Are you guys serious that Soma's character and clothing design were better in DOS???
I do have to admit I didn't care for them nerfing Julius so much on DoS but I fully understand why they did. But still old age must've caught up with him on his 56th birthday and that's why he's so slow and forgot how to do Omnia Vanitas and other cool moves. But I do love the Julius mode ending and wish they would just go with that. I know it won't happen but another Sorrow game where Soma gives into being Dracula and Julius and his buds have to stop him would be kickass.
Taste in clothing? F**k yes. Boots aside, Some is better in his trench coat look then that feathery robe-like apparatus he sported in AoS. And I'll attest to that with a wooden stake through my own heart.https://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvignette2.wikia.nocookie.net%2Fcastlevania%2Fimages%2F2%2F29%2FSomaDawn.jpg%2Frevision%2Flatest%3Fcb%3D20080227203754&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcastlevania.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FSoma_Cruz&docid=QhaBt0ErMNazXM&tbnid=RoOzL1FQzlprpM%3A&vet=1&w=800&h=1200&bih=741&biw=1517&ved=0ahUKEwjUtLTx78jQAhWLiLwKHXvyDG0QMwgdKAEwAQ&iact=mrc&uact=8 (https://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvignette2.wikia.nocookie.net%2Fcastlevania%2Fimages%2F2%2F29%2FSomaDawn.jpg%2Frevision%2Flatest%3Fcb%3D20080227203754&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcastlevania.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FSoma_Cruz&docid=QhaBt0ErMNazXM&tbnid=RoOzL1FQzlprpM%3A&vet=1&w=800&h=1200&bih=741&biw=1517&ved=0ahUKEwjUtLTx78jQAhWLiLwKHXvyDG0QMwgdKAEwAQ&iact=mrc&uact=8)
https://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvignette2.wikia.nocookie.net%2Fcastlevania%2Fimages%2F2%2F29%2FSomaDawn.jpg%2Frevision%2Flatest%3Fcb%3D20080227203754&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcastlevania.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FSoma_Cruz&docid=QhaBt0ErMNazXM&tbnid=RoOzL1FQzlprpM%3A&vet=1&w=800&h=1200&bih=741&biw=1517&ved=0ahUKEwjUtLTx78jQAhWLiLwKHXvyDG0QMwgdKAEwAQ&iact=mrc&uact=8 (https://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvignette2.wikia.nocookie.net%2Fcastlevania%2Fimages%2F2%2F29%2FSomaDawn.jpg%2Frevision%2Flatest%3Fcb%3D20080227203754&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcastlevania.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FSoma_Cruz&docid=QhaBt0ErMNazXM&tbnid=RoOzL1FQzlprpM%3A&vet=1&w=800&h=1200&bih=741&biw=1517&ved=0ahUKEwjUtLTx78jQAhWLiLwKHXvyDG0QMwgdKAEwAQ&iact=mrc&uact=8)
https://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fen%2F8%2F88%2FSoma_Cruz_(Castlevania_character).gif&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSoma_Cruz&docid=zynoGIssOP2V4M&tbnid=tY_FjX4bKbkmoM%3A&vet=1&w=370&h=768&bih=741&biw=1517&ved=0ahUKEwjUtLTx78jQAhWLiLwKHXvyDG0QMwgeKAIwAg&iact=mrc&uact=8 (https://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fen%2F8%2F88%2FSoma_Cruz_(Castlevania_character).gif&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSoma_Cruz&docid=zynoGIssOP2V4M&tbnid=tY_FjX4bKbkmoM%3A&vet=1&w=370&h=768&bih=741&biw=1517&ved=0ahUKEwjUtLTx78jQAhWLiLwKHXvyDG0QMwgeKAIwAg&iact=mrc&uact=8)
We must be from different planets X. ???
Although AOSoma looks a bit overly flamboyant he still has some life and charm to his overall appearance.
http://static.zerochan.net/Soma.Cruz.full.293071.jpg (http://static.zerochan.net/Soma.Cruz.full.293071.jpg)
DOSoma looks confused and from the 80's with shoulder pads like Diana Ross.
I think its because DoS artwork is so SO BAD. Take a look of HoDespair Soma and compare it with AoS Soma.
I agree with this. Taking his DoS outfit and putting it into a different artstyle really affects how it looks. The artstyle goes a LONG way in character design.
