Re-release Information

2007: Re-released as Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles for the PlayStation Portable; though remade using a 2.5D presentation, the original version is featured as an extra
2008: Dracula X: Chi no Rondo becomes digitally downloadable on the Japanese version of Wii's Virtual Console via its Shop Channel
2010: After a two-year waiting period, Rondo of Blood finally arrives on the Virtual Console's North American catalogue; an "Import" title, it has received no localization

Manual Story Description

 N/A (click "manual scan" at page's bottom)

Objective/Overview

Much to the dismay of the series' diehard fanbase, Dracula X: Rondo of Blood (translation: Dracula X: Circle of Blood) never made it to NEC's American 16-bit console, the Turbo Grafx CD, due to the system's slow death in what was an already stacked marketplace. While the game is widely regarded as one of the series' strongest pillars, it appeared until the announcement of The Dracula X Chronicles that Rondo would ever see re-release due to confusing legal issues combined with a modern climate where classic gaming is often frowned upon by even console suppliers, which is really a shame considering the game's influence.

Its stage-by-stage style of play is derived chiefly from Dracula's Curse (and even Vampire Killer in terms of design) though more compressed: That is, with all things being equal, there are two possible paths you can travel to reach the final stage for the battle with Count Dracula. There's a "regular" path and an "alternate" path starting after stage one, in either case a four-stage chain that leads to stage six, where it becomes strictly linear. You're not confined to a given path because you can break the chain and switch the current path at any time by finding (or not finding) alternate exits and passageways that lead to regular or alternate bosses. Also of note is that you can rescue Maria very early on, which will unlock the young Renard as a playable character who can then partake in this mission in her own way. Though, Richter and Maria cannot be used in tandem--at least not in the first run-through.

The two characters will have to utilize their distinct abilities if they hope to survive. Richter is the more typical Belmont, commanding the famous whip and sub-weapons, while Maria supplies a rather unique experience with her fancy moves and animal attacks. Each of the two has his or her own ending sequence after the defeat of Dracula, and when the mission's complete, you can go back and use both to achieve a 100% completion rate by unlocking all of the stages and by saving all of the missing women. Click on "review" at the bottom of the page for more information.

Port Differences

Sony PSP: Disappointing to some is that the PSP version of Rondo, as unlocked through the playing of The Dracula X Chronicles, is not a fully faithful port. You'll first notice this when the title screen pops up and you're greeted by new voice acting (German, still, but now featuring English subtitles), a localized logo (Castlevania: Rondo of Blood), and two start-screen options--the new addition a "Quit" option that returns you to Dracula X Chronicles' title screen.

The menus, too, have been redone in English, and the cut-scenes' voice acting has been re-recorded to match those found in the remade Rondo and the tweaked Symphony of the Night, which have also been re-acted by the very same voice talent. Richter and Maria's voice samples have been changed to English to reflect this; too, some enemy cries and sound effects have been swapped for newer samples. The in-game start menu has been changed and now includes the option "Quick Save," which allows you to save your progress at any time and resume right from the very same position upon continuing.

One glaring change is faulty sound emulation, which results in stage themes ending and restarting rather than looping plus cut-scenes that don't synch with either the music or voice acting.

Nintendo Wii: The Virtual Console's emulation of the original title is perfect, but its intro has for some reason seen a change. That is, the original voice actor has been replaced with another--the fellow who provided the German voice-over for the PSP remake. While it's just a simple swapping of tracks, it does prevent the final package from being wholly faithful. For now, we can only guess that there was some type of agreement with the original voice actor that prohibits the use of his work outside of Japan.

Soundtrack and Credits

Soundtrack
Opening and Ending Themes: 1 - Requiem | 2 - Overture | 3 - March of the Holy Man | 4 - Mary Samba
Stage Themes: 1 - Richter vs. Death | 2 - Opposing Bloodlines | 3 - Vampire Killer | 4 - Cross a Fear | 5 - Bloody Tears | 6 - Cemetery | 7 - Beginning | 8 - Opus 13 | 9 - Picture of a Ghost Ship | 10 - Slash | 11 - Road to the Enemy | 12 - Poison Mind | 13 - The Den
Battle Themes: 1 - Dancing in Phantasmic Hell | 3 - Illusionary Dance
Miscellaneous Themes: 1 - Prayer | 2 - Annet's Fate | 3 - Stage Clear | 4 - All Clear | 5 - Death | 6 - Game Over | 7 - Richter's Ending (Cut-Scene) | 8 - Maria's Ending (Cut-Scene)

Links
Music Files: MP3 and MIDI
Soundtrack Release: Dracula Battle Perfect Selection Vol. 1, Dracula Battle Perfect Selection Vol. 2, Akumajou Dracula MIDI Collection and Castlevania Best Music Collections Box
Game Credits: Available

Other Characters

Lesser Enemies: Skeleton, Ape Skeleton, Zombie, Vampire Bat, Fishman, Medusa Head, Flea Men, Skeledragon, Blood Skeleton, Ghost, Black Crow, Pillar of Bones, Axe Knight, Axe Lord, Floating Eye, Panther Skeleton, Spear Guard, Giant Rock Fighter, Mace Knight, Sword Lord, Wereskeleton, Behemoth, Paranthropus, Water Skull, Mad Frog, Mud Man, Spider, Gargoyle, Harpy, Yellow Medusa Head, Flea Rider, Three-Eyed Skull, Bone Archer, Blade Master, Phantom Skull, Spine, Flail Guard, Giant Fleaman, Bone Musket, Spinning Picture, Spectral Sword, Ectoplasm, Stone Rose, Blade Skeleton, Armor Lord, Grave Keeper, Bone Halberd, Hawk, Tombstone, Zombie Hands and Cyclops Worker
Bosses: Wyvern, Water Dragon, Werewolf, Bone Golem, Minotaur, Dogether, Dullahan, Carmilla and Laura, The Grim Reaper, Phantom Bat, Medusa, Mummies, Frankenstein, Shaft and Shaft's Ghost
Dracula Forms: Dracula and Dracula's Ghost
Supporting Cast: Annet Renard, Maria Renard, the Ferryman, Shaft, Iris and Tera

Character Lists

Lesser Enemies | Bosses | Dracula Forms | Supporting Cast

Limitations: Richter is more or less a standard Belmont. He's quick and agile, and his jumps can be controlled very well. Even then, he leaps so gracefully that it's often difficult to pinpoint where he's going to land. Though, he's very under control: Mainly, he can jump onto and off of stairs at will without a problem. Weapon-wise, Richter controls traditionally: He can only swing the whip in two directions, and it can't be powered up past its initial chain whip form (except for the temporary flame blast). Also, by quickly tapping forward twice after a whip stroke, Richter can add some length to the attack. Richter makes up for any deficiencies with his item-crashing ability; using this ability, Richter can add super power to his sub-weapons (at the cost of hearts) to take down stronger enemies in seconds. Finally, Richter has available a backflip maneuver, which is useful when attempting to escape from in-close combat and incoming projectiles.