Topic: Do you miss the Horror atmosphere and barbaric characters?

[Crying Freeman]

When OOE came out I was excited with the art and the trailer was awesome! I wanted it very badly, but being younger and without a job meant I had to sit it out 

I agree, I think OOE is a perfect mix of the two. I also wouldn't mind new titles adopting this (though I'd vote the original art all the way).

[zangetsu468]

IMO it still not comparable with the more haunting atmosphere of SCV4 not just graphically but also musically, AOS still has way too colorful areas while in OOE the castle areas totally sacrificed the quality as well as the overly copypasted areas.

You're entitled to think that.

I put forth that AOS (except for the first level) is eerier than SCIV in atmosphere, music and the fact that Soma is someone important

SCIV is okay imo but some of the tracks are a little too "Streets of Rage meets Miles Davis", which is great because I like both, but it kills the CV atmosphere for me. 
I think Chronicles captures a more accurate atmosphere and the spirit of CV.

[Shinobi]

SCIV is okay imo but some of the tracks are a little too "Streets of Rage meets Miles Davis", which is great because I like both, but it kills the CV atmosphere for me. 
I think Chronicles captures a more accurate atmosphere and the spirit of CV.

Are you serious? It feels like you use a reverse cycology, OOE has a lot more of "Streets of Rage meets Miles Davis" music into it than SCV4 which most of the tracks are more setting and era appropriate themes.

Chronicles has a more techno vibe(Vampire Killer, Wicked child and the theme of Dracula's 2nd form) which is not totally accurate to the game's setting

[zangetsu468]

Are you serious? It feels like you use a reverse cycology, OOE has a lot more of "Streets of Rage meets Miles Davis" music into it than SCV4 which most of the tracks are more setting and era appropriate themes.

Chronicles has a more techno vibe(Vampire Killer, Wicked child and the theme of Dracula's 2nd form) which is not totally accurate to the game's setting

Yes I'm serious, do you have an issue with this... Reverse Psychology? Yes that's what I do in my spare time, go on Castlevania forums and use reverse psychology to mess with people.. You sound insane right now.

No it does not, MD is smooth jazz which suits SCIV's tone. OOE if anything has more CV meets Megaman X, beside the point I never spoke about OOE's atmosphere, I stated I liked it's artwork. Atmosphere-wise I place AOS above SCIV.

Chronicles music may feature other musical elements but I believe the vibe feels more CV than IV. Dracula's second form track mimics the original CV which also didn't sound Gothic or dark, but it lasts for a whole 30 seconds of the game while you pummel him to death. SCIV's second form Dracula theme was better, but his second form wasn't.

[son_the_vampire]

Im not crazy about the style they took with PoR. OOE to me has fantastic artwork Masaki Hirooka nailed it. I also like Kojima's styles a lot too.
As for the WWE styled brute looking belmonts of old, I'd like them too. So yeah, pretty much anything besides PoR. Oh Judgement killed me inside a little as well.

[theANdROId]

Didn't we all die a little because of Judgment?

[piscesdreams]

Didn't we all die a little because of Judgment?

I'd say that is an understatement. I for one die over and over every time I even look at that game.

[Shiroi Koumori]

Didn't we all die a little because of Judgment?

Maybe Judgment is a type of Death Note that slowly kills CV fans ...

[Crying Freeman]

Heh, I wouldn't be surprised.

[theANdROId]

Maybe Judgment is a type of Death Note that slowly kills CV fans ...

I see what you did there! ;-D

[Dremn]

I appreciated that the Lords of Shadow games brought back the more masculine/warrior type protagonists from the early days, so yes.

[X]

That's the only saving's grace about LoS is the art style. Gabriel was not a pretty boy with exaggerated feminine looks. He looked like a man. And considering how gritty Romania is during the middle ages it is far more realistic for the series it represents. The Barbarian art style of the old Classics I also felt represented the series in a fairly realistic way too. Especially when you think of how close Romania is to the eastern nomadic plains of Aisa. That, and you also have mountain men or mountain tribes. You won't find any pretty boys there. The only pretty boy whom I let slide is Alucard because he is a Dampyre and has that ethereal beauty one would associate with vampires. But for all the other non-vampires (humans) to look androgynous? I don't think so.

[zangetsu468]

It's true that Gabriel's appearance was actually a good thing. Other LOS characters like Zobek and Marie, not so much.

[JR]

I liked Kojima's artwork, but one thing I found a bit unnerving was that she made the men prettier than even the women. I mean, I know that she poured everything she had into the designs of the lead characters, I get it. But still...seemed kind of amusing to me.

[JayDominus]

Heck yes I do. I (am about to become even more of an unpopular bastard) absolutely loathed the direction series went post-SotN with it becoming more and more... well, Japanese. Classic Castlevania is a tribute to Universal and Hammer horror flicks, post SotN it's a cavalcade of anime cliches. The genre shift didn't help matters at all. This is why Lords of Shadow series is one big missed opportunity to me - they finally could once again do Castlevania *right* - and some elements were spot-on. If most of LoS1 was like the Castle part, it would be the perfect Classicvania update for new generation. But alas, there were a lot of other elements bringing LoS1 down in this regard and LoS2 is really incredibly stupid, so the true Castlevania return remains only a dream.