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NEC TG-16/TE/TurboDuo => TG-16/TE/TurboDuo Discussion => Topic started by: runinruder on August 14, 2007, 03:19:25 AM

Title: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: runinruder on August 14, 2007, 03:19:25 AM
Two famous games... that have pretty much nothing in common.

I choose Lords.  It has better graphics and cinemas, after all.  But more importantly, Rondo doesn't even stand up well against games in its own series (from its own era, no less), while Lords stands on its own and is distinctive enough to avoid such direct comparisons that might prove unflattering. 
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Necromancer on August 14, 2007, 03:42:49 AM
I voted Lords of Thunder, but I disagree with everything you posted after the first two sentences.  Dracula X is considered one of the finest in the Castlevania series and easily holds its own against Super Castlevania IV, Castlevania: Bloodlines, or Dracula XX. 

It's a close call between these two gems.  They're both damn fine looking, though I slightly prefer the art style of LoT.  Rondo has more cinemas (even one in German, woo-hoo!), yet I like the rockish tunes of LoT more.  Neither game is terribly difficult, but Rondo has two playable characters and a little exploring to do.  The deciding factor for me: LoT is in English, Dracula X isn't.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Turbo D on August 14, 2007, 03:53:58 AM
I love them both, so it was a hard decision. But my love for the shooter and the masterpiece that is lords of thunder won my vote.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: SuperDeadite on August 14, 2007, 03:54:34 AM
I will vote Dracula X, simply because it was the game that got me into PC-E gaming in the first place.  I had Lords on Sega CD as a kid...
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: nat on August 14, 2007, 03:59:47 AM
I went the Castlevania way here, and I actually have to disagree with runinruder also on his points regarding the game.

For me though really, it's too close a call. As has been indicated, the games have nothing in common. Well, they both come on a CD. Rondo of Blood has a certain 'epic' quality to it that is stronger than the 'epic' you feel with Lords of Thunder. I love both soundtracks to death, probably about equally. Rondo has more exploring to do, though, and lots of secrets and secondary objectives to accomplish. Lords of Thunder lacks this dynamic. About the only dynamic you get in Lords is what order to play the levels in. As for as the language thing, I don't feel this can be fairly used against Rondo. The cinemas are all great, and the opening cinema is one of my favorite video game cinemas of all time. More excellent cinemas =  :dance:

Beyond that, I don't feel the graphics in Lords are all that superior to Rondo. Both games have their moments, and I have to say some of the simply awesome-looking bosses in Rondo tip the scales even further in it's favor. The graphics in the second part of the first level, with the multiple layers of burning city are killer as are the huge stone golem-things that slow your roll.

Don't get me wrong, Lords of Thunder would definitely rank in my top 10 Turbo games. But the Castlevania title would rank higher, just a hair.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: awack on August 14, 2007, 07:57:16 AM
Wow, for me the two best games on the duo but with out question it has to go to rondo, from an artistic stand point the graphics are better and more refined..not that the graphics in lords of thunder are bad infact i think there the best of any shooter that you will find on the duo, genesis or snes,

Special effects, no contest this goes to rondo...think about the Dracula fight in his second form, from the cool line scrolling on the top and bottom of the screen to lightning in the back ground to Dracula shooting his electrical  attack at you all the while giant crosses are flying across the screen from your item crash, theres a reason  konami did not attempt on the snes version, if they did the snes would have unplugged itself from the wall and said to hell with this.

Music, ummm, hmmm, lets see, i dont know this one is close.

Game play, i give it to rondo.



Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: esteban on August 14, 2007, 09:09:20 AM
I love Lords, but Rondo gets the vote. As folks have mentioned, there's just more depth / enjoyment to derive from Rondo.

Lords is way too easy.

Take away the gorgeous visuals and you have a well-executed shoot-em-up, but its still a shoot-em-up. Over the years, Rondo has had far more replay value and the ability to be "endearing". Lords is great for a shooter, but it still feels distant (as most shooters do) compared to the connection you feel to the Rondo universe. This is not the fault of Lords, per se, but simply the result of the shoot-em-up genre (shooters tend to be rather impersonal) when compared to a well-done platformer (the fact that Rondo builds upon an existing Castlevania universe is an unfair advantage to Rondo, though).
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Black Tiger on August 14, 2007, 12:12:09 PM
I'd have to pick Drac X because of the replayability and that as much as I love shooters, I prefer action platformers.

