Agreed. Hopefully she just didn't listen to it enough to pick up on how great nearly every track is, because otherwise I cannot fathom her musical taste... CVIV has always been one of the truly great and timeless game soundtracks to me. Besides the ending theme of course, I really love the 2nd stage music, and the music in the Slogra and Gaibon area.. with the deep sunset at the end of your journey... It reminds me a lot of Vagrant Story that way.... it's so beautiful when a work takes place over a single day, finishing at sunset or twilight.... and yet it is so rare to see actually done as well as those two games do it.
One of the greatest game soundtracks ever, every track is masterpiece that fits it's stage/area perfectly. My all time favorite castlevania, even over sotn.
With that killer soundtrack, great user friendly non-stiff controls, and Belmont being able to use the whip to swing like Tarzan... of course this game is gonna have a fantastic score. I loved this game!!!
@@BradLad56 lol yeah me too! I imagined this scene. Death: Sire! The Belmont has been killed! Dracula: At last! Which of my demons did the deed? So it may be honored by me. Death: It was... It was the fucking frog... Dracula: 🤔🤔😡🤯
I feel old because this feels so recent. Time flies. Used to watch my uncle play this game when i only had a regular Nintendo. Watching him play this game back in the day blew my mind. Super Castlevania & Contra 3 are my favorite nostalgic games. Oh great review!
One of my favorite games of all-time. One of my 1st games that i ever owned in 1992. As a very young child my mother owned an Atari 2600. So my first experience with a home console was the Atari 2600. Games like Berzerk, Ms Pacman, River Raid, Frogs vs Flies, Galaxian, boxing, asteroids, Spider, Frogger, Donkey Kong, Mario Bros etc.... Those games where my literal first introduction into gaming as a very small child in the late 80's early 90's. So i went from gaming on my mothers Atari 2600 straight to a Super Nintendo skipping The Original NES entirely. I still vividly remember the day my dad purchased my SNES at Walmart on my 5th birthday June 19th 1992. To start off i had 2 games Super Mario World, and Super Mario Kart. Not long after i eventually received My All-time favorite SNES game Super Castlevania IV. I played this game so much i loved it, and still love it.
This game has a special place in my heart. I got a SNES for Christmas in 1991, and this was the first SNES game I ever bought with my own money, on March 13, 1992, thanks to getting money for my birthday the weekend before.
Really blows away the Genesis version high quality all the way thru and its a long-ass game I dont really like some of the Mansion levels but it looks way better than the Turbografx version which was on CD and should have had way more graphic detail
It's basically a remake of sorts of the first game, but still easily one of my most favorite SNES games. The Castlevania series was one of the first series I ever became obsessed with. Thanks for the video Pam. :)
I borrowed this from my nephew back in December of 91. I was blown away by the graphics and music. In fact, I was kind of creeped out after playing it a little bit, especially the intro. I didn't want to play it after dark, my family lived in a big old house at the time.
Oh wow if you're complaining about the controls of this. Don't touch the NES versions. Super Castlevania 4 had a substantial upgrade when it came to controls. If this is like controlling an elephant, the NES versions would be like controlling a nimble brick
My favorite SNES game. I love that you can whip in 8 directions, a feature I wish the Castlevania games had kept moving forward. The music score is one of the best.
Hey so I just did the math and I was about 13 when this came out.. Im old.. :( anyways the point is, musically, this was the best soundtrack of ANY game thus far at the time.
@@soterioncoil2163 It's one of the best game soundtracks of all time. I was kind of expecting her to comment about how the music was the stand out part of the game.
@@devo076 Super Metroid is my favorite game of all time. I think it's unfair to compare both of these amazing soundtracks. Both of the OSTs do an excellent job at capturing the essence of the atmosphere while complimenting the gameplay styles of these games, while being catchy.
The original Castlevania, Along with Super Mario Brothers and Ghost and Goblins, were the first games I ever owned as a kid. My mother bought us the NES right after it came out along with these three games and so my life as a gamer started off with a bang... Think the bats are a pain, try the Medusa heads in the original game especially on the 5th stage where 4 hits and you were dead... I still love the whole series for the most part with Symphony of the Night being one of my favorite games of all time.
Brian Daniel played super Mario brothers and castlevania on the nes so hard but fun nes games never played ghost and goblins but avgn reviewed it though 🍿
I too came to this game after Symphony of the Night and felt much the same way. While it was easy to take Alucard's graceful agility for granted, moving Simon around truly helped me feel the difference between a half vampire zipping around at will, vs a mortal (albeit an extraordinary one) plodding with grim determination.
I played this with super Mario world the month they both came out in 1991 I believe. I was ten and it blew my mind playing these at a friends house. They would stay up all night and it was just insane. Best memories ever.
In Japan the game is just called Akumajō Dracula (悪魔城ドラキュラ), because it's actually a remake of the first game. The US intro text stipulating that it's a sequel is total BS, this is the first time Simon is facing Dracula. In addition the US version is heavily censored.
My first castlevania game was the original on the nes. I grew up with the series. I've never played symphony of the night or it's clones. Castlevania 4s controls might have seemed stiff but back in the day they were a major improvement over earlier games. Good luck if you ever decide to play 1 or 3. Casltevania 1 took me years before I could finish it and I've never finished 3. They are some of the hardest game I've ever played.
You never played "Symphony of the Night"? You have to! Controlling Alucard feels so intuitive and smooth. It's very satisfying... ♥ I don't enjoy Castlevania games that came after "Symphony of the Night" because no other character has this special "feeling" like Alucard.
