Castlevania Dungeon Forums

The Castlevania Dungeon Forums => General Castlevania Discussion => Topic started by: Wallachia on July 01, 2011, 07:25:36 PM

Title: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Wallachia on July 01, 2011, 07:25:36 PM
Putting these new clips here in one place to discuss. The other thread (I knew it..!!) is a mess!

Plus, this well let Mercury Steam find our feedback easier when they come to the Dungeon to see our thoughts ;)

gen16.com: Castlevania Lords of Shadow early test footage - Gamelab 2011 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpuPJJxhri8#ws)

gen16.com: Castlevania Lords of Shadow beta footage + debug - Gamelab 2011 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHz1nuympjs#ws)
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: K.G. Morder on July 01, 2011, 07:38:18 PM
wow. that initial one was pretty cool. I wonder why they decided to go the more traditional fantasy route with it rather than follow up on this powerful intro with the castle?
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Wallachia on July 01, 2011, 07:43:43 PM
I think Cox is showing this in a sneaky way, to see what people's impressions are on Simon in it, and the overall mood of the clip.. Weird.

I am betting more to be released/announced next week. I'd love to hear that a sequel is officially underway, and a release date (don't rush it M.S. for this holiday, that would be a BAD SIGN, to me)!
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: DarkPrinceAlucard on July 01, 2011, 07:47:54 PM
Why Is it that the earlier beta always seems to look better then the final product?

First it was Resident Evil 4 who's beta actually had alot of horror in it and some how it ended up changing completely to a different type of gameplay and formula. Don't get me wrong I really liked RE4 alot but the earlier version which had the hook man and possesed puppets seemed ALOT more scarier.

And judgeing by this video LOS seemed alot more dark and gothic until the final product was released.

Although I have to say that If that guy trully was intended to be Simon Belmont I really do not like that look for him. To similar to assasians creed character for my taste.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: C Belmont on July 01, 2011, 08:04:56 PM
That early design looks nothing like Simon Belmont.
Gabriel has a much stronger resemblance, which just makes me wonder whether the games hero stayed as Simon for a lot longer than we've been told. It would certainly explain the direction they took with Gabriels design, I mean they could have chosen to make him look like any other Belmont.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Wallachia on July 01, 2011, 08:12:42 PM
They needed a deeper story, so they probably went for 'Gabriel' the fallen angel..
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: JBoc973 on July 01, 2011, 08:17:17 PM
As I posted on the other thread, here are my thoughts on the footage:

http://www.relyonhorror.com/?p=11470 (http://www.relyonhorror.com/?p=11470)
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Kingshango on July 01, 2011, 08:24:23 PM
Like the atmosphere the first video, very reminicent of the beginning of Castlevania Lament of Innocence and I wish they would have stuck with that instead of going the fantasy route.

Didn't really dig the look of Simon, he looked like Altier from Assasins Creed.  I think Gabriel ended up looking more like Simon than the pitch version so thank god fot that.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Wallachia on July 01, 2011, 08:27:33 PM
Jorge B. Nice impressions! I posted on Facebook. What is your facebook name?

Speaking of, it would be cool to find alot of you guys on there. I shuld start a thread for this in off-topic. Unless someone else can 1st? Im running out the door.

And to the post above, yep, I felt like it was Lament' like too. Very cool..
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: JBoc973 on July 01, 2011, 08:32:11 PM
Thanks! Add me on FB, my name is Jorge Bocanegra.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Ahasverus on July 01, 2011, 08:46:59 PM
I like Simon's design, he looks perhaps a little old but the armor is spot on, his hair could be longer though.
Really liked the atmosphere, I think they are testing waters to see reactions, and as you read on twitter Cox mentioned that it was being made in MS "old engine" and it was the same engine used for LoS, so we are getting new engine for the sequel! Great!
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Profbeanburrito on July 01, 2011, 10:11:27 PM
I would have happily taken the Simon design as an extra then the Solid Eye and Snake Bandana, those were lame.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: DarkPrinceAlucard on July 01, 2011, 10:16:05 PM
I would have happily taken the Simon design as an extra then the Solid Eye and Snake Bandana, those were lame.

