Topic: Favorite portable 'Vania?

[Lumi Kløvstad]

So I just started thinking about this, especially as many more casual fans who joined in the franchise in the mid-2000's like me tend to identify Castlevania as more of a handheld series (console releases were a little sparse in that period).

So, which is your favorite?

There's a maximum of two votes per user, as I myself am evenly split between Circle of the Moon and Order of Ecclesia.

Both are noticeably more difficult than their peers, and really hammer home the high-gothic aesthetic with their art style. The music is impressive for each, although I'm giving Circle of the Moon the best arrangement award for being a collection of Castlevania's greatest musical hits, and Proof of Blood remains one of the most impressive boss themes the series has ever seen (I'm annoyed that it didn't show up in Lords of Shadow 2, actually, as it would have made the final boss far more epic).

Order of Ecclesia punches well at each level, and combat has a great breezy and fluid pace without compromising challenge.

I find both are excellent games, though neither is the best in the series, and both rank as my favorite handheld titles.

[zangetsu468]

I think I shouldn't vote twice, because my second vote would be split between 2 games.
Favourite by far is OOE, I've played most if not all entries and it's the best Castlevania game I have played.
I won't go into the main games but of the Portavania's it's got the nicest of all worlds; artwork, music, graphics, gameplay/ system, ambience, levels(s) of challenge, the only canon female protagonist and I quite dig the 'hub' and exploration aspect.

A close second for me would either be AoS/ DoS, but I think AoS would just slightly inch it out.

[BLOOD MONKEY]

where the fuck is order of shadows

that game was amazing

[Lumi Kløvstad]

where the fuck is order of shadows

that game was amazing

I agree, but I think maybe 18 people here have actually played it through to completion, so I couldn't really include it because when I ask about it, most Castlemaniacs just go "Huh? Wtf is Order of Shadows?"

If it were more widespread, I'd have included it.

[Aceearly1993]

Voted Dawn of Sorrow and Portrait of Ruin. Their graphics are really detailed as DS games and there're lots of contents inside. The control scheme is almost perfect for a 2D action game and the sound effect that weapons cut through animal's flesh (in DoS) is pretty good

And thanks to the researchers developed glitches we can get chaos ring + cross /holy water/grand cross combo to kick some stuff here and there

[X]

Only two options..? 

That makes it difficult. Ah, well. I chose CotM as my favorite metroidvania and Belmont's revenge as my favorite Classicvania.

[Lumi Kløvstad]

Belmont's revenge as my favorite Classicvania.

Kind of an obvious choice, innit? XD

To be fair, that's less about how good Belmont's Revenge is and more how terrible the others are by comparison imo.

Give me the GBA port of the original Castlevania any day of the week.

[zangetsu468]

Interesting that Legends is getting no love despite its (oc)cult following.

[X]

Interesting that Legends is getting no love despite its (oc)cult following.

lol, saw what you did there XD

I was going to put in Legends, however I could only put in two selections. It was a tough decision 

[Lumi Kløvstad]

I love Legends, but the fanficcy plot just killed any chance of it getting a vote from me. It's just embarrassing to read.

Still, how 'bout those trick candles, guvnah?

[zangetsu468]

Neck and neck, damn if we can vote twice, can we cast two votes for the same game? Only fair right..

[Crying Freeman]

Belmonts Revenge and Legends for me. I know Legends is the second most flawed of them (at least Adventure, even with its sluggishness and powerup losing, the game was built around the characters ability. Legends put enemies in unavoidable places (even using the soul powers)), and the metroidvanias are infinitely better, but I prefer the classicvania over the metroidvanias.

Still a lot I love in Legends. Sonia is my second favorite Belmont and I'd say better than Leon, but like everyone has said, the fanficy story is quite ugh. I think if it was a new character and not Alucard, it would've been better. Plus I wish we got a back story scroll or cutscene showing Sonia's family being killed, because everything about the story minus Alucard and the plotholes for Lisa's death are pretty good, especially for a classicvania.

I also haven't played any metroidvanias besides SOTN for years. I started HOD but got stuck and haven't played since. CotM I love, but it isn't as pick up and play, which is also good to be a deeper gaming experience, and Aria was sinply amazing, but again haven't played it in years.

Barely played DOS, never played POR, and I was gonna vote for OoE, as I'm playing through it rn and loving it, but I haven't beaten it yet, so for now,BR and Legends

[Neobelmont]

So with little time in between class at points quick games were one that I really like and Belmont's revenge fits this need for me. Not only that but I think the soundtrack is severely underrated.

[Belmontoya]

I had to vote dawn of sorrow. I played it so much when it came out.

Anyways I actually prefer Rondo of Blood but not the chronicles version. I'll always consider it a console game as well. So it seems out of place to me.

 

[EstebanT]

Am I the only one who prefers Dracula X Chronicles to Rondo of Blood?