Topic: DOS ruined a perfectly good chance at a symbolic final boss battle

[Dracula9]

dawn sucks because it commits a cardinal sin of artistic entertainment

it's not bad, it's something even worse

it's boring, right down to the washed-out "50 shades of grey" color palette

[Lumi Kløvstad]

dawn sucks because it commits a cardinal sin of artistic entertainment

it's not bad, it's something even worse

it's boring, right down to the washed-out "50 shades of grey" color palette

And you have to play a main campaign that copies Aria too much and doesn't give due attention to its own ideas (which are decent ideas, even) in order to get to Julius Mode, the one part of the game that feels almost wholly original.

Honestly, if they'd slapped a real story mode onto that (instead of one short dialogue per character... which is still more than most extra modes get), gotten rid of Soma's story mode, and released Dawn of Sorrow as a non-canon what-if entry in the series, we'd all be loving it a lot more than we do.

[aensland]

I don't get the whole hate of DoS. It is just another Soma adventure. What is so wrong about that.

It's not hate, it's being objective.

Dawn of Sorrow was a step down from Aria of Sorrow because it was targeting a younger demographic, as Igarashi said. That's why Yoshikawa Shinichi was in charge of character design while the more "mature" title (Curse of Darkness) had Kojima.

And that's reflected in the story that had a weird pacing, no focus on characters (like the huge waste that was Celia), out of character moments (like the total difference between Aria's Yoko and Dawn's one), the simple and boring level design, Dmitri being the worst CV antagonist, the anime trope overdose, etc...

You can love something and still be critical of it.

the only "CV" games that I hate are the slot machines and the kid Dracula.

Make this a ban worthy offence please (?)

[X]

it's boring, right down to the washed-out "50 shades of grey" color palette

And I guess this would make Celia Anastasia Steele except there's no tickling going 

[Lumi Kløvstad]

And I guess this would make Celia Anastasia Steele except there's no tickling going 

You get an upvote, good sir, even though I should seriously downvote because you put that image in my head.

[Belmontoya]

I really like Dawn of Sorrow.

And I prefer the darker tone in CV. So I should be with you guys on this one.

But nah. It’s one of my favorite DS games.

[Dracula9]

And I guess this would make Celia Anastasia Steele except there's no tickling going 

unfortunately for me...

[zangetsu468]

Although I liked Aria better, Dawn has some redeeming factors, a few of the boss fights were better (namely Death), the game felt more polished(graphics and quality of sound - not the OST), the weapons/ souls crafting added more in the direction of COD, Julius mode was world's better, and the Paranoia/ mirror world aspect was interesting.

All in all it didn't surpass AOS, but it was still arguably better and more inspired even than POR - hell the Julius mode's diversity in characters outshone having two very different playable characters (Although I tend to tie them due to POR having introduced the Level 1 hard cap and one of the greatest final boss fights of all time).

If DoS is an 8, AOS is a 9 imho.

[Shiroi Koumori]

Dawn's anime faces makes easy cross stitching patterns. lol

[Zuljaras]

Although I liked Aria better, Dawn has some redeeming factors, a few of the boss fights were better (namely Death), the game felt more polished(graphics and quality of sound - not the OST), the weapons/ souls crafting added more in the direction of COD, Julius mode was world's better, and the Paranoia/ mirror world aspect was interesting.

All in all it didn't surpass AOS, but it was still arguably better and more inspired even than POR - hell the Julius mode's diversity in characters outshone having two very different playable characters (Although I tend to tie them due to POR having introduced the Level 1 hard cap and one of the greatest final boss fights of all time).

If DoS is an 8, AOS is a 9 imho.

That is true but for me Aria did reuse its stuff more than DoS like the first 4 bosses in Aria are normal enemies later in the game which always bothered me. Also DoS had for me better boss designs except for Legion.
Also AoS Balore is better than DoS Balore. The Julius fight is awesome.

There is one thing that I did not like for both games that they did not give Death any input on the storyline. He even can't recognize its master hidden deep in Soma. That was disappointing.

[zangetsu468]

That is true but for me Aria did reuse its stuff more than DoS like the first 4 bosses in Aria are normal enemies later in the game which always bothered me. Also DoS had for me better boss designs except for Legion.
Also AoS Balore is better than DoS Balore. The Julius fight is awesome.

There is one thing that I did not like for both games that they did not give Death any input on the storyline. He even can't recognize its master hidden deep in Soma. That was disappointing.

I agree the Julius fight was the best part of AOS.

Why would it? LOI's character description of Death tells us specifically that he is a being who hunts souls and follows the owner of the Crimson Stone, an artefact Soma doesn't have. Soma is also not Lord of the Castle, if the bad ending of AOS occurs, Soma sits on Castlevania's throne and this outcome could mean that Death recognises him as the Castle's Lord.

[Zuljaras]

I agree the Julius fight was the best part of AOS.

Why would it? LOI's character description of Death tells us specifically that he is a being who hunts souls and follows the owner of the Crimson Stone, an artefact Soma doesn't have. Soma is also not Lord of the Castle, if the bad ending of AOS occurs, Soma sits on Castlevania's throne and this outcome could mean that Death recognises him as the Castle's Lord.

Ok but Death is just like a filler. The same was done in OoE. He is Dracula's confidant ffs! He should be given at least a line or two.

That is why Portrait of Ruin has the BEST ending fight of ALL other Castlevania games. Many people did not like the game as a whole but that fight was so damn good.

Also in PoR the forst Death fight was also amazing. His mechanics were very good!

The right hand of Dracula should be memorable and not just one generic Grim Reaper

[zangetsu468]

Ok but Death is just like a filler. The same was done in OoE. He is Dracula's confidant ffs! He should be given at least a line or two.

That is why Portrait of Ruin has the BEST ending fight of ALL other Castlevania games. Many people did not like the game as a whole but that fight was so damn good.

Also in PoR the forst Death fight was also amazing. His mechanics were very good!

The right hand of Dracula should be memorable and not just one generic Grim Reaper

I don't agree with any of that. No text is better than bad text. In both AOS and DOS, Death guards very important parts of the castle; Throne room and gate to the underworld respectively.

He's not generic and not "a grim reaper", you're taking NA and PAL localisations of the original CV's instruction manual out of context. There is only "1" Death in the CV universe, there are not multiple grim reapers or Death(s).

OOE's death similarly would have nothing to say to Shanoa, why would he? Rondo has anime cutscenes and he had nothing to say to Richter then.

I feel like it's beating a dead carcass, but Soma is neither the Castle's Lord (yet)  the owner of the CS etc.

[Zuljaras]

I don't agree with any of that. No text is better than bad text. In both AOS and DOS, Death guards very important parts of the castle; Throne room and gate to the underworld respectively.

He's not generic and not "a grim reaper", you're taking NA and PAL localisations of the original CV's instruction manual out of context. There is only "1" Death in the CV universe, there are not multiple grim reapers or Death(s).

OOE's death similarly would have nothing to say to Shanoa, why would he? Rondo has anime cutscenes and he had nothing to say to Richter then.

I feel like it's beating a dead carcass, but Soma is neither the Castle's Lord (yet)  the owner of the CS etc.

In AoS Death only guarded the soul that makes you go underwater - Skula. He is not that major compared to Balore that guards one of the MAIN souls of count Dracula.

Yes his appearance is very good and his scythe being in the clock tower. But he has zero personality.

Also in Rondo Death tests Richter in the beginning and that was a nice touch.

Aria and Dawn just don't to Death justice. That is of course only my opinion.

[zangetsu468]

Yes his appearance is very good and his scythe being in the clock tower. But he has zero personality.

..... Needs more Death