(8/29/2015 - 9/04/2015) Game of the Week: Akumajo Dracula X - Chi no Rondo

vacantplanets · 11/01/2015, 12:06 PM

Quote from: crazydean on 08/31/2015, 07:03 PMReally enjoying this game. The controls were pretty frustrating at first, especially those damn stairs. But, once I got used to it, everything went smoothly. I really doubt this game will get finished this week, but it's worth a shot.

Quote from: grolt on 09/05/2015, 02:33 PMI was able to give this a go last night thanks to Lost Monkey sending me over a copy of the patched game. It actually played well on my system, much better than the burns I've been doing for Ys IV, which leads me to believe either my media is bad (likely) or I am doing something wrong in the burning process (less likely).

As for the game, I've always found the 2D Castlevanias to be clunky (limited attack directions, having to "engage" with the stairs before you can slowly walk up them) and this one continues that trend, but the presentation is just so beautiful it's really easy to overlook the archaic NES-era gameplay. They have an excellent Save/Menu system that makes it easy to play the game in chunks and work away at your progress. I'm not very far, only 24%, but I've enjoyed what I've played so far. The way the cut scenes and the presentation works in seamlessly with the gameplay is beautiful and ahead of its time. Shame Nintendo's strong arm policy towards third-party developers robbed us from getting a legit release of this game in NA.

You guys know that, unlike the NES games, you can jump onto the stairs, right? Jump and hold up to hop onto them from anywhere. You don't have to climb them all starting from the bottom. Jump on AND off of them! Not like the NES games at all.

Another hint: Master the backflip. Backflip over everything. Good luck beating Dullahan without backflipping over the flying head, haha. You can also attack in the air in the middle of the backflip.

Gentlegamer · 11/01/2015, 12:16 PM

The last stage is really rough with Richter, I beat it before in Magic Engine, but I think I used save states to get through it.

GohanX · 11/01/2015, 12:23 PM

Having the axe is key so you can attack at many different angles.

Gentlegamer · 11/01/2015, 12:33 PM

Quote from: GohanX on 11/01/2015, 12:23 PMHaving the axe is key so you can attack at many different angles.

Yup, but you have to get it at the beginning and not die the whole way through to keep it. That's probably where save states came in.

GohanX · 11/01/2015, 12:44 PM

Time to sack up!

o.pwuaioc · 11/03/2015, 02:34 AM

I get the feeling that this thread isn't going to die anytime soon. I'm in the middle of Gunhed, but Dracula X is still in my CD tray, and the arcade card is still close by. I should revisit this in between Gunhed runs. I want to finish it soon.

Quote from: GohanX on 11/01/2015, 12:44 PMTime to sack up!

You should change your sig sometime.

GohanX · 11/03/2015, 09:00 AM

I really should!

Gentlegamer · 12/06/2015, 08:00 PM

What's the condition for 100%? I just finished the game with all five prisoners found using Richter and only got 96%.

Edit: I missed Stage 4' Mountains

Well, well, well

PukeSter · 12/06/2015, 08:30 PM

Quote from: Gentlegamer on 12/06/2015, 08:00 PMWhat's the condition for 100%? I just finished the game with all five prisoners found using Richter and only got 96%.

Edit: I missed Stage 4' Mountains

Well, well, well

It is dumb.

You can beat the Stage 4' boss, but it won't count for anything until you do it after you beat the game.

Gentlegamer · 12/12/2015, 06:55 PM

I did it you guise

GoldenWheels · 12/16/2015, 08:32 AM

man this game is awesome. Not sure what level it was, level 4 or 5, but I got to the hidden boss via a bomb that blew up a wall....destroyed the flying skull on my last life with 1/4 health, getting some love hearts from the "princess" during...then she turns into a villain and kills me!

Was VERY hard NOT to give it another run but sleep was calling.

vacantplanets · 12/16/2015, 02:03 PM

Quote from: GoldenWheels on 12/16/2015, 08:32 AMman this game is awesome. Not sure what level it was, level 4 or 5, but I got to the hidden boss via a bomb that blew up a wall....destroyed the flying skull on my last life with 1/4 health, getting some love hearts from the "princess" during...then she turns into a villain and kills me!

