#boss battles | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

twistedtummies2 · 25 days

Text

Top 5 Castlevania Dracula Boss Battles

The last time I talked about Dracula and Castlevania, I discussed the various pieces of music that accompany the Count during his boss battles. But what of the boss fights themselves? After all, just as the King of the Vampires is a constant presence throughout the franchise, with many pieces of music devoted to him, so is his role as a boss in the game. In most titles, Dracula is the final boss the player must overcome; as the Prince of Darkness, it’s only fitting he be the last obstacle the Belmonts and their allies must face.

The thing about Dracula bosses in Castlevania, however, is they are generally very much the same. Dracula’s moveset and abilities are as iconic as he is, within the franchise, so most games feature the same basic bunch of attacks and ways to beat them. As for the ones that differ…well, to “differ” does not mean to “improve,” let’s just put it that way. XD As a result, it’s hard to pinpoint very many Dracula battles that are truly unique and noteworthy, since - as great as it always is to go toe-to-toe with the Count, he isn’t necessarily a boss who has a lot of variations. They aren’t necessarily bad fights, there’s just not much to say about most of them. HOWEVER, there are a few Dracula battles throughout the franchise that I feel stand out from the crowd, for one reason or another. Some of them are interesting because of context and story. Others are interesting because of the variations - however major or minor - in gameplay and stages. And, of course, the very best ones are usually great because of both. So, let’s give some credit where credit is due, and take another quick peek to the long and storied history of Count Dracula in Castlevania, by showcasing some of his more interesting showdowns. These are My Top 5 Dracula Battles from Castlevania!

5. Dawn of Sorrow.

This battle is different from all the rest, for a few reasons, most of them related to context. Unlike all the other battles on this list, this Dracula boss is an OPTIONAL encounter, and it’s actually a very tragic sort of conflict. In “Dawn of Sorrow” - the direct sequel to the earlier Castlevania game “Aria of Sorrow” - you play as Soma Cruz. Soma is, in fact, the reincarnation of Count Dracula, and a big part of both games is him fighting with his literal inner demons to prevent himself from becoming Dracula proper. In both games, there’s a bad ending the player can run into, wherein Soma loses the battle, and is “erased,” with the spirit of the Count taking over his mind and body, as he becomes the mythical vampire. With “Dawn of Sorrow,” this bad ending was taken a step further with a special little something called “Julius Mode.” In Julius Mode, you play as one of Soma’s allies, Julius Belmont (as well as a couple of other characters), who now is forced to travel through Dracula’s Castle and face Soma in battle. “Dark Lord Soma” IS Dracula, even if he looks different and isn’t necessarily called that by name, so I’m counting it here. In this bad end boss battle, Soma/Dracula uses a combination of skills common in past games and some new abilities Soma has used throughout the main game. He summons demons to aid him in battle, uses special glyphs to attack, and quite literally flies around the field, teleporting about to evade your own strikes. While this isn’t Dracula’s most difficult boss encounter, it’s seeing our main character fall to darkness in such a way - seeing Soma BECOME the legendary Count - that makes this duel so memorable. Thankfully, you CAN win the game with a good ending, where Soma remains himself and this fatal fight never occurs…but that’s another story for another time, perhaps.

4. Curse of Darkness.

This is the only fight on this list that’s done in a 3D perspective rather than a 2D (or, in one case, I suppose, “2.5D”) point of view. Most Castlevania games, you see, are side-scrolling adventures. However, there have been a few games done in a 3D style. The problem is that most of those games either suck, or just don’t feature Dracula as a boss. (Or both.) “Curse of Darkness” is the only exception to these rules: it’s one of the best 3D ventures the series ever took, and it’s got a pretty great Dracula battle in it. Our hero for this journey is Hector: a “Devil Forgemaster” who once served Dracula, before betraying him when the Count’s plans became TOO deplorable for Hector to condone. When the vampire is resurrected by Death - with help from Hector’s nemesis, the deranged fellow Forgemaster, Isaac - Hector is forced to fight his former master, in order to stop Dracula from re-enacting his schemes of destruction. Dracula uses some of his common tricks from the side-scrollers in the first stage, along with a few new abilities (such as attempting to drain Hector’s blood), before shifting into a more monstrous, demonic “True Form,” which is typical for the Count in this series. The music is glorious, especially during the first stage, and both fights can be pretty challenging. It’s definitely Dracula’s best boss fight in a 3D Castlevania game, in my opinion.

