Just beat Dracula! (Super Castlevania IV AND Dracula X!!!)

[Steven]

UPDATED, beat Dracula X tonight! See 1st post of 2nd page! Thanks to everyone who helped

Man, it felt sweet.

OK, so I used the "hidden secret" (jump to the left before heading up the staircases to meet Dracula) You get 99 heart's plus the cross among others.

He was easy with 99 crosses.

My question is, has anyone here ever beaten Dracula WITHOUT resorting to the hidden staircases secret? I mean, my goodness, I think he's damn near impossible to defeat! Especially with only 8 crosses! Death was tough but I beat him after several tries, I thought that would be it for stage 11... little did I know there was no stage 12 and that Dracula would be next.

Sweet game :D

I'd love to see a video of anyone who can beat Dracula without the secret. The best I can do is get him down halfway.energy... maybe one bar after the halfway mark. The flames are really cheap as they're usually JUST out of the reach of your whip.

[ShinobiMan]

Good job man, I beat that game when I was 7 years old (I was a great player even back then) and man did it feel good. I used the 99 axes thing. Haven't been able to beat it again. One of the best Castlevanias.

[Steven]

Good job man, I beat that game when I was 7 years old (I was a great player even back then) and man did it feel good. I used the 99 axes thing. Haven't been able to beat it again. One of the best Castlevanias.

I like Matt Paprocki's reviews here on DP, but I disagree with a "7" on this game. Say, what is his handle on this site? Just curious. :)

[Luke]

Well wait until you fight Dracula in the Dracula X SNES game; it is pretty similar to IV, however, there are two differences: firstly, the ground it uneven, and secondly, there are holes in the ground!!

[Blitzwing256]

I was able to beat him fairly easily without the cheat (didn't know about it for quite awile till I decided to try to kill simon out of frustration one day and found the platform...)


the best hints I can give:

as you know he has 3 or so differnt attacks, first phase is pretty easy, the trick is when those white balls show up is to be sure to whip them as they drop little porkchops. when he gets to that phase with the fireballs be sure to whip them from afar or they'll fall on you, its best to just whip one of them at a time and concentrate on whipping drac in the head as much as you can ,if you're low on hearts this would be the best time to use the boomerang on him though.

good luck :-)

[roushimsx]

Well wait until you fight Dracula in the Dracula X SNES game; it is pretty similar to IV, however, there are two differences: firstly, the ground it uneven, and secondly, there are holes in the ground!!

If you have the axe and enough hearts, that fight is one of the easiest Dracula fights ever :)

(if you don't, then it's painfully cheap and unfair :( )

[StakeRaiser]

I thought Drac was pretty easy on the CV 4, the worst for me was the original CV on NES

[RegSNES]

Congrats, Steve!

And what's this business with a hidden staricase? You mean I sweat blood and tears to beat that jerk back in 2001 when I beat that game?! O_O SCREW!! :angry:

[Aussie2B]

Congratulations. :) The first time I beat him I used the secret as well, but I have since then beaten it the standard way. Overall, he's actually a pretty easy Dracula (as is the game as a whole). Of course, he's not as pathetic as Dracula in SotN or Rondo.

As for the SNES Dracula X version, I was surprised at just how easy he was for me after hearing so many horror stories of just how impossible he was supposed to be. I'd say he was a bit more difficult than the CV4 Dracula, but not by much. It's just a simple matter of figuring out which platforms to stay on. For the first form, you can literally sit on just one platform for almost the entire time, just jumping and ducking when necessary.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Congrats Steve, yet everyone is right about Drac X SNES. That was a fierce battle...especially since the jumping is unbalanced and timing is your best ally when moving from pillar to pillar.

[roushimsx]

As for the SNES Dracula X version, I was surprised at just how easy he was for me after hearing so many horror stories of just how impossible he was supposed to be. I'd say he was a bit more difficult than the CV4 Dracula, but not by much. It's just a simple matter of figuring out which platforms to stay on. For the first form, you can literally sit on just one platform for almost the entire time, just jumping and ducking when necessary.

