Dracula X (PC Engine) Vs Super Castlevania IV (SNES) - which game is better?

[Tatsujin]

OMHFUG?!?!? already 6 wrong dudes in here 

[spenoza]

I honestly can't decide. Both are truly great classic 'vania games. They both have excellent strengths and I am happy to replay either one.

[A Black Falcon]

Super Castlevania IV is the best Castlevania game ever made, so it wins.  The better whip was a fantastic idea, and it's a real tragedy that they never brought it back in full.  SCIV also has outstanding graphics too (sure it has slowdown, but it shows the SNES's power.  RoB looks great, but can't do SNES effects.), great music (some of the series' best!), and a lot of levels, all very well-designed, too.  It's also got a hard mode you unlock after beating the game.

Rondo of Blood is an amazing game that I also really like, though.  I don't like playing as Richter much, since he's back to the annoying NES-style whip controls, but Maria is great.  The game is quite a bit shorter than SCIV for a single playthrough, but does have some replay value if you want to find the alternate stages, though it doesn't have a harder difficulty setting, unless you consider Richter as hard mode and Maria as easy mode, but that kind of "hard mode" is an annoying way to do it I think.  The game is a really good game, but it's not quite as good as Super Castlevania IV.  Both games are far, far better than Bloodlines, for sure, though.  Or Dracula XX (SNES).

[Tatsujin]

Super Castlevania IV is the best Castlevania game ever made, so it wins.  The better whip was a fantastic idea, and it's a real tragedy that they never brought it back in full.  SCIV also has outstanding graphics too (sure it has slowdown, but it shows the SNES's power.  RoB looks great, but can't do SNES effects.), great music (some of the series' best!), and a lot of levels, all very well-designed, too.  It's also got a hard mode you unlock after beating the game.

Rondo of Blood is an amazing game that I also really like, though.  I don't like playing as Richter much, since he's back to the annoying NES-style whip controls, but Maria is great.  The game is quite a bit shorter than SCIV for a single playthrough, but does have some replay value if you want to find the alternate stages, though it doesn't have a harder difficulty setting, unless you consider Richter as hard mode and Maria as easy mode, but that kind of "hard mode" is an annoying way to do it I think.  The game is a really good game, but it's not quite as good as Super Castlevania IV.  Both games are far, far better than Bloodlines, for sure, though.  Or Dracula XX (SNES).

UBEROLF!!

[SuperDeadite]

Super Castlevania IV is the best Castlevania game ever made, so it wins.  The better whip was a fantastic idea, and it's a real tragedy that they never brought it back in full.  SCIV also has outstanding graphics too (sure it has slowdown, but it shows the SNES's power.  RoB looks great, but can't do SNES effects.), great music (some of the series' best!), and a lot of levels, all very well-designed, too.  It's also got a hard mode you unlock after beating the game.

Rondo of Blood is an amazing game that I also really like, though.  I don't like playing as Richter much, since he's back to the annoying NES-style whip controls, but Maria is great.  The game is quite a bit shorter than SCIV for a single playthrough, but does have some replay value if you want to find the alternate stages, though it doesn't have a harder difficulty setting, unless you consider Richter as hard mode and Maria as easy mode, but that kind of "hard mode" is an annoying way to do it I think.  The game is a really good game, but it's not quite as good as Super Castlevania IV.  Both games are far, far better than Bloodlines, for sure, though.  Or Dracula XX (SNES).

UBEROLF!!

+1

[Otaking]

Both games are far, far better than Bloodlines, for sure, though.  Or Dracula XX (SNES).

truth 

[GohanX]

Bloodlines is awesome.

[CrackTiger]

Bloodlines is awesome.

But it's not on SNES.

[geise]

I love Bloodlines as well.  As for the Dracula X SC IV debate there's things I like about Super Castlevania IV that I wish made it to the Dracula X.  Like others mentioned I was kinda bummed that Dracula X didn't have the diagonal whip.  It really added to the control and game play.  My main reason for loving Dracula X the most is the re-playability.   There are so many secrets to find in the game.   The music is amazing, and the extra special moves are awesome.  SC IV is an awesome game and one of my favorites on the SNES, but compared to Dracula X I get way more enjoyment out of Dracula X.

As for A Black Falcon saying Dracula X doesn't have SNES effects, I had no idea any game on earth had to have SNES effects to be a good/better game.

[A Black Falcon]

Bloodlines is awesome.

