Super Castlevania IV (SNES) Playthrough

A playthrough of Konami's 1991 action game for the Super Nintendo, Super Castlevania IV.
Super Castlevania IV was released in December of 1991 - three months after the North American launch of the SNES - and despite its rather lackluster sales, it was one of the brightest highlights of the SNES line-up heading into the holiday season.
According to Konami of Japan, Super Castlevania IV was a remake of the original Castlevania ( • Castlevania (NES) Play... ), but before Igarashi declared himself the lord of Castlevania canon, Konami of America maintained that it was the direct sequel to Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest ( • Castlevania II: Simon’... ). Regardless of which you choose to view it as, the basics are the same: You are Simon Belmont, vampire hunter and wielder of the legendary "Vampire Killer" whip. Dracula has taken it upon himself to raise a ruckus in Transylvania, and since Simon is not okay with that, he sets off on an eleven-stage quest to destroy the prince of darkness.
Moving the series from the aging NES to the 16-bit SNES opened the door to a wide range of new possibilities, and Konami leveraged those possibilities to their fullest in Super Castlevania IV. The game takes full advantage of the power afforded by the new hardware to deliver atmospheric visuals that pop thanks to the increased color depth and the fancy effects (transparencies, object scaling and rotation) that weren't possible on competing machines, and the sample-based soundtrack is moody, understated, and nothing short of amazing.
The gameplay saw some nice upgrades, too. The controls are less rigid than they were in the 8-bit titles, Simon can now whip in all eight directions (or swing the whip about limply at an arm's length), and the difficulty level is far more manageable than Castlevania III's ( • Castlevania III: Dracu... ).
Super Castlevania IV was an impressive showpiece in 1991 - just as much as Nintendo's own SNES games were - and it aged incredibly well, still being regarded as one of the system's best games at the end of the generation despite being one of its earliest releases.
And that final fight! What an epic finale to an epic game. The way Simon's theme dramatically kicks in for the finish is enough to send a shiver up anyone's spine.
(I actually just did an SNES arrangement of that very theme, too! If you'd be interested in taking a listen, you can find it here: • ♫THEME of SIMON (Super... )
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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!

[@NintendoComplete]

Super Castlevania IV is one of the SNES's biggest classics, so here's a long overdue 4K update to my (now ancient) original playthrough!

[@rjcupid]

Thanks for the play through Alex! This is one of the “highest quality” and immersive games of my youth. I have a funny story about the first time I played it (if anyone wants to hear it). I went for Christmas vacation to Florida in 1991 with my grandparents. I actually got a SNES on that trip from Toys R Us - one of the best gifts I’ve ever received in my life. My grandfather had a membership at a small video store down there and we went and I rented Castlevania IV (as I wrote in your Castlevania video, Castlevania was the first NES game I ever rented, so I figured why not get Castlevania IV as my first SNES rental). I went for a sleepover at my cousins’ house who lived in Florida and they were devout Christians, so much that they would sing gospel songs etc. (Very different than my upbringing). I basically went to their house with my SNES and Castlevania IV. So I was in a devout household playing a game with skeletons, vampires, crosses, daggers, holy water, Medusa and everything else. Within 2 minutes of turning the game on their mother was abhorred by it and told me to get it out of their house. I had to think fast and I told them that the main character, Simon Belmont, was a Holy man on a mission from God. They ended up letting me and my cousin who was the same age play it because we were on a “Holy Mission”. The other cousins who were more religious still wanted nothing to do with it. That was the first and last sleepover I ever had with them. Sorry for the long-winded story; hopefully someone gets a laugh out of it. Have a good weekend everyone!

[@bryany6565]

Have you done the 2nd quest!? Lol... my brother and I rocked the "warm up" pretty easy... put that 2nd one was turned up!!!!! Good thumbnail too,that tripple boomerang was a lifeline!!! Hahaha.

[@NintendoComplete]

​@bryany6565 Haha I have, it's definitely harder. I didn't do it often though. The game was a little long to play twice back to back like that.

[@bryany6565]

@@NintendoComplete I have a video of my own im working on... there was this magic tool called "save state" no one knew about.. lol... ;) it was my brother that introduced me... I got into a dog fight that contra collection that came out when I was on travel... we just got into a damn brother race who was going to platinum that game first.... I did it first and rubbed his nose in it... He sent me the most pissed off mad at a brother voice mail youve ever heard!!!!! He deeply called me a Mother Fkr!!!!!! Its hillarious...

[@NintendoComplete]

@@bryany6565 Hahaha that's hilarious.

[@Cowslippoetry]

There's something incredibly timeless about the SNES and Genesis era. So many of its games both veterans and newcomers can just pick up and play whenever, and immediately be aware of how much craftsmanship and quality went into the game. Super Castlevania exemplifies that timelessness more than just about any of its contemporaries, and I think a big chunk of that comes down to its soundtrack and presentation.