I completely agree.

I may not like this simon design but atleast it would have been a MUCH better unlockable costume then just a mere headband and eyepatch.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: K.G. Morder on July 01, 2011, 11:05:47 PM
I liked the eye and bandanna. they were lulzy.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: DarkPrinceAlucard on July 01, 2011, 11:57:06 PM
I liked the eye and bandanna. they were lulzy.

But can you honestly say that you would have prefered a mere bandana and eyepatch over a entirely new costume?
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Vampire Killer on July 02, 2011, 12:07:26 AM
I felt that the bandanna made him look more like traditional Simon, especially in the cut scenes
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: JR on July 02, 2011, 12:28:22 AM
Why Is it that the earlier beta always seems to look better then the final product?


Maybe some suit steps in and decides what needs to be changed for mass appeal/to move copies/etc. I definitely don't know how the process works, but that's my guess.


So...I'm confused. Is this the "barbarian" character that Kojima disliked, or was that somewhere between this version of Simon and the version of Gabriel they used for LoS?? Because if this is what Kojima disliked, nothing really looks barbaric about him at all.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: K.G. Morder on July 02, 2011, 12:37:31 AM
But can you honestly say that you would have prefered a mere bandana and eyepatch over a entirely new costume?

Meh. I could take or leave the early "simon" costume.

More then EITHER, I would have liked to play as Zobek with his sword instead of the whip, seeing how the change in gameplay mechanics for him would change the game.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Renonsgoods on July 02, 2011, 10:01:59 AM
I'm still a fan of the 3D Belmont heroes having a sword that can be used for close quarters encounters.  No self-respecting demon/vampire hunter should be without a good blade IMO.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: DarkPrinceAlucard on July 02, 2011, 12:12:21 PM
Yea I agree.

I always hated that in LOI Leon did not have his sword that was shown in the artwork. I felt that they still could have let him have the sword up until it became useless and he needed the whip of alchemy. Then he could just use it as a secondary weapon if he wants to.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Dremn on July 02, 2011, 01:59:01 PM
Simon looked way too much like Gabriel, and his white hood reminded me of Assassin's Creed.

Loved everything else though, the atmosphere/mood of the castle was great. Honestly though, it looked exactly the same as what we got, the story just took a complete nosedive.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: D013 on July 02, 2011, 04:47:41 PM
I would have preferred this to what we got in the final product, Simon is one of the most recognisable and famous of the Belmont clan and for this game to start with him and have Dracula as the antagonist would have made the better game and made it more of a Castlevania game as LOS seemed more CV in name than anything else, character skins or costumes would have been a great bonus, Simon, Richter, Trevor among ones would be great to see, but I would like to see Trevor or Simon appear as part of the sequel
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: DragonSlayr81 on July 02, 2011, 04:59:55 PM
It must've been bullshit when they said this Simon-look made him look too much like a barbarian that you wouldn't be able to relate to him. Other than the leather armor versus metal armor(of Gabriel), he looked pretty much similar to Gabe's final look. They way they originally described it, I was thinking they made this mongoloid barbarian with over-exaggerated features. Really, look-wise, saying you can relate to a bulked up knight in linebacker armor over a buffed-up leather clad barbarian is grasping for straws. Unless there's some secret order of bulked up knights still in existance that are clad in heavy-ass armor, NOBODY could relate to either looks. LOL! ;D And if they mean facial expression-wise, they look just about the same, and can convey the same type of emotions. 
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: K.G. Morder on July 02, 2011, 08:06:48 PM
Im thinking storywise- They could have gone with ye-old vs Dracula story and THEN made Gabe with the prequel, explaining HOW Dracula came to be.

It would have

A. built up the new castlevania world,

and

B. caused more of a shock factor when we see that Gabriel himself becomes Dracula.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Pemburu Vampir on July 02, 2011, 08:39:29 PM
Alta- I mean Gabe's beard is thicker than the final design.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: DragonSlayr81 on July 02, 2011, 09:29:03 PM
Im thinking storywise- They could have gone with ye-old vs Dracula story and THEN made Gabe with the prequel, explaining HOW Dracula came to be.