Some people say this (mostly at Sega-16), and honestly I don't get it at all.  I thought Bloodlines was a badly disappointing game and isn't even REMOTELY close to SCIV or RoB.  Graphics (okay to bland), music (decent but not as good), length (too short, they tried to make up for this by making the game too hard but that only makes it worse!), difficulty level (this is the ONLY Castlevania game with limited continues, and it's a big problem with levels as long as this games' are!), level designs (as with some other Genesis Konami games, the levels are long but there aren't many of them), graphics (more parallax than RoB aside, they aren't as good), production values, controls (one character can diagonal-whip on the ground but not in the air, and the other is the reverse... jerks!  8-way whip is better!))... all are worse in Bloodlines than either of those other games.  It's an okay game, but compared to SCIV or RoB?  It does not come close, and I think it's clear that it didn't have as much time or budget, as usual for Genesis Konami games (Contra: Hard Corps and Rocket Knight Adventures are the big exceptions to that, but most of the rest...).

I love Bloodlines as well.  As for the Dracula X SC IV debate there's things I like about Super Castlevania IV that I wish made it to the Dracula X.  Like others mentioned I was kinda bummed that Dracula X didn't have the diagonal whip.  It really added to the control and game play.  My main reason for loving Dracula X the most is the re-playability.   There are so many secrets to find in the game.   The music is amazing, and the extra special moves are awesome.  SC IV is an awesome game and one of my favorites on the SNES, but compared to Dracula X I get way more enjoyment out of Dracula X.

As for A Black Falcon saying Dracula X doesn't have SNES effects, I had no idea any game on earth had to have SNES effects to be a good/better game.

What I mean is that in SCIV I happen to like stuff like the mode 7 backgrounds, the times you latch onto a platform with the whip and the room rotates around you, and stuff... Konami apparently didn't, because even SNES Dracula X(X) doesn't have them, but I thought they were nice things to have.  That's what I meant, mostly, in addition to stuff like transparencies and much more use of parallax scrolling than you find in the Turbo CD game; they pushed the Turbo pretty hard and the game looks great, but RoB DOES have a lot less parallax than the SNES or Genesis games (though otherwise RoB looks a lot better than poor Bloodlines).

UBEROLF!!

I have no idea what this means...

[SuperDeadite]

Meaning you simply suck at Bloodlines.  Since you can't beat it, it therefore must be "too difficult," hence it's not a good game.  IV is the easiest game in the classic series, hence it's your favorite.  Don't you just love IV's boss fights?  Just standing in front of them and mashing whip until  they die is just fantastic gameplay right?   

[GohanX]

I actually didn't like Bloodlines much when it was a new game, or want until much later I gave it another chance and loved it.

[Tatsujin]

UBEROLF!!

I have no idea what this means...

It means that all of your statements are super ludicrous 

[A Black Falcon]

Meaning you simply suck at Bloodlines.  Since you can't beat it, it therefore must be "too difficult," hence it's not a good game.  IV is the easiest game in the classic series, hence it's your favorite.  Don't you just love IV's boss fights?  Just standing in front of them and mashing whip until  they die is just fantastic gameplay right?   

I mentioned a lot of things wrong with Bloodlines other than its difficulty level, why do you say it's just about that?  It isn't.

Also, in a game like this, yes, having limited continues IS a problem.  If RoB or SCIV had had limited continues, it would have hurt them as well.  I know some 3rd and 4th gen platformers do have limited continues, including some very good ones (Sonic 1 for the Genesis comes to mind), but Bloodlines' design basically means that you have to keep replaying a level again and again until you can get through it with minimal damage, since the passwords save your lives and continues.  That's not much fun.   And once again, this is the ONLY Castlevania game ever which doesn't have infinite continues.  It was not a good change.

But as I said, there are a lot of problems with Bloodlines beyond just the difficulty level.  It's got a lot of issues -- the graphics aren't as good, it's shorter, the controls aren't as good, etc., etc.  Bloodlines doesn't match up to SCIV or RoB in any category, I don't think.  Those are high bars to match, and it doesn't reach them.  Apart from Contra: Hard Corps and Rocket Knight Adventures, though, that seems to usually be true in Konami Genesis games; the Genesis Tiny Toon Adventures games aren't nearly as good as the SNES ones, the Genesis TMNT games aren't nearly as good (Tournament Fighters especially!), Genesis Sunset Riders is not even close to the SNES game...  but I do think Contra Hard Corps blows away Contra III, so yeah, it's not all bad.