Nice review! Very well spoken. I got this game shortly after it came out. The music and mood of this game are unmatched. I'm a big fan of SOTN, but there's something about this game that always brings me back
Castlevania 3 Dracula's Curse is what got me into the series since childhood as my older brother had gotten it for Christmas when we were kids. I also have a nostalgic like for Castlevania 2 Simon's Quest as it was also a gàme I grew up playing... The funny thing is, my mother was the first person in my family to complete Castlevania 3 Dracula's Curse.... good times 👍
That was one that I rented from a local video store so many times I could have bought it. The music instantly brings me back to a dark bedroom late at night on a chilly October night! Love it!
Oh yeah one of my most favorite games of all time! Back in 2018 eh? I borrowed this one from the grandson of a lady my stepdad was working for at the time. I was a Junior in HS? I forget. Anyway, the music, creepiness, and gameplay... wonderful! I couldn't get enough. I especially loved the music.. almost orchestral. My little bros & sisses to this day still know I love this game LOL. Great video as always. Thanks for sharing
Cannot be Tamed you’re welcome. I showed your channel to my stepdaughter who’s 9, and she binged some of your reviews yesterday, so you have another fan 😁
Nice review, I grew up w/ the originals and this has been my consistently favorite series (and now show, w/ the anime). To echo what others have said, for those of us who started w/ the OG (NES) games, the controls in this game were smooth as silk in comparison. 😂
This game has a slow start, but once it truly gets going we see why it is heralded at a classic. I still remember how much in awe I was when I first saw that room rotating in Mode 7.
Brings back memories... A classic. This is undoubtedly one of the most atmospheric entries in the series. I preferred the Battle Axe accessory weapon in this game; you can hit enemies both above and below Simon because of it's wide arc.
Castlevania was my first love. I wanted an NES so bad when i first played the original Castlevania. I never played 4 but it looks very similar to 1 and 2.
The second ever SNES game I got (after Super Mario World, the pack-in). Love every second of it. Heck, it's sitting in my SNES right this second. Started a lifelong fan obsession with the series.
Such a good game. I rented this when it originally came out, and have it on my 3DS and the Super NES Classic. It takes me back to a time where Konami wasn't what it is today. Watching your video has got me to want to play it again now actually. And agreed on the bats. If you'll excuse me, the Super NES Classic is calling.
Great review! I was slightly too young for this when it came out, so playing it retroactively definitely made me notice the clunky castlevania controls right away. (Later realized all the NES games in the series had that issue as well)
My cousin and I got our hands on Super Castlevania IV right around launch date and boy did this title blow our minds at that time, we played it (jaw dropped) non-stop straight through on the first sitting, of course this was a time when Konami was on fire with delivering top shelf material and holy shit was this a heavy hitting showcase. I don't collect too much Super Nintendo these days (going for the Super Famicom soon) but when it comes to a library that delivered a high level dosage of nostalgia the Super Nintendo is without a doubt waaaaay up there on the list as one of the all time greatest. Great video! 👍👍👍
@@Cannotbetamed1 Well you DID say you were not impressed with the music which has been hailed by MUCH of the fanbase as the most beautiful CV soundtrack ever.
@Mr. NoName I said MUCH of the fanbase. You wanna go it alone, have at it. ;-) Bloodlines' soundtrack was great but didn't have the grit and sorrow of Super Castlevania IV. The SNES did have fundamentally better sound hardware to work with but it is what it is.
@Mr. NoName Bloodlines has weak audio all around. Sega fanboys that think that can even compete with Castlevania 4 in music or sound effects are just sad.
@Mr. NoName You would be amazed at how many annoying Sega fanboys are still around constantly defending the Genesis. Even its notoriously awful audio. Bloodlines does better than most Genesis games but it still sounds like a huge step back from the audio in Castlevania 4 and even the three NES installments. I don't hate the music, although the sound effects are mostly awful. It just can't compete with its' predecessors though.
The main character in all the Castlevania games is always a little clunky and heavy and I don't suppose the sound effect when he falls from a high platform helps that perception. And stairs are horrible in all the Castlevania games. I was thrilled when they added the ability to jump onto stairs in the third game (by holding up before you passed through them). Having played the first three and the two Game Boy titles, this felt like a ridiculous amount of control. I never considered that the manual wasn't really helpful in explaining all the features. Since this was the first game in the series where you do more than whip horizontally in the direction you were facing, I spent the first half of the game just experimenting with what else I could with the whip. It's always fascinating to see what happens when someone comes into a game or series from a fresh perspective. It's funny; while we have similar critiques of the game our experiences varied so that while it might be an average or even above average game for you, the changes it made to the series made it one of my all time favorites.
I think it's a pretty good game. Some of the things felt a bit awkward - like I'm used to being able to land on stairs/other platforms automatically and having to press down (or something) in order to drop through it. That one treasury bit when I didn't realise I could extend the whip did have me swearing though. I'm surprised it wasn't needed until that point.
Trying this out on emulator. The lockdowns have me revisiting SNES and games I never played before, and games I played all the time. This game, and Symphony of the night (especially SotN) are perfect for the boredom PS. Great review btw 👍😁
Slamming that like button SO hard. The heart thing is actually a common occurrence in the series. Regarding the stairs, you have to make sure to hold the direction you want to go in, as well as the diagonal direction of the stairs. Yeah, Death is definitely the hardest boss in the game. Though Gaibon and Slogra (those were the two prior to Death) also give people a run for their money. This game is a masterpiece, in my opinion...it's an example of how video games can be a proper form of art. The slowdown, while noted, almost makes the game feel more cinematic to me. Nice to see you tackle this one.
