Posted on May 3, 2020
A Retro Review – Super Castlevania IV
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presents a
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 (SNES) |
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 (Action/Adventure) |
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 (Single-player) |
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 (Coolness guaranteed) |
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 (Great game) |
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Eschewing many of the problems that haunted gamers playthroughs in earlier iterations, Super Castlevania IV captures lightning within its holy-water bottle improving every facet from the original game with the stewardship and dedication that this amazing series deserves |
Story
Simon Belmont (or Super Simon if you prefer) returns in a glorious re-imagining of the very first game’s story as he is tasked with taking down the vile Count Dracula and his band of goons after his annual resurrection within the small country of Transylvania. Armed with little else but his trustee whip “Vampire Killer” and a courageous heart, Simon strikes out to confront the newly risen “Super Castlevania” and bring peace back to his homeland. Will he survive Super Dracula’s new 16-bit approach and banish the old garlic hater back to the crypt or perish in beautiful mode-7 flames?
Overview
Super Castlevania IV is a side-scrolling action/adventure game where players control Simon Belmont in his quest to destroy Dracula and his henchmen spanning 11 unique levels. Each of these levels consists of platforming obstacles and enemies who must be navigated/destroyed until eventually squaring off with a stage boss who must be defeated before progressing. Aiding Simon on this adventure is his whip “Vampire Killer” which has been boosted from previous versions and now lashes in any direction the player desires! Additionally, sub-weapons (like series mainstays the throwing dagger, axe and holy water), health boosts and more can be obtained for increased assistance against the forces of evil.
Though the game is technically a re-make/update of the first title released on the NES, many new ideas were implemented into the recipe such as the aforementioned independent-aim whip, full-rotating stages, one-button sub-weapon commands, etc. ensuring a fresh experience no matter the player. Furthermore, the whip is utilized much more in this game for platforming purposes than ever before as Simon can latch to grapples at various times, allowing him to swing to reach new areas. As always, strategy remains a stalwart approach as studying attack patterns and stage layouts are still a crucial part of succeeding especially on higher difficulties. Make your way through all of Dracula’s new 16-bit toys and eventually you’ll match up with the Count in the main event. Survive this final encounter to send him back where he came from to complete the game!
Cast
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 Rowdain (antagonist support) Drac’s first lieutenant in charge of home defense, this pile of bones riding on top of another pile of bones offers a novice challenge |
 Medusa (antagonist support) The queen of the Gorgons returns this time with a body attached to her head and more appropriate petrify powers than she had before |
 Orphic Vipers (antagonist support) Mean, nasty and unable to share at dinner time, these conjoined water serpents live a frustrating life as bickering siblings unable to claim space apart from each other but hopefully Simon can help clear up some of their issues |
 Man Eater (antagonist support) Essentially an unidentifiable worm-like creature taking up residence in a giant skull hermit crab-style, this freaky anomaly only needs a few lashes from your whip for you to realize its place far below yours in the circle of life |
 Koranot (antagonist support) Powered by unholy mode-7 magic, this rock giant has a secret deal with the dark warlocks at Nintendo to help them by displaying their console’s capabilities in addition to his earlier obligation to Dracula and the defense of his keep which luckily hasn’t created a conflict of interest… yet |
 Dancing Specters (antagonist support) Driven by the power of love (insert Huey Lewis And The News music NOW) across dimensions, these pre-occupied fraternizers twirl around in a thoughtless manner while attacking Simon wildly requiring you to simultaneously destroy both them and their romance in surprisingly satisfying fashion |
 Sir Grakul (antagonist support) Creaky and slow but heavily armored with an upbeat attitude, the resident knight of Super Castlevania is basically a tank with legs but keep Simon’s feet moving while whipping at the right time and you’ll reduce this tin man back to a pile of nuts and bolts in no time |
 The Creature (antagonist support) One of Drac’s best buds from his college days, this neck-bolted lurch attacks by throwing beakers at Simon of different colors that explode with unique results while rocking a pretty sweet 3-piece suit made from 100% sewage |
 Zapf Bat (antagonist support) Perhaps some sort of tangible realization of greed, this giant bat made out of shiny gold and jewels can fly his way into my home if he ever wants to and I swear not to capture him and subsequently stuff him into a safety deposit box |
 Akmodan (antagonist support) The updated Mummy Man continues his underrated strategy of throwing his bandage wraps at Simon in this version as well though he’s dropped the clone of himself calling him “dead weight” |
 Slogra (antagonist support) A strange bird-bone hybrid created by Death to serve him personally, Slogra is more than ready for a fight with his trident in tow, giant beak and penchant for anti-gravity jumps making his demise essential |
 Gaibon (antagonist support) The 2nd henchman created by Death for personal use, this flying demon is rarely seen either without or not within the vicinity of his hetero life-mate Slogra making his untimely end every bit as crucial as his best bud’s |
 Death (antagonist support) Dracula’s wingman since they were in grade school, Death returns at the service of the Count bringing his sick sickles, winning pedigree and can-do demeanor to the blood-sucking squad’s veteran lineup ensuring his spot as a top competitor on the roster |
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Critical Analysis
5/5 |
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Hitting on all cylinders in every facet with the precision of a cat o’ nine tails, Super Castlevania IV remains as one of the shiniest treasures in the great SNES library with outstanding enhancements on the original’s already successful formula, superior design quality from the always-studious Konami folks and amazing focus to gameplay detail which holds the players full attention right up to the very last lash on the old Count. In fact, it improves the first game so much that it’s really not even fair to compare them as if the developers read my review of Castlevania for the NES and figured out how to implement new innovations from previous criticisms while simultaneously improving every square inch of Simon’s initial quest through Drac’s haunted mansion. From my first ever rental of this title during my youth up to my most recent session for this review, Super Castlevania IV has and will forever MESMERIZE my imagination transporting my consciousness into a suspended realm of amusement-overload which is what video games are all about! It’s a glorious achievement of visceral storytelling stimulating the senses in a way that effectively sees the dreaded and unfamiliar world of Dracula’s keep come to life around you. Best of all, Simon’s new abilities (most notably the free-aiming Vampire Killer) coupled with all the other additions make progression simpler than any of its NES big brothers (a point of contention for some) and this title the new ideal starting point for rookies to the series. Critiques are as sparse as the skin on a bone chukker but I’ll do my best to be objective. While the previous mention of the game’s accessibility does indeed increase its stretch within the virtual community, there are many that feel this actually handicaps Castlevania’s standard of “only the strong survive” broadening too much the level with which one would typically need to conquer Dracula and his brood of scary creeps. While I understand the perspective of those that plant their flag on this infertile soil having bled my through all 3 NES versions as a kid myself, the truth is I embrace the “evolved” gameplay here wholeheartedly as I’m too entranced by fun factor to ever notice (or care) which is, once again, what video games are ALL about! As far as I’m concerned, Super Castlevania IV is one of the greatest ever re-imaginings in video game history and a true bar-setter in the showcase of how to properly ingratiate incumbent and brand-new fans alike. I guess Super Power is where is it’s at! |
“Coming soon from unnecessary crossover land… Super WrestleVania starring Macho Simon Candle Savage and The Ultimate Count!”
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You know, with a name like ‘Vampire Killer’ I think it would be fitting if the whip only worked on Dracula. Could you imagine how annoying the levels would be?!