Castlevania Dungeon Forums
The Castlevania Dungeon Forums => General Castlevania Discussion => Topic started by: Marto on September 14, 2007, 07:36:34 AM
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I'm sorry, but lets face it. Castlevania for the DS is as the DS provides: Children's entertainment. And now Iga will probably yet again create another atrocity that will make all the castlevania fans pitchfork their eyes.
Anything from heroes with cliche catchphrases like "No problem!", down to sixteen year olds striking "sexy poses" saying "Not, bad, huh?" Portrait of Ruin was in many ways a disaster. Outside of Nation of Fools, that game made me very disappointed in the twentieth anniversary game. Huge downgrade.
Dawn of Sorrow was no better. Sure perhaps a little better at retaining the Castlevania feel with it's gothic, wintery environment ( I guess even the mood changed seasons, since castlevania's always been very fall inspired), but its music was a laughing stock. Playful melodies that sounded like they spouted form the saturday morning cartoons only made those looking forward to the gothic game mourn even more. Blushing Soma, moronic Hammer acting like a prepubescent school girl whenever Yoko's mentioned, it all just seemed like one bad dream, alas it was not.
Currently, even Harmony of Dissonance, which despite my personal bias, I'm aware wasn't a fan favourite, seems like a remedy in comparison to the DS titles. Now, with the announcement of a new DS game, I think I'm discouraged enough to simply dig into Symphony of the Night, the soon to be released DXC, and the gameboy advance installments for comfort and to remember the beautiful days when Kojima graced the art department of the game, and Michiru Yamane provided the dark gloomy tunes we all love.
People complain about his Playstation 2 games, which have giant fanbases non-the-less (Specifically LoI), yet it makes me wonder, are the any others that realize how much more horrifying and terrible the DS installments were?
:-\ Poor, poor Castlevania. You now have attained the face of a generic saturday morning cartoon with melodies that make you feel like two Pokemon are battling it out, while anime-faced heroes walk proudly in cliche outfits with appropriately terrible catchphrases...
Marto
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Well, it's only the last two that have been really bad. And there's been much worse. Aside from Haunted Castle and the computer clones of the original, we did go through a spell of Legends,64, and LoD. Fortunately the GBA titles got the series back on track.
Besides, not everyone thinks these are terrible games. PoR, the 64 games, and even Legends and CoD(!) have their followers. It's not like these people are stupid, these games have something appealing about them that some enjoy while most don't.
While I agree with you on your sentiments about PoR, I think you are being a bit too much of a drama queen.
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In Reply To #2
I'm personally a fan of the Playstation2 games, along with the other games that Kojima illustrated. I like her designs, and to me, she has the true taste of what the game stands for. Obviously, Yamane's music is tied along with the art, but maybe that's just my bias since I myself am an artist.
Legends, I can see why people like the main character, since she's the only female protagonist of castlevania that's had the spotlight to herself.
And you're right, Castlevania has been through worse, but you'd expect that the last two installments would have been more than simply testing things, instead of developing a solid game. Dawn of Sorrow was a 'been there, done that' type of game, with prettier graphics, while Portrait of Ruin promised so much exotic flavour to it, yet not only did it feel bland, but I can't even remember most of the game due to the lacking design and monotonous gameplay. Too many things in the DS installments felt incomplete. The characters felt like their development was from child-like, to adult in a matter of the game's events, which felt unrealistic.
What I mean by that is, in HoD, LoI, CoD, even LoD, when you met the characters, they allready had depth, and established character. Portrait of Ruin and Dawn of Sorrow felt bland in that sense, and characters seemed like empty slates when first introduced.
I think ever since Curse of Darkness, Iga's been quite flaky of developing stages that actually have flavour. It's almost as if though his team lost inspiration to give vitality to the environment, and that's a major mistake considering that the surroundings have always been the one of the most important things in maintaining the game's mood. The main character/villain, and the music are probably right up there with it. Curse of Darkness had the music (save from the Infinite Corridor, and Dracula's castle :'( which sucked, bluntly put), and the character designs were fantastic, which is expected from Ayami Kojima. But the stage designs were unoriginal and kind of even repetitive, except for the Eneomaos Machine Tower and Garibaldi Temple, which wre interesting in their design. Also, one thing I didn't like about that game, that I think LoI did a lot better, was that the game almost never took place inside of ...well...Castlevania! Except for the Abandoned Castle, and that shitty boxed-up excuse that was Dracula's Castle, the rest was all outdoorsy crap. Again, with the exception of the beautiful Clock Tower, and the elaborate Garibaldi Temple.
:'( Castlevania, Castlevania, where is thy gothickness, Castlevania.
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Well...in first place CV is CV...
second, I hate the anime style, and those "pseudo side story" of PoR
In third place..I'm a CoD fan >.<
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In Reply To #4
I like Curse of Darkness too. Kojima's designs were top-notch. I loved Isaac. He simply had the coolest weapons, and Abel, his Devil, was phenomenal!
If only the stages were more creative.
That, and the game had Iytei, the abominable snow-devil. Okay, so the second part is my own addition, but so what?
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Basicly I like all of the games. POR and DOS were a bit of a downside I agree, While I like anime in general it's not a theme you should add to Castlevania. IF you want castlevania you need dark,shady themes with gothic music.
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In Reply To #1
So basically, what you're saying is if DoS & PoR each had Kojima as the artist and got rid of the humor (which shouldn't even be taken into consideration being that it's not a big deal), the games overall would be better than they were? Interesting logic..