I agree on the first form. It's all about this little spot right here:
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/6820/zsnesw20060321183620344aw.th.jpg (http://img404.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zsnesw20060321183620344aw.jpg)

For the second form, just sit here and spam the axe:
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8530/zsnesw20060321183704181az.th.jpg (http://img404.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zsnesw20060321183704181az.jpg)

Took me a couple of plays before I figured it all out, but it really wasn't that bad. It wasn't quite the cakewalk of Rondo, but what is? :)

[Nirvana]

Heh heh, thats quite the coincidence. That's the game I'm currently playing. Good job on beating Dracula, I can't wait until I get to him.

[Kid Ice]

I like Matt Paprocki's reviews here on DP, but I disagree with a "7" on this game. Say, what is his handle on this site? Just curious. :)

Gamereviewgod

[vintagegamecrazy]

He's fairly easy without the cheat too, there's a trick for his first attack when he shoots the white fireball at you (the one that splits into three when you hit it and floats upward. Whip early and hold the button down so your whip hangs and the fireballs will harmlessly burn out on your whip and you won't take damage at least until the second or third attack patterns.

[rbudrick]

Hmmm, I beat CV4 in a day the week it came out...never really had a problem with Dracula.

CV 1 and 3 gave me hell beating Dracula...about 4 hours each the first times. It took me a long time to figure out the holy water kicks Drac's second form's ass in CV1. And CV3's Drac I can practically beat with one hand now.

-Rob

[Steven]

He's fairly easy without the cheat too, there's a trick for his first attack when he shoots the white fireball at you (the one that splits into three when you hit it and floats upward. Whip early and hold the button down so your whip hangs and the fireballs will harmlessly burn out on your whip and you won't take damage at least until the second or third attack patterns.

I whip it late-ish ... this causes it to split in two, making it easy to jump over immediately.

[vintagegamecrazy]

I whip it late-ish ... this causes it to split in two, making it easy to jump over immediately

still more work than necessary, just hold the whip out and the fireballs will burn out before they get to you.

[Aussie2B]

I agree on the first form. It's all about this little spot right here:
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/6820/zsnesw20060321183620344aw.th.jpg (http://img404.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zsnesw20060321183620344aw.jpg)

For the second form, just sit here and spam the axe:
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8530/zsnesw20060321183704181az.th.jpg (http://img404.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zsnesw20060321183704181az.jpg)

Took me a couple of plays before I figured it all out, but it really wasn't that bad. It wasn't quite the cakewalk of Rondo, but what is? :)

Yep, that's exactly it. Even if you don't have an axe, the second form can be beaten easily with the cross or just the whip if you're fast with your attacks, dodge whatever you can (short of leaping off the platform), and have enough life to eat a few attacks before he kicks the bucket (which shouldn't be a problem if you hide out on the lower platform for the first form). I like using the cross myself, since it makes the first form even easier.

[roushimsx]

I like using the cross myself, since it makes the first form even easier.

I'll have to give that a shot. I was using the axe a good bit to compensate for the lack of the diagonal whipping action I so grew to love in Super Castlevania IV, but I'm all for making that first form even quicker :)

[Aussie2B]

I don't know about quicker, it might make it take even longer, but it definitely makes the first form as simple as can be.

[Moo Cow]

I beat this when I was ten, but I played it all day long in front of the TV, and it took a couple of months (I'd lose my passwords and start all over)

[aaronpetrosky]

My fav all time Castlevania.

I beat him without the stairs trick but it was hard. I went through the entire game to get to him so I was pretty bulked up.

I think it would be even harder to use the code right before him and then don't use the stairs trick.

[cyberfluxor]

I actually stumbled across this game the other day but it was for $8 loose. Wasn't up to forking that much out to grab it. I ended up getting other games anyhow that cost a nifty amount in my wallet. I hope to stumble across a Castlevania game for the SNES in the near future that's in a comfortable spending limit.

