Castlevania Dungeon Forums
The Castlevania Dungeon Forums => General Castlevania Discussion => Topic started by: markyjoe1990 on December 24, 2011, 10:29:41 PM
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The game has caught my eye recently, and I'm considering getting it at my local play n trade (It's 7 dollars). However, I'm a rather frugal individual, and don't wanna waste my time on something I won't enjoy, which is why I'm here.
I understand the gameplay isn't as good as other games of it's genre, and the level design isn't great, but for once, I'm not playing a game in hopes of finding the best of these two things (I looked at gameplay of the game. It doesn't look not superb, but seems decent enough to not offend me). I'm looking for atmosphere, a story that works (It doesn't need to be super amazing, just simply good is enough for me), and voice acting that's believable. If I can get opinions based on these elements of the game, I'd appreciate it.
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I'm looking for atmosphere, a story that works (It doesn't need to be super amazing, just simply good is enough for me), and voice acting that's believable. If I can get opinions based on these elements of the game, I'd appreciate it.
Hmmm... This is a hard cookie to break. On one hand you learn the origin story about the belmont clan which is a plus. the story as a whole presented in the context of lament by it's self is very simple not to deep or convoluted to confuse individuals just straight to the point there is the twist then and there, yet overall the story is not too bad it's acceptable. The actiing to me was very good the voice of Leon was none other than kakashi from naruto don't know the name not too big on naruto but the voices actors are good overall execpt sara do not know why but man it tugs at me yet is it believable I would say at points in time yes and others maybe or maybe not "I'll kill you and the knight" not too believable but the context of which Leon states it's at the time then yes so in the end the acting is ok.
atmosphere felt very good the stages were okay, but the "killer" hampers it with the flatness and such the music while techno like if my memory serves me correctly is good just not my cup of tea, but the main part is that the atmosphere would of been incredible but due to flatness of the levels the atmosphere take a bit of a hit.
I understand the gameplay isn't as good as other games of it's genre,
It's all about how you dish it out lament has quick combos,relics, armor, and most of all sub weapons the action I will say is one of the better systems compared to DMC or GoW it's fast, fun, simple yet able to be complex.
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Its a good game, and a Good vania.
Not the best it could have been, but good nonetheless.
Walter is by far more interesting than Dracula. And looks cooler too. He isnt all brooding and eeeevil and RAAAWR I WILL KILL HUMANITY! and shit, he just plain doesnt give a fuck. He's a bored mofo with eternal life and a huge ass castle with more areas than he knows what to do with, so he just goes for the gold and forces people to fight through the castle to reach him for his own damn amusement and nothing more.
His design is also more interesting than any of Draculas. (except maybe SoTN)
Leon is cool too, standard Belmont type, FUCK YOU AND THE NIGHT etc etc
The real star of the show here though has GOT to be Crispin Freeman as Mathias. he is an amazingly awesome large ham.
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On voice acting: Michael McConnohie is probably one of my favorite voice actors ever.
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Personally, I enjoyed the story a great deal, especially on how the vampire killer was created. Thou it's still pretty fucked to have your wife's soul stuck in a whip.
By the way, Happy holidays to all
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Play it if you haven't already IMO.
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It has its obvious flaws but its still a great origin story and good game in my honest opinion.
I'd recommend it to any CV fan.
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Story is good or rather idea is good. But realization is lame somewhat. Mathias practically undeveloped as a character and just falls on the player's head almost out of nowhere.
Voice acting is good. Much better than in PS1 Symphony of the Night. Mathias is the best in that regard. Leon is not bad. Generally all characters are good.
Atmosphere is there. However it could be hampered by lame level design and sameish gameplay. Probably it would be the best just to go through the game as fast as possible without collecting artifacts. That way levels wouldn't get much tiresome. Only last level in the game has really good design.
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Seems the general consensus is what I expected. Everyone, even professional reviewers, seem to have consistent view points on the game, which is surprising really.
Alright, one more question. How does it compare to other 3D castlevanias?
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Seems the general consensus is what I expected. Everyone, even professional reviewers, seem to have consistent view points on the game, which is surprising really.
Alright, one more question. How does it compare to other 3D castlevanias?
As far as graphics,settings,gameplay,and storyline goes its superior to the other 3Dvania and N64vanias.
But as far as Platforming and Level Design goes the N64vanies has the upper hand.
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I'd say the story is okay but has some issues with unoriginality despite being the origin story rather than "just another Dracula revival." On the other hand it has some interesting points as well, although one couldn't really name them without spoilers, mostly stuff that happens late in the game.
I didn't really like Leon's VA, and a few of the other ones as well (although it's been so long since I played it besides Leon I couldn't remember any other one in particular as bad). Other VAs I recall being serviceable though (Rinaldo seems to ring a bell here), so I'd say it was a mixed bag.
I'd definitely pick it up for 7 bucks though, probably even up to around 15 or so, if the gameplay looks decent enough to you. One just has to set expectations within a reasonable realm and not expect anything extremely outstanding. Also, steel yourself for tons of recycled corridors (graphically that is). I doubt the budget was that high so I guess there's not much that could have been done there besides trying to disguise it a little better.
Also, I'd have to agree that the N64 CVs have it beat on platforming and level design. The levels are generally just in service to the battles rather than the game being focused on platforming or interesting level design. I preferred CoD for the most part to LoI as well, but mostly due to the deeper RPG systems present in CoD.
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Forgot to add, that despite bad level design, LOI have very good boss battles and awesome (one of the best in the series, IMHO) soundtrack.