Lords has better quality touched up graphics overall, but as much as it pushes variety, Drac X goes even further and with tons of animation.

Drac X also has at least one unique sampled sound effect per enemy. Both soundtracks are harsh killer.

Both games pass the point of scoring for aesthetics overall. Its not even necessary to compare/contrast since they're both so good.


To me, Drac X is easily the best 'Castlevania' game. Mainly from a gameplay/design standpoint, but I also feel that the aesthetics are as good as anything in the series.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Joe Redifer on August 14, 2007, 12:42:55 PM
Lords of Thunder is good, but can be beaten the first time it is played by anyone over the age of 5 (Sega CD one is even easier).  Dracula X lasts quite a while if you want to get 100%.  Dracula X is better. 
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Keranu on August 14, 2007, 03:19:14 PM
I voted Lords since I never heavily got into Dracula X like a lot of Turbo fans. Lords impressed the hell outta me the first time I played it and it's still a really fun experience to this day. Also I'm not really a Casltevania person.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Joe Redifer on August 14, 2007, 05:45:41 PM
How dare you.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: esteban on August 14, 2007, 06:04:49 PM
How dare you.
Indeed.

Keranu, just think of Rondo as JJ & Jeff meet the Munsters (Kato & Ken Daimakaimura Chan). I guarantee you'll enjoy it. :)
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Turbo D on August 14, 2007, 06:07:20 PM
I'm with kerano on this one, its all about LoT  8)
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Keranu on August 14, 2007, 06:08:16 PM
Quote from: Steve
Indeed.

Keranu, just think of Rondo as JJ & Jeff meet the Munsters (Kato & Ken Daimakaimura Chan). I guarantee you'll enjoy it. :)

That would be pretty rad, but I never said I didn't enjoy it. I just never put as much attention into it to love it as much as others do. It's one of those many games that I would play more if I actually owned it, but I haven't gotten around to buying it yet (came close numerous times!). Either way, I couldn't see myself enjoying it more than Lords :) .
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: nat on August 15, 2007, 06:41:18 AM
Either way, I couldn't see myself enjoying it more than Lords :) .

You'd be surprised. My favorite genre is the shooter genre, but Rondo of Blood is quite excellent.

As you can see, it's clearly mopping the floor with Lords in this here matchup.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Turbo D on August 15, 2007, 06:51:44 AM
As you can see, it's clearly mopping the floor with Lords in this here matchup.

this thread is still young, the tides will soon change. Thunder heads unite!
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Keranu on August 15, 2007, 09:49:33 AM
Either way, I couldn't see myself enjoying it more than Lords :) .

You'd be surprised. My favorite genre is the shooter genre, but Rondo of Blood is quite excellent.

As you can see, it's clearly mopping the floor with Lords in this here matchup.
I've played Rondo several times, just not with as much dedication. Also as mentioned, I'm not really a Castlevania fan.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: GUTS on August 15, 2007, 02:20:23 PM
Lords of Thunder all the way, Castlevania is great but the challenge is toddler level which makes it the odd man out in the Castlevania franchise (especially finding all 100% which was so disappointingly easy that you'd have to be at least mildly retarded to not get it in a day or two).  Lords is just an amazing specimen of a horizontal shooter compared to any game for any system, while Castlevania is a really good platformer that is easily outclassed by other entries in the series.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Joe Redifer on August 15, 2007, 03:14:49 PM
But you can get 100% on LoT in a half an hour or so without even trying!  Plus, the programmers of LoT told me that the SNES was their favorite system of all time.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Turbo D on August 15, 2007, 03:49:20 PM
nOoOooo, not the super nintendo  [-(
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: 2X4 on August 17, 2007, 11:32:05 AM
Apple v Orange, hmmm.  I voted Rondo because I don't um, I don't really, you know, cough, like shooters that much COUGH.   :oops:  Sorry, I tend to prefer games that require a little bit more thought (but not much). 
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Joe Redifer on August 17, 2007, 01:07:50 PM
Oranges are way better than apples.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Keranu on August 17, 2007, 02:27:20 PM
Yes, oranges kick the sauce outta apples.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: SignOfZeta on August 18, 2007, 04:43:46 AM
I voted for Rondo. I like LoT, but if it weren't for the ass-kicking heavy metal/fantasy theme nobody would even notice it. The way your dude/ship moves is really crappy too. Its a great game, but I like GoT a f*ckload more.