Personally I felt that each of the DS games were competant, well made games to the series. Don't get me confused, I'm not saying they're spectacular but they're not completely shit, because if they were nobody would've bought them. I have high hopes for the next DS game, I'm pretty sure the whole Rondo of Blood-era sprites & the like are done with.
But if it isn't, then I might have to reassess my thoughts on the matter.
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In Reply To #1
So basically, what you're saying is if DoS & PoR each had Kojima as the artist and got rid of the humor (which shouldn't even be taken into consideration being that it's not a big deal), the games overall would be better than they were? Interesting logic..
Plot and characterization do have an effect on a game's quality, and Dawn and Portrait's childish presentation is one of their most glaring flaws.
I have high hopes for the next DS game, I'm pretty sure the whole Rondo of Blood-era sprites & the like are done with.
But if it isn't, then I might have to reassess my thoughts on the matter.
There is no reason to believe Igarashi and company won't continue to take those shortcuts as long as they possibly can.
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In Reply To #8
So I guess my advice to you is to.. stop buying CV games? It seems like you have no hope at all.
I wonder what the next gen CV will be like.
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I thought DOS was okay.... I LOVED POR! But honestly... I feel you on the anima thing. When they first started that Crap in Drac X I hated it... with time I've learned to appreciate it. But honestly... I think castlevania needs to go back to it's dark roots.
We are talking about monsters who go around tearing humans apart and doing HORRIBLE things to them, in the most gruesome manners here. And then we are talking about a hero who is then going forth to slaughter them all in a pretty brutal fashion all his own.
I can remember how in Castlevania (X68000) there were several particularly brutal and bloody backgrounds, and they were great. What the hell is some 16 year old girl doing running around a violent and bloody place, commenting on how she is not a child? In a skirt and heels no less? WTF is dracula's castle a nightclub now? ::)
They need to stop this kiddy shit, and go back to what castlevania originally was.. a horror genre side scrolling platformer. Not some anime type, teeny bopper, high high puffy ami yumi style platformer.
P.S. If I see ONE MORE GAME by IGA with a stupid furniture collecting quest, I'm gonna buy a ticket to japan, just so I can fly down there... and then BEAT him with the furniture in his offce! lol
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For me it was the opposite. Dos's main mode was kinda annoying with those seals but J mode was pure bliss. Three characters, each different, each had skills others had to rely on to progress (unlike por where jonathan had everything you needed and charlotte was just an addon with no specific relics of her own to give her unique skills, more like a secondary attack with R), it had some storyline, relevance to the plot and a completely new final boss, who while could use some more attacks than the one he got was a great fanservice.
Por's main mode was as annoying as dos's mainly due to all the things they tried to include and wasted by just using them once then forgetting all about them or just plainly running out of imagination for the uses of it, its storyline which was as bad as dos, plus its extra modes all sucked balls.
The only one with relevance to the plot was butchered by nonexistant gameplay which should have been left for the pointless bonus enemy modes, Richter was so watered down from his sotn version he felt more like a Julius sprite swap and maria forgot most of her attacks.
Not to mention the ds games have too cherful happy color palettes. Everything's bright and neony, almost to the extent of rondo or even hod in few cases.
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Hello, my name is efin, and I... loved... the DS games. *sniff*
It's... it's okay. Just give me a moment.
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Not to mention the ds games have too cherful happy color palettes. Everything's bright and neony, almost to the extent of rondo or even hod in few cases.
d
Yeah, those neony colors don't go well with Castlevania. They should use darker palettes instead.
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I don`t like that anime art, when will IGA learn what fans really want? Ayami Kojima should be doing the art for the next DS game!
Also, Jonathan seemed a pretty stupid character, I didn`t like him at all..who writes that stupid dialogue, anyway?
I agree, they should make a darker Castlevania, with no humor (the humor ruins it all). And AYAMI KOJIMA ART!
I am so pissed about that. Why go with the hideous anime art and humor? So that 4-year-olds will buy them?? That`s pretty shitty reason. That concept for the game turns out to be far away from the real Castlevania.
My conclusion: we have to reach out to IGA and demand what we want. Castlevania should be castlevania and not some funny anime crap. AAAAAAAAAARGH!
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In Reply To #1
So basically, what you're saying is if DoS & PoR each had Kojima as the artist and got rid of the humor (which shouldn't even be taken into consideration being that it's not a big deal), the games overall would be better than they were? Interesting logic..
You were listening, huh? I said that the games need Darker music, more thought-out gameplay, and much, MUCH better stage designs, and serious storylines that stay true to the humor-free adult-oriented/late teen Castlevanias that actually made the series what it is...scratch that, was.
And yes, in my eyes, no Castlevania's a true Castlevania without Kojima (surely I don't meant that, but since 1997, she's become an expectation to many many fans. She IS the gothic highlight of the series, and it's obvious that all the games that she didn't illustrate since Symphony were not as well taken.
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Dunno, i think the cotm artist did pretty well. Too bad the game itself kind of sucked with its poor controls and very repetitive enemy recolors, though it had a very high difficulty, something not seen in any other castleroid.
Even por's level 1 caps are just poor imitations.
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I don't understand the statement that the DS provides nothing but entertainment for children. I'm a young man well beyond my childhood years and I love the little machine. I also can't imagine a kid being into a game like Hotel Dusk.