(https://castlevaniadungeon.net/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fvignette3.wikia.nocookie.net%2Fcastlevania%2Fimages%2Fe%2Fe4%2FSoma_-_CHD.PNG%2Frevision%2Flatest%3Fcb%3D20100826231939&hash=2e643f57c59bd9b533840d6e0fedb0a7)
His appearance in DoS applied to the Ayami Kojima art actually fits the overall feel of CV at the time better than his AoS outfit did. That's not to say I don't like his AoS appearance, though.
I didn't like using souls to make weapons as it only prolonged the game in a rather bland and painful way. And since you can only collect one boss soul you would have to play through the game twice in order to craft every weapon possible. No thanks. Just let me find said weapons on enemies or in the castle.What are you talking about? It's been awhile since I've played either game, but I don't remember what you mean by this at all. :-S
What are you talking about? It's been awhile since I've played either game, but I don't remember what you mean by this at all. :-S
Quick reminder that Julius was born in 1980 and will be 55 years old in AoS. And he still kicked-ass in AoS and become so much of weakling in DoS is just unacceptable. Being one year older wouldn't make so much difference in age of mid-50s.
Oh, I agree for sure. I was just being silly by saying he had a bad year. I'm about a 100% sure they only made him a weaker in DoS because they needed to make sure Yoko and Alucard had a chance to be used too.
Weapon synthesis was a new feature added to the game. You could do it at Yoko's shop, exchanging enemy souls for new weapons. Some of these weapons, such as the Valmanway, required boss souls, meaning that if you want to collect every weapon and collect every soul, you're forced to play through the game multiple times or go through Boss Rush Mode.
That, and the fact that soul skills now level up, were the two new major features added for the soul system.
They nerfed him purely due to difficulty, plain and simple. Does anyone remember how hard you could troll with Julius in AOS? (It was Easy mode I tells ya)
There actually could be a reason for it. At the end of AOS Julius mentions that the Vk's power (rage) was fading. I don't see why it wouldn't come back if there was another Dark Lord on the brink of emerging (during DOS' events) however it may be the fact that because Castlevania itself was no longer there, this played its part. For a period of 30 or so years, Julius left the VK inside an eclipse sealed Castlevania to "weaken it"(English version's translation) so perhaps over time it's full unlocked power (as we see in POR) fades away without Castlevania's presence.
In another thread someone had also put forth a convincing theory that the Belmonts' blood and the eternal corridor's seal are what prevents Castlevania from re-appearing. So perhaps if it's not there, the full power (rage) isn't unlocked by default. (This could also make an interesting theory as to why Simon had to add power ups to the VK during Simon's Quest).
Anyways, as for Julius' physical form such as his weak superjump in DOS, there should have been a specific reason for it. But I'm glad it wasn't another AOS troll mode.
Julius is still cool, but I don't get why Julius is so much nerfed as of narrative settings, like he can't even defeat Dario.
Can say that. This version was much like a throwback of Dracula's curse. Whilst I can say its even much superior then the main DoS, but some complains.
- Where's Grant?
- Y no stat screen? Its not that hard to program a extra stat screen IGA.
- At least allow us for potions. I still can't beat Soma for damn sake.
They nerfed him purely due to difficulty, plain and simple. Does anyone remember how hard you could troll with Julius in AOS? (It was Easy mode I tells ya)
There actually could be a reason for it. At the end of AOS Julius mentions that the Vk's power (rage) was fading. I don't see why it wouldn't come back if there was another Dark Lord on the brink of emerging (during DOS' events) however it may be the fact that because Castlevania itself was no longer there, this played its part. For a period of 30 or so years, Julius left the VK inside an eclipse sealed Castlevania to "weaken it"(English version's translation) so perhaps over time it's full unlocked power (as we see in POR) fades away without Castlevania's presence.
In another thread someone had also put forth a convincing theory that the Belmonts' blood and the eternal corridor's seal are what prevents Castlevania from re-appearing. So perhaps if it's not there, the full power (rage) isn't unlocked by default. (This could also make an interesting theory as to why Simon had to add power ups to the VK during Simon's Quest).
Anyways, as for Julius' physical form such as his weak superjump in DOS, there should have been a specific reason for it. But I'm glad it wasn't another AOS troll mode.
