Classic Call Series Debut

     After completing my second anime file, I realized that I wanted to continue on the vampire trend I just started.  Add to the fact that it's snowing like crazy outside and I have nothing to do has me tempted to put up another blog immediately.  I'm a big fan of making these little sections, so here we go with my Classic Call series for my personal all time favorite videogames.  Believe me when I say  I don't have a top 100 list anymore.  I've just played too many incredible games over the years.  How could you possibly ask anyone to narrow it down to just 100?  Psshhh yea right.  So here we go folks.  The first entry in my new on going section.

Super Castlevania IV

    What did you expect?  This game right here is perhaps my all time favorite action game on the Super Nintendo.  I can pop this bad boy in and play 3 times over without getting tired of it.  This is platforming at it's finest.  You control Simon Belmont as he parades through the Translyvanian countryside in order to defeat Dracula.  Along the way you take down Medusa, Hydra, the Frankenstein Monster, the Mummy, and Death himself.  Fuck Death and his scythe....in the face!!  But honestly, what the fuck is that red orb after you defeat a boss?  The answer will probably never be found....  Castlevania IV took a new step in the series when it introduced a new whip mechanic.  Instead of only being able to whip in front of you, you could control the whip in any which direction.  No longer are you completely helpless when hordes of the undead maul you from every side possible.  You could even hold down the button to swing your whip and knock down those damn flying medusa heads.  Of course if you get hit, you still flinch backwards.  And as usual when this happens you always fall into a damn pit.  *Facepalm*  The whip also upgrades into a longer, stronger version of itself.  These are normally scattered at the start of a level when you whip the candles.  Looks like an ugly cursive M.  Think of it as having the largest stick in a forest and trying to poke an animal to see if it's dead or not.  Distance is key to survival.  I would know.

     Bloody Tears.  One of the most recognizable music tracks in all of videogames.  How can you go wrong?  I mean just listen, it defined the 16 bit era.  Castlevania music is certainly a main reason why I love videogames so much.  It just draws you in like no other game can.  Atmosphere is everything, and this game certainly delivers.  And Vampire Killer?!?!?!?!!?!?!?  Need I say more?









     Okay so it only plays briefly through the bridge segment, but it's a main stable in most of the Castlevania games.  My favorite level is Stage IX, the one showered with gold coins.  My idea of a perfect level without a shadow of a doubt.  The music, the level of difficulty, the secret room with the subweapons (I know everyone always used the cross, fuck the holy water).  Then the bossfight, a giant bat covered in coins.  When you whipped the bat, coins would shatter everywhere...but the catch was that you couldn't be hit by the falling coins or else you would be damaged.  Ingenious and effective.  One tough cookie of a fight, especially after going through the game again on a more difficult setting.

 

Here ends the first entry of Classic Call: Super Castlevania IV. Wouldn't be nice to head back into time and replay our Super Nintendo's and Sega Genesis's? Those were the good ole days. 4 years old and not a ccare in the world. Until next time, as I pop a couple years later into the future to tell you my experience on gaming's great titans.

--Posted by Vaughn, "Belmont Descendant"