On that note though, it's really too bad that Konami didn't do any run & guns on the TG16/CD... it would have been great to see, and I'm sure the game(s) would have been fantastic.  Even the Genesis got a lot more releases from Konami than the TG16, even if the SNES was their clear favorite that gen.  Of course the Genesis got no Konami shmups while the TG16 got five pretty good ones, but in overall library size they released something like twice as many Genesis games, I think.  And no run & guns on the Turbo.

UBEROLF!!

I have no idea what this means...

It means that all of your statements are super ludicrous 

Saying that both games are fantastic and among the best games in their genre (they are), but SCIV is better is ludicrous?  Yeah, no.

[Otaking]

But as I said, there are a lot of problems with Bloodlines beyond just the difficulty level.  It's got a lot of issues -- the graphics aren't as good, it's shorter, the controls aren't as good, etc., etc.  Bloodlines doesn't match up to SCIV or RoB in any category, I don't think.  Those are high bars to match, and it doesn't reach them.

+1

[SuperDeadite]

IV has tons of enemies that CANNOT HIT YOU.  Unless you actually choose to run into their line of fire, they CANNOT HIT YOU.  Bloodlines isn't perfect, but at least it knows that enemy's should have a purpose besides walking back and forth until you decide to push UP+Whip a few times.  How the hell can you ignore the absolute horrid design of IV and then complain that Bloodlines isn't perfect?  SNERD hypocrisy at it's finest. 

Konami chose to ditch the 8-way whip because it does not work with traditional castlevania stage design.  Hence, the X68000 game uses a 5-way whip giving you amazing precision but still a solid challenge.

[SamIAm]

For the record, my favorite Castlevania is the X68000 game.

RoB has FAR better boss design than IV, and probably the best in the series. It also nails traditional Castlevania gameplay and has better difficulty. If gameplay trumps all, RoB wins.

But to me, a big part of what makes the Castlevania experience is the atmosphere, and when it comes to this aspect, IV is the peak of the series. It's got a haunting loneliness to it that's downright sophisticated. It's practically a spiritual journey.

RoB, with its bright palette and its bouncy music and its cartoony cutscenes, feels to Castlevania like Parodius feels to R-Type. Don't get me wrong, some parts of it are amazing to look at, but it doesn't hit me in the same place the other games do.

Also, and though I would be totally open to the idea of a female main character, I do think that Castlevania should be a strictly "no bitches" affair. Simon is going after Dracula because Dracula's got to go. Richter, on the other hand, is just trying to get laid.

[Tatsujin]

the atmosphere in RoBs prologue stage 0 alone already beats any other casts on the snes

[spenoza]

I do agree that I think Bloodlines is just a hair too hard. I also think the quality of the sound effects happens to be shit. That said, it is also a well-designed game that does some neat special effects you don't see on many (any?) SNES games, even. Quite frankly, I think that era was Konami at its most creative and experimental. They made their Cvania games on each platform strikingly different, and worked hard to capitalize on the strengths of each system. I can choose a favorite, but I can't easily identify one which is BETTER, because all 3 are great in their own regards.

Although, if you really want to take into account the capabilities of the base system, I think Cvania 3 on the NES is actually the most striking. I would absolutely LOVE to see a 16-bit style remake of that one. You'll notice that Symphony of the Night draws most directly from RoB, but also from Cvania III.

[esteban]

^ Castlevania III (NES) was grand.  Released during 16-bit era, it made me wonder why the "modern" consoles had so few games that had the depth of Castlevania III.

A very solid entry.

[PunkCryborg]

^ Castlevania III (NES) was grand.  Released during 16-bit era, it made me wonder why the "modern" consoles had so few games that had the depth of Castlevania III.

A very solid entry.

Totally awesome and super hard game

[Otaking]

^ Castlevania III (NES) was grand.  Released during 16-bit era, it made me wonder why the "modern" consoles had so few games that had the depth of Castlevania III.

A very solid entry.

Totally awesome and super hard game

I have to admit I've not played Castlevania III, will add it to my to play list.

[SuperDeadite]

^ Castlevania III (NES) was grand.  Released during 16-bit era, it made me wonder why the "modern" consoles had so few games that had the depth of Castlevania III.

A very solid entry.

Totally awesome and super hard game

I have to admit I've not played Castlevania III, will add it to my to play list.

You've not played III?  You've not played III?????? People we now have concrete proof that SNERD = n00b.  This explains the creation of this entire topic.