Have you played Mega Man ZX? If you're disappointed in the recent CV games (as I am), this game's a nice place to find solace. It's basically the classic MM/MMX gameplay (complete with a boss in every area that gives you powers) fused with free-roaming and separate rooms a la SOTN. But unlike SOTN and the GBA/DS games, it's actually a platformer, and pretty tough to boot. Only complaint I have about it is the really odd map system. They should have just gone the route of the Super Metroid/SOTN map.
I wish Castlevania would do something like MMZX. Classic Castlevania platforming gameplay (with a whip, by golly) but with the nonlinear direction of SOTN. Bring some platforming fun and toughness back into the series already. That's what Castlevania WAS, a platformer! And sure, Simon's Quest kind of fits the bill, but that game has a lot of flaws.
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In Reply To #15
I understand where you're coming from, but you're just simply reiterating what's been said over and over for the past few years now. Castlevania isn't what it used to be, OK we get the point. There's nothing we could do about it until the next producer comes along.
I wish Castlevania would do something like MMZX.
I just hope people won't start calling it CastlevaniaZX lol.
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I just hope people won't start calling it CastlevaniaZX lol.
Yeah. :o I hate the Metroidvania name--which, by the way, is so much better and more descriptive than Castleroid. Seriously, Castleroid? What?
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Yeah. :o I hate the Metroidvania name--which, by the way, is so much better and more descriptive than Castleroid. Seriously, Castleroid? What?
That's what the technical term of getting hemorrhoids, from playing and getting irritated by the recent Castlevania games! If one develops symptoms of having Castleroids, one either needs to, (a)Stop playing them and stop complaining about them, (b)See a doctor, or (c)Get the Castleroid Hemorrhoid Cream
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In Reply To #19
Sounds like an STD, huh? :-X
And perhaps I was a bit harsh on calling the DS kids' entertainment, but it is mainly a system geared toward younger audience, unlike the PSP, which tends to have more T, and M rated games.
Oh, and I got that mega man game yesterday coincidentally, and it's very enjoyable.
And yes, maybe I should ask my physician for Casteroid Cream. What was it called...Cast-away?
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And perhaps I was a bit harsh on calling the DS kids' entertainment, but it is mainly a system geared toward younger audience, unlike the PSP, which tends to have more T, and M rated games.
Regardless, the DS has a much larger library of worthwhile games. :P New Super Mario Bros. is rated E, sure, but so what? It's one of the finest games ever made.
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Well, I actually like Dawn. Portrait was a bit of a let-down but I actually thought Harmony was the best one for GBA.
I'm not one of those guys that think the series totally sucks without Kojima but my faith in it has waivered slightly since playing Portrait.
To me, Castlevania is really a series that should follow the rule of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
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In Reply To #15
Uh, DoS and PoR were pretty "well taken"...
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Wow, I sat and read this entire thread and I have to disagree with the DOS and POR bashing I'm sorry.
In my own defense, in every sense of the word though, I am a fan. Have been since CV's inception.
Granted, yes LOI and COD were both very much darker and sinister games which took the feel and dread of vania visually to another level. Compared to the 64's, I still don't think any 3d game can hold a candle to the 64's (or meat for that matter)
Ok, maybe the DS games were directed toward a younger audience, you know Koji hasn't made it a secret that he has tried to capture the interest of new audiences and not just old farts like us.
But in DOS and POR's defense, they were both solid games. In my opinion which doesn't go for much, POR was pretty brilliant in its dual-gameplay mechanics: kinda reinventing Dracula's Curse gameplay.
Yes the story was a bit childish but I was as enthrawled as I ever was in any CV game as bits and pieces of the story were revealed. Very enjoyable for me. I think what was more disappointing though, was that my expectations for the console CV's was so high that I was a bit let down with both. Still love'em though.
Finally, I actually preferred Aria to Dawn. It just seems to me that they tried to recreate the experience of the original and COULD NOT capture it. Aria was f'ING great!.
Peace.
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Wow, I sat and read this entire thread and I have to disagree with the DOS and POR bashing I'm sorry.
In my own defense, in every sense of the word though, I am a fan. Have been since CV's inception.
Granted, yes LOI and COD were both very much darker and sinister games which took the feel and dread of vania visually to another level. Compared to the 64's, I still don't think any 3d game can hold a candle to the 64's (or meat for that matter)
Ok, maybe the DS games were directed toward a younger audience, you know Koji hasn't made it a secret that he has tried to capture the interest of new audiences and not just old farts like us.
But in DOS and POR's defense, they were both solid games. In my opinion which doesn't go for much, POR was pretty brilliant in its dual-gameplay mechanics: kinda reinventing Dracula's Curse gameplay.
Yes the story was a bit childish but I was as enthrawled as I ever was in any CV game as bits and pieces of the story were revealed. Very enjoyable for me. I think what was more disappointing though, was that my expectations for the console CV's was so high that I was a bit let down with both. Still love'em though.
Finally, I actually preferred Aria to Dawn. It just seems to me that they tried to recreate the experience of the original and COULD NOT capture it. Aria was f'ING great!.
Peace.
Portrait or Ruin was good gameplay ideas, but felt like they based difficulty on 'hey lets throw lots of monsters on the screen to show off the power of the system. If felt a little bit TOO young. And not only, but who gives a vampire killer about younger audience? The game's the game, and there's not need to change something that's already well established in its mood.
