PCE Akumajo Dracula X Chi no Rondo CASTLEVANIA OF BLOOD Start Price USD 150.00 Current Price USD 150.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, November 11, 2008 End Time Thursday, December 11, 2008 Location Geelong, VIC See more about 'PCE Akumajo Dracula X Chi no Rondo CASTLEVANIA OF BLOOD' Description Items are as shown in the photo(s). If you have no intention of paying for this item, then please do NOT bid/buy! Please check out my other items on sale! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, I will reply within 12 hours (usually even less). INTERNATIONAL BUYERS ARE WELCOME! (check below for postage costs); To convert foreign currencies to your local currency, please use this website. ITEM DESCRIPTION Game: Akumajo Dracula X Chi no Rondo System: NEC PC-Engine CD/Turbo Grafx-16 Genre: Platform/RPG Version: NTSC-JAPAN (This game can be played on an XBox or on PC if you don't have a Turbo Duo System) Condition: Case is in GREAT condition. Instruction Manual is in GOOD/GREAT (manual shows some use) condition. Game CD is in MINT condition with absolutely NO SCRATCHES OR MARKS. Akumajō Dracula X Chi no Rondo is a Japanese PC Engine Super CD video game in the popular Castlevania series, released on October 29, 1993. The "X" of the title refers to the Roman numeral for 10, since it is the tenth chronologically released game in the Akumajō Dracula series in Japan. It was never released outside of Japan, despite positive reviews from both fans and critics. Rondo of Blood is often considered exemplary as to why the Japanese PC Engine fared so much better than its North American counterpart, the TurboGrafx-16. Dracula X features a number of innovative and memorable twists, many of which are regarded by fans and critics as some of the best points of the game. Several other features, such as the choices of paths and characters, derived from similar features in Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. This is the first game in the series to feature the Item Crash ability that has cropped up in other Castlevania titles. The ability allows a sub-weapon to be used in a super attack, at the expense of a large amount of hearts. This was the first title in the series to incorporate musical terminology into its title. Subsequent games to use musical terms were Symphony of the Night, Harmony of Dissonance, Aria of Sorrow and Lament of Innocence. This was the first Castlevania title in which the characters were designed completely in an "anime" style. While this style had existed and influenced the series prior to Dracula X, it is more prominent here than ever before. The PSP remake does not contain the anime-inspired art; its artwork was redone in a more traditional style by Symphony of the Night artist Ayami Kojima. This is the first game in the series to feature voice actors and recorded dialogue. Interestingly, the intro features German voice acting with Japanese subtitles. A number of enemies which would recur in later Castlevania games, such as the skeleton apes, are introduced for the first time in Dracula X. Many of the sprite designs for this game were very influential in further 2D Castlevania design, particularly in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. In fact, more than half of the sprites used in Symphony of the Night are taken from Rondo of Blood, and some of these sprites were also reused in Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin. Nearly every enemy in Dracula X (with the exception of the ubiquitous bats) has at least two different modes of attack. For example, the spearmen have separate thrust, lunge, and blocking moves, and the spiders can attack using a proboscis or by laying eggs. This would be continued in later games in the series. Even though the player's route through the game is mostly linear (as was the case with previous games in the series), there are hostages to find and rescue in certain areas to get a better ending once Dracula is defeated. Some stages have multiple paths to take, a few even allowing the player to skip a boss battle. It is the first Castlevania to display completion percentage, which indicates the secret bosses that have been defeated, hostages rescued, and alternate routes discovered. The completion percentages would be used in future games such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night to indicate how much of the castle has been explored. By accumulating credits during gameplay, the player is able to purchase tactics videos which display a proven method of fighting the game's bosses. This feature was only seen again in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. With access to CD-quality music, the game's soundtrack incorporates a combination of pop style and the "progressive rock" theme evident in previous games, with some of the tracks using live guitars for the melody or backup. Familiar tunes "Vampire Killer" (which is amalgamated with Stalker, the second level tune from the original Castlevania), "Bloody Tears" and "Beginning" were all rearranged for this game. These three songs are also used in a medley called "The Den". This was also the first game to use the "Illusionary Dance" theme during the final battle with Dracula, and it frequently returns as Dracula's boss theme since. "Opposing Bloodlines" would also make appearances in later games such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and the Nintendo 64's Castlevania. Several other pieces from the original NES game were also included: "Poison Mind" (the boss theme, played on the sixth stage and at the final stage), the death dirge, the "Dracula Defeated" jingle (also from CV1), the "Stage Clear" jingle, and the "Game Over" theme. These are all played through the PC Engine's sound hardware as opposed to being CD Audio. Dracula X has had remarkable impact and is something of a turning point in the series. The following games would be influenced by it graphics wise, with many sprites directly taken from the game. It is also one of the last "old-school" Castlevania games, featuring more linear, stage based gameplay, as opposed to this game's direct sequel, Castlevania: Symphony of The Night. For local (Australian) buyers, items will be sent by Registered Post. What makes registered post different from normal post is that one, registered post is insured, and two, the postman/woman won't simply leave your parcel at the front of your house. They will knock on your door where you can receive it in person. If you are not home, then they will give you a card notifying you that your parcel (game) is being stored at the post office, waiting for you to receive it. SHIPPING RATES The price of postage is dependent on your location: $7.00 (Australia via Registered Post) $10.00 USA, Europe and Asia If this item is part of a multi-item purchase, please add (use item with highest shipping cost as base postage): £1.00 if you are an Australian buyer; or £2.00 if you are an International buyer PAYMENT / SHIPPING INFORMATION After item(s) is/are bought, please make contact within 3 days notifying me of your planned actions, with payment sent within 7 days. If I do not hear from you 5 days after auction end, a dispute will be opened for non-payment/no communication reasons. If there is still no response from you, then you will receive a "non-paying bidder" strike, and appropriate feedback will be given. After you complete the checkout process and choose your method of payment, I will email you with the relevant bank details or address. Your item(s) will usually be sent on the day after payment is received. The item(s) will be packaged in a padded bag/box with adequate protection against impact in the shipping process. Delivery time varies from 2 to 7 days, depending on location. Please note that I have certain types of bidders blocked from buying this item. If for any reason, you are unable to proceed with the buying process, please give me an email to show that you are a serious buyer. Sales are final; read the item descriptions carefully so you know exactly what you are buying. Methods of Payment Bank Deposit: My preferred method; if possible, pay me via Internet Banking for best results. Otherwise, you can do it over the counter at your local bank. Payment clears in 1 to 2 business days (Monday to Friday), so the earlier you pay, the earlier you can get your item(s). Money Order/Bank Cheque: Money Orders are available from the Australia Post Office. Purchase a money order and send it to my address via snail mail. PayPal: For any international buyers. INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL BUYERS The shipping cost worldwide is dependent on your location, prices are shown above and/or below. If the international shipping rates are not shown, then please contact me for a shipping price quote (Air Mail or EMS). I can ship to the United States, Canada, Europe, and most countries in Asia. Rest assured, I will not overcharge on international shipping. Delivery times can vary from 5 to 15 business days for regular air mail and 1 to 3 days for EMS (Express Mail Service). Powered by eBay Turbo ListerThe free listing tool. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items. Place a Bid!