[Nando]

To me SCIV was more Westernized that Rondo. By that I mean, the art style/design. From the colors to the overall feel. The flexible whip was cool but to me it kinda defeated the purpose of having 2ndry weapons. I need to play through that game again to see if my memory is biased. I've been playing Rondo lately so that one is fresh in my head.  SoTN was my favorite game but it's now a tie with Rondo and I only started playing Rondo a couple of years ago.

Hmmm time for a Castlevnia Marathon....

[Tatsujin]

Rondo and SotN are like one team. You can play through Rondo and just go over to SotN, therefore they're like on big game.

Very funnily only, Rondo runs on a supposed to be "8-bit" machine that came out OVER 3 YEARS pre SNES release, and SotN runs on the commercially strongest 32-bit machine at that time. And it still looks and sounds as if made from one piece.
Just shows how DAMN GOOD Rondo is

[geise]

Rondo and SotN are like one team. You can play through Rondo and just go over to SotN, therefore they're like on big game.

Very funnily only, Rondo runs on a supposed to be "8-bit" machine that came out OVER 3 YEARS pre SNES release, and SotN runs on the commercially strongest 32-bit machine at that time. And it still looks and sounds as if made from one piece.
Just shows how DAMN GOOD Rondo is

To be fair Konami did revamp the graphics of Rodo at the beginning of SotN.  They even added the weird whip swing from SC IV to Richter.

[A Black Falcon]

IV has tons of enemies that CANNOT HIT YOU.  Unless you actually choose to run into their line of fire, they CANNOT HIT YOU.  Bloodlines isn't perfect, but at least it knows that enemy's should have a purpose besides walking back and forth until you decide to push UP+Whip a few times.  How the hell can you ignore the absolute horrid design of IV and then complain that Bloodlines isn't perfect?  SNERD hypocrisy at it's finest.

Ah, I see, you're focusing mostly on your dislike for SCIV because you think it's too easy than anything else.  Well, I disagree, it's an outstanding game regardless.  And are you talking about just the first time through the game, or also the second?

Konami chose to ditch the 8-way whip because it does not work with traditional castlevania stage design.  Hence, the X68000 game uses a 5-way whip giving you amazing precision but still a solid challenge.

I have the Castlevania Chronicles version of that game... it's good, but so, so hard!  At least in Chronicles you can save after every level, though, which avoids the worst of Bloodlines' saving problems.  Also I don't think the levels are quite as long.  Really hard game, though.

For the record, my favorite Castlevania is the X68000 game.

RoB has FAR better boss design than IV, and probably the best in the series. It also nails traditional Castlevania gameplay and has better difficulty. If gameplay trumps all, RoB wins.

But to me, a big part of what makes the Castlevania experience is the atmosphere, and when it comes to this aspect, IV is the peak of the series. It's got a haunting loneliness to it that's downright sophisticated. It's practically a spiritual journey.

RoB, with its bright palette and its bouncy music and its cartoony cutscenes, feels to Castlevania like Parodius feels to R-Type. Don't get me wrong, some parts of it are amazing to look at, but it doesn't hit me in the same place the other games do.

It is true that RoB has a more anime-styled tone, but it's got serious parts as well as silly ones.  Its mix of serious and silly is somewhat unique in the series, but I think it works.  Sure, if you're looking for consistency SCIV is probably better, but RoB isn't far behind -- I think it melds the two elements together well.

On another note, the N64 Castlevania games have some of the best atmospheres of any games in the franchise... they really do a great job setting the scene, with the environments, creepy stuff, adventure elements, etc.

Also, and though I would be totally open to the idea of a female main character, I do think that Castlevania should be a strictly "no bitches" affair. Simon is going after Dracula because Dracula's got to go. Richter, on the other hand, is just trying to get laid.

I'm not sure what you mean by this, but if you're saying anything about not liking the various female characters in Castlevania games, yeah, you're completely wrong.  As for Simon v. Richter, though, Simon has almost no discernible character, really... what is there to say about him?  That his character design is probably cooler looking than Richter's?  That is probably true.  As for motivations, "rescue the girl" vs. "beat the villain"... I do prefer the latter, because "rescue the girl" is a old, should-be-gone sexist storyline, but neither one is all that original.  It's the gameplay that matters the most... and that's where SCIV Simon, with his awesome whip controls, far outpaces more NESlike Richter.  At least there's also Maria with her nice arc-attack birds. which also hit enemies more than the whip but do the same amount of damage per hit, in RoB anyway, too.  With that I like to use the red-birds secondary weapon the best, for coverage against enemies coming from above.

