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Ninja Gaiden
Castlevania with ninjas.
Ninja Gaiden copied Castlevania. The life bar is the same. The enemy life bar is the same. The whip has been replaced with a sword. The candles have been replaced with lanterns. Both games have a time limit. Both are quote action platformers.
The difference? Ninja Gaiden has ninjas. And has a better story.
Oh yeah, and its perfect too.
Gaiden begins with a first in video games. Its an action game that has a story that changes as one progresses through the levels. This is no save the princess or save the president plotline however; Ninja Gaidens story is unexpected and revealed through endearing, mysterious cut scenes featuring beautiful music that heightens the experience. In brief, your father, a ninja just like you, has disappeared, and apparently died. His closing wish reveals that he wants you to take a sword to America. Setting forth, the courageous Ryu Hayabusa must find the bottom of the situation, and get revenge on the man who killed his dad.
Ryu is not very skilled with his sword, be it he is probably a young ninja, however his reflexes are in their prime. Hes quick to draw his sword and quicker to take one slash at his challenger, slicing most of them into dust in one triumphant swing. While easily executed, his foes often times come flying out of nowhere, or even worse, are standing guard along a ledge making it nay impossible to advance until you discover their tendencies. Theyll chuck foreign, not to mention pointy, objects at you in attempts to cut down on your life, charge at you in a mad dash from off the screen as you leap into the air and even float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, sometimes catching you in a never ending spree of punches Joe Frazier style.
Levels are made up of difficult, dangerous jumps to go along with the fierce enemy competition. Every now and then a leap of faith will have to be made, where only fate decides whether you make it across, while at other times youll have to jump back and forth between walls, sticking to them ninja style as you dare your way to the top. Attentiveness is also a necessary resource, as the ladders and doorways that take you to the next section of the stage often times blend in with the backgrounds, which are colorful and detailed. While the settings and enemies dont flow together into a constant theme, it assures that one wont expect what is still to come, whether it be a nondescript bluish-black blob swiftly hopping at you like a frog or a gun toting military sergeant.
Ninja Gaidens music is composed of some of the more brilliant pieces to be heard on the NES. The cut scene music is original and atmospheric while the action is made all the more intense by the lush pieces heard in the background as one hacks away at a sloth-footed, machete-wielding boss. Its at par with the NES Castlevanias, and while it may be a bold statement, I believe it to be better.
Amongst stiff competition, Ninja Gaiden is one of the best games the NES library offers. While one of the most frustrating and challenging games to grace the system, Ninja Gaiden is addictive to play and theres tremendous variety from stage to stage, causing the game not to age when one at last reaches the later levels. Gaiden improved upon Castlevania, and Konami may not have ever caught up had it not been for this games lackluster sequels, which ultimately added few new ideas to the series and in the end ruined it. But there will always be the gem that started things off, and you cant take that away from Tecmo.
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Castlevania
A brilliant beginning.
The premise of Castlevania is surely a boring one. You assume the role of a literally faceless hero and set forth to counter Dracula and his demon clan before they overtake the countryside. Then one learns that surname of our hero is Belmont, in this case Simon. While you cant look it up in Rogets, Belmont should undoubtedly be a synonym for success.
Castlevania was a sight to behold upon its release. The gothic atmosphere and ghoulish enemies that lie within the cartridge just beg to be eaten up by the player. If Halloween were real, it would be Castlevania. Bats fly out of nowhere seeking fresh Belmont blood. Black cats seem like they are just going to dash off the screen, when suddenly they turn around and before Simon can look over his shoulder, strike him from behind. Fishmen jump out of the river, trying to take Simon out from underneath, where he is probably the most vulnerable. After a few more ghosts are slaughtered, a doorway is found with an enormous bat lying motionless above it. As Simon makes his way up the stairs towards the door, the bat springs to life, and a battle with the first boss begins. Its going to take some skillful guerrilla tactics or the right artillery to bring this overgrown airborne beast down.
And its only just begun.