And yes, I'm one of those guys that thinks Castlevania's all about the mood, or else it might as well not be CV.
As for the consolevanias, I personally thought they were both very good, and a nice take on Castlevania, despite not quite being like the 2-D games in their feel. I loved LoI, and really liked CoD. Reason is, while I'd prefer replaying CoD over LoI due to gameplay, the music and stages were all pretty damn cool in LoI, while there were MANY parts in CoD that made me want to just ditch the game, and the only reason I played on was due to me being a fan, and nothing more. Example being: Infinite Corridor, and Dracula's Castle. Dracula's Castle was like a disease that just didn't want to go away. It was nauseatingly annoying. :-\
As for Aria over Dawn, it's because Dawn was far more happy, while Aria was perhaps one of the most dark and morbid of the Castlevanias, with its white mood casting a sense of desolation and ultimacy. Dawn felt colorful, playful, gothic at times, but more Symphonyish in its carry-out, so I do agree with you on Aria being better.
And I don't agree that Dawn at all tried to capture the Aria feel. In my opinion, they put no thought into doing so, aside from using the soul system. That's not a bad thing, considering it gave us a good, new Castlevania. ...Sans the shitty art, bubbly music (save few tracks), and horrible plotline that came out of a saturday morning cartoon suited for Yu-Gi-Oh.
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I agree with Marto. DoS and PoR had their strong points, but conveying the mood that is Castlevania is not one of them. Play PoR. Then play SCIV. Their respective atmospheres are too different for my liking. If younger kids aren't into Castlevania, fine. You don't see the Silent Hill series try to attract kids with horrible artwork and plotlines that insult the average I.Q.
If it's not geared for kids, then that's the way things are.
Adding cheap childish gimmicks can do more harm than good; it's easy to alienate the older fansbase to where they think to themselves "What has happened to Castlevania?" And though as mediocre as CoD was, it's grim plot at least showed that Konami at least wasn't trying to go kiddie with the entire series.
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They also need to stop OVERKILLING on the number of options available to characters. PErfect example: SOTN's Alucard... let's review the list:
3 forms he can change to.... neat. But wait! What about!?
Spells: Summon Spirit, Tetra Spirit, Dark Metamorphosis, hellfire, souls steal, sword brothers, wolf charge, wing smash....
Those were all fine.. but then we have...
Shield rod spells.... one for each shield.
Slight overkill there.... but okay. BUT THEN we HAVE....
9 Sub weapons....
And don't get me wrong.... I like sub weapons... but what about.
One time use weapons... shuriken (4 types), boomerang (2 types), Pentagram (2 types), power of sire, Monster Vials (3 types), bwaka knife, javelin, tnt, dynamite, iron ball, etc. etc. blah blah.
And let's not forget...
5-7 FAMILIARS ALSO!
And then look what richter has....
9 sub weapons...
About 6 specials....
10 item crashes.
AND THAT'S IT! Tell me, who in the fukkin world is gonna use ALL THOSE THINGS FOR ALUCARD!? And for WHAT REASON? It's juts overkill. And then poor richter, gets not even 1/5th the number of things.
And as For DOS... same issue.... look how many souls, and weapons, etc. Soma gets? Whereas Alucard, Julius, and Sypha 93 more characters) all get 2 things... jack and shit. WONDERFUL! Real balanced there.
Then in POR.... I can't even count how many sub weapons Jonathen has... and he also has swords, spears, axes, whips, daggers, etc. And he even has some spell likes moves, and extra special techs.
Meanwhile all Charlotte gets is books. BUT WAIT! They also give her a TON of spells... most of which she will NEVER USE!
And then look at dual crashes.... Charlotte and Johnathan have about 8-10 of them... most of which again will NEVER be used.
Yet when we look at Maria and Richter.... they don't even get all their cool moves and crashes (Richter got TOTALLY raped here)... they get a few of them.
Oh sure, Richter now has assault and spin kick, and his dive kick. And heck.... even a backstep. But at the cost of 9 item crashes... and of all those, all they give him is that shitty ass grand cruz!? WHY? WTF was Konami thinking?
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In Reply To #28
Esco, to be honest, I don't think you get it: Variety's good, not because it means you'll use everything, but because it means you PERSONALIZE YOUR GAMEPLAY. ::) Common sense?
Not only, but that's also one of the reasons Symphony of the Night is perhaps the Castlevania that tends to get replayed the most, aside form everything else that made is so miraculous.
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In Reply To #28
Esco, to be honest, I don't think you get it:
I'm probably 5-10 years older than you, and have been playing castlevania games since 1985, and I ALSO have looked into the programming and AI for several of them.... so I'm gonna go out on a limb here and ask if your high or something? Cuz you must be to say that to me. ::)
Variety's good, not because it means you'll use everything, but because it means you PERSONALIZE YOUR GAMEPLAY.
....... great. So let me get this right.... having one character with over 100 moves, while another one has about 20, is a good thing? Yeah real good balancing there. You couldn't "personalize" it if each of them instead had 50 moves, I guess. Riiiiiight..... ::)
You shouldn't play my hack when it comes out then... you won't like it. ::)
Common sense?
.......... anytime you want to talk that junk, feel free to meet me in the WORST ghetto of a city we agree on in the US. That's the best way of proving "common sense." Bet I'll come out better than you will. ;)
Getting past the fact, that this is hardly an argument of "common sense" I'll state the obvious.... this debate is a matter of opinion. Thus no one side is correct.