Thank you :) Slogra gave me some issues - it was often tough to outrange his attacks on every jump. I didn't have too much trouble with Gaibon though. I really wish I hadn't wasted all my boomarangs on Death... I think I had maybe 12 charges going into the Dracula fight which made it very long.
Gaibon is actually the easiest of the three IMO. Just a tip: the platform just before climbing the stairs to get to Dracula...if you jump into that pit directly in the middle, it's a set of invisible stairs. climb down to the left and stand all the way to the left. In a second, you'll get a full replenishment of hearts, health and a fully powered up boomerang. #thanksNintendoPower
i have played Castlevania like the one in 1997 on play station then came my big jump at 2003 Lament of Innocence as well 2005 Curse of Darkness then last played Lord of shadows in 2010 on the Xbox360 but this one is amazing going back in time and the true Roots of the game well done in the Review.
you're a better gamer than I - I have great memories of this game but never saw half of this stuff. I really enjoyed the editing and your observations here. I've watched your videos for years and I think this is my favorite review since I love the atheistic and music from this one. Thanks for providing this!!!
I remember when I was a little kid, I wrote my own "strategy guide" for Super Castlevania IV, which consisted of a lot of lined notebook paper, with a walkthrough and passwords, all in a school folder. Loved this game, especially the music and graphics, although I would actually consider Castlevania: Bloodlines my favorite entry.
Great soundtrack that I still listen to on occasion.... but damn was this game difficult! I can get through the first stage or two and then that's about it. Amazingly, I fair much better with Symphony of the Night (another great game soundtrack).
You don't need to press diagonals to go up or down stairs, just up and down. This game has excellent controls. Modern gamers aren't use to games where you have to stand your ground and fight instead of just tapping some dash move to avoid everything.
@@davidaitken8503 Ya I think its a natural response to want to push diagonal when trying to go up the stairs... probably the mistake I make all the time LOL
It’s always interesting when someone comes into this series the back way in - and especially from SotN at that! Pretty hard to be impressed, I’m sure, after THAT game 🤣 But as someone who had been playing Castlevania since 10 years old when the first one came out on the NES…. lemme just say that Super CV-IV *felt* like a MASTERPIECE at the time of its release. I received it for Xmas while in high school, and it blew me away! Stunning atmosphere and graphics for a Castlevania game. It looked totally revamped from the NES games - and that left quite an impression on any gamer *at the time* And still to this day, I listen to that soundtrack at least once every few months 😄 Thanks for the memories! ✌️
@Cannot be Tamed Do you know, In the Japanese version of Super Castlevania IV, These was a Cross on a tombstone that was omitted from the US version, and there's blood.
Though this was not in the cannon, I love this game! The music and play was amazing!!! I'd play I'd I still had a snes. Your review did this game Justis! Thank you so much!
I admit: my favorite game ever is Castlevania Lords of Shadow 1. Anyway, Super Castlevania 4 is fantastic! The music, the environment, the atmosphere.... Simply magical.... I enjoied your review. 😆
Great review, Pam! Your editing keeps getting better! I'd hafta say that this game is the easiest in the series simply because you can swing the whip in so many different directions. One of the reasons the NES ones are so difficult is because you can only whip straight ahead. And the controls on those earlier games are a lot more stiff than on the SNES. Since you liked this one, I'd recommend Bloodlines on the Genesis next. You even included a password screenshot from the game here! :P
Thank you! Is that the wrong screenshot? Ha! How can you tell? I played this on the SNES mini so I never even looked at the password screen, I just thought I should mention that it was there.
You're welcome. Ha ha, yeah, that's the password screen for Bloodlines, so I couldn't resist teasing you about it. I've been playing Castlevania IV since 1992, so I know it well. It's all good, god knows I've made mistakes in my videos. I figured that since you had the ability to save you probably never saw the password screen. I run into the same thing when I cap footage using the Retron 5. I hafta remind myself to grab that footage.
Nefarious Wes & Cannot be Tamed "Hey #NefariousWes & #Pam, anychance that you could do an episode review of #CastleVaniaBloodlines on #Sega #Genesis with Erin from #ErinPlays as your co-host as well too please?" 😐🏋️🤸💪✌️👌👍🙏💖🎮🕹️📱💻🎥🎞️📽️🎬📺📕📖📈🔮
Great review this is one of my favourite snes games. If you prefer the simpler style of the older castlevania games (which I do) then I would recommend master of darkness on the sega master system it's very similar or warlock on snes and sega megadrive. Ps keep the great videos coming :)
I've tried various Castlevanias, and this is the best I've played so far. I even have the PS2 roms and the PS3 copy which I haven't played yet but one day.....
All my life, I wasn’t all that interested in Castlevania. But as life went on, I thought it was pretty interesting. The one game that drew to the Castlevania games, was Bloodlines. It wasn’t until I turned 21, that I played Super Castlevania 4. Holy shit, this was awesome. I still had my fits of rage when I came to a difficult part, but as I persevered, I was impressed and amazed. But I beat this game more than once, so I decided to play the original NES game of Castlevania. Now that was hard, but rewarding. Next time, I’ll be playing Castlevania 3: Dracula,s Curse.
Okay since I just commented on your bloodlines games, I HAD to come and check this one out. This one is my all time favorite game for a lot of the same reasons you described in the review. The game was there at the launch of the SNES platform and really did a good job showcasing what the SNES could do over its predecessor. Great review Pam...sorry my view is three years late 😋
This was the game that taught me that I hate cheese. I used to beat the Grim Reaper the cheesy way for the longest time, then one day got a thorn in the butt and decided to try fight him without hiding behind the block, in which case he becomes Ninja Gaiden level of difficulty. It took a few tries, but when I finally got him it was far more gratifying. After that, I vowed not to use cheese methods to beat games again.
