Poll of the Day > Is Castlevania: Rondo of Blood and SoTN a good place to start Castlevania?

(+) Yeah! (+)

The collection on PS4.
Do I need to play any other Castlevania games to understand the story or anything?
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they're both good games.

SotN is a sequel to rondo of blood. Rondo is a classic CV game, while SotN is a metroidvania game. I like SotN more, but I just prefer that style
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green dragon posted...

they're both good games.

SotN is a sequel to rondo of blood. Rondo is a classic CV game, while SotN is a metroidvania game. I like SotN more, but I just prefer that style

So I should play Rondo of Blood first?
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Yes.

imo it doesn't matter, but from a story perspective, yes. IIRC, sotn takes place almost immediately after rondo.

if you play sotn first (then rondo right afterwards), you might get spoiled at how mobile alucard is compared to richter.

i played sotn probably about 10 years before I played rondo. just keep in mind that the two games are two different styles.

I'm assuming you haven't played any other cv games.
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Playing Castlevania for the story is like reading Playboy the articles. No, you don't, and anyone who says they do is a fucking liar.
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yeah, the story doesn't really matter all that much, but some people are into it.

i don't think the story in those two games are all the prevalent. the gba and 3ds games feature better stories imo

you don't really need to play other CV games to enjoy a different CV game. the exceptions are possibly the direct sequels like the two games in question and the "sorrow" games. Maybe also portrait of ruin so you can know the cameos.
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Yes
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Just play SotN

Best Castlevania game and one of the best games ever made honestly
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20% finished Rondo of Blood so far.

One little thought: The game is taunting me with these heart pick-ups that aren't actually regenerating my health. :P
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I like castlevania 1. its a fun/arcadey experience with infinite continues so you don't need to worry if you suck

all of the gba and ds castlevanias are GREAT and shouldn't be missed (although I haven't played one or two of them myself...)

BTB posted...

No, you don't, and anyone who says they do is a fucking liar.

First time, definitely, than many runs of challenges and finding sequence breaks.

Nowadays with the randomizers even more interesting runs are possible.
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No

The Dracula X Chronicles is though.

ReggieTheReckless posted...

I like castlevania 1. its a fun/arcadey experience with infinite continues so you don't need to worry if you suck

all of the gba and ds castlevanias are GREAT and shouldn't be missed (although I haven't played one or two of them myself...)

In 1 if I die I tend to restart. I hate using holy water trick to beat death but otherwise I need triple shot cross to reliably beat him.

TheWorstPoster posted...

No

The Dracula X Chronicles is though.

This a joke? Iirc it's the same game just minus rondo of blood 3d remake.

And to TC on the comment about the hearts. I felt the same when I got into the series.
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At 30% completion now, saved Maria. She looks exactly like Princess Peach.
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mooreandrew58 posted...

This a joke? Iirc it's the same game just minus rondo of blood 3d remake.

And more.

Such as an exclusive boss fight, extra features in SOTN, the remake, and a hidden game in it as well, and the ability to use whichever soundtrack whenever and wherever.

TheWorstPoster posted...

mooreandrew58 posted...

This a joke? Iirc it's the same game just minus rondo of blood 3d remake.

And more.

Such as an exclusive boss fight, extra features in SOTN, the remake, and a hidden game in it as well, and the ability to use whichever soundtrack whenever and wherever.

What exclusive boss fight?

Either way tcs question was if this was a good place to start and it is even if there is better versions.
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Ferarri619 posted...

At 30% completion now, saved Maria. She looks exactly like Princess Peach.

I've actually seen a single frame comic making fun of that. Had peach and Maria together by saying they where related
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Nichtcrawler X posted...

BTB posted...

No, you don't, and anyone who says they do is a fucking liar.

First time, definitely, than many runs of challenges and finding sequence breaks.

Nowadays with the randomizers even more interesting runs are possible.

...what
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BTB posted...

...what

What part is the confusing part BTB?
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The part how nothing of what you said was in any way a response to what I said.
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mooreandrew58 posted...

What exclusive boss fight?

Against Maria in Symphony of the Night

I'd start with super Castlevania first. It's the easiest and would be a great one to start with. Rondo next then Sotn last.

TheWorstPoster posted...

mooreandrew58 posted...

What exclusive boss fight?

Against Maria in Symphony of the Night

That's in this version also please edit spoiler tags in for tcs sake
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BTB posted...

The part how nothing of what you said was in any way a response to what I said.

First time playing - for the story.
Later playthroughs - for liking the gameplay system.

Games need something to entice people, to stay long enough to really get to understand and like the game. In part the Metroidvanias accomplish this by having a story.
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xjayguyx posted...

I'd start with super Castlevania first. It's the easiest and would be a great one to start with. Rondo next then Sotn last.

Also after SOTN play the 3 GBA ones then the 3 DS ones. The 3ds one is decent as well.

Nobody plays Castlevania for the story, not even the first time.
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BTB posted...

Nobody plays Castlevania for the story, not even the first time.

Story maybe not but I like the lore.
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BTB posted...

Nobody plays Castlevania for the story, not even the first time.

The story should definitely not be the sole reason to play any game, but is a part of it. Usually the combination of good presentation and gameplay is what makes a game enjoyable.
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Yes, those are the best.
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Nichtcrawler X posted...

BTB posted...

Nobody plays Castlevania for the story, not even the first time.

The story should definitely not be the sole reason to play any game, but is a part of it. Usually the combination of good presentation and gameplay is what makes a game enjoyable.

Castlevania has never had anything more than an excuse plot.
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BTB posted...

Castlevania has never had anything more than an excuse plot.

Have you played any of the GBA or DS Castlevanias?
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Circle of the Moon is one of my favorite games ever.
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BTB posted...