And with that that aside here's some advice... you should try to use proper terminology, and keep your arrogance to yourself in the future. Capische?
Not only, but that's also one of the reasons Symphony of the Night is perhaps the Castlevania that tends to get replayed the most, aside form everything else that made is so miraculous.
Not correct.... most people don't even use 75% of the stuff alucard has, because the game is too easy and it's not needed. So it just becomes obscure... also no one wants to keep switching back and forth to the menu. It's annoying at least IMHO.
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I'm probably 5-10 years older than you, and have been playing castlevania games since 1985, and I ALSO have looked into the programming and AI for several of them.... so I'm gonna go out on a limb here and ask if your high or something? Cuz you must be to say that to me. ::)
And you still don't get it!
....... great. So let me get this right.... having one character with over 100 moves, while another one has about 20, is a good thing? Yeah real good balancing there. You couldn't "personalize" it if each of them instead had 50 moves, I guess. Riiiiiight..... ::)
Yes, that's exactly what's good about it. You have hundreds of stuff available to you. The player can customize their game to just how they want to play from the wealth of choices they are presented with.
.......... anytime you want to talk that junk, feel free to meet me in the WORST ghetto of a city we agree on in the US. That's the best way of proving "common sense." Bet I'll come out better than you will. ;)
Oh, if he's seen that picture of you flexing that you seem to parade everywhere then I am sure he is shaking in his little boots in regards to your threats of beating him up. ::)
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Yes, that's exactly what's good about it. You have hundreds of stuff available to you. The player can customize their game to just how they want to play from the wealth of choices they are presented with.
I think what he meant is the lack of balance. When one character has 100s of things he can do, the others should as well. As it is so far in all of iga's games the main characters always receieve all the goodies, while the extras get shoved away and are lucky if they get few moves like Richter or close to nothing like axe armor (and especially sisters mode. I mean, they had nothing at all. Not even attacks, walking, jumping, backdash, or any basic skills. That was just lame and lazy design to the very extreme. Even the poor fangames have more gameplay and replay value than what they did there).
Why can't iga steal the better ideas from the n64 games like each character mode being main one, with own story, balanced abilities, menu and items I dunno. I mean, he stole part of Cornell's storyline for hod, and even the idea of having the shopkeeper appear all over the castle. It was the only castleroid that ever did that.
And if people whine about "having a classic mode" - this can be done with a simple choice in the main starting menu too, and would satisfy both parties.
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In Reply To #32
I can see where you're going with it, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. IGA's games have generally been protagonist oriented while the 64 games had a larger focus on multiple characters, heck you started off with a choice of two at the beginning of CV64. It's just a different approach, not really a matter of balance.
I don't feel too strongly either way to be quite honest, I just got really bothered by his arrogance.
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And you still don't get it!
No, you don't get it. Sucks for you. Guess you don't know what the term opinion means. ::)
Yes, that's exactly what's good about it. You have hundreds of stuff available to you. The player can customize their game to just how they want to play from the wealth of choices they are presented with.
Great... so on top of being arrogant, you have the reading comprehension of a 5 year old. Man, I so envy you. ::)
Oh, if he's seen that picture of you flexing that you seem to parade everywhere then I am sure he is shaking in his little boots in regards to your threats of beating him up. ::)
..... I smell envy. Where's your pic, petunia? ;)
And again.... I recommend improving your reading comprehension skills... they seem to be a little lacking. Nowhere in that post anywhere did I threaten to beat anyone up.
On that note, I would never threaten to beat someone up if I intended to do something, I would just smash the person dead in their face. Rather than give them the opportunity to attack me first while I was busy talking trash like some high school wanna be gangsta. ::)
I don't feel too strongly either way to be quite honest, I just got really bothered by his arrogance.
That's funny... considering how I've never spoken even a word for you. Too put it bluntly.... too bad for you, and I really couldn't give 2 shits what you think of me. Take your jealousy and your hating trash across the street. :-*
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...I would just smash the person dead in their face. Rather than give them the opportunity to attack me first while I was busy talking trash like some high school wanna be gangsta...
Damn homes, you're hardcore! No mofo is fuckin' with you!
..... I smell envy. Where's your pic, petunia? Wink
Unfortunately I am not pretentious enough to go around taking shirtless photos of myself. Sorry ???
That's funny... considering how I've never spoken even a word for you
No, but you started being a dickhead to a fellow member of the forum who did little more than disagree with you.
But you're right, it is my fault. I shouldn't bother arguing with an obnoxious 20 something who speaks like some braindead 16 year old does in their myspace account, and tells people who don't agree with him about a trivial aspect of a videogame to:
feel free to meet me in the WORST ghetto of a city we agree on in the US. That's the best way of proving "common sense." Bet I'll come out better than you will.
Seriously, what's wrong with you?
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w00t looks like this is gonna be our first big fight on the new old forum =D
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I just got really bothered by his arrogance.
Gee, if THAT'S not the pot calling the kettle black. ::)
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Damn homes, you're hardcore! No mofo is fuckin' with you!
Unfortunately I am not pretentious enough to go around taking shirtless photos of myself. Sorry ???
No, but you started being a dickhead to a fellow member of the forum who did little more than disagree with you.
... you got punched in the mouth a LOT as a kid didn't you? (http://forums.shoryuken.com/images/smilies/rofl.gif)
But you're right, it is my fault.