I used to own this. It was one of the first SNES games I acquired. Previously I had enjoyed II the most so this was a given to purchase. I think I replayed it about 30-50 times, mostly because at the time the graphics were amazing and the music even more so, I even still have some of the music on my phone. Unlike C1 this is not a tough on to beat, it's actually rather simple which is a bit disappointing and it's nowhere the length of the second game.
A lot of the elephant movement does involve the hardware restrictions for the SNES. One of the major faults with SNES was lag when too much was happening at once.
Thanks for the balanced review! I'm a big fan of Castlevania and Castlevania III on the NES, but I played through IV for the first time on the SNES Classic recently. Simon definitely feels heavy and slow, and for me part of it is because his sprite is so big. I had a hard time mastering the fancy new whip techniques too, but one thing that came in handy, which maybe you can try, is you can jump *onto* stairs as long as you're holding the Up button. Sometimes you fall through anyway, so it's really important to have a good controller with a good D-pad. Overall, I think the game is very good, but I didn't love it. I'm going to try Rondo of Blood next.
Ah, thanks, I didn't realize you just had to push up instead of up and the direction you were going in. I'm just used to having to press down to drop through platforms rather than press a button to stay on them.
There's a certain difficulty in adjusting to the old Castlevanias, but once understood, the stiff movements create a great ebb and flow to the combat that meshes with the level design. Rondo of Blood is excellent, though for Richter he doesn't have the instant turning of IV Simon. Still, the music is incredible in either the original or the remake, there's tons of secrets and extra levels, additional powers and abilities, and some very fun challenge. I'd recommend the Dracula X Chronicles version, buy if you can, emulate if you can't. It has the remake that fixes some bugs and adds an extra phase to the final boss and rebalances the bonus level. It also has the sprite original from the PC-Engine, and both versions have English voice acting with different scripts and contains an enhanced version of SOTN as a bonus. Redubbed translation with the cast from Rondo (though I know the cheesie script was beloved), the fairie familiar's song works and was even sang beautifully in English, and Maria's an extra character who plays like her Rondo incarnation. It's a fantastic package.
Hi, Pam. Awesome review. I'm glad you finally did a video about a Castlevania game. The reason I like Castlevania is the fact that the hero use a whip.
One of the greatest gaming soundtracks ever. Great game too.
Agreed. Hopefully she just didn't listen to it enough to pick up on how great nearly every track is, because otherwise I cannot fathom her musical taste... CVIV has always been one of the truly great and timeless game soundtracks to me. Besides the ending theme of course, I really love the 2nd stage music, and the music in the Slogra and Gaibon area.. with the deep sunset at the end of your journey... It reminds me a lot of Vagrant Story that way.... it's so beautiful when a work takes place over a single day, finishing at sunset or twilight.... and yet it is so rare to see actually done as well as those two games do it.
One of the greatest game soundtracks ever, every track is masterpiece that fits it's stage/area perfectly. My all time favorite castlevania, even over sotn.
This Castlevania title has a fantastic score.
TANKTREAD almost every oldschool castlevania has a fantastic score
Yeah like the fact anyone can not be impressed or at least acknowledge its beauty by it is pretty odd.
@@lordbiffington I agree, my friend.
Out all the old school Castlevania games, I personally think Rondo of Blood's ost is better but IV's is still awesome.
With that killer soundtrack, great user friendly non-stiff controls, and Belmont being able to use the whip to swing like Tarzan... of course this game is gonna have a fantastic score. I loved this game!!!
I rented this sooo many times from my local video store. The music is great for this game.
"I was shocked the first time I was killed by a table." - Pam, 2018
Best line ever haha.
I don't know which is more humiliating: her getting killed by a table or me getting killed by a frog.
@@BradLad56 book
@@BradLad56 lol yeah me too! I imagined this scene.
Death: Sire! The Belmont has been killed!
Dracula: At last! Which of my demons did the deed? So it may be honored by me.
Death: It was... It was the fucking frog...
Dracula: 🤔🤔😡🤯
@@BradLad56 Did both within 5 minutes in SOTN.
I got killed by both. Even that gay ass ghost dog.
I feel old because this feels so recent. Time flies. Used to watch my uncle play this game when i only had a regular Nintendo. Watching him play this game back in the day blew my mind. Super Castlevania & Contra 3 are my favorite nostalgic games. Oh great review!
Thanks!
This game has one of the best music scores of all time.
Personally I think this soundtrack was incredible. Still listen to it to this day. Such great atmosphere. Good memories this game 👍
I started playing this game on my snes mini classic because of this review, a+ 👍
the music in this game was just top of the line
Simon Belmont will always win the "most masculine power walk" award. Good memories of playing this game with my friends
But he wears a skirt.
@@tartuffethesprywonderdog5883 Yes, the rhythm of his marching thighs glowing in the torchlight paves the way for righteousness!
@@pranakhan lol, ok that was pretty good.
I prefer Alucard's prance
One of my favorite games of all-time. One of my 1st games that i ever owned in 1992. As a very young child my mother owned an Atari 2600. So my first experience with a home console was the Atari 2600. Games like Berzerk, Ms Pacman, River Raid, Frogs vs Flies, Galaxian, boxing, asteroids, Spider, Frogger, Donkey Kong, Mario Bros etc.... Those games where my literal first introduction into gaming as a very small child in the late 80's early 90's. So i went from gaming on my mothers Atari 2600 straight to a Super Nintendo skipping The Original NES entirely. I still vividly remember the day my dad purchased my SNES at Walmart on my 5th birthday June 19th 1992. To start off i had 2 games Super Mario World, and Super Mario Kart. Not long after i eventually received My All-time favorite SNES game Super Castlevania IV. I played this game so much i loved it, and still love it.
