The 8-Bit Castlevanias - Game Sack

[@GameSack]

Haunted Castle is a 16-bit arcade game. It was mentioned in the 16-Bit Castlevania episode. I consider Rondo of Blood a 16-bit era game and explained this in the 16-bit Castlevania episode. The 16-bit Castlevania episode can be found here ---> kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJeTinSGpJmma6s A LOT of people haven't seen this episode judging by how often these two games are being brought up in the comments. My goal is to cover all of the Castlevania games (or as many as humanly possible) by dividing them up into groups. No need to cover a single game twice throughout the course of these 4 episodes. PLEASE UNDERSTAND! Thank you.

[@MzuMzu-nx1em]

Great episòooooøöõôóôœoode anyway, always the best retro game channel ever . Kill Dracula !!! ts'e you would , in your dream .

[@jkajmo]

Great video Joe. Just wanted to say I'm really happy you continued on when that Nintendo Fanboy (more like Fanbaby....🤦) left the channel. I just can't & don't care to imagine a world without the Game Sack. For real tho, I do miss Dave & hope he's enjoying the time with his family & that they're staying safe & healthy in these uncertain times. Same goes to you my brotha.

[@JoaoVitor-cw2vg]

why not castlevania from master system? is that game horrible? i really dont know, im not from that era, why it got cut from your video?

[@kvinapowah]

episode suggestion: castlevania miscellaneous

[@jimmybisk]

suggestion for other castlevania games - Miscelvanias! Nah, probably rubbish lol!

[@n64funtime54]

No one ever talks about how good Joe really is at stop motion, it's hard and really time consuming, good job Joe

[@frankschneider6156]

Still prefer Harryhausen

[@slycooper4067]

N64 Fun Time I was thinking this watching the intro. That has to take a long time. Not unnoticed here

[@TheVigLebowski]

Yeah he is insanely gifted at stop motion animation. There is one episode where he has the consoles attacking him. That not easy to do.

[@EasyCartoonDrawingTutorials]

That's an entirely different type of stop-motion, made in a different era. Not a valid comparison. More like a cheap attempt at an insult.

[@slycooper4067]

HowToDrawEmAll strong agree. I don’t know why people have to compare things constantly. Why can’t we have both, different, but beautiful/awesome things?

[@fahriakalin5936]

just wanted to remind everyone for no reason Trevor Belmont's name in Japan: Ralph Belmondo

[@Ralph_Sandwich]

I like it

[@garou119]

Ralph C. Belmondo*

[@GeoffDaCow]

Don’t forget about the legendary Gizmondo Belmondo

[@Doc_Valparaiso]

Belmondo has a nice Latin flair to it. Ralph on the other hand works in a muffler shop.

[@specialformula14]

Dodongo belmondo jr

[@jexthegamer]

I appreciate the love you showed to Simon's Quest and the first GB game.

[@spencersorensen9313]

Really love your editing man, nice transitions between games

[@felixblack4816]

I only recently discovered Game Sack and it’s already my favourite channel on any platform. Excellently produced, great game reveals and wonderfully written. Better than TV - long live Game Sack!!!

[@JakeRandall]

This is tv quality content, beats Netflix

[@ericwood3709]

I've never subscribed to such a service, myself. I imagine they're a lot like daytime television for the most part. I've never had much use for soap operas. Sitcoms have always been hit and miss (mostly miss). KZbin, meanwhile, has endless content from talented special-interest producers like this one, and it has good documentaries and other more TV-like shows available as well. Then there are all of the cool music videos, official and otherwise. It has replaced VH1 and MTV as well, this way.

[@Clay3613]

Disagree.

[@JakeRandall]

Clay3613 sick

[@gc8972b]

i support game sack on netflix, and all the positive consequences of that

[@AlucardsQuest]

You mean the Castlevania anime series?