CORRECT! DING DING, WE HAVE A WINNER! Anyone here care to point out the OBVIOUS reason why? (http://www.arcadeathome.com:8080/forums/images/smilies/suspicious.gif)
BLAH BLAH HEY EVERYONE LOOK! I like to talk trash, and then act like the victim after I start something. WAAAAAAAHHH
............ once again, allow me to restate what I said before. BUT THIS TIME, I'll make it easier for you to see:
That's funny... considering how I've never spoken even a word for you. Too put it bluntly.... too bad for you, and I really couldn't give 2 shits what you think of me. Take your jealousy and your hating trash across the street. :-*
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I remember the good ol' days when a sub-forum called Castlevania Discussion was filled with posts relevant to the topic, and not people attacking each other for childish disagreements.
Back on topic, I think the DS games failed in terms of plot and character artwork, but they had their own strong points. DoS in particular had beautiful backgrounds, like the Lost Village or the scene of the snowy exterior of the Castle in the Castle Pinnacle. PoR had some pretty good ideas, but like CoD it fell a little flat, with level design really crimping the overall experience.
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Esco, You are being arrogant though >.>
I liked how SotN was. I just thought that the enemies shouldve had more attacks and better motion, which Alucard definitely had. Akmodan and such had really slow and stupid movement and therefore they were just weak. I'm sure they couldve made it harder just by making the enemy have better AI with faster moves and more of them.
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Esco, You are being arrogant though >.>
I liked how SotN was. I just thought that the enemies shouldve had more attacks and better motion, which Alucard definitely had. Akmodan and such had really slow and stupid movement and therefore they were just weak. I'm sure they couldve made it harder just by making the enemy have better AI with faster moves and more of them.
Indeed, please no more fighting. ahhhh. : ( But I always though of ways that enemies could perhaps defend themselves against us in the future of the series, where it'd cause us to actually think more than to just run up and try to blast through every enemy we see. Of course not all enemies should be like that, don't want to turn Castlevania into an absolute strategy game. hehe. But Kale pretty much has my same thoughts! (Possible counter attacks would be sweet to!)
Unfortunately I am not pretentious enough to go around taking shirtless photos of myself.
: ( Ahh. I take pictures without mah shirt... but I'm also among the most unimportant, worthless people on the planet. So I think things cancel out perhaps?! lol
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In Reply To #31
i see what u mean, just about every castlevania game is like that :)
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: ( Ahh. I take pictures without mah shirt... but I'm also among the most unimportant, worthless people on the planet. So I think things cancel out perhaps?! lol
If you have it show it! He doesn't though. It only applies where you are showing off something you don't really have.
Proto, you are one of the best blokes in this forum and I did not mean to offend you with that comment. My sincere apologies.
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lol
What the hell is going on here? God ;D
EDIT:
I should post something relevant to the topic...
*ahem*
Yes, the DS games' presentations are off. On top of that, the designers are being quite lazy in areas regarding the capabilities of the enemies, sprites, stage design, and graphics overall. They do manage to produce gold here and there, but it's scattered and usually wasted. I think that much shows you that they have the capability, but they're either rushed, lazy, or just lack consistent creative vision.
Oh well...
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In Reply To #44
I think rushed and lacking in focused creative vision are the answers we're looking for. Like you said, they come up with some great ideas here and there, but they usually aren't developed enough, and thus, seem wasted.
I liked PoR a lot, because it DID have a lot of cool ideas, as did DoS, but there was a certain "sameness" present in these games, like I'd played them before.
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LMFAO, wow, after reading this entire thread, I almost completely forgot what I was going to say! You crazy kids and your arguments and seeing people without shirts and ghettos. I blame Grand Theft Auto because it's easy.
Anywho:
I have to hands down agree about PoR and DoS on some extint:
as much as I like Dawn, I have to agree with the TC in saying that it's pretty much just a upgraded version of Aria, dumbed down with the kiddie anime feel.
A tweak in the soul system here, a much less impressive story (Aria's was much better IMO) that only got interesting if you got the bad ending there, and a few new places to visit here. The fun I had with that game was collecting the different souls and making new, badass weapons, but little else.
Now PoR...wow. Just wow. I have to say though, I don't agree that the story was horrible: I find that the way it was displayed was really downfall, not the storyline itself. It had the potiential to be quite dark:
A young man that wasn't completely trained in the ways to use the VK but is determined to carry the burden along with issues reguarding his now dead father.
Char was...okay, pretty annoying overall. But had they tried being serious, they could have gone on the whole 'feels like a child' thing with a much better approach, giving her the insecurity and need to prove herself as a mistress of magic and intellgence and not just to be assumed to be useless, meaningless, and uneffective simply because she's 'just a child'.
Wind's entire story was the making for tragic story telling. A father who loves his two and only daughters that is killed by a vampire, the last thing he sees is those same girls he loves so much being turned into something he most likely despises and there is absolutely nothing he can do. His so his at unrest and it's trapped within the walls of Castlevania. So he helps Johnathan, the son of a old and fallen friend, in the hopes that he can help himself and those same girls along the way.
Meanwhile, you have Brauner, who was devistated by the death of his own daughters, to the point that he learned to despise humans (sounds familiar) only to see two girls that resemble those very same girls he lost and in his...whatever you want to call it, joy, grief, hope for a second chance, he steals them and their humanity.
The girls forget who their actual father is and seemed doomed to be damned for all eternity only to be rescued later and have to deal with their father's death by seeing him one last time.