That haunted vault level, with all the gold coins & floating ghosts, is one of the most weirdly atmospheric levels in any CV game.
This game has a special place in my heart. I got a SNES for Christmas in 1991, and this was the first SNES game I ever bought with my own money, on March 13, 1992, thanks to getting money for my birthday the weekend before.
Really blows away the Genesis version high quality all the way thru and its a long-ass game I dont really like some of the Mansion levels but
it looks way better than the Turbografx version which was on CD and should have had way more graphic detail
It's basically a remake of sorts of the first game, but still easily one of my most favorite SNES games. The Castlevania series was one of the first series I ever became obsessed with. Thanks for the video Pam. :)
I borrowed this from my nephew back in December of 91. I was blown away by the graphics and music. In fact, I was kind of creeped out after playing it a little bit, especially the intro. I didn't want to play it after dark, my family lived in a big old house at the time.
Best video game soundtrack EVER.
Oh wow if you're complaining about the controls of this. Don't touch the NES versions. Super Castlevania 4 had a substantial upgrade when it came to controls. If this is like controlling an elephant, the NES versions would be like controlling a nimble brick
My favorite SNES game. I love that you can whip in 8 directions, a feature I wish the Castlevania games had kept moving forward. The music score is one of the best.
At that time the opening was so scary. This game have a perfect atmosphere for a old vampire hunt.
One of the most atmospheric games in the series, alongside SOTN, Order of Ecclesia, Lords of Shadow and the fanmade Lecarde Chronicles 2.
Thanks again! You have a great style, clear, concise and informative!
Hey so I just did the math and I was about 13 when this came out.. Im old.. :( anyways the point is, musically, this was the best soundtrack of ANY game thus far at the time.
Yeah I don't get why she was unimpressed with the gorgeous music in SCIV.
@@soterioncoil2163 It's one of the best game soundtracks of all time. I was kind of expecting her to comment about how the music was the stand out part of the game.
No I have to disagree. As good as the score was for this game, I think Super Metroid edges it out.
@@devo076 Super Metroid is my favorite game of all time. I think it's unfair to compare both of these amazing soundtracks. Both of the OSTs do an excellent job at capturing the essence of the atmosphere while complimenting the gameplay styles of these games, while being catchy.
The original Castlevania, Along with Super Mario Brothers and Ghost and Goblins, were the first games I ever owned as a kid. My mother bought us the NES right after it came out along with these three games and so my life as a gamer started off with a bang... Think the bats are a pain, try the Medusa heads in the original game especially on the 5th stage where 4 hits and you were dead... I still love the whole series for the most part with Symphony of the Night being one of my favorite games of all time.
Brian Daniel played super Mario brothers and castlevania on the nes so hard but fun nes games never played ghost and goblins but avgn reviewed it though 🍿
The soundtrack is beautiful and memorable for SNES game
I too came to this game after Symphony of the Night and felt much the same way. While it was easy to take Alucard's graceful agility for granted, moving Simon around truly helped me feel the difference between a half vampire zipping around at will, vs a mortal (albeit an extraordinary one) plodding with grim determination.
Honestly, it's been a long time since I played SotN, I don't recall much of how the controls felt.
Super Castlevania IV was the first game of the franchise that I played. Love of my life!!
I played this with super Mario world the month they both came out in 1991 I believe. I was ten and it blew my mind playing these at a friends house. They would stay up all night and it was just insane. Best memories ever.
In Japan the game is just called Akumajō Dracula (悪魔城ドラキュラ), because it's actually a remake of the first game. The US intro text stipulating that it's a sequel is total BS, this is the first time Simon is facing Dracula. In addition the US version is heavily censored.
My first castlevania game was the original on the nes. I grew up with the series. I've never played symphony of the night or it's clones. Castlevania 4s controls might have seemed stiff but back in the day they were a major improvement over earlier games. Good luck if you ever decide to play 1 or 3. Casltevania 1 took me years before I could finish it and I've never finished 3. They are some of the hardest game I've ever played.
Me too lol
You never played "Symphony of the Night"? You have to! Controlling Alucard feels so intuitive and smooth. It's very satisfying... ♥ I don't enjoy Castlevania games that came after "Symphony of the Night" because no other character has this special "feeling" like Alucard.
Nice review! Very well spoken. I got this game shortly after it came out. The music and mood of this game are unmatched. I'm a big fan of SOTN, but there's something about this game that always brings me back
Thanks!
Castlevania 3 Dracula's Curse is what got me into the series since childhood as my older brother had gotten it for Christmas when we were kids. I also have a nostalgic like for Castlevania 2 Simon's Quest as it was also a gàme I grew up playing... The funny thing is, my mother was the first person in my family to complete Castlevania 3 Dracula's Curse.... good times 👍
That was one that I rented from a local video store so many times I could have bought it. The music instantly brings me back to a dark bedroom late at night on a chilly October night! Love it!
This is my favorite SNES game hands down. Amazing soundtrack. Dracula X is great as well. Konami has made so many great titles for the NES and SNES.
I've yet to play Rondo of Blood, but even if it is superior I'll still love Dracula X.