[@8thLife]

"The game even has 3 different endings depending on how much you suck" 😅 Also, I noticed that the closed captioning is fully fleshed out for your videos. If it is indeed you doing it I am blown away, as the editing and such is already top notch and obviously time consuming so that adds another level to it!

[@garou119]

Me: Well, it was a long day, gotta hit the sack... Joe: *Uploads* Me: ... the Gamesack, that is

[@Doc_Valparaiso]

That's what she said...?😁🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@anonamatron]

Yeah you hit that sack baby. You want Joe or Dave?

[@garou119]

@@anonamatron do l have to pick?

[@agreedboarart3188]

Ball sack

[@joshfacio9379]

For the msx version there's a patch that makes it like the nes castlevania structure wise more linear. For Simon's quest there's also a patch that retranslates it so everyone's dialog makes sense, it also ads a map so you can see where you are etc. It tweaks the game so it's not so obtuse. For draculas curse there's a patch that ads in what was taken out from the Japanese version, it fixes all the censored things they did to the US version. There's also a patch for snes super castlevania 4 where they fix what was censored from the US version, so the statues are like the Japanese version, slime is now blood etc.

[@Casanuda]

Too bad Dave couldn't be here to talk about this legendary series. RIP in Peace Dave White. Thanks for making this episode in his memory Other Guy.

[@iwonderifthisislegal]

Annnnnnnd.....by the way, we freaking love these types of videos, man. So many you can do. Ninja gaiden comes to mind...as does ninja turtles, battle toads, double dragon, etc.

[@PeteOliva]

I was just thinking Ninja Gaiden in this vein. Also, your other suggestions sound great! I could have sworn they already did a Turtles one, though, might have been someone else.

[@frankschneider6156]

Yeah, I guess every series where the are enough titles to loose overview would qualiy .. eg just think of the Wonderboy or the Aleste or Gundam games.

[@smoketreez666]

They did a double dragon episode years ago if you're interested!

[@iwonderifthisislegal]

@@smoketreez666 I know...and I liked that one as well. It could be done in this more updated style is what I should have said for that one...I'd be all in for multiple watches...like I do all of their videos 🤓🤓👍🏽!!

[@Jutrzen]

Mega Man!

[@EDFCentral]

I beat the original Castlevania a few years ago and it was such a satisfying feeling.

[@Marc_Araujo]

Dracula's Curse is the best of the 8-bit Castlevanias...and Rondo of Blood is the best of the 16-bit era.

[@awwrelic]

My eldest sister (who turns 68 in August) absolutely loves the Castlevania games...pretty sure she still plays them.

[@mrpepperami01]

Should group the remaining castlevanias into an episode called ‘miscellvanias’ or ‘miscellvanious’ something like that.

[@hatthewmartley]

Miscellvanias

[@UuddlerLeRoyBaStart]

Incelvanias

[@kkpeelybone]

16 8 9 12 12 9 16 Eagle exactly what I thought. Not everything needs to be crap sounding mishmash

[@schjonicus]

The NES Castlevanias are still so much fun. True classics of the era.

[@Halbared]

Yeah, I love those three, great memories of them from back in the day. THey were the best.

[@ajsingh4545]

Mmm no

[@crashbandicoot5636]

Of course Game Sack uploads a Castlevania video just in time with the hype around Netflix's Castlevania Season 3; what a great month for Castlevania!

[@RyanSumthn]

this is my first video on the channel, and i love it already, from the editing to the analysis to the captions being the icing on the cake

[@stephenmifs]

Glad you found a sponsor Joe, and made an entertaining ad out of it. Some might say you are considerate enough to put it at the end of the video but the hardcore GameSack followers know that the last skit at the end is the best :D

[@mattcrowell5875]

The original Castlevania on the Disk System also incorporated an save feature absent in the US version. It was re-released in Japan on a cartridge and it removed the save feature, but included a new Easy mode (which removed knock-back and gave you more lives).