[Steven]

I actually stumbled across this game the other day but it was for $8 loose. Wasn't up to forking that much out to grab it. I ended up getting other games anyhow that cost a nifty amount in my wallet. I hope to stumble across a Castlevania game for the SNES in the near future that's in a comfortable spending limit.

$8 for it loose is a great price my man. That was my ideal price for it, for months, yet it always commanded 11+... I would have snatched it for 8 myself if I were you. Alas, the vendor traded me CV IV for two SNES games... two extras I had... FZero re-release and Bubsy. HA! I love that silly old vendor.

BTW, 2 months ago I posted a WTB: CV IV for $8 shipped, and lots of people laughed saying good luck.

It's hard to find this game, along with Contra, Mario Kart, Super Metroid for $8 or under. They go from 10-18 it seems.

[Ed Oscuro]

Heh heh heh, Dracula XX...my favorite thing is to be happily jumping about the platforms during the final boss battle, then do a backflip onto another pillar...and then slide off LOL

[Steven]

Whoa I beat Dracula X tonight! Right after I finished SCV IV I popped in Dracula X and for about a month it's been sitting in my Super Nintendo. I kept dying at the Cloak Boss in Level 4' and quit the game back earlier this month. But words of encouragement from folks online I decided to stick with DX. I just didn't like its cumbersome controls, the lack of whip versatility, the jumping style, everything just felt bland-ish coming off SCV IV which was AMAZING.

So one night I turned it back on and beat the Cloak boss. He is the one with two forms, and can really piss one off to the point of quitting.

Then I trudged on and the game grew on me.

I later found out about the best ending, so I redid stage 3 and fought the headless knight.

I was on my way to the best ending.

Til I met Grim Reaper. Oh my God does stage 6 infuriate like no other. Annoying spearmen, medusa heads, bats, rotating wheels.... it's SO easy to punch the wall (I ended up losing my cool at one point and I punched the door next to me yelling FUUUUUUUUUUU*K!!!!!!!)

It took me countless tries to defeat Reaper. It took me many tries JUST to get to his ass.

Whenever I played angry, I got nowhere.

So tonight, feeling oddly calm, I turned the game on at 9:40 PM and at 10:40 PM -- one hour later -- the deed was done.

The key was getting to Death on the 1st try, that way you have the cross. I also racked on 50+ crosses, so I chucked them relentlessly... and I *PERFECTED* him! He never touched me!

Feeling super high and confident, I proceeded to kick Dracula's behind within the next 10 minutes. I got to his lair on the 1st try, having my cross and 77 of them!

He barely took off half my energy.

WOW HE WAS EASY. I played and lost to him in the previous days a TON but tonight I just had my mojo going. Thanks to the guy who recommended the steps to stay on... it definitely helps/works.

Overall, I'd give Dracula X a 7.5

It's a shame the cart alone goes for 50+ on average. A DP member sold me DX for 40 flat a month or 2 ago. Gracias amigo 8-)

Good times.

As for beating the game twice more to see the normal and bad endings... eh, I dunno. I'm kinda glad "it's over." I'll probably come back one day, but for now, it's time to move on to the next game. I'm thinking SMW... since I never really played it, much less beat it before.

Yes I know... I'm late to the party but hey... I bet you wish you could play SMW like it was your 1st time again don't cha? ;)

[CosmicMonkey]

Yes I know... I'm late to the party but hey... I bet you wish you could play SMW like it was your 1st time again don't cha? ;)

Indeed I do chap. If only they could remove all memories of SMW, M64, ALttP and OoT I'd be a happy man.

Anyway, well done on beating the Castlevanias. I'm still working on Bloodlines.

[Steven]

Yes I know... I'm late to the party but hey... I bet you wish you could play SMW like it was your 1st time again don't cha? ;)

Indeed I do chap. If only they could remove all memories of SMW, M64, ALttP and OoT I'd be a happy man.

Anyway, well done on beating the Castlevanias. I'm still working on Bloodlines.

cool man, I'm still working on GETTING a copy of Bloodlines. What is a good price for it, complete?