You've not played III?  You've not played III?????? People we now have concrete proof that SNERD = n00b.  This explains the creation of this entire topic.

III isn't nearly as common as the first game, for sure... or even IV on SNES, either.  And Bloodlines is cheaper, I think.  So I can see that, even though III is a great game.

[Tatsujin]

On another note, the N64 Castlevania games have some of the best atmospheres of any games in the franchise... they really do a great job setting the scene, with the environments, creepy stuff, adventure elements, etc.

OK thats just enuff nonsense

anyway marias big easy bonus was her shadow attack (know that?) which made the game so incredible easy. but the control of herself was a big improvement in the dracula serie, like 100x more than that  silly 8way whip-dip in CVIV, which does not add any real shit to the game. if the game is only soo good because of the 8-way whip (as so many snerds always try to claim), then the rest of the game must be really crap (which it obeyously also is compared to a so much bigger, nicer and so well designed and executed Drac x RoB).

[Nando]

SC IV had a more western art direction feel to it.

[Otaking]

I wanted to do a Deep Blue versus match next but I couldn't think of a suitable crap enough opponent.
 

[Tatsujin]

 Why not take SC IV one more time then?

[Otaking]

I thought maybe Deep Blue Vs Energy, crap enough but really it needs to be another shootie game.

Deep Blue Vs Stamp Collecting
 

[geise]

Energy is awesome so it doesn't need a VS against Deep Blue.  Also, Deep Blue to me isn't really bad, just misunderstood.

[JoshTurboTrollX]

Simon has almost no discernible character, really... what is there to say about him?

Clearly you've not seen Simon on the Captain N TV show!

[A Black Falcon]

I wanted to do a Deep Blue versus match next but I couldn't think of a suitable crap enough opponent.
 

D-Force (SNES)?  It's a vertical shmup, not horizontal, but it's definitely not very good.

On another note, the N64 Castlevania games have some of the best atmospheres of any games in the franchise... they really do a great job setting the scene, with the environments, creepy stuff, adventure elements, etc.

OK thats just enuff nonsense

Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness in particular is a great game.  It's easily the best 3d Castlevania game, and is a pretty good game overall as well.

anyway marias big easy bonus was her shadow attack (know that?) which made the game so incredible easy.

Oh, right, the special moves with fighting game style commands... I've barely ever used those, they don't usually seem needed...

but the control of herself was a big improvement in the dracula serie, like 100x more than that  silly 8way whip-dip in CVIV, which does not add any real shit to the game. if the game is only soo good because of the 8-way whip (as so many snerds always try to claim), then the rest of the game must be really crap (which it obeyously also is compared to a so much bigger, nicer and so well designed and executed Drac x RoB).

Control was a big improvement?  How so?  Do you mean her double jump?  That is pretty cool, yeah... and the distance her roll goes is great too.  Anything beyond that though? 

(But yes, the 8-way whip does add a lot to SCIV.)

SC IV had a more western art direction feel to it.

That is true, yes.

[Otaking]

I wanted to do a Deep Blue versus match next but I couldn't think of a suitable crap enough opponent.
 

D-Force (SNES)?  It's a vertical shmup, not horizontal, but it's definitely not very good.

I remember D-Force, I bought it on the SFC when it was released and was absolutely gutted, it's a terrible game.
Buying new games wasn't cheap back then so when you got a crap one it really hurt.

[PunkCryborg]

I can't believe this is even up for discussion. Drac X is one of the top 3 if not the number one best PC Engine game. I probably wouldn't even put Castlevania IV in the top 10 SNES games. And as we all PCE is a million times better than SNES PERIOD. /endthread

[ToyMachine78]

I recently played through several Castlevania games, a holloween tradition, and for the 16 bit games Drac X is best with CV4 in second place. Bloodlines is my least favorite.

Although I agree the 8 directional whip makes 4 too easy, I think using Maria in X makes it too easy as well.

[Otaking]

for the 16 bit games Drac X is best with CV4 in second place. Bloodlines is my least favorite.

Truth, I agree.

[TR0N]

Voted CVIV only because i like how much control i have over simon.While,Dracula-X still has the advantage of length and replay value.For music i do like both very much on that front.By the way i'm not putting down the pce castlevania 'because i voted for the snes one.I still think rondo of blood is one of the best traditional castlevaina out there.