3. Dracula X Chronicles.

Many Castlevania fans consider this one of the best Dracula battles in the series, if not THE best, and I am no exception. In my opinion, this is the pinnacle of Dracula’s “Classic” solo battles; they don’t get any better than this one. “Dracula X Chronicles” is a remake of the game “Rondo of Blood,” with 3D graphics, a different artistic styling, and several other changes, most of which are fairly cursory. The updates to the battle with Dracula, however, improve on the original to create something glorious. The first two stages of the fight are pretty standard: first the player faces Dracula as he teleports around and sends projectile spells after you, then the Count changes into his True Form - a massive dragon-demon-thing - and stomps around while breathing fire and sending bolts of energy at them. HOWEVER, there is then a third form to Dracula, where he resumes a more humanoid appearance, but now with strange, fleshy wings, and flies around the field with a whole new slew of abilities: he summons swarms of bats, changes into a wolf to charge and bite the player, creates fiery bursts from the ground, hurls meteors at you, creates bloody blades to slash at you, and can even summon a veritable HURRICANE OF BLOOD that floods the screen! (Yikes!) He moves more quickly in this battle, making it harder to get a hit on him, and as the three stages progress, the scenery for the duel grows more warped and nightmarish in appearance. It’s definitely one of the Count’s shining moments as a boss, helped by the superb arrangement of “Dance of Illusions” that accompanies the battle. Yet it’s only number three on this list…what heresies am I cooking up…?

2. Mirror of Fate (First Battle).

“Mirror of Fate” was part of a series of games referred to as “Lords of Shadow.” This was an attempt to reboot the Castlevania franchise, with new lore and an aesthetic style inspired by the “God of War” franchise. At least four games were planned, but only three were made: the original Lords of Shadow, Lords of Shadow 2, and a portable spin-off - Mirror of Fate - which took place between the two, bridging the gap. In the two LoS “main” games, Dracula was actually the main protagonist…but for “Mirror of Fate,” the creators decided to pay homage to Castlevania’s roots. Not only was the gameplay once again done in the form of a side-scrolling adventure, but the plot once again focused on the heroic Belmont family facing off against Count Dracula, with the King of the Vampires once more playing the role of antagonist. “Mirror of Fate” is actually a contender for my favorite Castlevania game, as I felt it did a good job combining elements of both the old and the new, and updated the classic formula in a fun, fresh way, while still keeping lots of things longtime fans would recognize. I wouldn’t say it’s the BEST game, but it IS among my FAVORITES. (Again, I will always personally feel there’s a difference.) The game is told in three chapters, each featuring a different protagonist, telling the story in a non-linear format. Dracula is fought twice in the game, and while the final battle at the end of Chapter 3 isn’t bad, I VASTLY prefer the battle with the Count at the end of Chapter 2. Dracula uses a combination of classic moves from past games in the franchise, with a few new skills original to the Lords of Shadow universe. You have three generations of Belmonts all involved in the battle, which is already pretty cool. The battle has multiple, interesting stages - including Dracula taking control of one of the protagonists, and then trying to leech the lifeforce from the player - and Robert Carlyle, in the role of the Count, is just eating up every taunt and cackle he gets to utter. I can’t give away EVERYTHING that makes this fight great, but it was honestly really hard to choose between this and the previous option. I feel this fight is more unique, and has more personal stuff going on within it, between the characters and even the player, so it won out in the end. (Sorry, DXC. I still love ya.)

1. Portrait of Ruin.

This game is home to my single favorite boss battle in all of Castlevania. There are a lot of reasons why, but it all comes down to one thing: you’re not just fighting Dracula during this battle. You’re also fighting Death. Yep! The two main antagonists of the series, Count Dracula and the Grim Reaper, fighting together! This, somewhat surprisingly, is the only time in the series this has ever happened: Dracula and the Reaper have both been iconic bosses and villains throughout the franchise, but this was the first (and so far last) time both fought the player side-by-side. During the first half of the battle, Dracula uses a lot of his classic tricks, while Death plays support, swooping at the player in both horizontal and vertical strikes, swinging his scythe to try and catch them off-guard. Once the pair are nearing their last legs, Death allows Dracula to absorb his power, and the Count transforms into his True Form, now made extra-powerful with the help of the Reaper. It’s during this second stage of the fight that the buddy system of the game - utilizing two playable characters with different skills - really becomes a major point, as Dracula will use his magic to transform his own wings into spiked walls, attempting to crush both of the player’s protagonists - Jonathan Morris and Charlotte Aulin. Oh, on that note, yeah, the main playable protagonist is Jonathan Morris. Why do I consider this a big deal? Because Jonathan Morris isn’t just a random original character, he’s related to characters from the original Bram Stoker novel “Dracula.” And for me, that only adds an extra cherry on top of this most decadent cheesecake. In a way, this battle feels like a big celebration of Castlevania, and is equal parts fun and EXTREMELY challenging. I know Dracula isn’t working alone during this battle, but I’d feel remiss, nevertheless, if I didn’t name it as My Favorite Dracula Battle in Castlevania.