[@JuraIbis]

If Dracula is revived every 100 years it means that 3 out of 4 Belmonts just sit there waiting doing nothing for their entire lives.

[@voltron77]

More like 1 out of 2

[@rjcupid]

The soundtrack in this game is a masterpiece. It is so atmospheric and spans all of the emotions. Konami rules.

[@dannynhl9441]

Looking back Konami my all time favorite dev outside of Capcom and Tecmo. Konami today? not so much but spanning the Gameboy, NES, SNES and PS1 you bet

[@rjcupid]

@@dannynhl9441I hear ya - When I mention Konami I’m referring to the NES, Gameboy, Genesis and SNES. That’s my era. Have a good one!

[@ManiacalForeigner]

The lead composer went on to do Contra III and the other one did Axelay - some of the best soundtracks on the SNES. Konami was unmatched in the 16bit era when it came to music.

[@dannynhl9441]

@@ManiacalForeigner Good to know that. I agree. I gotta admit. Super NES is my all time favorite console but a lot of the music sounds weak and hollow in most games but Konami games did good. TMNT In Time sounds like it could be Arcade/Genesis in terms of that thump

[@dannynhl9441]

@@rjcupid Oh I understood and I agree. Thanks and same to you.

[@julesgamergourmand]

The best game Castlevania forever in my heart.

[@stefanrobert5233]

to julesgamergourmand: You're right. This is the best Castlevania game.

[@lmiller9178]

This is way better than the N64 Castlevania games. This was a launch title and the SNES wanted to make a strong impression and it did!

[@examiningdata7952]

25:00 rotation - room !!!!❤😭😭

[@starshipchris4518]

I'd have thumb downed this video if I didn't see Simon moon walk up or down some stairs... Thankfully you did one right off the bat😂

[@NintendoComplete]

Lol I dunno how anyone could play this and not moonwalk. Same goes for Moonwalker ;)

[@therealseanw.stewart2071]

What a classic. The atmosphere was truly special, elevated by the exquisite music. The ability to whip in 8 directions was rather refreshing at the time too.

[@goremall4330]

It’s funny when we were kids, sitting next to your friend and watching him play this game was absolute torture wanting to be the one playing. Now being older it’s incredibly enjoyable to watch someone else play and not needing to be the one with the controller.

[@Dorian_Scott]

This is how you do a sequel. Super Castlevania retains everything that made the NES games great while expanding upon it. A concoction of stylish visuals and memorable tunes that fit the Castlevania aesthetic, loads of unique bosses to fight, smoother controls than its 8-bit predecessors... make it one of the best side-scrollers I have ever played and will always go back to every now and then.

[@gaoutlaw]

One of the all-time best from the Super NES

[@SomeOrangeCat]

This game was a showpiece that really showed how far ahead the SNES was vs the competition.

[@vgaoct91]

SCIV will always be one of my favorites in the franchise - Tied with Rondo of Blood as the best of the classic-themed Castlevanias. And it's also one of the most user-friendly Classicvania games with the multidirectional whipping, Simon's versatility in being able to control his jumps midair and crawling in narrow passages, swinging on hooks... All around amazing gameplay! The presentation and music also never fails to please me in this game! Addendum: It's further proof you play these games without cheating with the death you suffered at 33:17.

[@VahanNisanian]

Very technically impressive for 1991.

[@LITTLE1994]

The best Castlevaina.

[@Dorian_Scott]

I prefer Bloodlines over this one, but Super Castlevania is still a freaking masterpiece.

[@luisreyes1963]

A legend worthy of the Belmont name. Great run on Super Castlevania IV! 🦇

[@volvoguy804]

I remember getting this with my SNES, XMAS of '91.

[@eversosleight]

These classic Castlevania games never age like the vamps in them 🦇

[@Jason-Scott]

Playing this right now it’s quality

[@coomtothebroom778]

Absolutely love this game. Played it loooong after it was first released but the game is still a classic to this day. Great challenge and a sublime soundtrack. Great job on this playthrough!

[@byonemesis]

1:07:17 "Sara, wait for me. I'm coming to save you." - Leon Belmont -

[@rjazz2]

I'll never understand why there aren't more Castlevania games where you can whip in 8 directions.

[@UrLocalSergioalberto.207]

32 Years of Super Castlevania 4

[@purpledonatello]

So far thirty minutes into watching this, I can see Dracula at his piano desk playing tunes off his notes. Who created these ost must have had their blood suck by vampires.