Circle of the Moon is one of my favorite games ever.

Any beyond that? I must admit Circle is still rather bare-bones when it comes to story.
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There actually is an exclusive boss to the PSP version. Dracula has a 3rd form on Rondo that is hard as hell. Don't believe its present anywhere else.

AverageBoss posted...

There actually is an exclusive boss to the PSP version. Dracula has a 3rd form on Rondo that is hard as hell. Don't believe its present anywhere else.

Ok that's not in this one. But the one he said is indeed in this version
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it's a good start. the only thing you might not get is the castevaina 3 cameo in Symphony of the Night
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Rondo of Blood is probably the best "traditional" Castlevania game, and SotN is arguably the best "Metroidvania" Castlevania game, so I would say yes.

Yes, I know Castlevania 4 has better whip and player control, but it is also very linear and with easier difficulty compared to Rondo of Blood. Rondo of Blood is the better game.
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Dikitain posted...

Rondo of Blood is probably the best "traditional" Castlevania game, and SotN is arguably the best "Metroidvania" Castlevania game, so I would say yes.

Yes, I know Castlevania 4 has better whip and player control, but it is also very linear and with easier difficulty compared to Rondo of Blood. Rondo of Blood is the better game.

Easier until the last couple of levels maybe. Seriously last level of 4 was some bullshit. Rondo difficulty seems consistent (it gets harder gradually instead of a large difficulty spike) with the only exception the bridge in 7. Rest of the level is a cake walk compared to it.
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Nichtcrawler X posted...

BTB posted...

Circle of the Moon is one of my favorite games ever.

Any beyond that? I must admit Circle is still rather bare-bones when it comes to story.

Beyond that? Aria took all of the improvements that Circle made to SotN's formula and threw them out the window, so that was that.

And the DS is one of those newfangled "modern" systems, so I never really got too much into it.
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You don't really need to play any other Castlevania to understand those, but there are references to characters from earlier CV games in SotN but nothing too major.
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Also, I would recommend playing:
1
3
4
Rondo
Bloodlines
SotN
HoD
CotM
AoS
DoS
PoR
OoC is probably the weakest of the GBA/DS era CVs, but it's worth at least trying to see if you like it.
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BTB posted...

Beyond that? Aria took all of the improvements that Circle made to SotN's formula and threw them out the window, so that was that.

Circle was a step back... (Still good though) Harmony really salvaged it for handheld and Aria just perfected it. Harmony also kept the narrative going throughout all the game like Symphony did and Aria went even heavier on story. Nowadays, when I look for a Metroidvania, the genre defining image I have for that is Aria.

BTB posted...

And the DS is one of those newfangled "modern" systems, so I never really got too much into it.

That's a shame. Touchscreen gimmicks aside because Nintendo mandated them in the early days, all three are quite good.
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You should start from the beginning.
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BTB posted...

Beyond that? Aria took all of the improvements that Circle made to SotN's formula and threw them out the window, so that was that.

Only you could be this wrong.
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Zareth posted...

BTB posted...

Beyond that? Aria took all of the improvements that Circle made to SotN's formula and threw them out the window, so that was that.

Only you could be this wrong.

First off, Alucard moved like he had two pot roasts strapped to his feet. Sure, his movement speed was acceptable as long as you were willing to resort to speed tech and didn't mind listening to "HUNHHUNHHUNHHUNHHUNHHUNHHUNHHUNHHUNHHUNHHUNH!" wherever you went. You know what CotM added? A fucking run button. And it made you wait JUST long enough to activate it to make you say, "Dick me right in the fuck, this game needs a Goddamn run button." Skip forward to Aria of Sorrow and we're back to the backdashing shit.

Circle of the Moon realized that Castlevania doesn't need a shop system. It's clunky and awkward and it's really best just to rely on a combination of random drops and hidden items. Aria should have expanded on this further by taking the card equivalents and making THOSE the hidden items so you didn't have to spend ages farming for necessities; instead it just ends up hiding completely useless items and consumables instead of permanent upgrades. Terrible, terrible idea.

The souls system was at least conceptually good, but the execution was fucking terrible. Aria is basically a case study on how - and why - not to integrate combat abilities and those which serve only to allow access to more areas. In the Circle of the Moon, this was done elegantly, with new abilities becoming part of your basic movement set and the card system relegated specifically to combat bonuses. And at the very least in SotN this offense was limited to a handful of equipment which allowed access to the game's better ending - in Aria, it's rampant.

Also the music in Aria was shit. Circle had an opening theme ripped straight from Capcom's playbook followed by a soundtrack that was mostly remixes of CV3 tunes. Not the most original OST, but that sweet bassline in its version of Sinking Old Sanctuary was more than worth the price of admission.

There's probably more. This is just off the top of my head.
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BTB posted...

Playing Castlevania for the story is like reading Playboy the articles. No, you don't, and anyone who says they do is a fucking liar.

Hey the articles are good sometimes!
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Metalsonic66 posted...

BTB posted...

Playing Castlevania for the story is like reading Playboy the articles. No, you don't, and anyone who says they do is a fucking liar.

Hey the articles are good sometimes!

They really aren't. If you've ever actually seen them, you'd realize that Playboy is the Douchey magazine made for and by Douchey Douches.
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I'm pretty sure the "playboy for the articles" thing is from a different era... like 60s playboy or some shit

BTB posted...

Metalsonic66 posted...

BTB posted...

Playing Castlevania for the story is like reading Playboy the articles. No, you don't, and anyone who says they do is a fucking liar.

Hey the articles are good sometimes!

They really aren't. If you've ever actually seen them, you'd realize that Playboy is the Douchey magazine made for and by Douchey Douches.

Once you've gone Hardcore, the articles are still more interesting than "classy" shots of pretty ladies
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