[@jordanWAH]

"This Castlevania plays like a metroidvania game..." Never would have guessed

[@rlpn6710]

You actually wouldn't though since they only started making those in 1997

[@The__Mask]

"What a horrible night to have a curse."

[@jochendertolle]

"what a wonderful night to have a beer"

[@Deanster101]

FINALLY someone else who likes Castlevania adventure

[@Craplatte]

Just call it "Castlemania - All the Rest"

[@acecarrera1]

On Game Sack, even the ad is entertaining because Joe handles it himself.It's like an additional ending skit.

[@TANKTREAD]

I so love all the hate everyone has for "Castlevania II: Simon's Quest", to this day it's still my favorite Castlevania game.

[@SomeOrangeCat]

Rondo of Blood is 8-bit, because the CPU of the system it runs on is 8-bit.

[@wojiaobill]

100% correct

[@jaynoyes8526]

I was glad someone caught that.

[@GameSack]

Yes but if you have watched the 16-bit Castlevania episode, I already talked about it and explained why there.

[@VRHyoumaru]

Worth a watch for the stop-motion sketch at the end alone

[@milesevans1073]

I love Sunday mornings, gamesack and coffee

[@JustaDetractor]

Hey Joe, you forgot to mention that Alucard in Castlevania 3 can turn into a bat and it allows you to basically skip most levels.

[@kevinhibbard320]

I think I've had most of the nes castlvania music as alarm and ringtones. Still get that "oh shit I over slept" feeling when I hear them sometimes.

[@Ralph_Sandwich]

Nothing ruins a song like a ringtone or an alarm

[@kevinhibbard320]

@@Ralph_Sandwichtotally. I dont do that anymore.

[@elefsidi]

Castlevania 1 & 3 are two of my favourite NES games of all time. I'm glad that I put all the time and effort, in order to beat them.

[@Hwi1son]

Castlevania. the music, the games, the show.... I love this series, it's amazing. C'mon Konami, more Castlevania and less pachinko machines... really (I remember thinking after Simon's quest, we wouldn't get any more in the series. I'm so glad I was wrong.)

[@brodi81]

I love your transition effects, Joe!

[@joeyvdm1]

Thanks for retrospective Joe. Loved it. From one Joe to another, Joe knows best👍

[@jhh-jiynks6568]

Recently found this channel. Been binge watching soooo your library of vids. Awesome youvstill make content even after over five years

[@silentfanatic]

Thanks for using "Aquarius" during this video. Easily my favorite Castlevania tune, even after all these years.

[@RetroSegaDev]

Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge is easily the winner for me! Partially due to nostalgic bias (I owned it!) :-) The music is definitely some of the best on the GB for me!

[@megamob5834]

This is fantastic content sir. The original CV games are very near and dear to me. You’ve earned yourself a new sub

[@joshmartimez2235]

Castlevania and Castlevania 3 are my favorites in the series. Since buying the collection for Switch been playing snd enjoying the ones i don't own physically. Great video Joe.

[@MatSpeedle]

Great episode and really loved the transitions on this, top editing as always Joe!

[@ceberuss_yt8266]

❤️ castlania is my favorite series. Like you my first was IV , now my favorite is III and rondo of blood. Kudos from belgium

[@beebot]

The best Castlevanias! Thanks Joe.

[@ARCWuLF]

My favorite 8-bit Castlevania game will always be... The Vs. Castlevania arcade game (basically the original Castlevania) that was at my local Pizza Hut back in the day. So many memories...

[@nobel11]

And here I was, getting ready to write "what about Master of Darkness?" Oh, and you should call the episode "Castlevania: Miscellanea"

[@UltimateGamerCC]

ah Master of Darkness, love that game for being a proper CV clone, story is quite a bit out there too but i dont focus on that much when playing.

[@DeJotaGamer]

One of my favorite game series! Remember playing early in the morning before school

[@cody8804]

I wasn’t expecting a sack to be so spooky outside of October!