To answer 1 and 2:
Hammer was supposed to be Grant. But due to Konami, IGA was given way to small of a budget and way less time to finish the game. It is already good enough that IGA included a Julius mode given all the restraints he was facing.
For question 3:
No choice but to get better at the game like all the old school vanias.
He CAN defeat Dario. The issue is that he can't access the demon bound to Dario's soul, and thus, Dario's got unlimited stamina/firepower.
They basically cheated to make Dario defeat Julius. Remember: Julius can still destroy demons that needed seals to be destroyed without using seals at all. He destroyed them so fast they couldn't regenerate.
About VK's fading power, VK still held power even in the Belmont's exile during Leon's time to Trevor's time, which, (not considering Sonia cuz she's non-canon) the power did not fade away, actually, it became stronger. Also when the Morris' had the VK (Bloodlines and PoR), it was still as effective as. Even en Bloodlines, Castlevania was in its ruin then. Thinking that the Dracula is still around and dark power still lurking (like Celia) (also that Castlevania is technically still existing; just in the solar eclipse. If it was gone for good, we wouldn't be seeing AoS anyway) , I really don't think VK lost its power in any way.
Also, Julius' age don't matter, cuz like in AoS he was a kickass, and in Adventures, Christopher was narratively stronger then Soleiyu (or that is at least how I type it). Thinking of that, I don't think age doesn't matter for Belmont's thousand year-old vampire hunting. (We can say about Eric or Morris Baldwin, but they are nit Belmont, so hey ho!)I literally never commented on Julius' age :-X
Good call with Grant/ Hammer Shiroi, beat me to the punch :)
I think you're misunderstanding my comment in context to a few facts:
Re: LOI - The Castle in LOI (although unconfirmed) is not considered to be the original Castlevania i.e. the one seen in Castlevania III. Because the VK was conceived at the time of LOI and Dracula didn't have 'his own Castle'. This would not apply. The VK's power (rage) could have faded after CVIII and become completely active again by CV1.
-Re: Bloodlines - True that when the Morris clan during Bloodlines had it, it was at Castle Prosperina, though Castlevania was never resurrected at this time and the game was made a long time ago.
-Re: POR - The Morris/ Lecarde descendants only unlock it when Castlevania has been resurrected once again.
-I never said the Vk was "gone for good"
-I never made the assumption the Vk's "power faded", I only assumed that the VK's power is its rage; Sara's rage from LOI.
This is not an assumption as it is said at the end of AOS by Julius, I even recall a thread discussion (which I believe I started) where Shiroi translated this line in Japanese, and it was basically the same.*
*I reiterate, not saying the VK's power is completely gone, simply that it's rage has been quelled temporarily.
However, the Castlevania<>VK link is simply a theory. Given the context of what all the games have in common, it's Dracula's potential resurrection, or more specifically, the resurrection of the Dark Lord (which also covers Soma). Because of this, the VK's rage would still be at max during the events of DOS. Hence, why I stated initially prior to my theory that Julius was nerfed so hard to give his mode more difficulty - his super jump being nerfed is evidence of this, and the proof being that in Soma's mode Julius outright scales the entry to the castle with Yoko commenting that he was able to do it because, well "He's Julius"
I literally never commented on Julius' age :-X
All has different opinion. And the fact that VK theory is only a fan assumption
Mate, this is not a fan assumption.
Opinions are based on both interpretation of facts and making assumptions. The difference between a well formed opinion and a random uninformed opinion = this: Your opinion means 5 parts of F-all if you're just throwing statements around willy nilly.
Back to the matter at hand it's all contained in this thread:
http://castlevaniadungeon.net/forums/index.php/topic,8229.msg183115.html#msg183115 (http://castlevaniadungeon.net/forums/index.php/topic,8229.msg183115.html#msg183115)
Some cliffnotes to save everyone (who cares) time in Chronological order:
Julius Belmont: You fought well. When we fled the castle, I felt the power from Vampire Killer fading away. I don't know what that means. But I won't have to do anything for the time being. -Best (canon) ending; AOS
Me:
"I'll try explaining it this way: the power of the VK is due to Sara's soul. The more rage that its soul has ie during a Dracula battle [at its maximum] the more potential or latent "power"[rage] dwells within the VK."
Shiroi translated the Japanese script as this:
Julius Belmont: "When I(we) escaped the castle, I noticed that the Vampire Killer has lost* its power."
