[TAS] NES Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse "Grant path" by scrimpeh in

This is a tool-assisted speedrun. For more information, see tasvideos.org/1979M
TAS originally published on 2012-03-04
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (originally known as 悪魔城伝説 or Akumajō Densetsu, meaning "Legend of the Demon Castle") is the story of Trevor Belmont's battle against Dracula from the times before Simon's battle in Castlevania. In this complex and difficult game, there are three playable allies whom Trevor can recruit: Alucard (Dracula's son), Grant DaNasty (a pirate captain), and Sypha Belnades (a mystic warlord).
This game has a technically high-quality soundtrack because it uses a VRC6 sound chip that works in the Japanese Famicom but not in the NES. Thus, the movie was made with the Japanese version of the game instead of the USA version.
This movie takes the path that recruits Grant. It is about 22 seconds faster than the previous version. Improvements come from more optimization, better heart management, and new tricks like manipulating moving platforms and entering walls. There is also a Sypha path movie ( tasvideos.org/3360M ) and an Alucard path movie ( tasvideos.org/3357M ).

[@zhlfr5399]

got goosebumps with the soundtrack so amazing

[@browndiddly2659]

Same!

[@nemichungort4093]

It’s worth noting that perhaps this shouldn’t be counted as Castlevania 3, but rather as Akumajou Dracula 3, due to the western release having several changes made to some gameplay features. Notably for this run, Grant’s attributes are way different, including him having a different walking speed, and not being able to throw his daggers.

[@James-oj6ru]

It’s um... Akumajõ Densetsu (Legend of the Demon Castle), it runs on superior hardware called: Japanese NES (Famicom)
How many differences does it have? Well for one:
The music is better
Two:
Grant is way stronger
Three:
The enemies is more unique, each of them damaging the protagonist different amounts of HP away, the Castlevania version um... both increased and remove that aspect of the enemies’s damaging capability, making the American version harder
Four:
Some enemies have different attack pattern... for example, the Hunchback _is more fucking annoying in the American version_

[@azazelleblack]

@@James-oj6ru It's not the Famicom hardware that is superior, but rather the inclusion of a specific expansion chip (Konami VRC6) in the cartridge that gives the improved audio.

[@sonicboy678]

@@azazelleblack Yes and no. The issue is the effective removal of the expansion pins on Western consoles (VCR-like units have them, but they're not in the cartridge slot itself, rendering them unusable).

[@azazelleblack]

@@sonicboy678 The western CV3 cartridge doesn't have the VRC6 though.

[@sonicboy678]

@@azazelleblack The VRC6 didn't exist outside of Japanese cartridges because the expansion pins weren't in the cartridge slot, meaning that consoles outside of Japan _couldn't_ take advantage of its presence. In that sense (the presence of expansion pins), the Famicom hardware _is_ superior.

[@NinjaCacodemon_IsSus]

Block 4 is where the level and the music gets creepy

[@questionblock8949]

My favourite game on the nes. I like the Sypha path best ☺

[@TeddyBelcher4kultrawide]

Ez my path too

[@Endru85x]

I like Sypha path even more after watching Netflix show, her elemental magic is awesome.

[@highlander31527]

@@Endru85x I saw many people exclaiming and even getting mad at how powerful Sypha was in the show.
As someone who bought the game off of the shelf shortly after it was available in America thirty years ago, I was just like, "Ya, we know, there's a reason we would use her even as squishy as she is. She mows through anything in her way. Just don't get hit."
So many people miss the reference to a prophecy Alucard mentioned to Sypha. Sypha knew her fate from the moment she found out who Trevor was. I knew it too, and that was why I found the amount of crap she gave Trevor hilarious. She probably was hoping to find the "Sleeping Soldier" to fulfill the prophecy, and got stuck with a drunken Belmont instead.

[@Endru85x]

@@highlander31527 I love how Sypha magic evolves through the show, she can adapt to different enemies and this works without exposition dumps like in many anime series. Also her reliationship with Trevor works because of the same reason - show, dont tell.

[@James-oj6ru]

Now the question is... how would this Trevor become the curse of darkness Trevo- not happening ain’t it?

[@TheTdw2000]

I like how the TAS bot was programmed to whip as it grabs the orbs. Nice touch.

[@risenfromyoutubesashesagai6302]

I always loved the way the Grant boss dies. Moves around like a puppy dog, then face first into the ground dead.

[@chrisroode]

Trevor: I’m going to slay Dracula.
Grant: relax, you don’t have to do a thing…I’ll take care of it…

[@sleepyren_]

simon?

[@chrisroode]

@@sleepyren_ Oh snap...forgot...it was Trevor...will edit.