[@neoasura]

Good memories. My dad and I were horror movie fans. He bought Castlevania the first day it came out on the NES since it was the closest to a "Horror movie" game we could play at the time on the system. We would repeat the same tradition for Super Castlevania for the Super NES.

[@519MaLoNeY]

Awesome stuff man! I really enjoyed this, thanks!

[@FhargaZ]

26:40 Mouse trap song....the Nightmares!!!! 😆

[@GXSCChater]

Great video as always! And yes all game boy games run 22% faster on the GBC. Making a lot of older games feel a bit better.

[@TheKidDoc81]

My favourite 8-Bit Castlevania game was 悪魔城ドラキュラ X 血の輪廻ロンド (Devil Castle Dracula: Rondo of Blood Reincarnation) on the PC Engine. 😉

[@ronnyclayton194]

Simons quest will always be my favorite on nes,the other 2 are great games but their very challenging(almost too much) I owned all three by dec 91 and i loved the rpg style of part 2(no matter how confusing and simple by todays standards)i put a lot of hours on it by the time i got part 3 and draculas curse it was like part 1 on steroids with the cool multiple charachter option,its a good game but i didnt play it knowhere near as much as simons quest.There was just so much depth and items to upgrade, find, and buy in that game to really hold my interest decades ago.

[@linoxyard]

I really like these type of episodes: they have your signature in-depht analysis and humor, but are not as exhausting as the full console ones. Keep 'em coming, please! (yes, that is definitely what she said)

[@Moonwalker86]

You are awesome, I love watching your videos and the way you made them, I'm praying someday you'll hit more than a million subscribers, you deserve that.

[@troposphincter]

Master of Darkness is actually really good. Technically counting as an 8bit episode, there was a 1990 version of Castlevania for the Commodore 64, but it may have been released only in Europe, I'm not sure.

[@WeskerSega]

On the contrary. That version, the PC MS-DOS version and the Commodore Amiga version, were only released in North America.

[@zaakaryvoid991]

Castlevania on NES is pretty hard but the goddamn MUSIC makes it nearly impossible to stop playing

[@Jesse__H]

🎵 dee deet duh duuh - ba duttuh da da duuh duuh da d'duuh 🎵

[@opts9]

@@Jesse__H Mad Forest is the one!

[@CAPCOM784]

The castlevania games have some of my most favorite bgms on the NES.

[@Captain_Neckbeard]

Look up the band Bit Brigade. I saw them play Castlevania live, and it was great.

[@brandonginsburg3120]

Castlevania III Clockwork is one of the best pieces Ive heard on any system. If JS Bach were alive in 1989 that's what he would've made.

[@Flayne009]

I haven't watched the video yet but Castlevania 3 is the pinnacle of 8 bit Castlevania games. In fact, imo, it's the best Castlevania game. There's just something about it that's so replayable.

[@fernandocollazo8705]

I grew up with msx2 Vampire Killer, this is my favourite version for sure... Amazing episode!

[@10minGameplay1]

Castlevania Leftovers might work as a title for the next Castlevania video.

[@srh_reaper835]

Simons Quest was my go too in primary school, played the shit out of it and still play it occasionally today!!!! Absolutely love it.

[@maxxdahl6062]

I had 1 and 2 back when they were new/current. Played the shit out of them, I still play them to this day.

[@gurleyman104]

The konami GB collection were all really cool especially volume 1. The color palette at 13:50 is so unique looking!! Great video as always!!

[@Niafi11]

Damn Vampire Killer looks Ten times Faster.

[@adz693]

28:38 In Legends for GB those candles are very slightly differently colored to be like dynamite stcks and the manual tells you to avoid them.

[@Jayrod64]

Generally my favorite is Castlevania 1, but Simon's Quest actually still has surprisingly good music and excellent open ended gameplay.