[Aussie2B]

The "endings" of Dracula X aren't so much endings in that the only difference between them are what still picture you see in the background when the credits roll. There's Richter alone (having saved no one), Richter with Maria, and Richter with both girls (the happiest ending). I'd say it's worth it to play through it twice to save both of them and to save neither because there are different paths to take, and one boss will change depending on what you do. But getting the Maria-only ending... meh, kinda pointless. The game doesn't play any differently, so you may as well just look up the ending picture online.

As for Super Mario World, it wasn't all that long ago when I played it all the way through for the first time. :)

[Richter Belmount]

I agree on the first form. It's all about this little spot right here:
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/6820/zsnesw20060321183620344aw.th.jpg (http://img404.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zsnesw20060321183620344aw.jpg)

For the second form, just sit here and spam the axe:
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8530/zsnesw20060321183704181az.th.jpg (http://img404.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zsnesw20060321183704181az.jpg)

Took me a couple of plays before I figured it all out, but it really wasn't that bad. It wasn't quite the cakewalk of Rondo, but what is? :)

Yep, that's exactly it. Even if you don't have an axe, the second form can be beaten easily with the cross or just the whip if you're fast with your attacks, dodge whatever you can (short of leaping off the platform), and have enough life to eat a few attacks before he kicks the bucket (which shouldn't be a problem if you hide out on the lower platform for the first form). I like using the cross myself, since it makes the first form even easier.

OHHH i remember that level in the version level so fucking easy!!! (many is its from the long repetition i did from playing the rom then got the snes version than eventually pc engine version)

[Dire 51]

It's a shame the cart alone goes for 50+ on average.

You're not kidding. I was trying to get Dracula X back for the longest time, only to be continually shot down by the ridiculously high prices on eBay. Even posting a couple of "WTB: Dracula X" threads here got me nowhere... no responses or anything.

But I finally lucked out at the end of last month when I scored a $30 BIN on eBay for Akumajo Dracula XX (cart only). I snapped it up in a second... sure beat the hell out of paying $50+ for a cart only U.S. release. Plus XX is uncensored, so I think I made out pretty good. Been playing it several times a week ever since it arrived in the mail.

[Dire 51]

It's a shame the cart alone goes for 50+ on average.

You're not kidding. I was trying to get Dracula X back for the longest time, only to be continually shot down by the ridiculously high prices on eBay. Even posting a couple of "WTB: Dracula X" threads here got me nowhere... no responses or anything.

But I finally lucked out at the end of last month when I scored a $30 BIN on eBay for Akumajo Dracula XX (cart only). I snapped it up in a second... sure beat the hell out of paying $50+ for a cart only U.S. release. Plus XX is uncensored, so I think I made out pretty good. Been playing it several times a week ever since it arrived in the mail.

[o2william]

Congrats. Now go try to beat Castlevania Chronicles... and not on Arrange mode, either. I'm still stuck on Frankenstein's Monster's level (I think, it's been a while since I last played it).

[Steven]

It's a shame the cart alone goes for 50+ on average.

You're not kidding. I was trying to get Dracula X back for the longest time, only to be continually shot down by the ridiculously high prices on eBay. Even posting a couple of "WTB: Dracula X" threads here got me nowhere... no responses or anything.

But I finally lucked out at the end of last month when I scored a $30 BIN on eBay for Akumajo Dracula XX (cart only). I snapped it up in a second... sure beat the hell out of paying $50+ for a cart only U.S. release. Plus XX is uncensored, so I think I made out pretty good. Been playing it several times a week ever since it arrived in the mail.

Yeah I remember you posting a while back about trying to get Dracula X but that the search continued. I was lucky to find a nice saint here on DP who sold it for 40 shipped.

How are you progressing in the game and what are your thoughts on it so far?

[ckendal]

cool man, I'm still working on GETTING a copy of Bloodlines. What is a good price for it, complete?

I know a place where you can get a sealed one for $17 + shipping.. just PM me

[Ed Oscuro]

So one night I turned it back on and beat the Cloak boss. He is the one with two forms, and can really piss one off to the point of quitting.
Shaft/"Annet" ? The one with the eyeball orbs that float around, right?