[@rickn4301]

It's my favorite Castlevania game. Best soundtrack of the series for my taste, too

[@xxHUNGRY4THETRUTHxx]

1:00:24 Dracula be like... "Alright! Alright! I'll throw you this bone if only you'd stop that incessant bouncing. You Belmonts sure know how to drive a guy batty."

[@stefanrobert5233]

I finally beat Super Castlevania IV today (Sunday 19/5/2024). I'm so happy. After so many years of playing it. The final board seemed almost impossible.

[@Xx1SailorScoutxX]

Back when the name "Konami" meant something...& also when Castlevania could be taken seriously

[@razorchance6976]

Hell yeah I agree, 80's, 90's And even early 2000's konami was pretty good to great *I have a soft spot for the tmnt 2003 games on gba, as I felt those were fun* as for this game 😍😍.i still play it regularly *along with adventure rebirth*

[@suicidebxmber1234]

Best Castlevania ever.

[@fabiodegemeos4424]

É um dos primeiros jogos que saíram pro Super Nintendo, e já nasceu como um dos melhores do console! Parece até que foi produzido no meio ou no final da vida do Snes, tamanha a sua qualidade! O melhor jogo de Super Nintendo e o jogo da minha vida.

[@adam_levine]

finished a yearly Halloween playthrough of this one the other day and I'd honestly say I've been getting a little less warm on it recently. there's a lot of slowdown where Simon almost feels like he has bullet-time, which now that I mention it just sounds incredibly cool, and I have beef with the bone pillar fireballs looking like chicken wings

[@feldon27]

After the punishing difficulty of Castlevania III which took me months to beat and a 10 hour straight play session to get Dracula beat, I was infuriated that I beat Super Castlevania IV, a $70 game, in less than THREE HOURS. The difficulty curve sure changed! Thanks for this video.

[@britneyspearsvillarosa]

I love Super Castlevania IV

[@jason4275]

best video game soundtrack ever.

[@OracleEND]

One of my favorite games as a kid but horrifying too 😂

[@ValseMelancolique]

Great channel I subbed

[@purpledonatello]

I never got my hands on plaything this, but seen it on sale at toysrus for twenty dollars when it was the end of she's lifespan. I was just moving on to other gen consoles. Stupid me.

[@NintendoComplete]

Wow, that would've been a deal. This wasn't a game you often saw in stores after the first year or so that it was out, and I don't remember ever seeing it on sale.

[@Dorian_Scott]

$20. For one of the best platformers on the Super Nintendo. That's a steal if ever there was one!

[@Room-vc1us]

In my opinion: the best classic Castlevania game ever. Then Bloodline, Vampires Kiss & Rondo Of Blood. Best 16 bit entertainment!

[@peggymacmillan5069]

First beat this when super Nintendo was the thing.

[@2013tatarstan]

Самая лучшая часть в серии Castlevania!

[@cesaroliveira2446]

Castlevania é muito bom 🙅🏽‍♂️ aquele salve do Brasil

[@jgone1433]

My all time favorite Castlevania

[@EDUARDO-cb8ly]

Castlevania Siempre Me Paresio curioso y dificil

[@ancientone5903]

Did you know that a set of prototype sound tracks for Super Castlevania 4 existed NintendoComplete? If you haven't, you should check them out, especially the prototype version of Simon Belmont's Theme. Because whenever I think of the prototype version of Simon Belmont's Theme in the case of Super Castlevania 4, that one should of been playing right when our iconic protagonist fights Dracula when he really gets angry.

[@hgwells384]

Best castlevania ever

[@Ericdz302]

October 31 1991

[@zerobeatw2059]

I listen to mostly just video game music and while I've never beaten this game, I love a lot of the music. so I'm listening to this.. 17:13 and my friend comes over unexpected and heads into my room in the basement and hears this... he's immediately asking if I'm ok because the shit sounds so depressing lol.

[@GothicXlightning]

nice one of the most sacred video game in my entire childhood aside CASTLEVANIA1,2,3 of course i did this little guide for an indepth No Hit/No death playlist for it adore my Castlevania, specially when a Belmont in his manhood is NOT running away from the sight of a vampire like a complete Little Boy Belmont ...... sigh

[@GaryBeltz]

When are these vampires going to learn not to have their final battles in a room with curtains which if they are opened lets the sunlight in which is their weakness. If I was a blood sucker I'd have my final battle in the darkest place where no light can save you.

[@Camkachu]

did you just read my mind?

[@mpaulm]

I always wondered why games like this have a score.😏

[@fabiodegemeos4424]

O último segreo de Super Castlevania lV: pule mil vezes na tampa do baú de ouro com mola, e ganhe uma coxinha de frango 🍗! Jogo esse jogo a mil anos e não sabia dessa.

[@YukiseiSei-he5ut]

PS51