Simons enemies have a decisive advantage over him. While they move in a pattern, as most do, they are typically more nimble that Simon, who trudges through his journey at a steady slow pace. Not only are they quicker though, but when possible, they will often times walk into Simon and land such a powerful blow that he loses his footing and goes freefalling off a ledge. In fact, Simon is almost a moving target. When climbing up stairs, he loses the ability to jump, and descending stairs also poses some problems for him as he usually falls right through them. His hulk-ish nature does manage to work to his advantage though, as he can land fatal blows onto enemies with his whip, or when upgraded, a ball and chain. By striking candles with his whip, the young Belmont can reveal useful weapons such as knives and axes, a stopwatch that freezes all enemies, hearts, health replenishing roast beef and even bags of loot.
The levels are not the typical left to right affair. Paths sometimes lead you all the way to the left, only to have you climb up a set of stairs and begin a journey back to the right on a higher path. Sometimes youll be led to a staircase that leads down a level, or for that matter, up a level. Every now and then youll be given the choice of taking either the high road or the low road, and one may very well be easier than the other. Pits are typically not difficult to cross, but if one loses their focus for even a fraction of a second they may end up plummeting Simon to his doom. The gothic theme makes the game all the more eerie for that matter, with beautiful blends of colors that accent the age of the castle, blowing the average Super Mario Bros. castle out of the water. Perhaps the only downside to the breathtaking backgrounds is that Simon himself isnt the most handsome hero to star in a Castlevania game, although his characteristics are at least recognizable.
While nowhere close to the level it would reach in future Castlevania games, the original did manage to have some memorable tunes that have survived nearly the length of the series. Although the music doesnt take the game to a new level, it manages to go well with the mood of the game, and gives senses or urgency, achievement and courage when appropriate.
The Castlevania series is ultimately Konamis claim to fame, and the self-titled first set the standard of what was to come. The detailed backgrounds and dark invigorating music have become the trademark of the series, while the games have never lost a step in being fun, challenging experiences. Welcome to Draculas Castle.
Ninja Gaiden
Castlevania with ninjas.
Ninja Gaiden copied Castlevania. The life bar is the same. The enemy life bar is the same. The whip has been replaced with a sword. The candles have been replaced with lanterns. Both games have a time limit. Both are quote action platformers.
The difference? Ninja Gaiden has ninjas. And has a better story.
Oh yeah, and its perfect too.
Gaiden begins with a first in video games. Its an action game that has a story that changes as one progresses through the levels. This is no save the princess or save the president plotline however; Ninja Gaidens story is unexpected and revealed through endearing, mysterious cut scenes featuring beautiful music that heightens the experience. In brief, your father, a ninja just like you, has disappeared, and apparently died. His closing wish reveals that he wants you to take a sword to America. Setting forth, the courageous Ryu Hayabusa must find the bottom of the situation, and get revenge on the man who killed his dad.
Ryu is not very skilled with his sword, be it he is probably a young ninja, however his reflexes are in their prime. Hes quick to draw his sword and quicker to take one slash at his challenger, slicing most of them into dust in one triumphant swing. While easily executed, his foes often times come flying out of nowhere, or even worse, are standing guard along a ledge making it nay impossible to advance until you discover their tendencies. Theyll chuck foreign, not to mention pointy, objects at you in attempts to cut down on your life, charge at you in a mad dash from off the screen as you leap into the air and even float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, sometimes catching you in a never ending spree of punches Joe Frazier style.
Levels are made up of difficult, dangerous jumps to go along with the fierce enemy competition. Every now and then a leap of faith will have to be made, where only fate decides whether you make it across, while at other times youll have to jump back and forth between walls, sticking to them ninja style as you dare your way to the top. Attentiveness is also a necessary resource, as the ladders and doorways that take you to the next section of the stage often times blend in with the backgrounds, which are colorful and detailed. While the settings and enemies dont flow together into a constant theme, it assures that one wont expect what is still to come, whether it be a nondescript bluish-black blob swiftly hopping at you like a frog or a gun toting military sergeant.