"I don't know what this means but, it seems that I'm going to have some spare time."
Plottwist points out DOS' Library mode entry:
Vampire Killer:
A whip that destroys all that is associated with the dark creatures of the night. As a result of an ancient blood pact, it can only be used by a Belmont. Its power was temporarily weakened last year when Soma broke free of his destiny as the dark lord. However, its potent power has not been entirely lost.
Me:
"If its "potent power" wasn't completely active during DoS I then wonder if this is a canon explanation to why Julius was significantly nerfed between the two games."
This is explained in 2 games, it doesn't differ in the Japanese version, thus there was no poetic licence taken by English translators. I don't say this often or ever, but if your opinion differs to this then your opinion is fan fiction.
Get it. Maybe I needed more research on it. Sorry for underestimating u VK :)
However, this bring up to:
If VK was still powerful, how could Julius lose to Dario? I no its repetitive but I seek explanation plz!
It's been since DOS was released that I've played it so I don't have every single detail fresh. However, the thing is - and this is the difference between AOS and DOS - that Julius could not seal the creatures the way that Soma could. Julius mentions to Soma that (canonically) he could destroy the monsters to the point where they couldn't regenerate. Although a normal person would not be supposed to be able to do this, Julius can. (The same way he's able to scale the Castle entry in DOS).
The best assumptions are that the VK for most of the sequence of events in DOS (until the Dark Lord candidates start rearing their heads), the VK's rage(latent power) was quite possibly
surpressed. This would have made it extremely difficult for Julius to destroy any monsters let a lone a Dark Lord Candidate (even with the VK's rage rising) as he could have been worn out from fighting hundreds of other monsters and having to destroy their remains. Soma on the other hand could simply destroy them once and seal them.
It is unknown how long Julius fought Dario for. There are assumptions that have to be made. For instance, the player (as Soma) only seals the bosses, but judging by what Julius says to Soma (from what I recall) in the canonical sense, each defeated creature would be sealed. Given Julius can't do this it takes an incredible amount of power to do what he does. Given Dario's example Julius may have been able to fight on par with Dario but been unable to subdue him and destroy his remains. Therefore after fighting a long arduous battle, Julius couldn't finish the job.
Indeed. Even Simon Belmont can't do something of that scale. But I think that scene was unnecessary. If the mean was to make Dario look strong, maybe Dario could come and taunt Soma and teleport away. I doesn't make any sense, but better then seeing our kickass Belmont gets beaten. That was, I think was kind of insult to the Belmont clan, which is officially the strongest of Vampire hunters. Should have done something else than that.
Indeed. Even Simon Belmont can't do something of that scale.
If the mean was to make Dario look strong, maybe Dario could come and taunt Soma and teleport away. I doesn't make any sense, but better then seeing our kickass Belmont gets beaten. That was, I think was kind of insult to the Belmont clan, which is officially the strongest of Vampire hunters. Should have done something else than that.
I have to politely disagree. Simon Belmont is essentially Castlevania's Conan the Barbarian (whom simon is based off of in the artwork). And Dario is nothing more then a pyromaniac-happy punk who'd get his s**t kicked in by one of the most manliest Belmont's to have ever walked the Earth.
There was no excuse for Julius to lose to Dario. It was poor writing that was not thought out as well as it could have been.X, this is why I kept referring to DOS' library that plottwist pointed out long ago. The VK's power (rage) "faded" after AOS even though its latent power did not. However if it's power did not return this is ground enough for him not to defeat Dario (Dark Lord Candidate) imo.
So, Enough talk! Let's talk something that relates to the topic!AOS>DOS :P
X, this is why I kept referring to DOS' library that plottwist pointed out long ago. The VK's power (rage) "faded" after AOS even though its latent power did not. However if it's power did not return this is ground enough for him not to defeat Dario (Dark Lord Candidate) imo.
Look at it this way, in comparison to Julius, Leon has mystical blood but couldn't defeat Walter with the Whip of Alchemy, but he could with the VK (optimal rage). It doesn't make him a weakling, it doesn't take away from his physical abilities (in game or other), but he doesn't have the capability.
I see the VK's rage having faded = Whip of Alchemy, and Walter was just a vampire (although a powerful one at that) he was not a Dark Lord Candidate.
