Topic: Konami: "Taking risks with CV prevented it from becoming another Megaman"

[Neobelmont]

You forgot Oscar's more 'masculine' score, casting Patrick Stewart as Zobek/narrator and those ball-breaking titan battles.  Much more mature, right?

Tongue in cheek there, mate.

Themes and storyline are important contributors to this 'maturity' angle, let's include but also look beyond tits, muscles and gore, no? If we go superficially though, could you see Dracula's Curse or Super IV done in 3D with the likes of Mercurysteam's brilliant artwork?

I think what makes a mature storyline is the message  than pure  blood and boob. It seems easy to make something seem mature because of  a lot of blood but sometimes if you understand the message that is given then wow. Like the megami tensei series overall it's some dark satanic stuff and that's the reason why it gets an M rating (besides the penis monster  )  like in persona 2 a girls face melts off her or something because of a rumor .

[X]

You're a little off base with that comment X. You made correct comments about genetics, but none of those facts have anything to do with this particular topic.

If you want to say that you disagree because of genetics, that's one thing. But I think anyone who has taken a physical anthropology class is aware that in most mammals, including humans; males are typically larger and more suited for physical tasks, such as hunting and defending. This is the way our roles evolved because the female who is pregnant or nursing is not suited to do the work of hunting and defending, this is typically the males job. They are equally important roles within a society and family. Obviously the lines between these roles have blurred significantly in these modern times and will most likely continue to blur.

There is nothing sexist about it, but in the days of hand to hand combat, it played a larger role. Nowadays a battlefield is more equal among sexes than it used to be because wars are fought at a distance with guns and explosives.

But all battles leading up to the 20th century were typically fought by males. Sure there are plenty of exceptions, and Castelvania is obviously a fictitious story. But I think that is what IGA was trying to say is the reason for seeing more male protagonists.

While it's true that generally men are larger-looking then women, do not even think for a moment that that automatically constitutes a win (men), lose (women) situation. I'm sure you've heard the expression "Don't judge a book by it's cover". Throughout history there have been women who were equally as strong, powerful and influential as men. The Amazonian tribeswomen in Greek history is one such example. The women of Sparta are another as well as the Celtic tribes of old Europe. And lastly do not forget about a certain French Knight by the title 'Joan of Arc'. She was dressed in full plate mail, wielding a sword and shield, and literally cutting down the enemies of the French state (who were men I will add). The idea that a man is naturally stronger then a woman is thrown out the window when you take these facts into account. And IGA's argument that a woman warrior (Sonia) is not historically accurate for CV is mute as well, especially when Joan of Arc is taken into account. Castlevania is a series that is 'loosely' based in historical themes and it does not make any logical sense to not have a woman Belmont lead. And I'm sure that all the women on this site will vouch for that too. As for the woman taking on the man's name in order to continue the main line, i'll say it again; the patriarchal system. It's got nothing to do with truth or genetics, but has everything to do with what men think is correct. A main family line can be carried by women. It's simply a matter of perspective and all you have to do is reverse your way of thinking. It also helps to put away the ego as well in order to see past the end of one's nose.

[Laina]

One of the things I love about Legends...
...and the thing I really liked about LoS timeline. Gabriel's tale is very moving.
funyaa!
That makes more sense. Anyway, Legends is one of my favourite stories from the series, I love the fact that the Belmonts and Dracula could be related by blood.
And about the developers, I think that is stupid. Whay do they think? That girls don't play games?
I always said that Charlotte is my favourite 2D sprite-based gameplay, I could literally blow the castle away with her. I made her so powerful that I was able to beat the final boss in less than 30 seconds.

You and I are on the same wavelength, Pfil.

[VladCT]

I made her so powerful that I was able to beat the final boss in less than 30 seconds.

Care to back up that claim with videos and such?

Anyway, about the Legends debacle, was it ever outright stated that Alucard planted one in Sonia? All I could see were just implications. As for the disrepancies, I think they could be retconned without outright retconning the whole game itself, so I'd say it should be possible to rework the game back into canon.

[Nagumo]

^Yes, it's not outright said so, but it's implied in such a way that there is no way around it. 

[DoctaMario]

White knight alert

Care to back up that claim with videos and such?