Rondo is the best "real" Dracula game Konami ever made. By, "real", I of course mean Drac games before the PS where they turned into super easy "gotta catch 'm all" games that just got easier and easier as the game went on.

Either way I think the arguments about which one "lasts" longer are stupid. Both of these games are ancient, and I still play both of them. LoT more than Rondo, since LoT is more "pick up a play" friendly. Since I mastered them ages ago its hard to tell at this point, but I don't think either of them are that easy. LoT is easier than most PCE shooters, and Rondo is easier than pretty much any earlier Drac game, but both took me a while to finish. If you don't know that all other other (more impressive armors) in LoT are worthless except Earth, you'll have a hard time figuring that out. Also, while it didn't take me too long to clear Rondo, it did take me about a week since Death is hard. If you play as Maria the game is a lot easier, but clearing it with Belmont is tough. Also, I always have a hard time figuring out how to get to level 2'. I always skip straight to 3' when I take the underground path for some reason. Also, I have a hard time remember how to get one of the girls. I think its the nun.

Either way, both are top 10 PCE games.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Black Tiger on August 18, 2007, 08:32:15 AM
I think that Dracula X PCE's decent gameplay and proper stage design gets mistaken for a lack of dificulty. The reason why so many other Castlevanias are harder is because of cheap difficulty due to poor design and cruder gameplay.

SNES Drac XX is a good example of how you can't just drop the same Richter gameplay into any old levels. I know many people like the game, but I found myself getting tagged by enemies and then bouncing around (literally) uncontrolably until I died, Night Creatures style.

I don't believe that the average player can beeze through the game using only Richter. I do think that Drac X PCE gets overly familiar because its the one game everyone's supposed to play and it seems pretty easy to jump in and just play a stage or two in a single sitting.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Joe Redifer on August 18, 2007, 01:29:42 PM
I agree with Black Tiger about the stage design of many of the other Castlevanias.  It's so true!  Controls are another similar issue.  Although Castlevania games on the NES are great, the control isn't exactly super-responsive, you can't jump of stairs, etc etc etc.

As far as Lords of Thunder goes, I choose the fire armor (red) at the beginning of the game and never change it.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Black Tiger on August 18, 2007, 02:02:29 PM
I like to pick the worst armor for each particular stage. Just picking earth armor for the whole game is like playing Drac X with Maria and calling it easy.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Turbo D on August 18, 2007, 03:02:59 PM
I like the water armor  8)
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Joe Redifer on August 18, 2007, 05:43:59 PM
Which one is Earth Armor?  I don't think I've ever used it.  I assume that's the green one?
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Black Tiger on August 18, 2007, 06:02:36 PM
Which one is Earth Armor?  I don't think I've ever used it.  I assume that's the green one?


Yes, its the green one. (http://lazerdorks.org/stunningarticles/masteringlords/index.html) :P
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Turbo D on August 18, 2007, 11:11:59 PM
imo water armor is the coolest, best and most effective at full power  8)
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Black Tiger on August 19, 2007, 06:29:03 AM
The bombing attack of the earth armor is the most powerful attack in the game. It may not cover the screen, but once you learn to use it properly, no boss lasts more than a few seconds.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: nat on August 19, 2007, 07:18:39 AM
The bombing attack of the earth armor is the most powerful attack in the game. It may not cover the screen, but once you learn to use it properly, no boss lasts more than a few seconds.

The Earth armor annihilates.

I've never sunk so low as to play through the entire game with only the Earth armor. That's got to be one easy run.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Keranu on August 19, 2007, 09:17:10 AM
Which one is Earth Armor?  I don't think I've ever used it.  I assume that's the green one?


Yes, its the green one. (http://lazerdorks.org/stunningarticles/masteringlords/index.html) :P

Haha, awesome! :D

Yeah Earth armor is way overpowered and it will breeze you through the game. I think Wind armor has to be the worst though because I remember always choosing that because it looked cool the first time I played the game and it would barely damage enemies.
Title: Re: Big Game Matchup THREE
Post by: Turbo D on August 19, 2007, 12:40:28 PM
perhaps I should give this "earth armor" a try  :-k