But still, Julius was able to defeat Soma in Julius mode. If the VK did not have its power, Julius would not be able to defeat Soma, who is much more powerful then Dario.
Julius mode is not canon, Julius doesn't seal bosses etc.
You're forgetting that Julius, Yoko and Alucard are all fighting Soma in that mode also, just as Trevor, Alucard, Sypha and Grant are in CVIII - if you want to make that comparison.
Well, Julius mode is like alternative route instead of non-canon. So, it is still a canon, at least I consider it as.
Also, unlike PoR, there is only one hunter at the time, so I can say that if I play only as Julius, Julius alone defeated Soma. It doesn't make sense in form of story, but in the sense of gameplay, it's possible to say that.
Thou shall not judge the story by the gameplay. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GameplayAndStorySegregation)
DOS Julius Mode says Julius is fighting alongside Alucard and Yoko. It doesn't really matter if he was fighting alone, gameplay wise. And it does make sense for him to have company, since the VK is weakened. Remember Aria? He fought Somacula alone in the bad ending, and the VK's power was still full.
You can traverse the entirety of CVIII without ever picking up any partner -- the story is that the four of them destroyed Dracula together.
So, true, in the gameplay sense you can say that. But you can't evoke the gameplay to measure plot feats on most cases (in special when the plot contradicts the gameplay), because you'll end up with a bunch of inconsistencies like the one just now e.g. Julius' VK is weakened yet he can defeat Somacula alone. This is a contradiction solved by the plot, not the gameplay, therefore you're talking oranges and Zangetsu is talking apples.
I do know that gameplay does not link to the story. But it wouldn't make any narrational sense that a Belmont would be defeated by mere Dario.
Only Belmont's are able to seal Dracula with full power. And in CVIII, Dracula indeed had its full power.
Also notable is that Simon, with a fatal illness and completely on his own, was still able to defeat Dracula, all by himself.
So, if a 'chronically weaker' 'dying' Belmont was able to not only defeat, but collect his remains and defeat Draclua alone, I think age is not an excuse to make him lose to a weakling who doesn't even have the full power. I know that Julius would not be able to defeat him, but correct representation of a Belmont power would most likely to lead to Dario's retreat or a stalemate.
In SotN, Alucard did not defeat him, but he persuaded Dracula with Lisa's words to make Dracula retreat on his own will.
I mean, I agree with you that it's kinda silly. But, as people told here: Julius has a weakened Vampire Killer, and the demon granting Dario with power is beyond Julius' reach. He can't defeat a demon he can't touch.
This is incorrect. Dracula didn't possess his full power on Castlevania III and Trevor still needed help. This is confirmed to be the case on Castlevania: Judgment:
(https://castlevaniadungeon.net/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FnbCVpL8.png&hash=1ff82774d4572d9ad9fd22b2d3768e85)
Explained on the official guide to be possible because Dracula, too, was severelly weakened from being revived with only one of his relics.
Unless the stars are right (Demon beyond reach, Whip weakened) then I think this is debatable.
Also incorrect -- Alucard did indeed best Dracula in battle, albeit a weakened one. On the japanese script Dracula specifically wonders how it's possible for him to be bested by Alucard, who tells him that his will to protect his mother's memory gave him enough strength.
Well, about Dracula's power in CVIII, because Dracula's power is a growing thing. In context of post-CVIII (like SotN), it wouldn't be full, but in time of CVIII, it was his strongest, not being defeated yet.
Also, it was one of weak appearance of Dracula with irregular revival, not the regular 100-year revival.
but if Dracula was utterly destroyed, Dracula would not be able to have a conversation with Alucard, probably be destroyed immediately, like how he just bursts into flame in other Castlevania games
I'll keep it short since I'm on mobile.
Don't judge story by gameplay because it's not rational; thank you plottwist.
Furthermore Trevor and 3 other people defeat Dracula in CV III. This mode of switching players is based on CV III. POR is irrelevant because it's the exact same scenario, switch between 2 characters, but canonically all the protagonists are fighting together.
C4 I'm not really fussed if you believe the non-narrative endings to be canon, but there's only one REAL ending for each game. The reason I don't consider what I believe are "non-canon" endings (the ones which don't continue the story) to be canon is that you have to then consider every non-canon ending to be canon. The only time I consider this is if a plot/ narrative/ timeline can actually continue (see my signature) OR when the plot makes sense and stops the player from doing what they shouldn't be able to do i.e.
