Blood in my opinion. First off Dracula X Chronicles as a remake is better than Rondo as the changes in the level design are for the better. Rondo is also included as well as Symphony of the Night.

Another thing is that Symphony of the Night has much better voice acting on the PSP version than the PSX version. Sure you might be used to the bad voice acting and because of that reason may not like the newer, however if you ever decide to compare it's like night and day. The PSP version also has a Maria mode that doesn't suck, unlike the Saturn version which has a Ninja Mega Man Maria mode which is boring to play through.

[Graham Mitchell]

Dracula X is an entirely different game on the SNES than Rondo of Blood on the PCE. Rondo of Blood in Japan is Dracula X while our Dracula X in Japan is Dracula XX.

Anyways. Dracula X Chronicles is the definitive version of Rondo of Blood in my opinion. First off Dracula X Chronicles as a remake is better than Rondo as the changes in the level design are for the better. Rondo is also included as well as Symphony of the Night.

Another thing is that Symphony of the Night has much better voice acting on the PSP version than the PSX version. Sure you might be used to the bad voice acting and because of that reason may not like the newer, however if you ever decide to compare it's like night and day. The PSP version also has a Maria mode that doesn't suck, unlike the Saturn version which has a Ninja Mega Man Maria mode which is boring to play through.

The one Achilles' heel of the Rondo of Blood remake, though, is the shitty music. The original red-book audio from all Konami PCE-CD games from this era is always fantastic. To me, the remake's tunes don't capture the oomph of the original.

That said, you can configure the music on any level of the remake to play the original redbook audio score if you find the appropriate music items hidden throughout the game.

Personally, I prefer the visuals of the PCE version as well, mostly because they exceed the standards of PCE games at the time, and are impressive as such. The remake kind of looks like a half-assed PS2, imo.

However, I do agree that the new gameplay twists are interesting, and worth checking out. I also love some of the new added visual details, like being able to see the pews in the burning church in the first level.

[Nintega Grafx-16]

I read that it hasn't been translated.

Thats inexcusable since the game has been already been translated on PSP. Nintendo of America has always been cheap asses.



Hopefully the price on a real copy of Rondo will come down a bit.

If that happens then pigs will grow wings and shit gold nuggets. The most popular Turbo Grafx/PC Engine games will never go down in value. If anything they'll just keep getting more expensive since the super diehard Turbo Grafx/PCE collectors *cough* refuse to let go their 6 copies of the same game(s).

[Leo_A]

Thats inexcusable since the game has been already been translated on PSP. Nintendo of America has always been cheap asses.

Why is it their fault? It's not their decision or job to do the translation on a game that isn't theirs. Complain to Konami about it since they're the developer and publisher of it.

[j_factor]

Why is it their fault? It's not their decision or job to do the translation on a game that isn't theirs. Complain to Konami about it since they're the developer and publisher of it.

Supposedly, Nintendo of America specifically disallows new translations in Virtual Console releases.

[BetaWolf47]

Wow, never thought this would actually happen. When I heard the announcement months ago I was shocked!

[Leo_A]

Supposedly, Nintendo of America specifically disallows new translations in Virtual Console releases.

I find that doubtful. Sounds more like a speculative rumor being spread around by fans in an attempt to explain why it just has never happened before.

I suspect the real answer is that none of these companies think it's worth their time and money to attempt to translate an old title that they likely don't even have the source code to any longer.

[ScottK]

I've always been curious to how the turbo-cd games are on the wii. Is there a big difference in the sound or is it very minimal. I want to buy Y's I & II but am afraid that I will be turned off by the music. Are the wii games totally identical to the turbo-cd originals?

[joshnickerson]

I've always been curious to how the turbo-cd games are on the wii. Is there a big difference in the sound or is it very minimal. I want to buy Y's I & II but am afraid that I will be turned off by the music. Are the wii games totally identical to the turbo-cd originals?

http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9023638
Retronauts gave it a thumbs up, so if it can impress those nit-pickers, it must be damn close (or even better, according to the review.)

[Leo_A]

I've always been curious to how the turbo-cd games are on the wii. Is there a big difference in the sound or is it very minimal. I want to buy Y's I & II but am afraid that I will be turned off by the music. Are the wii games totally identical to the turbo-cd originals?


They just compress the music. You should notice about as much of a difference as you would between a track on a music cd that you've ripped and turned into a mp3 on your PC. Shouldn't be an issue for most people.

[MarioMania]

Got any youtube vids of Rondo running on the Wii VC??

[G-Boobie]

Best nine bucks I've spent lately.

[The 1 2 P]

I already have this game but without a PCE I've never been able to play it. It would have been nice if they had released it on 360 and PS3 too. Oh well.

[meancode]

Thats inexcusable since the game has been already been translated on PSP. Nintendo of America has always been cheap asses.

So the entire point of Nintendo actually bringing Japanese titles over the North American Virtual Console is to... bring Japanese titles over to the North American console.

It is not to translate them, modify them, update them.

I love how people are more than happy to condemn Nintendo for being "cheap" or killing your puppy.

Dracula X Chronicles on PSP (wonderful entry!) is a package that includes the translated RoB, remake, and SoTN, and is billed as such.

I think people should be happy that Nintendo is bringing stuff to the Virtual Console over here such as Sin and Punishment, and I would not want the N64 game translated.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Maybe Konami should do a translated version... And charge 10,000 points for it. :p

It's not like the game is text heavy or anything where non-trans leaves it unplayable. That and translations usually draw more ire than anything else, especially when it comes to Castlevania. In this case, it's not worth the effort or expense and simply a catch-22 game with some. They'd rather post the file and charge $9 a head. I can't blame them for that. The PSP Rondo has the new version - translated, the original and a revoiced of Symphony on it? It's not lost on them that you can still get new copies of it for cheap either.

[Breetai]

Bloodlines and Circle of the Moon would like a word with you.

I have them, as well as the other GBA and DS titles, as they are awesome... but still aren't as good as the four I mentioned. Bloodlines is great, but it just can't match the others IMO. While I do LOVE the handheld games, especially OofE, CotM and the other handhelds are all outclassed by the game they all try to mimic; SotN.

SotN is the quintessential exploration Castlevania game.
Castlevania III is the quintessential 8-bit version.
Chi no Rondo is the perfect old style Castlevania game.
Super Castlevania IV is simply... perfect, as puts to shame all other games of its type.

The rest are just great, Bloodlines, CotM being some of the best of the rest, but these four cannot be beaten.


I've always been curious to how the turbo-cd games are on the wii. Is there a big difference in the sound or is it very minimal.
I have exactly 6( ;) ) copies of Akumajou Dracula X: Rondo of Blood on the PC Engine Super CD and also the Japanese VC version and can confirm that the Wii version, while not quite as high quality, still sounds great.

The comparison of CDs/MP3s to TG-CD/VC games is a valid one.

[chrisbid]

best nine dollars spent on a video game this year

[kupomogli]

SotN is the quintessential exploration Castlevania game.

Aria of Sorrow, Circle of the Moon, and Dawn of Sorrow are all better. Only opinion as welll, but Castlevania 2 is better for me it's exploration with the older style of gameplay. Sure it's easy, but so is SotN and that has no instant death traps.


Castlevania III is the quintessential 8-bit version.

Not really opinion as Castlevania 3 is better, but I do favor the original over it. Castlevania 3 is an amazing game though and is one of my favorites in the series.