It would have

A. built up the new castlevania world,

and

B. caused more of a shock factor when we see that Gabriel himself becomes Dracula.
But, storywise, none of that existed. It was just a demo to present to Konami. When they talked about the character, it was about it's design, not it's story. Storywise, you can make ANYBODY relatable or sympathetic if you are a good writer, so I don't buy it one bit. A good writer can even take the simple formula as a template, and add to it, flesh it out, and make something epic, deep and moving.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Dremn on July 02, 2011, 10:09:06 PM
I would rather they abandon the whole story of LoS and start over in favor of something more traditional.

Yes, I'm asking for another reboot. This franchise is stuck in a really shitty spot right now.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: C Belmont on July 02, 2011, 10:11:22 PM
Quote
But, storywise, none of that existed
I wouldn't be so sure about that
Simon is introduced as a dark & brutal figure; he smirks as he sets the Ghoul on fire & then treads over its corpse once he has killed it. It could almost be the introduction for a villain.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Dremn on July 02, 2011, 10:18:22 PM
Simon is introduced as a dark & brutal figure; he smirks as he sets the Ghoul on fire & then treads over its corpse once he has killed it. It could almost be the introduction for a villain.
I thought the exact same thing. This brutal/edgy tone of character for Simon would have been awful, a little bit of it carried over to Gabriel too.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: K.G. Morder on July 02, 2011, 10:56:11 PM
But, storywise, none of that existed. It was just a demo to present to Konami. When they talked about the character, it was about it's design, not it's story. Storywise, you can make ANYBODY relatable or sympathetic if you are a good writer, so I don't buy it one bit. A good writer can even take the simple formula as a template, and add to it, flesh it out, and make something epic, deep and moving.
I never said otherwise. I was just musing over the way it played out. They could have made a castlevania game, however it might have been, possibly more castle oriented than LoS, and THEN make LoS as the prequel. If we had a more traditional Belmont like character in the theoretical first game, we would then get Gabriel who is a bit darker, but then again, he did lose his wife, so we can excuse him. and form there we see his fall to darkness and depression, and eventually the WTF ending that he becomes Dracula. It would have worked FAR better as a "WTF" moment if we had previously established the Belmont vs Dracula feud.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Ahasverus on July 03, 2011, 10:52:27 AM
What is funny about the debug video is that it shows that the whole castle is completely rendered, celling and everything, why the game used a static camera is beyond me
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Foffy on July 03, 2011, 12:08:05 PM
What is funny about the debug video is that it shows that the whole castle is completely rendered, celling and everything, why the game used a static camera is beyond me

Lament of Innocence suffers from the same oddity.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Profbeanburrito on July 03, 2011, 01:17:16 PM
What is funny about the debug video is that it shows that the whole castle is completely rendered, celling and everything, why the game used a static camera is beyond me

a moveable camera would have been nice or even a first person view, but I like that they took the time to do the whole castle. It shows they care
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Ahasverus on July 13, 2011, 11:15:12 AM
I'm loving it
(http://gamingeverything.com/wp-content/gallery/simon/shot0050.jpg)
(http://gamingeverything.com/wp-content/gallery/simon/shot0001.jpg)
(http://gamingeverything.com/wp-content/gallery/simon/shot0040.jpg)
Source
http://gamingeverything.com/?p=6388 (http://gamingeverything.com/?p=6388)
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: K.G. Morder on July 13, 2011, 11:24:02 AM
Not bad. I dig the cross on his chest actually. never understood why the brotherhood has that weird skull instead of, yknow, a cross.
Title: Re: CV: Lords of Shadow Gamelab Footage (Debug mode and Simon Belmont)
Post by: Inccubus on July 13, 2011, 11:27:00 AM
I think this once again goes to shoe that Simon is a thousand fold more of a bad-ass than Gabriel could ever be. =P
Correct me if I'm wrong but in that early cinema he did kill a vampire with his bare hands, no?  ;D