Ninja Gaidens music is composed of some of the more brilliant pieces to be heard on the NES. The cut scene music is original and atmospheric while the action is made all the more intense by the lush pieces heard in the background as one hacks away at a sloth-footed, machete-wielding boss. Its at par with the NES Castlevanias, and while it may be a bold statement, I believe it to be better.
Amongst stiff competition, Ninja Gaiden is one of the best games the NES library offers. While one of the most frustrating and challenging games to grace the system, Ninja Gaiden is addictive to play and theres tremendous variety from stage to stage, causing the game not to age when one at last reaches the later levels. Gaiden improved upon Castlevania, and Konami may not have ever caught up had it not been for this games lackluster sequels, which ultimately added few new ideas to the series and in the end ruined it. But there will always be the gem that started things off, and you cant take that away from Tecmo.
------------------------------------------------------
Castlevania
A brilliant beginning.
The premise of Castlevania is surely a boring one. You assume the role of a literally faceless hero and set forth to counter Dracula and his demon clan before they overtake the countryside. Then one learns that surname of our hero is Belmont, in this case Simon. While you cant look it up in Rogets, Belmont should undoubtedly be a synonym for success.
Castlevania was a sight to behold upon its release. The gothic atmosphere and ghoulish enemies that lie within the cartridge just beg to be eaten up by the player. If Halloween were real, it would be Castlevania. Bats fly out of nowhere seeking fresh Belmont blood. Black cats seem like they are just going to dash off the screen, when suddenly they turn around and before Simon can look over his shoulder, strike him from behind. Fishmen jump out of the river, trying to take Simon out from underneath, where he is probably the most vulnerable. After a few more ghosts are slaughtered, a doorway is found with an enormous bat lying motionless above it. As Simon makes his way up the stairs towards the door, the bat springs to life, and a battle with the first boss begins. Its going to take some skillful guerrilla tactics or the right artillery to bring this overgrown airborne beast down.
And its only just begun.
Simons enemies have a decisive advantage over him. While they move in a pattern, as most do, they are typically more nimble that Simon, who trudges through his journey at a steady slow pace. Not only are they quicker though, but when possible, they will often times walk into Simon and land such a powerful blow that he loses his footing and goes freefalling off a ledge. In fact, Simon is almost a moving target. When climbing up stairs, he loses the ability to jump, and descending stairs also poses some problems for him as he usually falls right through them. His hulk-ish nature does manage to work to his advantage though, as he can land fatal blows onto enemies with his whip, or when upgraded, a ball and chain. By striking candles with his whip, the young Belmont can reveal useful weapons such as knives and axes, a stopwatch that freezes all enemies, hearts, health replenishing roast beef and even bags of loot.
The levels are not the typical left to right affair. Paths sometimes lead you all the way to the left, only to have you climb up a set of stairs and begin a journey back to the right on a higher path. Sometimes youll be led to a staircase that leads down a level, or for that matter, up a level. Every now and then youll be given the choice of taking either the high road or the low road, and one may very well be easier than the other. Pits are typically not difficult to cross, but if one loses their focus for even a fraction of a second they may end up plummeting Simon to his doom. The gothic theme makes the game all the more eerie for that matter, with beautiful blends of colors that accent the age of the castle, blowing the average Super Mario Bros. castle out of the water. Perhaps the only downside to the breathtaking backgrounds is that Simon himself isnt the most handsome hero to star in a Castlevania game, although his characteristics are at least recognizable.
While nowhere close to the level it would reach in future Castlevania games, the original did manage to have some memorable tunes that have survived nearly the length of the series. Although the music doesnt take the game to a new level, it manages to go well with the mood of the game, and gives senses or urgency, achievement and courage when appropriate.
The Castlevania series is ultimately Konamis claim to fame, and the self-titled first set the standard of what was to come. The detailed backgrounds and dark invigorating music have become the trademark of the series, while the games have never lost a step in being fun, challenging experiences. Welcome to Draculas Castle.