Oh yeah one of my most favorite games of all time! Back in 2018 eh? I borrowed this one from the grandson of a lady my stepdad was working for at the time. I was a Junior in HS? I forget. Anyway, the music, creepiness, and gameplay... wonderful! I couldn't get enough. I especially loved the music.. almost orchestral. My little bros & sisses to this day still know I love this game LOL. Great video as always. Thanks for sharing
Thanks!
Playing this on SNES for the first time was an amazing ethereal experience. That soundtrack!
You have one of the best channels on UA-cam. I hope you continue to put out quality content.
Thank you very much
Cannot be Tamed you’re welcome. I showed your channel to my stepdaughter who’s 9, and she binged some of your reviews yesterday, so you have another fan 😁
Nice review, I grew up w/ the originals and this has been my consistently favorite series (and now show, w/ the anime).
To echo what others have said, for those of us who started w/ the OG (NES) games, the controls in this game were smooth as silk in comparison. 😂
One of the very first games I grabbed off the Wii VC. Great review as usual!
This game has a slow start, but once it truly gets going we see why it is heralded at a classic. I still remember how much in awe I was when I first saw that room rotating in Mode 7.
Ahhhhh what a great game ❤️
I agree.
Brings back memories... A classic. This is undoubtedly one of the most atmospheric entries in the series. I preferred the Battle Axe accessory weapon in this game; you can hit enemies both above and below Simon because of it's wide arc.
I'd say probably makes my top 3 Castlevania games list in terms of soundtrack.
That was a good review. This was my favorite Castlevania game, and one of my favorites overall.
Definitely I have to play this on my Snes mini!
You should! It's pretty fun
I remember playing this game as a kid - one of my favorite SNES games - thanks for the review - it brought back a lot of great memories!
No problem!
This game has awesome soundtrack. Thank you for your review!
No problem!
Castlevania was my first love. I wanted an NES so bad when i first played the original Castlevania. I never played 4 but it looks very similar to 1 and 2.
Playing this on the SNES classic.
The second ever SNES game I got (after Super Mario World, the pack-in). Love every second of it. Heck, it's sitting in my SNES right this second. Started a lifelong fan obsession with the series.
One of my favorites still have my game for the snes,
Such a good game. I rented this when it originally came out, and have it on my 3DS and the Super NES Classic. It takes me back to a time where Konami wasn't what it is today. Watching your video has got me to want to play it again now actually. And agreed on the bats. If you'll excuse me, the Super NES Classic is calling.
I’m trying it now
Great review! I was slightly too young for this when it came out, so playing it retroactively definitely made me notice the clunky castlevania controls right away. (Later realized all the NES games in the series had that issue as well)
Thanks!
Room of close associates, I loved that soundtrack, it added a lot tension to the end of the game
My cousin and I got our hands on Super Castlevania IV right around launch date and boy did this title blow our minds at that time, we played it (jaw dropped) non-stop straight through on the first sitting, of course this was a time when Konami was on fire with delivering top shelf material and holy shit was this a heavy hitting showcase.
I don't collect too much Super Nintendo these days (going for the Super Famicom soon) but when it comes to a library that delivered a high level dosage of nostalgia the Super Nintendo is without a doubt waaaaay up there on the list as one of the all time greatest.
Great video! 👍👍👍
Thank you!
I just beat this again after I don't know how many years. I remember buying it when the Super Nintendo first came out. The soundtrack is amazing.
This video decides if we're still friends or not. *sits down to watch*
Should I interpret your lack of follow up here as a no? :(
@@Cannotbetamed1 Well you DID say you were not impressed with the music which has been hailed by MUCH of the fanbase as the most beautiful CV soundtrack ever.
@Mr. NoName I said MUCH of the fanbase. You wanna go it alone, have at it. ;-)
Bloodlines' soundtrack was great but didn't have the grit and sorrow of Super Castlevania IV. The SNES did have fundamentally better sound hardware to work with but it is what it is.
@Mr. NoName Bloodlines has weak audio all around. Sega fanboys that think that can even compete with Castlevania 4 in music or sound effects are just sad.
@Mr. NoName You would be amazed at how many annoying Sega fanboys are still around constantly defending the Genesis. Even its notoriously awful audio. Bloodlines does better than most Genesis games but it still sounds like a huge step back from the audio in Castlevania 4 and even the three NES installments. I don't hate the music, although the sound effects are mostly awful. It just can't compete with its' predecessors though.
The main character in all the Castlevania games is always a little clunky and heavy and I don't suppose the sound effect when he falls from a high platform helps that perception. And stairs are horrible in all the Castlevania games. I was thrilled when they added the ability to jump onto stairs in the third game (by holding up before you passed through them). Having played the first three and the two Game Boy titles, this felt like a ridiculous amount of control.
I never considered that the manual wasn't really helpful in explaining all the features. Since this was the first game in the series where you do more than whip horizontally in the direction you were facing, I spent the first half of the game just experimenting with what else I could with the whip. It's always fascinating to see what happens when someone comes into a game or series from a fresh perspective. It's funny; while we have similar critiques of the game our experiences varied so that while it might be an average or even above average game for you, the changes it made to the series made it one of my all time favorites.
I think it's a pretty good game. Some of the things felt a bit awkward - like I'm used to being able to land on stairs/other platforms automatically and having to press down (or something) in order to drop through it. That one treasury bit when I didn't realise I could extend the whip did have me swearing though. I'm surprised it wasn't needed until that point.
I really liked Castlevania IV, but not as much as most people; the all-around whip control actually made it too easy.
I love it but I agree about the whip
Trying this out on emulator. The lockdowns have me revisiting SNES and games I never played before, and games I played all the time. This game, and Symphony of the night (especially SotN) are perfect for the boredom
PS. Great review btw 👍😁
Thanks!