Was VERY hard NOT to give it another run but sleep was calling.

Yeah. I'm pretty sure that going that way past the bomb in the wall is another way to unlock stage 5' too.

GoldenWheels · 12/18/2015, 08:12 AM

Well I switched to Maria for that level and holy crap is the game easier with a double jump and those doves. Got from that level to the boss rush level super quick with her.

That mummy is going down tonight.

vacantplanets · 12/18/2015, 03:33 PM

Quote from: GoldenWheels on 12/18/2015, 08:12 AMWell I switched to Maria for that level and holy crap is the game easier with a double jump and those doves. Got from that level to the boss rush level super quick with her.

That mummy is going down tonight.

Yeah and if you didn't know--Maria has the special move (up, down, down-forward, forward, attack) for when you get pissed off, lol. It takes like half the boss's health in one shot. Kills virtually everything else. She also has the slide (down then jump) and the roll (down-forward and jump).

Richter has a few weird extra controls too. If you hold the jump button while jumping, you can control him and turn around in the air (like Mario for example). Also if you press forward (double tap forward?) after attacking, you extend the whip's range a little. Don't forget that can attack in the middle of his back flip animation too.

Hope that helps.

GoldenWheels · 12/24/2015, 10:46 AM

Quote from: vacantplanets on 12/18/2015, 03:33 PM
Quote from: GoldenWheels on 12/18/2015, 08:12 AMWell I switched to Maria for that level and holy crap is the game easier with a double jump and those doves. Got from that level to the boss rush level super quick with her.

That mummy is going down tonight.
Yeah and if you didn't know--Maria has the special move (up, down, down-forward, forward, attack) for when you get pissed off, lol. It takes like half the boss's health in one shot. Kills virtually everything else. She also has the slide (down then jump) and the roll (down-forward and jump).

Richter has a few weird extra controls too. If you hold the jump button while jumping, you can control him and turn around in the air (like Mario for example). Also if you press forward (double tap forward?) after attacking, you extend the whip's range a little. Don't forget that can attack in the middle of his back flip animation too.

Hope that helps.

Holy crap again--I did that (the Maria special move) by accident a bit ago, just came here to ask about it, and you've already explained it! Thanks for the tips on Richter as well, I'm going to try to get through more of the levels with him now.

I'm at 96%. Is there any way to tell specifically what I missed on the map screen? I got all four prisoners. I'm assuming I missed an exit, regular or special, somehow. I'd rather not have to try them all again.

But if so oh well, there's worse things than having to play an awesome game some more!

vacantplanets · 12/24/2015, 02:02 PM

Quote from: GoldenWheels on 12/24/2015, 10:46 AM
Quote from: vacantplanets on 12/18/2015, 03:33 PM
Quote from: GoldenWheels on 12/18/2015, 08:12 AMWell I switched to Maria for that level and holy crap is the game easier with a double jump and those doves. Got from that level to the boss rush level super quick with her.

That mummy is going down tonight.
Yeah and if you didn't know--Maria has the special move (up, down, down-forward, forward, attack) for when you get pissed off, lol. It takes like half the boss's health in one shot. Kills virtually everything else. She also has the slide (down then jump) and the roll (down-forward and jump).

Richter has a few weird extra controls too. If you hold the jump button while jumping, you can control him and turn around in the air (like Mario for example). Also if you press forward (double tap forward?) after attacking, you extend the whip's range a little. Don't forget that can attack in the middle of his back flip animation too.

Hope that helps.
Holy crap again--I did that (the Maria special move) by accident a bit ago, just came here to ask about it, and you've already explained it! Thanks for the tips on Richter as well, I'm going to try to get through more of the levels with him now.

I'm at 96%. Is there any way to tell specifically what I missed on the map screen? I got all four prisoners. I'm assuming I missed an exit, regular or special, somehow. I'd rather not have to try them all again.

But if so oh well, there's worse things than having to play an awesome game some more!

Haha, nice.

No you can't tell on the map screen. My first guess is usually stage 5' that isn't beaten. You have to kill Dracula and then go back to 4 or 4' and take the alternate route to unlock it.