I beat Castlevania III a long time ago and am considering getting Super Castlevania IV on VC. I really like the 2D series a lot and heard this was one of the best in it (aside from Symphony).

I consider Symphony and SCIV a lot like Chrono Trigger: both are VERY, VERY GOOD GAMES. However, as great as they are, I also think they're overrated. Symphony, at least in the US version, felt like they got kind of lazy with the repeating tracks in the second castle, and the last stretch of bosses was too strange and easy for my tastes. SCIV is all-around fantastic, but also a pushover compared to the earlier games. Both are still must-plays, though. For underrated equivalents of each, I'd say play Chronicles (PSX) and Rondo of Blood (conveniently downloadable on Windows!). I consider Chronicles among the very best in the series despite being a remake like SCIV, and the default setting of the Original mode is tough as nails. Also, the SNES Dracula X is unquestionably a butchered Rondo, but still gets a bad rap for what it is.

I rented lords of shadow, so far I am up to chapter 4, and I have to say, this game is amazing, its real close to being a perfect 3D castlevania game, I do agree the choice to not let us move the camera is an odd one, especially since the right stick seems unused, other then that, I am loving the hell out of this game.

like MrBlack, I too think I see where this story is headed, and god I hope thats the case because it would end up being one of the coolest twists in a game IMO.

I had a buddy come by and looked at it while I played it. All he had to say, "I thought the graphics would be better."

Wondering if they look any better on the PS3... But I still think they look great.

Dude, I'm with you. I think one of two things are going to happen at the end, but I honestly hope what I think you're thinking of happens as it would be an awesome twist for the series.

Work kicking my ass, Thanksgiving and my brother being it town I haven't had much time to play but I beat the second titan and it was a lot better than the first.

I just beat it. PM where you thought it was going.. I won't respond whether your right Or not, just curious on your theories

I am just starting the vampire area - btw I hate chupacabras.

I really am tempted to just look up a spoiler just to see how it ends, but I am going to try and hold out, and beat the game in the next day or 2, not really sure how long is left time wise.

Yeah, I'm nowhere close to finishing. Just at the end of the 3rd mission. Had next to no time to play this past week.

I just made it into the castle courtyard ( beginning of disc 2 ), quite contrary to what all the reviewers have said, my favorite parts of this game are actually the platforming / exploration parts, I have not gotten lost once, and never had any problems with the platforming, in fact I find it quite smooth / fluid and very fun.

also, this game reminded me just how much I miss real puzzles in my video games ( fuck you RE5 )

I'll update my Conquered List here this year. As of 10/10/10, at 10:10 PM, I have finished:

Castlevania
Simon's Quest (front to back, one sitting)

Bloodlines (front to back, Expert Mode with John)
Rondo of Blood (front to back, all maidens rescued)
Super Castlevania IV (2 lives... dammit!!!)

Not bad, but I finished double that by this time last year. I'll definitely be looking at CVIII next in a one-shot deal. Then it's on to Chronicles, Symphony, 64, and the GB/GBA games. Then more. Lots to go...

Castlevania III has a ridiculous version of Dracula you have to fight. It doesn't start extremely hard, but once you have to ride the levitating blocks to hit him, it gets really frustrating.

Blacktually, I tend to use the Axe against his final form. I think it's the third block from the left on that never comes up, so just jump up and throw that fucker at that fucker. You still have to time it against the laser eyes and make sure not to get caught jumping up (and off) onto a floating platform coming your way, but otherwise he's not TOO bad. To make the whole fight easier, I usually just take a hit against his first form and whack the shit out of him and then never get hit by either of the other two forms.

I was so tired by the time that I got to Dracula that logic did not go through my head and I repeatedly made the same mistakes until I beat him. Plus I didn't have an axe, so one bad jump with the whip gave me a large chance of messing up and dying. The game is not dreadfully difficult (Alucard can make the game a bit easier), but it can get really intense. Like Punch-Out!! and Ninja Gaiden, I pretty much have the death or game-over music fused in my brain from dying so many times. =P

Oh man, you have to try a solo Trevor playthrough sometime. That second-to-last level is like hell.

Well I just beat the Lord of the Lycans. Tough battle, but still awesome. Love how the bosses in the game have the old-school difficulty and a lot of trial and error in the tactics to take them down. Also, would like to point out that I love the checkpoint system in the game. It autosaves at the exact right opportunity so it's not too easy to plow through but also not frustrating to have to fight a bigger foe from the very start each time.

Game's going to take me longer than I expected due to work and other life commitments, but that's not a bad thing. Really digging the game, the story (loving how it's not forced down your throat), combat, puzzles, platforming are all tight.

After I'm done with it I'm downloading Castlevania Chronicles on my PS3 as I think it's only $5 under the PS1 classics and it's on my list of Castlevania games I need to play.

Xenosaga syndrome, for sure. The demo is like a test to see if you can deal with it.

well I beat it, pretty great game IMO, the last fight was pretty epic, as for how the game ended, I will not go into it, even in spoilers, all I will say is, it surprised me.

Me and this one guy in my class used to skip class and go to his place and play Dracula X on the snes until we beat it. I love that game and the music is awesome.

Very, very underrated game that I think got more $hit for being "too hard" than anything. Love the sadism of the final boss, too. Wish it was less than $75 at any given time on EBay, though.