[@Komagb]

Now that's how you do a sponsorship, I didn't even mind it, and started to actually think about buying them!

[@JomasterTheSecond]

"You're playing as [Insert Vampire Killer Here] trying to kill dracula with your whip." That's pretty much Castlevania in a nutshell. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

[@atomicbrain9401]

you said “nut” heh

[@KasumiKenshirou]

And then the Netflix show somehow turned it into ENDLESS TALKING scenes.

[@Obakedake]

Great reviews as usual. A buddy and I were determined to beat Castlevania 3 one night, swapping the controller after lives. We got to the final area finally and after another annoying death my friend tossed the controller up in frustration, which landed right on the famicom top loader reset button. We hadn’t been writing down passwords so that ended our attempt. So close yet so far.

[@carlosaugustodinizgarcia3526]

Adventure was originally an alternate version of Castlevania III (like Vampire Killer /Castlevania I). In the original 1986 game's manual there was a backstory of another Belmont called Christopher that beat Dracula a century before Simon. In Japan Trevor is named Ralph C.Belmont,the "C" stands for Christopher and he was created to be the same ancestor mentioned in Castlevania I. Igarashi retconned them to be different characters in the early 2000's.

[@Wyrdwad]

Heh. I swear I'm not just trying to be a contrarian here, but my favorite 8-bit Castlevania games are... Castlevania II on NES, and Vampire Killer on MSX! I actually DO like the day/night system in CV2, and think it adds quite a bit to the game both strategically and atmospherically. And as for the MSX game, there are a few things about it that I think really make it stand out: - The fact that the dagger, cross, and axe sub-weapons aren't even sub-weapons in this game, but actually REPLACE your whip -- so none of them use hearts at all! BUT, since both the cross and axe function like boomerangs, you MUST catch them on the rebound, or you lose them, which makes them desirable weapons, but also risky to use. - The fact that you can actually hold an hourglass (stopwatch) and holy water at the same time, IN ADDITION to your regular weapon, and the holy water is RIDICULOUSLY overpowered. Hell, even the hourglass is overpowered -- since it no longer takes up an item slot, but is just an extra bonus you can use as needed, it becomes THE main strategy for beating most bosses, especially when paired with the holy water! - The inclusion of power-downs. Enemies appearing from candles, black bibles that cause merchants to raise their prices, etc. But also new power-ups, including a shield that blocks ALL projectiles (which is SUPER handy!), as well as white bibles that cause merchants to LOWER their prices. It rewards you for exploration, and gives you a chance to strategize your way to victory if your platforming skills aren't quite up to snuff. - ...which you'll need, because the game only gives you 2 lives, with no continues, and no opportunity to EVER get an extra life. I'm really surprised you didn't mention that! - Also, the stage designs in this game are gloriously devious. I love the "traps" that were added -- stage 6, for example, has a fake door key down on a platform from which there's no escape, meaning if you drop down to collect it, you're stuck there and forced to kill yourself, losing one of your two precious extra lives. And that's just one of many traps found in stages 5 and 6 especially! It's such a unique take on Castlevania, and it's one of those games that feels like a legitimate EXCURSION -- you'll definitely never beat it on your first try, but every time you play, you'll get a LITTLE BIT FARTHER, and learn where a few key power-ups are located so you can stand the best chance possible on future attempts. It's no wonder Simon's Quest was more a sequel to the MSX game than the NES game -- because the MSX game frigging rules, and so too does Simon's Quest! Screw the haters! ;)

[@Soulintent95]

The castlevania collection on modern consoles has the game boy games, and they have the green gb screen filter. Yours was better but i love to see those filters. Always makes me smile. I remember we had one of those gameboys a loooooooooong time ago... for some reason my brother got rid of it when we got the colors but i wish he hadnt. That screen just makes those old games feel complete.

[@gaupau]

Castlevania 1 is definitely my favourite from these. Great video.