- Sisters mode in POR is canon, they can't beat Brauner and the story doesn't allow it.
- Richter and Maria mode in POR is non-canon for obvious reasons.
- AOS' Somacula ending is non-canon because then DOS can't happen.
As for my final say on the Julius/ Dario debacle, first of all its canon, so we all need to get over it. Secondly, using a VK with little to zero power(rage) is like using the whip of alchemy. Leon wasn't weak, but he couldn't beat Walter. Death got rid of Walter in 5 seconds, and with the VK at full power, Leon was able to beat Death. The truth and the canon shows us that the VK's state makes a huge difference to the state of a Belmont's power. The VK was left in Castlevania to weaken the entire damn Castle, that's overly substantial power. Facts>emotion when it comes to rationalising narrative.
This brings me to the next point that compared to AOS, the plot in DOS well it sucks. Soma nearly becoming the Dark Lord is a fair plot point, but a lot of the story is reaching; Julius<Dario, The Castle bring a carbon copy of Castlevania (despite people pointing out it may be LOI's Castle), Dmitri and the whole Menace scenario, the narrative was not as good as AOS. They wanted to make another Sorrow title, and however the plot unfolded it would have probably been weaker than AOS imho.
Dawn's soundtrack is actually pretty good. It's definitely above average for Yamane's compositions. Granted, its weak points are VERY weak, and much more noticeable, but I think the soundtrack is a solid B grade in the scheme of Yamane's work. Aria's is better, imo, but I don't feel that we should trash EVERYTHING that Dawn of Sorrow did just because it's overall a weaker package. Dawn did a lot on the gameplay front REALLY WELL, and the soundtrack is a big part of that success.
That being said, Dawn has without a doubt the most forgettable villains in the series history, ones we only remember in an ironic fashion resulting from how forgettable they otherwise would have been.
Which is a shame, as Celia could have been a really awesome non-action big bad who could have gotten Soma to question his morality with words, and Dario and Dmitrii both have some very brief moments that hint at the quality writing we could have gotten from them. It suggests far deeper characters than we got, and I think that describes just about everything the game did wrong -- none of it is TERRIBLE by itself, but when it's so similar to such a stellar predecessor, the spots where they pulled their punches in development become that much more obvious and glaring.
I actually do believe Celia was a good character as an antagonist and I liked her design, as opposed to Dario and Dmitri (both terrible designs). The fact Soma never got to fight her was an interesting twist, it was unexpected and left her abilities shrouded in mystery. She wasn't as good a character as Graham, but still decent.
Soma isn't strictly Dracula though. He's the potential Dark Lord and he is a reincarnation of Dracula, but the games make great pains to call out his similarities to pre-desperation Mathias rather than post-Transformation Dracula. This doesn't make him "Dracula", it makes him (potentially) next in line for the role Dracula operated in. If he must be one or the other, Soma is Mathias returned, not Dracula returned.
So I say all of that to reiterate that him confronting Dracula in some form would have been more appropriate
In my opinion.
Soma isn't strictly Dracula though. He's the potential Dark Lord and he is a reincarnation of Dracula, but the games make great pains to call out his similarities to pre-desperation Mathias rather than post-Transformation Dracula. This doesn't make him "Dracula", it makes him (potentially) next in line for the role Dracula operated in. If he must be one or the other, Soma is Mathias returned, not Dracula returned.
I'm gonna summon PlotTwist for this as he can explain it far more eloquently than I.
So I say all of that to reiterate that him confronting Dracula in some form would have been more appropriate from a storytelling standpoint than Generic-Looking Giant Corpse Monster. It also would have been a more interesting boss fight. In its own way, Menace attempts to accomplish that same warning-end about losing control of one's self/powers, but fails to tell it as well as a direct confrontation between Soma and the very image of his Evil Destiny would have.
'spirit' and 'Soul' are the same thing. Just different names to describe the same non-corporal entity (Though 'spirit' can be used to describe other things like energy). Soma is Dracula, no question there. But reincarnated into a new life. There is no evil entity separate from Soma's soul/spirit. There is the chaotic influence that will push Soma to darkness as he was before being killed permanently, but it is in no way a separate spirit. Soma is complete. He just doesn't have the influential driving force directing him to do evil things because, as mentioned before, he is living a new life.