HONORABLE MENTIONS INCLUDE…

Order of Ecclesia. (This Dracula can adapt his moveset depending on how you approach the fight, and there’s some ambitious animation on him for a 2D Nintendo DS title.)

Super Castlevania IV. (Arguably the most classic of all classic battles…except for maybe the very first Castlevania game, I suppose.)

The Final Battle from Mirror of Fate. (While not as good as the first fight, the final duel of the game, between Trevor Belmont and Dracula, isn’t necessarily bad.)

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. (May not be an actual Castlevania title, but where else can you play as Solid Snake or Bowser while fighting Count Dracula? XD )

#list #countdown #best #favorites #top 5 #castlevania #dracula #boss fights #boss battles #video games #dracula month

7 notes · View notes

twistedtummies2 · 10 days

Text

Top 10 Grim Reaper Battles from Castlevania

We’re taking a slight detour on my “Dracula Month” extravaganza to look at something not necessarily directly involving the Count, but instead closely related to him. Earlier this month, I made a list of my favorite Dracula Boss Battles from Castlevania: one of my favorite video game franchises of all time. I think it’s only fair that I give the other main antagonist of the series some credit, as well. I speak, of course, of the Grim Reaper himself: Death. Just like Dracula in the Castlevania series (as well as both Dracula and Castlevania in general), Death has evolved and taken on several different roles within the franchise. In some continuities he is Dracula’s right-hand skeleton, and the closest thing the King of the Vampires has to a friend. In other continuities, their relationship is far less chummy. Regardless, however, the spirit of Death and the Prince of Darkness are inextricably linked in each rendition: just as closely connected to Dracula as the Belmonts may be. No matter the incarnation, the specter of the Grim Reaper hangs over the whole franchise: every Castlevania universe features him to some greater or lesser degree, and nearly every single game features Death as either a major villain, a noteworthy boss fight, or both. So, having already discussed Dracula himself, it’s time to give the other main villain of this series some kudos. These are My Top 5 Death Battles (not THAT kind of Death Battle, YouTube lovers) from Castlevania!

5. Super Castlevania IV.

Arguably the most classic of classics. It’s honestly hard for me to say why I like this particular battle with the Reaper so much, compared to a lot of others. It’s not the most challenging of the bunch, it’s not the most spectacular visually, and since this game is MUCH more focused on gameplay than story, there’s no personal touch to it: Death is one of the final bosses in the game, sure, but it’s not like he’s been causing trouble for us before we meet him. For whatever reason, however, this version has always stuck with me: something about the particularly moldy-looking design, the ghostly way Death phases and floats around the field, the glowing red eyes, and the tense music in the background…it lends a sense of atmosphere that sticks with me strongly. Not much else to say, I just…really like this one, plain and simple.

4. Curse of Darkness.

Throughout “Curse of Darkness,” our main character - Hector - has encounters with a recurring, mysterious figure called “Zead.” He claims to be a man of the cloth, who offers Hector help in tracking down the Devil Forgemaster’s nemesis, Isaac. However, it’s made pretty clear from the start that Zead is untrustworthy: we know that, whyever he’s doing what he does, it can’t be good. Finally, the shoe drops as Zead reveals he’s actually the Grim Reaper himself, disguised in human form, and has been using Hector to find a way to bring Count Dracula back from the grave. Naturally, Hector - who has been trying to find a way to stop this exact thing from happening - can’t allow this. Thus, Zead takes on a monstrous true form, and the boss battle commences. During this battle, Death remains static in the center of the battlefield…but if you think this makes things much easier, think again. The Reaper spends the battle hurling various magical sickles at you, and using either his scythe or a fiery punch to swing at you when you get too close for too long. Once you remove enough help from Death’s life bar, he summons a fireball and creates a powerful explosion, engulfing nearly the entire field. If a player is quick and cunning, they can use this opportunity to grab a rare item from the Reaper to create the “Death’s Pulse” weapon…but again, if you think wielding that will make the battle a lot easier, think again. It’s still cool to have, though.

3. Dracula X Chronicles.

As a brief reminder, “Dracula X Chronicles” is 3D graphics remake of the earlier Castlevania game “Rondo of Blood.” Death’s battle is therefore basically a visually updated version of the same boss from that title. Early in the game, the Reaper appears in a prologue tutorial, helping the player (in the role of Richter Belmont) learn the ropes of using their weapon and basic moves. Once defeated, he retreats, but promises to come back. Sure enough, later in the story, Death returns to stop the protagonists from progressing any further. In his first form, Death floats about the field, hurling miniature sickles and summoning flaming skulls to attack the player. Once he loses enough health, Death transforms into a more traditional-looking version of the Grim Reaper - hooded cloak, giant scythe, and all - and fights the player more directly, using leaping and slashing attacks to combat his opponents. It’s a quintessential battle with the character for these games, and one of the first I think of.