[Tatsujin]

one of the best traditional castlevaina out there.

only one of the best? hmm..how many are even out there that are really able to compete with the pce drac x?

having in my mind: x68k akumajou dracula..hm..not much left anymore.

[TR0N]

one of the best traditional castlevaina out there.

only one of the best? hmm..how many are even out there that are really able to compete with the pce drac x?

having in my mind: x68k akumajou dracula..hm..not much left anymore.

Beside dracula-x,castlevaina 3,bloodlines,CVIV and i all ways had a soft spot for the original and CVII simon's quest.

[Tatsujin]

oh ok, I just don't see those as a valid opponent to the great pce drac x.
they just don't have the class, the visuals, the musics, the brilliancy, the atmosphere, the variety, the overwhelming, the gorgeousness etc. as pce drac x has to play on the same party. even though they might be or are in fact good to very good games.

[TR0N]

oh ok, I just don't see those as a valid opponent to the great pce drac x.
they just don't have the class, the visuals, the musics, the brilliancy, the atmosphere, the variety, the overwhelming, the gorgeousness etc. as pce drac x has to play on the same party. even though they might be or are in fact good to very good games.

In general i'm a fan of vintage castlevania games.I guess if the game originally had a u.s release to begin with i would hold it in higher regards,being able to play it on it's release.I remember when i finally bought the game years ago and after completing it i wonder why it got so much hype.Still dracula-x rondo of blood,is a excellent title that should be in any bodies pce collection.

[geise]

I got Dracula X for XMas 93'  At the time that game amazed me.  It was so different for a CV game.  Everything about it was just great.  Even now I can still sit and play it and get a ton of enjoyment out of it. 

I can understand people getting the game years later and holding it to a certain high standard based off surrounding hype.  They are then somewhat disappointed imagining it to better based off of what they thought it would be. 

I still think it's the best CV game ever done.  Symphony of the Night is good, but in a way it's not really a typical CV game.

[jperryss]

I still think it's the best CV game ever done.  Symphony of the Night is good, but in a way it's not really a typical CV game.

Considering they went on to make six more Castlevania games that play just like it, I would say it is.

You could technically include Simon's Quest in there also, even though it's not quite at the same level as the others.

[OldRover]

This is an unfair comparison. DracX is legions greater than CV4 in every conceivable way, and that's not fanboyism speaking, it's reality. As much as I like CV4, it doesn't hold a candle to the masterpiece that is Rondo. A better Castlevania did not come out until Portrait Of Ruin, and wouldn't ya know it... Richter and Maria are in it too. Go figure.

[geise]

I still think it's the best CV game ever done.  Symphony of the Night is good, but in a way it's not really a typical CV game.

Considering they went on to make six more Castlevania games that play just like it, I would say it is.

You could technically include Simon's Quest in there also, even though it's not quite at the same level as the others.

Haha!  Touché

What I was getting at (and I should've mentioned) was that SotN didn't have you playing as a Belmont for the main character.  I liked SotN, but I got tired of the non linear play actually fairly quick with a lot of the other CV games that came after SotN.

[greedostick]

I honestly can not decide. I really like the total whip control in Super Castlevania IV. But X did pretty much standardize castlevania lore with the release of SOTN. I love 2,3,4, X, and SOTN.

I would personally go with the PSP version. It can be played on a television, and has the arranged and original PC Engine version included. And sega saturn version of SOTN.

[CrackTiger]

I honestly can not decide. I really like the total whip control in Super Castlevania IV. But X did pretty much standardize castlevania lore with the release of SOTN. I love 2,3,4, X, and SOTN.

I would personally go with the PSP version. It can be played on a television, and has the arranged and original PC Engine version included. And sega saturn version of SOTN.

That's not the Saturn version of NitM.

A compilation of standalone games is not a version. Ys I & II for PCE being intertwined as a single continuous game can be considered a single game, but extra games tossed into the same container isn't the same. Otherwise, the Capcom Classic Compilations have the best version of each included game, no matter how buggy they are, because there are other games in the same container.

The regular version of Dracula X in the PSP set seems decent enough (I've only played it with PSP controls), but I don't like the changes, new soundtrack (it's not too bad) or localization as much as the original (and don't like the gameplay or graphics of the budget 3D remake). Is there a method to use any controller you want on a PSP? If not, then the PCE version would win for controls alone, even if the emulated version was 100% faithful.