One of the best piece of media in the history of mankind. A true masterpiece.
Slamming that like button SO hard. The heart thing is actually a common occurrence in the series. Regarding the stairs, you have to make sure to hold the direction you want to go in, as well as the diagonal direction of the stairs. Yeah, Death is definitely the hardest boss in the game. Though Gaibon and Slogra (those were the two prior to Death) also give people a run for their money. This game is a masterpiece, in my opinion...it's an example of how video games can be a proper form of art. The slowdown, while noted, almost makes the game feel more cinematic to me. Nice to see you tackle this one.
Thank you :) Slogra gave me some issues - it was often tough to outrange his attacks on every jump. I didn't have too much trouble with Gaibon though. I really wish I hadn't wasted all my boomarangs on Death... I think I had maybe 12 charges going into the Dracula fight which made it very long.
Gaibon is actually the easiest of the three IMO. Just a tip: the platform just before climbing the stairs to get to Dracula...if you jump into that pit directly in the middle, it's a set of invisible stairs. climb down to the left and stand all the way to the left. In a second, you'll get a full replenishment of hearts, health and a fully powered up boomerang. #thanksNintendoPower
Ahh, that would have been very handy to know.
i have played Castlevania like the one in 1997 on play station then came my big jump at 2003 Lament of Innocence as well 2005 Curse of Darkness then last played Lord of shadows in 2010 on the Xbox360 but this one is amazing going back in time and the true Roots of the game well done in the Review.
Thanks!
you're a better gamer than I - I have great memories of this game but never saw half of this stuff. I really enjoyed the editing and your observations here. I've watched your videos for years and I think this is my favorite review since I love the atheistic and music from this one. Thanks for providing this!!!
Well thank you :)
I do feel the early Castlevania games were very memorable for its soundtrack. Early memories of my first game
I remember when I was a little kid, I wrote my own "strategy guide" for Super Castlevania IV, which consisted of a lot of lined notebook paper, with a walkthrough and passwords, all in a school folder. Loved this game, especially the music and graphics, although I would actually consider Castlevania: Bloodlines my favorite entry.
Ahh, that's cute! I once tried to write a strategy guide for FF8. I think I got about 2 scenes in :P
I love this game first Snes game and Castlevania game I played - thanks for uploading Pam 😉
Thank you for watching
Great soundtrack that I still listen to on occasion.... but damn was this game difficult! I can get through the first stage or two and then that's about it. Amazingly, I fair much better with Symphony of the Night (another great game soundtrack).
Can't wait to get the Castlevania Anniversary collection on PS4, just for Super Castlevania 4
Dracula's Curse is awesome too.
1:00 cool song. Fit the atmosphere well for this game.
Yeah what is this tune?!?
I like this game a lot, but the original 3 Castlevania games on the NES are my favorite ones in the series by far.
That I can respect.
That awkward staircase climbing you were speaking of is in the first 3 Castlevania games as well! Always a pain in the rump.
You don't need to press diagonals to go up or down stairs, just up and down. This game has excellent controls. Modern gamers aren't use to games where you have to stand your ground and fight instead of just tapping some dash move to avoid everything.
@@davidaitken8503 Ya I think its a natural response to want to push diagonal when trying to go up the stairs... probably the mistake I make all the time LOL
It’s always interesting when someone comes into this series the back way in - and especially from SotN at that! Pretty hard to be impressed, I’m sure, after THAT game 🤣
But as someone who had been playing Castlevania since 10 years old when the first one came out on the NES…. lemme just say that Super CV-IV *felt* like a MASTERPIECE at the time of its release. I received it for Xmas while in high school, and it blew me away! Stunning atmosphere and graphics for a Castlevania game. It looked totally revamped from the NES games - and that left quite an impression on any gamer *at the time*
And still to this day, I listen to that soundtrack at least once every few months 😄
Thanks for the memories! ✌️
I gotta agree with the challenge factor. You should review Castlevania: SOTN at some point.
It's been so long since I played SotN. I mostly remember a lot of backtracking and never knowing where I was supposed to go.
game was easy. best soundtrack in any castlevania too.
SCSA prefer Circle of the Moon.
One of the best Castlevania series i ve ever play.. Very nice review 🙌
Thank you
@Cannot be Tamed Do you know, In the Japanese version of Super Castlevania IV, These was a Cross on a tombstone that was omitted from the US version, and there's blood.
This was the game that made me fall in love with the Castlevania series and I pretty much agree with everything you say.
awww yeah, such great memories from this game. great review Pam
Thanks!
Though this was not in the cannon, I love this game! The music and play was amazing!!! I'd play I'd I still had a snes. Your review did this game Justis! Thank you so much!
:D
I admit: my favorite game ever is Castlevania Lords of Shadow 1. Anyway, Super Castlevania 4 is fantastic! The music, the environment, the atmosphere.... Simply magical....
I enjoied your review. 😆
Thanks!
Loved that "i want you" beatles joke
Thanks!
Great review, Pam! Your editing keeps getting better! I'd hafta say that this game is the easiest in the series simply because you can swing the whip in so many different directions. One of the reasons the NES ones are so difficult is because you can only whip straight ahead. And the controls on those earlier games are a lot more stiff than on the SNES. Since you liked this one, I'd recommend Bloodlines on the Genesis next. You even included a password screenshot from the game here! :P
Thank you! Is that the wrong screenshot? Ha! How can you tell? I played this on the SNES mini so I never even looked at the password screen, I just thought I should mention that it was there.