2. Lament of Innocence.

This game is the prologue/prequel to the entire “classic era” of Castlevania. It tells the story of how the feud between Dracula and the Belmont Family began…but Dracula, himself, is not actually the final boss of the game. In fact, this is one of the few games of the franchise where Dracula isn’t fought at all. Instead, the final boss of the game is Death, as the game also shows how the Grim Reaper became the vampire’s chief flunky. After being summoned by Mathias Cronqvist (the man who, in the original Castlevania continuity, later becomes Count Dracula), Death squares off with the sire of the Belmont Clan, Leon, at the end of the monster hunter’s journey. This battle is sort of a cross between the two previous bosses: Death floats (and sometimes teleports) around the arena, sticking to the edges of the battlefield. Throughout the fight, he alternates between swinging his scythe and hurling it like a bloodstained boomerang, and summons exploding skulls and wisping ghosts to chase and attack the player. Sub-Weapons do not work on this boss at all; attempting to use them only causes them to backfire on the main character, which naturally just makes this boss all the more challenging. As the battle rages on, Death becomes more elusive, more hard-hitting, and gains new attacks to try and strike the Leon down. For many fans, this extremely wild and difficult boss fight was and still is Death’s finest moment…yet it’s only second place for me. So…what could top it?

1. Lords of Shadow II.

In the universe of “Lords of Shadow” - a trilogy of games that attempted to reboot the Castlevania series, with its own unique continuity - Death is given the true name “Zobek,” and his role in the series is changed. Instead of being depicted as Dracula’s faithful lieutenant, like in all the other games on this list, Zobek is instead Dracula’s nemesis, as he is either directly or indirectly responsible for everything wrong that goes on in the Count’s life, both before and after his transformation into a vampire. After two games where we never faced Zobek directly in combat, the penultimate boss battle of the game - pitting him against Dracula - felt SO satisfying and exciting to play through. There are four reasons this fight is great, in my opinion. One: the battle itself. It’s just a fun and challenging ride, as Zobek alternates wielding his flail-like death’s scythe and summoning hordes of zombies to fight Dracula. Two, and tied to that point: the fact we get to play AS Dracula, while fighting Death. It’s pitting the two main antagonists of the entire franchise, and arguably the two most important characters in the “Lords of Shadow” universe, specifically, against one another. That’s just AWESOME. Three, and again tied to THAT point: the personal connection. Dracula and Death have a lot of history with each other in this universe, both good and bad, which makes this encounter more meaningful than arguably any other boss fight against the Grim Reaper in the entire franchise. Fourth, and finally: Zobek is voiced by PATRICK. GOD-DANG. STEWART. And MAN, does he deliver! Stewart’s boss dialogue is absolutely golden, and is the ripe cherry on the dark, rich cake for this whole encounter: hearing him bellow lines like “Chamberlains! Let the banquet begin!” and “You’ve never been a match for me!” is just glorious. I know placing a boss from the reboot trilogy will probably be controversial for many, but for me? This battle with Death trumps even “Lament of Innocence,” and by a pretty wide margin, to be honest. It is easily my favorite boss battle against the Grim Reaper in the entire Castlevania franchise. And if you have any problems with that? “MAY YOU AND YOUR SPAWN BE DAMNED FOREVER!” (I really freaking LOVE that line. God bless Patrick Stewart.)

HONORABLE MENTIONS INCLUDE…

Symphony of the Night.

A classic game and a classic appearance of the Grim Reaper: after stealing all your goodies at the start of the adventure, it’s good to finally get a chance to use all the things you’ve regathered against Death near the end. However, the fight is ultimately surprisingly easy, compared to many others, and I’m not fond of the design Death has in the second stage of the battle.

Portrait of Ruin.

The Grim Reaper’s solo battle is ultimately overshadowed by the battle with Dracula AND Death, together, at the end, which is why this one gets just an Honorable Mention. It’s still a good battle, though; Death takes on two forms throughout the fight, one which is specifically weak to Jonathan Morris’ attacks, and one which is specifically affected by his friend Charlotte’s. Great way to use the buddy system here!

Dawn of Sorrow.

Not much to say about this one, to be honest; just a solid battle against the Grim Reaper with two fun stages. I love the look of the second stage, very unique while still feeling like…well…the Reaper. Take notes, Symphony of the Night. :P

The Adventure ReBirth.

I haven’t actually fought this boss, and I don’t know much about this entry in the series in general, to be honest. However, the battle certainly LOOKS like a good one, and I love the design of Death in this particular game, so I still feel I can give this an Honorable Mention.

#list #countdown #best #favorites #boss battles #boss fights #death #grim reaper #castlevania #video games #dracula month

4 notes · View notes