[@runitback5066]

@@chrisroode No you're right it's trevor.

[@user-iy6dt4xp5o]

In Japan, “Trevor” is known as “Ralph”

[@CultOfJim]

23:07 Favorite song starts

[@NinjaCacodemon_IsSus]

Agree

[@NinjaCacodemon_IsSus]

I think it can suit a final boss

[@oatmeal2265]

Standard throwing weapon... Grant is a badass in this version of the game.

[@IvanPozhidayev1996]

Хотите верьте, хотите нет, но в Akumajou densetsu при всей моей любви к ней звук не нравится. Американка Dracula's Curse действительно даёт всю мощь 8 бит! ❤

[@TeddyBelcher4kultrawide]

14:55 gameplay over top score

[@NinjaCacodemon_IsSus]

Lo

[@tutubebitube5120]

spoilers : AT THE END :KOBE KOBE KOBE KOBE KOBE KOBE !

[@Dekaide44]

Ive watched Grant, Sypha, and Alucard TAS speed runs. Grant is the slowest? I would think Syphy would be, but I guess one shotting bosses and being able to freeze spell through some layers, speeds things up?
EDIT: It actually looks like you have have do a really long clock tower level to get Grant, while the other two characters you get by just proceeding with the rest of the game. Crazy, i never noticed that.

[@R_Drizzle]

How are you able to have the ax equipped but able to use daggers also?

[@grandmacrinkle8094]

In the japanese version , grant's default weapon is the throwing dagger rather than just melee (only heard this from yt videos so not fully sure)

[@R_Drizzle]

@@grandmacrinkle8094 you're right. Just looked at Wikipedia. I love the North American version but the more I hear about the difference of the Japanese version the more I feel screwed out of a better experience.

[@user-iy6dt4xp5o]

Does this mean that the Japanese version is easier?

[@sharmat1611]

@@user-iy6dt4xp5oin a lot of ways, yep, it’s significantly easier

[@CidZero]

2:57 Ahh... PTSD. 😂

[@thejackal007]

RALPH?!

[@user-deathcrow77]

8:06 - 똥구멍에서 칼이 나오네염ㅋㅋ😂

[@palidopali]

How can he throw swords? And how at no frame cost???

[@NaturalTvventy]

Japanese version.

[@palidopali]

@@NaturalTvventy really? Sword throw is Grant's basic attack?

[@NaturalTvventy]

@@palidopali Yes indeed.

[@palidopali]

@@NaturalTvventy that's so OP omg

[@sdgdhpmbp]

2 years later, and I haven't even tried it myself but I'm guessing from inputs.
There is actually a low frame cost. Grant throws swords in this version same as the American using the subweapon. What's being done in this TAS is ducking right after the attack button input to cancel part of the throw animation. If you notice at times TAS still does the full sword throw motion during a high jump attack.
Without this technique, when I played Grant in this version I felt the knife stab was a better basic attack for damage over the sword throw. Sword still overall better but you can only throw 1 at a time until it hits a target or flies offscreen.

[@bezoticallyyours83]

Ugh, I hate this path. It looks awesome, but it's such a pain.

[@James-oj6ru]

Hey, you’re saving your best friend (judgement dialogue), it ain’t easy saving your best pal when he becomes a steroid jacked up fleeman

[@segenshin1894]

13:37 nice
i see what you did there

[@browndiddly2659]

20:29 Goofy ahh run 💀

[@PsychedelicMakai]

Is that a baby dinosaur or something that's not fleaman mannn japanese is so diffrent

[@RENhoekLOUD]

Tripode the champions ou eu au eaaajajajaaaah. Hackers of the Rugrats o the oficial event ou atrapado misolini musolini ouea the legends continue. The event for legendary pokemon no puedo creer ese era Halloween especial o no? Synfony of the night, hacker de dios

[@NinjaCacodemon_IsSus]

Umm what?

[@ayelenoropel5782]

0:07
21:23

[@Avrelivs_Gold]

Music is impressive but it's too "romantic" and it ruins the mood.
This game is just not interesting at all, despite superior background art and perfect gameplay.
You never feel any fear, it's just a walk in the park.
Bram Stoker's Dracula was much more scary and terrifying.

[@mrister24]

wut

[@JemZard]

what?

[@Avrelivs_Gold]

@@JemZard what?

[@sdgdhpmbp]

No seriously, what???
I understand that Castlevania, for a game that's all about gruesome creatures of the night, does little to play to the fear factor. One might even call it goofy to reduce so many iconic monsters into enemies and bosses of a platformer game for children (no matter how you cut it, games being made for an adult audience was the exception)
Castlevania though is no walk in the park. Games in the NES days are often called Nintendo hard, and this series at that era is one reason why.