As for Bloodlines...I passed up a chance to get a sealed one a year ago for $10 + shipping. Non-cardboard release, too.

[Dire 51]

Yeah I remember you posting a while back about trying to get Dracula X but that the search continued. I was lucky to find a nice saint here on DP who sold it for 40 shipped.

How are you progressing in the game and what are your thoughts on it so far?

Finished it the day I received it in the mail. :D That shouldn't come as a surprise, though... I had the U.S. version for about eight years and had finished it numerous times during that time period, exploring the entire game and getting all three endings in the process. When I started playing this copy, it was like the last time I played it had been a few days prior.

I still like it quite a bit, but it's reminding me... I'm wishing I still had my copy of Chi no Rondo. I'll get it back someday (and another Duo to run it on), I'm sure. But as far as the SNES game goes, I'm still enjoying it quite a bit. It may be a bit cheap as far as enemies go, but it's fun - and that's what really counts, I think.

[Steven]

Yeah I remember you posting a while back about trying to get Dracula X but that the search continued. I was lucky to find a nice saint here on DP who sold it for 40 shipped.

How are you progressing in the game and what are your thoughts on it so far?

Finished it the day I received it in the mail. :D That shouldn't come as a surprise, though... I had the U.S. version for about eight years and had finished it numerous times during that time period, exploring the entire game and getting all three endings in the process. When I started playing this copy, it was like the last time I played it had been a few days prior.

I still like it quite a bit, but it's reminding me... I'm wishing I still had my copy of Chi no Rondo. I'll get it back someday (and another Duo to run it on), I'm sure. But as far as the SNES game goes, I'm still enjoying it quite a bit. It may be a bit cheap as far as enemies go, but it's fun - and that's what really counts, I think.

Was there any alterations from the SFC to the US version other than little cosmetic details -- for instance I hear in the SFC version that the water is red (blood) in one stage, while the US version it's just water. Damn censors LOL

I really liked the first encounter with the giant red skeleton. He was like the Abobo of Dracula X.

Oh how disappointed I was that he only appears once. I thought he was a very cool foe who should have appeared more than once, sort of like Andore in the Final Fight games. I *hated* the spear men, and the giant sword carrying knights. Those bastards were EVIL

[Dire 51]

Was there any alterations from the SFC to the US version other than little cosmetic details -- for instance I hear in the SFC version that the water is red (blood) in one stage, while the US version it's just water. Damn censors LOL

Only changes I can think of, besides all the text and logo being in Japanese would be the blood added. Richter does give off a shower of blood when he dies, and Death is decapitated with a resulting blood spray a la Chi no Rondo.

Which stage has the water you've heard about? I don't recall seeing any blood water.


I really liked the first encounter with the giant red skeleton. He was like the Abobo of Dracula X.

Oh how disappointed I was that he only appears once. I thought he was a very cool foe who should have appeared more than once, sort of like Andore in the Final Fight games. I *hated* the spear men, and the giant sword carrying knights. Those bastards were EVIL

Yeah, the... can't recall that skeleton's name, but it also appears in Chi no Rondo and SotN. I don't recall if it appears more than once in Rondo (I think it does), but I'm pretty sure it shows up a few times in SotN.

[Steven]

Which stage has the water you've heard about? I don't recall seeing any blood water.

Naw I probably mixed it up. Instead of blood water it must have been just blood. If I find otherwise I'll let ya know.

[kainemaxwell]

So when you play you guys just jump to where you left off via passwords, or you just jumped to Dracula or some later level by another password?

[Dire 51]

So when you play you guys just jump to where you left off via passwords, or you just jumped to Dracula or some later level by another password?

Depends on the mood I'm in. If I feel like it, I'll just go through the whole game, which I've been doing a lot lately.

[Steven]

I play in succession, so when I first played it, I just continued wherever I turned the game off.

If I were to play it a 2nd time, I'd probably start from the beginning. Though I could jump straight to level 3 and go the normal and bad ending routes, but I've decided to shelf the game and move on. It served its purpose. :)