Anyway, about the Legends debacle, was it ever outright stated that Alucard planted one in Sonia? All I could see were just implications. As for the disrepancies, I think they could be retconned without outright retconning the whole game itself, so I'd say it should be possible to rework the game back into canon.

I did the same thing. I made the claim. Charlotte is the better character overall. Between the damage of her spells and the damage she can do with the righe weapons and the the damage she can sustain with the right armor, she's not just a tank but she can deal hella damage. I don't know PoR anymore but I'll download the ROM and put together a breakdown if you don't believe me and you can see for yourself.

[VladCT]

Huh, I suppose I never gave her enough chance since I thought her main source of damage being spells was somewhat slow.
Anyway, can I see what sort of build is needed for Killer Charlotte, and will it still be feasible in Hard Mode Lv. 1? I kinda chickened out and equipped Ancient Armor in the aforementioned mode.

[A-Yty]

Anyway, about the Legends debacle, was it ever outright stated that Alucard planted one in Sonia? All I could see were just implications. As for the disrepancies, I think they could be retconned without outright retconning the whole game itself, so I'd say it should be possible to rework the game back into canon.

It could be done. But then they should change a lot of other things in the game too. Like the year it takes place.  And Sonia can't be the first Belmont. Otherwise LoI would have to be retconned.

I think they should just re-introduce Sonia in a different way. But that be more suitable for the next reboot. I'm personally not too fond of the whole romantic thing she had with Alucard nor the possibility of Belmonts being related to Dracula. It doesn't work much better in LoS.

[son_the_vampire]

I think Charlotte is better as a partner to trigger spells. I use Johnathan well enough to just use her for all boost. Johnathan is far superior when it comes to damage output. Maxed beaks knives and Bang Nahk are my usual go to when I feel like hurrying up. Mix it up wit a couple uppercuts and knee strikes and ur golden!

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

And Sonia can't be the first Belmont. Otherwise LoI would have to be retconned.

That pretty much goes without saying.
Then again, in the late 80's people were almost sure that Trevor was 'the first Belmont'.  Sonia then was created.  Then Leon.  Now... Gabriel (though in another universe).

[Successor The Cruel]

Eh... if I had the authority, I wouldn't bother even trying to bring back Sonia. While I'm sure that may appease her group of fans (maybe), gratifying them with that act is just not the best course of action for the series to take, in my opinion. "This is the character from the (very obscure) game who was retconned, but we're going to reinvent her, change her story, and put her in the main canon, because... I don't know!?"

I just feel the resources and energy to do that would be better spent on something else and it would also be a clumsy thing to do. Again, I think Shanoa is a really good character that any girl should be able to respect. I understand she's not a Belmont, but as some of us have been getting at, a female Belmont just doesn't work that smoothly. I don't want to seem close minded, but it needlessly presents some problems and makes things a bit clumsy.

Yes, it can be done, and yes we're talking about a fictitious universe, but what is she going to do? Pass the whip down to her nephew? It just doesn't have the same weight as passing it down from father to son, and it would make it seem like her own children are/would be slighted (which they would be). One would have to explain how that would work, and yes, it could be part of the story, but... eh... why? And if it's not explained, then some people (like us) would be left wondering how they worked all that out.

I don't have any problem with strong, warrior women lead characters (like Shanoa), but I do think that, while a female Belmont can be done, it presents some issues that complicate things and are the sort of issues we shouldn't even be thinking about.   

[A-Yty]

That pretty much goes without saying.
Then again, in the late 80's people were almost sure that Trevor was 'the first Belmont'.  Sonia then was created.  Then Leon.  Now... Gabriel (though in another universe).

I know. All the more reasons for the next "first Belmont" not be a retcon. There's been enough of that. It should be a clean slate, at a time there are no unfinished or multiple continuities.

[crisis]

Sonia should've been included in Judgment, and it could've been explained as a loophole in the timeline

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

In the timeline I've crafted, there is a linchpin point around the events during that time, since Victor Belmont comes back from the future, thus creating another universe.

Eh... if I had the authority, I wouldn't bother even trying to bring back Sonia. While I'm sure that may appease her group of fans (maybe), gratifying them with that act is just not the best course of action for the series to take, in my opinion.

I am thankful... that you don't have the authority, then.

[Successor The Cruel]

Well, I'm thankful that whoever does have the authority is not doing it anyway, so same difference, I suppose : p