[@jkemp6791]

My favorite NES/FC games are Gimmick!, Mega Man 2 and Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse. As such, Castlevania III is DEFINITELY my favorite 8-bit Castlevania game. Oh, and Master of Darkness on Master System is an awesome rip off of the series. I’m glad you mentioned it in the spoof.

[@koolmissionary7612]

one thing I like about GameSack and AVGN is that I can watch their latest videos to feel very nostalgic.

[@tremorchrist84]

I got Castlevania 3 for my 8th birthday in 1990. Great memories.

[@sugaryhull9688]

It's also worth noting that the NA version of Castlevania III received a serious boost in difficulty (fewer/nerfed power ups, Grant can't throw daggers anymore, more enemies, etc)

[@malcolmar]

Well done! Truly an epic series. I would love to see an episode on the GBA and DS Castlevania games. Thanks!

[@nohomers100]

He already did one. It was great of course

[@godofzombi]

There being no stairs in the Gameboy Castlevania games kinda makes sense once you remember that in Bram Stokers novel Johnatan sees count Dracula climbing down the walls of his castle. Dracula doesn't need stairs!

[@stevencarrollscorpio]

As usual, great music, hard as nails gameplay.

[@hikmori7]

0:20 Let that sink in, dear modern gamers.

[@bezoticallyyours83]

👍 👏 🥂

[@carrito1981]

One of my fave videos, I've watched many times!!!

[@dsgitlin]

I'm glad I stayed to the end for Master of Darkness :)

[@rezterralico4369]

Love castlevania 3 on the hard mode you unlock after beating it the first time. Damn floating skeleton heads...

[@sketchdajuggalo]

Even pushing it in the rona . You are my hero sir!

[@soawkwardshow]

Another great episode, but if ANY episode needed some Dave, it's this one.

[@B33FY2011]

I absolutely love the 8bit Castlevania games. It's games like these that made the NES the better console than the Master System. My favourite in the original 8bit Castlevania games is definitely Castlevania II: Simon's Quest. It gets a lot of shit for being really confusing with the bad Engrish translation. But if you can get over that than it's a really good game in my opinion.

[@ultrairrelevantnobody1862]

Master System had Master of Darkness. Better than 2, on par with 1, worse than 3.

[@jeremyjulkowski4844]

Still love the graphic and macabre Castlevania 2 Simon's Quest Nintendo Power cover, which was one of those rare covers with a costumed guy as Simon holding Dracula's severed head in his right hand. Nintendo never continued with those particular, "mature - themed" covers for a very specific reason!

[@prophismusic]

Aah, a more focused type game sack..I also approve.

[@jonathanhunt5864]

You should do a series of numbered episodes highlighting long-running franchises. Any game franchise that has more than five or six entries. Something like that

[@dovalink744]

You should have a lot more subscribers. This is my favorite gaming channel.

[@alx42013]

I beat Simon's Quest in a week... In the 3rd grade. It was deep. I love everything castlvania. Thanks

[@retro_boy_advance]

Wow, did not know about the color enhancements on the Konami Collection versions of Castlevania Adventure. Cool!

[@highspeedenthusiast6628]

The good thing about beating an 8-bit Castlevania game was all the other games in your collection became easier.

[@bezoticallyyours83]

Belmont's Revenge ended up being a pleasant surprise.

[@T4silly]

More Castlevania is never a bad thing!

[@M3CH5OUL]

Simon’s Quest was the first game I ever bought, and is still my favorite. I recommend checking out the Simon’s Quest Dissected website for proper translations of all the game’s text and version differences.

[@khululyp]

3D castlevanias could be theme, cover the N64 playstation 2 and lords of shadow games

[@patrick.sama2099]

Woke up 5 mins ago. Opened KZbin, saw a GameSack new clip. Liked.

[@abletothink]

I can't believe I thought "this better include the GameBoy versions." It's a GameSack video. Of course it includes the GameBoy versions.