Action-Platformer Battle 1993

Given the recent news of the Dracula X remake, it made me think back to 1993, one of the best years in gaming. Doom, Sonic CD, Gunstar Heroes, Sam & Max, Flashback, etc. made it awesome.

It was also the year of what I consider the two best 2d action-platformers ever made: Konami's Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo for the PC Engine CD and Sega's Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master(known as The Super Shinobi II in Japan).

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...ll-dracbox.jpg

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...poll-drac1.gif

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...poll-drac2.gif

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...poll-drac3.gif




http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...l-shin3box.jpg

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...shinobi3-2.png

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...shinobi3-3.jpg

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/hosted/...l-shinobi3.png


It's cool that once Dracula X comes out on PSP later this year, both games will have been released on the same system(Shinobi III is on the Genesis compilation already).

So, I ask, what do you consider the better game? Do you agree with me that Dracula X is the best traditional Castlevania, and Shinobi III is the best in its series?

It's a tough call but for me, I'm going with the ninja here as you might have guessed from my user name. I have a preference for the feel and theme of Shinobi III although Dracula X is a fantastic game.

Please don't vote in the poll unless you have played both games. I'm sure more people have played Shinobi III since it came out domestically but I don't want that to bias the poll.

This poll rips my heart out....


Gah! Shinobi III. I like the faster pace and greater mobility of the lead character.

I went Drac X personally

I love me some Shinobi III, which is definitely the best in the series, but nothing compares to DX's incredible cut scenes, soundtrack, and branching paths.

They're both extremely polished games and represent the best in the genre, so solve this dilemma by getting them both! With the Sega Genesis Collection and the upcoming Castlevania PSP release, you have no excuse to not partake of this side-scrolling goodness.

There's no doubt that Shinobi III is the best in the series. Soundtrack, too, Yuzo Koshiro be damned.

I haven't played enough of Rondo to vote, though.

I am obviously biased in this poll. :p

Anyone else here nearly master the art of the surfboard attack?

I'm not going to vote since I haven't played rondo, but I will say I love shinobi 3.

I've never played Rondo so I won't vote but I adore Shinobi 3. It's easily the best in the series. My favorite traditional Castlevania is Bloodlines on Genesis; it's one of my all time favorite games and I do place it slightly higher than Shinobi 3. Konami's Castlevania/Contra entries on Genesis are highly underrated. Everyone talks about Castlevania 4 and Contra 3, but Bloodlines and Hard Corps blow them out of the water.

Rondo. No contest. But Shinobi is sick.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SpoDaddy

Konami's Castlevania/Contra entries on Genesis are highly underrated. Everyone talks about Castlevania 4 and Contra 3, but Bloodlines and Hard Corps blow them out of the water.

---

I agree with you that the Genesis stuff is badly underrated, and that Bloodlines is better than CV 4. However, Contra III is better than Hard Corps.

This was a tough choice, but Drac X wins my vote. Still, Shinobi III is one of the best games ever made and should be played by everyone.