Brauner shows (in all endings) how deeply he cares for the girls--
You know what, you get the point. It had a pretty nice, deep story and it got completely ruined in the ridiculous, anime presentation. I would have loved to seen PoR's story in the usual dark, Castlvania manner I'm used to.
The two games weren't bad by any means, I just hated the presentions of each's story, the been there done that feel I got (esp. with Dawn) and the disappointment at the second half of PoR's portrait stages.
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Wow, we have some serious self-loving immaturity here.
Now enough of that, and can someone please lock up this topic? It's gotten too long, too argumentative, and there's too much hostility in it.
As for the DS titles, they're entertaining, great Castlevanias, but not that good if you compare them to many, MANY other ones. The end.
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In Reply To #47
Lol.. mini-modding now, are we? Sounds like you need to relax with the insults, too.. trying to get the last word in, then ask for a locked topic. I like your style, heheh..
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In Reply To #47
Lol.. mini-modding now, are we? Sounds like you need to relax with the insults, too.. trying to get the last word in, then ask for a locked topic. I like your style, heheh..
I'm sorry you're right. I modified my post so it isn't as hostile. I guess there's no need to complain of the dog's bite if you the complainer shows their teeth in anger too. :P
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I will meet you in the alley of the worst ghetto with my shirt off, and teach you a lesson you'll never forget!
;D
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Well, where to start....
For the most part, I like Dawn of Sorrow. Of course, I prefer Symphonies' more lush and detailed anime, but the game itself was pretty fun. I thought it had a couple of good tunes, in my opinion.
As for Portrait of Ruin, I have to agre with Esco there. There are WAY too many subweapons and spells. I realize that the point is to customize things, but if we're given that option, it would be nice to have things that we would actually WANT to use. That game was interesting, due to the fact that you can travel to different locations outside of the castle. Does seem a bit watered down, very colorful, not very gothic.
Harmony of Dissonance... I REALLY don't like this game. The sound quality is terrible, and the songs aren't even catchy. The bosses were un-imaginative, and very easy. Alright,
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In Reply To #47
...it's a message board thread on the internet. Godwin's Law states that things will only get worse before they get better.
That said, I actually didn't mind DoS. PoR left a bit to be desired, but it still wasn't horrible, IMO.
To me, the low points of the series are the PS2 games--in both story and level design. I know many people here don't like the N64 games (for various nebulous reasons that are, IMO, somewhat unfounded), but even those who hate them admit that the N64 games had an epic storyline and an as-of-yet unmatched atmosphere.
That said, I agree that humor will be the death of Castlevania.
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Agreed the hostility is overwhelmingly unnecessary. People feel their opinion can only be validated by others'.
But yeah, disapointing the CV DS games were (remember, if I don't like it, don't become scared and worried nobody likes your paticular game). They felt a less like Castlevania and more like a cookie cutter action series. Whereas the older games, like CotM, Bloodlines, SotN etc had an adult side to them. Here's to the Rondo of Blood remake and hope it brings back the coolness.
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... but even those who hate them admit that the N64 games had an epic storyline and an as-of-yet unmatched atmosphere...
Not really. The "atmosphere" in that game is a horribly short draw distance that resulted in the developers adding a ton of fog everywhere.
Lament had way more ambiance and atmosphere than the 64 titles. The aesthetics in the game's corridors combined with it's haunting soundtrack evoked atmosphere at times reminiscent of SCV4.
Also, while the story is better than most CV games I would hardly call it epic. It's not Metal Gear/Final Fantasy or anything like that. Just as it should be. Castlevania isn't about epic tales.
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Not really. The "atmosphere" in that game is a horribly short draw distance that resulted in the developers adding a ton of fog everywhere.
Uh...first, it was a game on the N64. So, obviously, the draw distance is going to be shorter than, say, a game on the Playstation 88 or whatever number they're up to now. Second, you seem to have a nice, narrow definition of "atmosphere." When I use the word, I refer to the overall gestalt of the thing: music, aesthetics, artwork, storyline, enemies (vampires? In a game about Dracula? WTF?), and more which I won't mention right now because I ran out of things to list. That said, for being on the N64, it was pretty snazzy.
Lament had way more ambiance and atmosphere than the 64 titles.
Maybe for Devil May Cry...
The aesthetics in the game's corridors combined with it's haunting soundtrack evoked atmosphere at times reminiscent of SCV4.
"Haunting" soundtrack? The soundtrack for the whole game was like the rave scene from Blade. While I agree that most techno is quite nightmarish (and not in a good way), I would hardly label the majority of LoI's soundtrack as ambient.
Also, while the story is better than most CV games I would hardly call it epic. It's not Metal Gear/Final Fantasy or anything like that. Just as it should be. Castlevania isn't about epic tales.
Epic for CV is pretty epic, though perhaps not as epic as (lol) techno music or Saint Germain. Even so, the story was awesome. It had innovative twists and turns, interesting and original characters (such as Actrise, Rosa, and Malus--and Death was genuinely frightening), and the level lay-out made you feel like you were tackling a huge, huge demon castle all alone. Somehow, LoI and CoD didn't feel the same.
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So, obviously, the draw distance is going to be shorter than, say, a game on the Playstation 88 or whatever number they're up to now.
Uh, what? Where'd you get 88 from?
