Halloween Games: Retro Favorites

This Halloween season I'm taking a look at some of my all-time favorite spooky games.
This is a full remake of a trilogy of Halloween-theme games I very roughly threw together years ago.

[@WavesNGames]

Fair assessment of Super Castlevania IV, but I think The Cave music is top notch, even with its flute part.

[@RewindArcade]

I was experiencing some major deja vu watching this since I thought I had seen it before until I realized it’s more of a “greatest hits” compilation of your previous Halloween videos. Still enjoyed it nonetheless, awesome work as always man!

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Yeah, this was a full remake of a handful of Halloween videos I had made a couple years back. I was originally just going to string all three original videos together to make a single Halloween video, but I decided to just rebuild it from the ground up, just using those original videos as a template.

[@DJStrife]

Really enjoyed this video! I like your editing style and the clear sound of your voice. I intended to start this video for having some background noise on my second screen but my eyes were hooked on the screen shortly after starting the video.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thank you, DJ!

[@integral9585]

Loved this video, really got me in the October mood!

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thank you!

[@Spuot]

Great video! I'm a big fan of the Splatterhouse series, I feel like it would sit nicely with this list. Medievil was pretty great too.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thanks Spuot! Yeah, one of these days I'll need to get to the Splatterhouse games

[@Spuot]

@@AuthorativeMrM I'm not gonna lie, they are pretty challenging. Even the 3d one that came out on ps3/xbox 360 was pretty good imo.

[@RetroJackal]

Thumbnail a nod to Halloween 3? Was getting a bit of deja vu watching this, but then I read the description. You've come along way, MrM. Production quality is insane now.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Lol, it wasn't so much a "nod" as it was me trying to reproduce it as closely as possible with video game sprites!

[@RetroJackal]

Well you did an amazing job with it.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

@@RetroJackal Thanks, man! Whenever I can't think of an idea for a thumbnail I usually just try to make it look like a particular movie poster, and then I invariably spend way too much time trying to make it look as "legit" as I can 😅

[@Ascendingstorm]

Absolutely incredible video! Thanks for making this! But I have called law enforcement about the Castlevania 4 music remarks.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

LOL, fair enough!

[@geekstorian]

excellent video man a few surprising picks in there that I wouldn't have thought you would have thrown in like Onechanbara. I ended up skipping that one on the Wii as it looked like just cheese cake lol.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

That's exactly why I bought it originally. Also zombies, I guess...

[@niclaswa5408]

From one Castlevania enjoyer to another. I do agree SCV4 is a bit overrated and thought the music was a bit off, but every time I replayed it, I start to appreciate it more and more. It really helps making you feel you’re on this grand adventure. Like in the early stages has some jazz flute, like the game is saying that this is going to be a relaxing adventure, but then the song in the stage before the castle subtly hits you with what you’re really doing. YOU are on your way to Draculas castle. The lord of darkness himself. Difficulty vise, I’d say it’s a bit on the unfair side. I’ve never died to instant death traps as much in a CV game as I’ve done here. It’s like the devs realized how easy the game was and tried to balance it by adding more pits and spikes. I still enjoy it, but I’d say my favorite 16 bit CV game goes to Bloodlines. PS: If you’re looking for truly hard CV games I’d recommend Haunted Castle and Castlevania Chronicles. I’d say Chronicles is the hardest of them all if you only count the Japanese versions. Including all versions, I’d say it’s on par with Draculas Curse (nes).

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Believe it or not, Castlevania Chronicles was the first "classic-style" Castlevania game I completed, and at that time it was the hardest game I'd ever beaten. I haven't been back to it since, lol (but I listen to the soundtrack all the time)

[@RetroRyan]

Nicely done 👍 Nightmare On Elm Street (NES) is my go to halloween game this time of year 🎃🤠

[@AuthorativeMrM]

I've heard great things about that one. I've been meaning to pick it up but it's a TOUCH on the pricey side...