It's why Soma goes to sever the flow of Chaos, and why he's not literally fighting an entity in the form of Dracula.
Lovely, didn't know we had the "phone a friend" option.
@Plottwist It's unfortunate you believe it's too literal, I know Soma =/= The Dracula that lived from prior to 1094 - 1999, nor the "entity" Dracula in the way you have explained and that's not what I was saying. I'm well aware the title of being "Dracula" is a matter of semantics, just as Graham believed he was Dracula.
I was making a point that by the same token that Bloody Aperture is saying "He's not Dracula(definition not withstanding)"
he's also saying that Soma is "Mathias returned" etc, which is also not relevant to anything being discussed. Is he? YES/ NO - It doesn't matter, it's not relevant to the discussion. The discussion was about Soma had become "Dracula" i.e. The Dark Lord, etc.
Soma already had this battle with "Chaos", which prevented him from becoming "Dracula". it's exactly why he had to stop the flow of Chaos. A "Dracula" entity is not going to take physical manifestation in this context and/ or set of events, because the entire point is to pass the torch to the next Dark Lord.
This is one of the reasons I prefer AoS over DoS. As much as I like DoS, AoS was the first Castlevania to do a lot of things exceptionally with both the narrative and character development.
Lovely, didn't know we had the "phone a friend" option.
I think he was more drawing reference to you quoting all the dialogue mentioning the name. From an in-universe perspective, nobody in Aria (possibly not even Alucard) knows about Mathias or the events that made him evil. The entity/person/demigod/whatever to them is simply "Dracula." Soma could be Mathias' soul reincarnated all day long, but as far as everyone else knows/cares, he's Dracula.
'spirit' and 'Soul' are the same thing. Just different names to describe the same non-corporal entity (Though 'spirit' can be used to describe other things like energy).
[Entirely Parodical EDIT]
[because I got a good chuckle at the thought]
How not to be a dark lord: the answer to that is a terribly interesting answer that involves an almost Jedi-like adherence to keeping oneself under control and finding ways to be true to yourself in a way that doesn't encourage the worst parts of you to become dangerously exaggerated and instead feeds your better nature. Also, protip: don't fuck with Alchemy or strike up any deals with ancient Japanese Shinigami gods no matter how tempting the deal or how suavely dressed the Shinigami is.
OK this actually isn't generally right. Using "soul" and "spirit" interchangeably is a relatively new thing, starting mainly with Augustine's line of thought.
For a great long time of human philosophy/theology, spirit, soul and body were understood as three separate pieces of a being: Psyche, Pneuma and Soma. This was called Tripartide Anthropology, and comes since ancient Greek times. Forward time a little, and you see early Christianity adopting it to explain what is God breathing into the clay model to create man. Soul is literally treated as the "power source" of a human, while spirit is one's mind, consciousness, will, personality, basically what makes a person unique, intellect-wise. It's the self. The meanings of "Pneuma" and "Psyche" were exchanged in many interpretations (Psyche meaning "Mind" or "Soul" depending on what author/philosopher you're reading). But the concept is generally similar across time, and hasn't been abandoned. Today you have both suporters for the tripartide and bipartide views.
Later today I'll create another thread talking of Soma and the evil spirit (with evidence), because the thing is huge.
Those are sound points D9, thank you for expanding on the Mathiesque idea.
The parallel of DoS Soma seeing Mina killed and being pushed into Dark Lordism also reiterates something of interest, that the unfavourable/ less complete multiple endings are actually 'canon' but only in the sense that they never get to happen. (Well at least not all of them, depending on one's own headcanon and so forth)
The discussion has taken an interesting turn. I still stand by AoS>DoS, though given the choice and time I will try DoS as I've not played it as much. (Death was much more badass in DoS)
I think DoS is more open ended then other games because we don't have a sequel. Unless Igarashi stated that True ending is the canon, I think both ending will work, especially with Julius mode.
(Death was much more badass in DoS)
The game does have a sequel, actually: The novel.
So you could say Igarashi did state what is the canon ending of DoS. And it's the one where Soma defeats the cult.
Fam, one doesn't simply ignore that huge-ass double-bladed scythe from AoS.
Fam, one doesn't simply ignore that huge-ass double-bladed scythe from AoS.