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Uh...first, it was a game on the N64. So, obviously, the draw distance is going to be shorter than, say, a game on the Playstation 88 or whatever number they're up to now.
And much shorter than most other games on the N64. Sure, it has Superman 64 beat, but not much else. Ocarina of Time was much better looking than Cv64 and it's draw distance was massive in comparison.
Second, you seem to have a nice, narrow definition of "atmosphere." When I use the word, I refer to the overall gestalt of the thing: music, aesthetics, artwork, storyline, enemies (vampires? In a game about Dracula? WTF?), and more which I won't mention right now because I ran out of things to list. That said, for being on the N64, it was pretty snazzy.
I don't know about you, but any atmosphere the game may have had was lost on me the moment the motorcycle skeletons popped up.
"Haunting" soundtrack? The soundtrack for the whole game was like the rave scene from Blade. While I agree that most techno is quite nightmarish (and not in a good way), I would hardly label the majority of LoI's soundtrack as ambient.
You don't like the LoI soundtrack? I thought it was pretty awesome. Don't see how it's rave-ish or techno-like. I think each track complimented it's area extremely well.
Epic for CV is pretty epic, though perhaps not as epic as (lol) techno music or Saint Germain. Even so, the story was awesome. It had innovative twists and turns, interesting and original characters (such as Actrise, Rosa, and Malus--and Death was genuinely frightening), and the level lay-out made you feel like you were tackling a huge, huge demon castle all alone. Somehow, LoI and CoD didn't feel the same.
Yeah I agree the story is probably better than either of the two PS2 titles. But I am not one to dwell on the storyline in a CV game.
I did think Death was quite freaky in LoI though.
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And much shorter than most other games on the N64. Sure, it has Superman 64 beat, but not much else. Ocarina of Time was much better looking than Cv64 and it's draw distance was massive in comparison.
Well, sure, when you put ANY N64 game next to Ocarina of Time, it's going to look less stellar...that game was/is considered "best game of all time" for a reason. The blasted thing is damn near perfect. As for other games and their draw distance, I'd say that it's comparable to GoldenEye in areas.
I don't know about you, but any atmosphere the game may have had was lost on me the moment the motorcycle skeletons popped up.
I'll admit that the skeletons were a WTF moment for me, too, but they were pretty much explained away for me when I encountered in the Castle Center models of different futuristic modes of transportation--sort of a hint that Dracula has a bit of (possibly supernatural) foresight.
That, and since they weren't that integral to the story (or at all integral), they didn't exactly detract from the atmosphere as much as, say, a time-traveling Victorian in a silk hat finding himself in Fifteenth Century Wallachia. Not to beat a dead horse, but let's call a spade a spade, here.
You don't like the LoI soundtrack? I thought it was pretty awesome.
Didn't say I didn't like it. I just don't think that the majority of the songs were as atmospheric as those in CV64 or LoD.
Don't see how it's rave-ish or techno-like.
Anti-Souls Mystery Lab and Melancholy Joachim, just to name two. They sound a bit like house-techno dance mixes. Again, it's not that I don't like them...I just think that they're not quite as...dark or foreboding as those in CV64.
Yeah I agree the story is probably better than either of the two PS2 titles. But I am not one to dwell on the storyline in a CV game.
In the older games, I certainly wasn't, either. However, I'm finding myself sucked in more and more by the complexities (or lack thereof) found in each new CV game.
I did think Death was quite freaky in LoI though.
Agreed, though I wish he would have been in the game a bit more.
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I agree, Hideo Kojima should just make ar....
...oh. Ayame Kojima? Er..my bad. ;D
If Castlevania should bring back that sexy hunky-looking, conan-like Simon from the NES, it will, blow away all art. :P
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If Castlevania should bring nack tha sexy hunky-looking, conan-like Simon from the NES, it will, blow away all art. :P
Or just blow in general. Ha-HA!
Actually, I think the return of the old-school artwork is nostalgic enough that it would add some extra flavor to any upcoming games. When given enough time Ayami Kojima's artwork is beautiful, but you can tell when some of it's rushed. And the kiddy anime...let's not go there.
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Really great point, I loved Aria Of Sorrow, and Harmony, and than you do have to admit the first 4 (CV1-CV3 and SCV4) had the most dark "fall" type feel, and Symphony had the dark gothic music and backgrounds to blend in it, but the new games get way to out of the Castle, and out of topic. I prefer the old games, and at least some GBA installments to the series were the only good ones.
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Yeah POR had some problems:
- Repetitive, recyled backgrounds and themes in the painting worlds.
- Some repetitive and uninspired music.
- Main castle feels rushed and unrealistic in design.
- Sophmoric exchanges and revelations between Charlotte and Jonathan. Mild humor doesn't make up for the fact that the story isn't that interesting, even for a "CV" story.
- It's all too lighthearted for a CV game. Or it's the wrong kind of "lighthearted" (ROB did this better)
Other than that it's still another fun Metroidvania romp. It just feels like the team is growing tired of the same ol' thing and that rubs off onto us.
I think it's time to redesign the 2D CV formula again. Or if not, return to the classic style for awhile.
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I think it's time to redesign the 2D CV formula again.
We still have 1 more DS game to play before that happens :-X
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I don't think they are bad at all. They are actually pretty fun, and they have alot more replay value than previous Castlevania games. The difficulty was a bit too easy but in Portrait of Ruin there is the Hard mode Lv. 1. Try beating that with Old Axe Armor if you want a challenge.