[@digitalpollution]

Top video as always Mr.M

[@MrShadow2x]

I do not own a copy of Monster in My Pocket, a problem I need to solve soon, but I have played it before, and I liked it a lot. It really is sad that Konami, a developer and publisher with such a pedigree behind it, has almost become a meme-worthy shadow of its former self. Some of their more recent efforts, while lackluster, maybe shows signs that they're at least trying again. Maybe one day they'll start dropping legendary game again.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Konami spent so long being one of the best developers on any game system they appeared on, it's just depressing what they've devolved into in the past few years. It'd be nice if they managed to return to form even briefly, but I'm honestly not super optimistic.

[@galactoidgaming]

Great video! I love Fall and Halloween games. Resident Evil 4, Little Nightmares, Super Ghouls n Ghosts, and Costume Quest are some of my favorites!

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thank you! I love all those games, too!

[@robbalan6969]

Best Halloween video yet. I like what you did here, this is the Halloween Games - Definitive Edition.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thanks, man!

[@CMRetroGaming]

vampire killer is the best...lol, I love it. I not sure Nintendo of America would have approved "What the fuck? The game."

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Hopefully they at least floated the idea and gave Nintendo an opportunity to consider it.

[@zombiejlt1]

First off, kudos for the usage of the word fastidious lol. Secondly I appreciate the honest approach to the games you find interesting whether they align with or go against popular opinion, I expect nothing less. I agree with a lot of your insights here, Super Castlevania will always be a toss up for me when compared to the original NES titles and Bloodlines for that matter, especially since I am in the minority that loves Simon's Quest but overall a good game with some minor disappointments. Monster Party is and will always be a childhood favorite like Friday the 13th, I do wish we had gotten Parody World with the copyrighted images but having the rom is better than nothing. I do like how it too went for a complete random/wackiness factor that has gained a cult fandom over the years. That haunted house level is still something to be desired for me but overall I love its gameplay, sprites, and soundtrack. And I couldn't agree more with your thoughts on Monster In My Pocket. I think the hit detection on that is something that annoyed me the most despite the simplistic gameplay and although I grew up with the line, I still was not that impressed with the game. It average at best, not horrible but nothing to praise that much but a fun novelty. And you are so right with that boss rush, I loathe that section of the game as I could completely see the filler lol. Well done!

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thanks Zombie! I think on some level I'm just kind of a bitter hipster contrarian who just wants to take whatever opinion is the least popular, but I think several things can be true at once: Super Castlevania is a good game and I really like it ... AND it's terribly overrated, kinda weird & stupid, and not indicative of the quality of the rest of the series.

[@ArcnarenthJim]

I can only hope that I had some small hand in Animal Crossing being featured on the TV towards the beginning of the video. 😏 Also, your NES is sounding a bit wet. Might want to have that looked into.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Lol ... this video was a full reconstruction & rearrangement of a few Halloween videos I made many years ago. I had cut together that animation in AC in lieu of appearing on-camera myself and I thought I'd be cute by having it play in the background

[@RetroRivals]

Demons crest looks hella fun. I didn't realize it was a Metroidvania and speaking of Metroidvania, I absolutely love anything Castlevania but I am s*** at the earlier ones because I find them hard. What the F@ck the game looks crazy and hilarious and now I want to play it! Did anyone else think Warlock looked like Bruce Campbell 😂😂😂😂? Monster iny pocket sounds like a game for me! When you said it was a little less than moderately difficulty I was in! And Yes, I saved it for last I'm so happy you mentioned Resident Evil 4! It's one of my favs. I've played it every way I could! Great video with phenomenal editing as always! Also hell yes to Limbo.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

I never noticed it before, but he DOES look a bit like Bruce Campbell! (and also kinda like Val Kilmer from Top Gun, lol)

[@RetroRivals]

@@AuthorativeMrM omg, yes 🤣🤣🤣

[@SaitoXD]

As always, great video Mr. M! The games that I really like to play around this season are, Castlevania SotN, Clock Tower, Splatterhouse, Parasite Eve, Resident Evil 1 + 2, Silent Hill. Really hope that you get into giving your opinion on the Castlevania games like you have done so far with the Mega Man franchise!