You're welcome. Ha ha, yeah, that's the password screen for Bloodlines, so I couldn't resist teasing you about it. I've been playing Castlevania IV since 1992, so I know it well. It's all good, god knows I've made mistakes in my videos. I figured that since you had the ability to save you probably never saw the password screen. I run into the same thing when I cap footage using the Retron 5. I hafta remind myself to grab that footage.
Nefarious Wes & Cannot be Tamed "Hey #NefariousWes & #Pam, anychance that you could do an episode review of #CastleVaniaBloodlines on #Sega #Genesis with Erin from #ErinPlays as your co-host as well too please?" 😐🏋️🤸💪✌️👌👍🙏💖🎮🕹️📱💻🎥🎞️📽️🎬📺📕📖📈🔮
I'd be down to do any sort of collaboration with Erin Plays. She's great!
Nefarious Wes & Cannot be Tamed "Looking forward to it by seeing it & Thank-You." 😊😎😏🏋️🤸💪✌️👌👍💖🎮🕹️📱💻🎥🎞️📽️🎬📕📖📈🔮
Excellent review, Pam. Great game and insightful commentary.
Thanks!
Great review this is one of my favourite snes games. If you prefer the simpler style of the older castlevania games (which I do) then I would recommend master of darkness on the sega master system it's very similar or warlock on snes and sega megadrive. Ps keep the great videos coming :)
Thanks!
The gold kinda looks like corn that pops tuning into popcorn as you stand on it.
I've tried various Castlevanias, and this is the best I've played so far. I even have the PS2 roms and the PS3 copy which I haven't played yet but one day.....
Too F...... good! For a title released just after the console had been. Visually and aurally stunning, virtually flawless.
nice pam! been waiting on this...
Nice review, easily my favorite Castlevania.
Thanks!
All my life, I wasn’t all that interested in Castlevania. But as life went on, I thought it was pretty interesting. The one game that drew to the Castlevania games, was Bloodlines. It wasn’t until I turned 21, that I played Super Castlevania 4. Holy shit, this was awesome. I still had my fits of rage when I came to a difficult part, but as I persevered, I was impressed and amazed. But I beat this game more than once, so I decided to play the original NES game of Castlevania. Now that was hard, but rewarding. Next time, I’ll be playing Castlevania 3: Dracula,s Curse.
Okay since I just commented on your bloodlines games, I HAD to come and check this one out.
This one is my all time favorite game for a lot of the same reasons you described in the review. The game was there at the launch of the SNES platform and really did a good job showcasing what the SNES could do over its predecessor.
Great review Pam...sorry my view is three years late 😋
Man, that brings back memories!
This was the game that taught me that I hate cheese. I used to beat the Grim Reaper the cheesy way for the longest time, then one day got a thorn in the butt and decided to try fight him without hiding behind the block, in which case he becomes Ninja Gaiden level of difficulty. It took a few tries, but when I finally got him it was far more gratifying. After that, I vowed not to use cheese methods to beat games again.
I used to own this. It was one of the first SNES games I acquired. Previously I had enjoyed II the most so this was a given to purchase. I think I replayed it about 30-50 times, mostly because at the time the graphics were amazing and the music even more so, I even still have some of the music on my phone.
Unlike C1 this is not a tough on to beat, it's actually rather simple which is a bit disappointing and it's nowhere the length of the second game.
A lot of the elephant movement does involve the hardware restrictions for the SNES. One of the major faults with SNES was lag when too much was happening at once.
Thanks for the balanced review! I'm a big fan of Castlevania and Castlevania III on the NES, but I played through IV for the first time on the SNES Classic recently. Simon definitely feels heavy and slow, and for me part of it is because his sprite is so big. I had a hard time mastering the fancy new whip techniques too, but one thing that came in handy, which maybe you can try, is you can jump *onto* stairs as long as you're holding the Up button. Sometimes you fall through anyway, so it's really important to have a good controller with a good D-pad. Overall, I think the game is very good, but I didn't love it. I'm going to try Rondo of Blood next.
Ah, thanks, I didn't realize you just had to push up instead of up and the direction you were going in. I'm just used to having to press down to drop through platforms rather than press a button to stay on them.
Alucard for life ! xD
There's a certain difficulty in adjusting to the old Castlevanias, but once understood, the stiff movements create a great ebb and flow to the combat that meshes with the level design. Rondo of Blood is excellent, though for Richter he doesn't have the instant turning of IV Simon. Still, the music is incredible in either the original or the remake, there's tons of secrets and extra levels, additional powers and abilities, and some very fun challenge.
I'd recommend the Dracula X Chronicles version, buy if you can, emulate if you can't. It has the remake that fixes some bugs and adds an extra phase to the final boss and rebalances the bonus level. It also has the sprite original from the PC-Engine, and both versions have English voice acting with different scripts and contains an enhanced version of SOTN as a bonus. Redubbed translation with the cast from Rondo (though I know the cheesie script was beloved), the fairie familiar's song works and was even sang beautifully in English, and Maria's an extra character who plays like her Rondo incarnation. It's a fantastic package.
Thanks! I plan to play Dracula X too! If I can't track down the cart, I have it on my SNES Classic.
Rondo is the best of the retro Castlevanias imo, and a lot of people would agree. Bloodlines is great, too.
Hi, Pam. Awesome review. I'm glad you finally did a video about a Castlevania game. The reason I like Castlevania is the fact that the hero use a whip.
Thanks! The whip is pretty cool.
I can use a bullwhip in real life. I have one of Kangaroo hide that was made by David Morgan, the same man who made the whips for Raiders.
I love every track in this masterpiece
Great review again, thanks!