[@AuthorativeMrM]

That's not a bad idea, Saito. There's a few Castlevania games I still need to finish, but that might make a fun project in the future. I still need to check out Parasite Eve, I think I have the two PS1 games but I've never played them.

[@SaitoXD]

@@AuthorativeMrM I really love the Parasite Eve games, specially the 1st one, the black sheep of the bunch is the 3rd one (The 3rd Birthday on PSP). Square was on fire when they dropped Parasite Eve 1, the 2nd changes the things a bit, looking more like a Resident Evil clone, but still a very enjoyable experience. And with the Castlevania series, is a bit easier for video capture with the Collections that Konami have been putting out lately. Will wait eagerly for that project! Keep it up Mr.M!

[@robertcatania1120]

Surprised Zombies Ate My Neighbors didn't get a detailed review (as opposed to the also ran highlights) during the video, especially since you used its music earlier in the video.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Zombies Ate My Neighbors is a fun game, but my connection to it isn't nearly as strong as the other games in the video

[@AlphaNerd_Entertainment]

Idk I'm a big fan of super castlevania 4 I really like some of the things it did different like the mood music. Great video as always

[@AuthorativeMrM]

I'm still a fan of SCIV but it's definitely the black sheep of the series, IMO

[@backinthedaygamer]

It seems like you spent a lot less time on production & decorations and a lot more time being snarky & using big words this year lol. Demon's Crest is a game I def need to get into. I'm working on like 5 Halloween games already so prob not this year. I think the graphics are top notch. Monster Party is an October staple. I finally pulled off that terrible maze board last year by sheer luck & will.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

I've played Demon's Crest just once, but it has multiple endings and I only got the "Meh" ending and not the "real" one. One of these days I'll probably return to it and see if I can grind out the best ending. Looking forward to your Halloween episode, man!

[@wulmer8257]

Good video! But I'm realy looking forward to the completion of the nes hard series, please i'm begging you,finish it, we are alot of people who are dying to se it! Please... 8´(

[@Chamberz55]

Love Super Castlevania IV, but was disappointed there were not multiple characters, Dracula’s second form is kind of lame, and in general it is too easy. Recently converted to Bloodlines being my 16-but favorite. That said as a day one snes owner Castlevania IV will always have a nostalgia factor. Great breakdown & vid.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Yeah, I think that Dracula fight is one of the most disappointing aspects of the game. Only slightly better than the Dracula battle from Castlevania 2 ...

[@dire51]

No Splatterhouse? 🤯

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Believe it or not I haven’t played a single Splatterhouse game ☺️

[@dire51]

​ @AuthorativeMrM 🤯🤯🤯

[@RetroGamingNook]

This is “QUALITY”.

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Thank you!

[@Patrick-bn5rp]

So you don't like the Snes remake of Castlevania 1. What about Chronicles on the PlayStation 1?

[@AuthorativeMrM]

I actually said I really liked Super Castlevania in spite of my criticism, but to answer your question I really like Castlevania Chronicles. It's definitely the better of the two remakes (and has a much better soundtrack)

[@Patrick-bn5rp]

@@AuthorativeMrM ah, my bad. And I see.

[@oilergreg9368]

👻👻👻👻👻👻👍🍺

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Happy Halloween, Greg!

[@Mazinpower]

i was going to say that you should call this as konami´s and capcom halloween games but at the end you start showing bikini babes and i said: fuck this guy is crazy lol... great video MrMatthews but i must say that i saw a lot of castlevania games on this list, perhaps you happen to be a valued member of the castlevania cast club... if thats a yes then you are overrated lol

[@AuthorativeMrM]

What can I say, all the best Halloween games were made by Konami and Capcom!

[@willmistretta]

Spot on about CV IV. The game really did need some trimming, as the trip to the castle can definitely drag and none of the tech showpieces impress anymore. It's a fun power trip and I like the music for what it is, but it doesn't crack my top three (CV3, CV1, Bloodlines).

[@AuthorativeMrM]

Yeah, that's pretty much where I'm at with it, as well. I love pretty much any game in the Castlevania series, including SCIV, but it's just a bit too different and unfocused to make it into my list of top-tier Castlevania games.