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Forgot to add, that despite bad level design, LOI have very good boss battles and awesome (one of the best in the series, IMHO) soundtrack.
Yea thats another thing I forgot to add also (The Forgotten One's battle is truly memorable).
Especially the soundtrack, which IMO is one of the best soundtracks in the history of CV.
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Forgotten one is the sole reason its rated T.
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It's a decent game. The premise of the story is good. The atmosphere is there in spades. The music is definitely what you expect to find in a CV (unlike LoS). The voice acting is better than most CV games. But the execution of the story and how everything is reveal was somewhat lack luster. Walter is more interesting than Dracula in that he isn't some imo pansy who tries to exterminate humanity because they killed his wife. No, Walter captures someone in the hope that their loved ones would try to rescue them. Plus, Walter has something Dracula didn't have: magical protection that makes him practically invincible. His reason for all this: He's bored. No revenge. No grudge. Just a powerful, evil vampire who is bored and needs entertainment.
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His reason for all this: He's bored. No revenge. No grudge. Just a powerful, evil vampire who is bored and needs entertainment.
Which is why he's sometimes regarded as a troll.
(http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/160/5/f/Walter_Trollhard_by_TeamAquaSuicune.png)
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The music is definitely what you expect to find in a CV (unlike LoS)
Anti-Soul Mistery Lab beg to differ.
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Anti-Soul Mistery Lab beg to differ.
Yea, definitely my least favorite out of the LOI soundtrack.
But still not all that bad.
My favorites would have to be Ghostly Theatre,Palace of Waterfalls,Garden Forgotten by Time,and Leon's Theme.
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I love Anti Soul Mystery Labs bgm. it has a neat techno beat to it, but still retains a Castlevania sound.
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Yea, definitely my least favorite out of the LOI soundtrack.
But still not all that bad.
My favorites would have to be Ghostly Theatre,Palace of Waterfalls,Garden Forgotten by Time,and Leon's Theme.
Agreed.
My only gripes about the game are that it was a little on the short side, the flatness of the areas, and the execution of the story. Great concept, but poor execution (this is something that seems to be plaguing the franchise).
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Agreed.
My only gripes about the game are that it was a little on the short side, the flatness of the areas, and the execution of the story. Great concept, but poor execution (this is something that seems to be plaguing the franchise).
I have always said that if LOI actually had the level design and exploration of the N64 titles it would have been MUCH better.
Just imagine the graphics,gameplay,and soundtrack of LOI with the exploration and platforming of the N64 titles.
Definitely a true 3Dvania winner in my book.
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I love Anti Soul Mystery Labs bgm. it has a neat techno beat to it, but still retains a Castlevania sound.
Agreed. It's one of my favorite track in LoI.
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I think Anti-Souls Mystery Lab is not that bad of a song. I can see why some might be turned off by the dance beats, but in it's heart, the melody is pure CV. If it would've been arranged differently, I can see more people liking it.
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Which is why he's sometimes regarded as a troll.
(http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/160/5/f/Walter_Trollhard_by_TeamAquaSuicune.png)
Those look like the most uncomfortable boots ever.
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Those look like the most uncomfortable boots ever.
Oh, but comfort is often sacrificed in the name of fashion, especially in the olden days.
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The game itself was decent. The ass level design is what keeps me from replaying it but it definitely has good points. I liked how they tried to combine elements of the old school games with new stuff (for example, outside of the lack of a clock tower the levels were pretty much identical in theme to CV1's, and IGA had said he originally wanted the combat to focus only on whip + subweapons). The music was gorgeous as was the atmosphere at parts.
Story? Ehh, don't care one way or the other. The best thing I can say for it is the very obvious echoes of Bram Stoker's novel. LoS is a better executed origins story (if for no other reason than having a larger budget to work with), but I find origins stories to be pretty stupid and unnecessary to begin with, so...
Voice acting? Goddamn hilarious. It's not the acting that's bad, but rather the terrible writing in combination with really bizarre emphasis on certain lines that steep it in cheese. Again, as with LoS, good actors can't save a bad script.
I love Walter's voice though. When he screams "WHAAAAT?" it reminds me so much of Oogey Boogey in The Nightmare Before Christmas.
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ASML was the best song on the soundtrack. Why? Because it was different. It dared to try something different, and was even successful in melding what is popular today, electronic house music, with an elegant, at it's heart, pure Castlevania beat. People also seem to ignore that the GFBT as well, has similar elements in it's composition. All the other tracks are arrangements and tone we've heard before. Is that what people want? The same recycled stuff over and over again? And it baffles me when people praise the CoD soundtrack. It came and went so quietly, completely uninspired, that I didn't even notice it was there. The music in LoI demands attention. It was definitely an evolution from SotN, and it irks me that people just want the same sound over and over again. Let's be a little more open minded here. Of all the tracks in LoI, ASML had the biggest balls, and it succeeded with confidence.
Let me elaborate on that. One of my favorite tracks from SotN was the theme of the coliseum. I never hear people complaining about the fact that it's an almost entirely subdued jazz piece. It was new, it was fresh, it became a staple of Castlevania because the series has been experimental, especially the soundtrack, since it's inception. Don't even get me started on the electric guitars ("But that's soooo Castlevania!!" ... "okay ... right"). Need I even mention Rondo, which had similar stylings? BAH I say. BAH.
Final note: Rainbow Cemetery would like to have a word with those thinking "techno" originated in LoI. Hell, it wasn't even difficult to turn it into a dance remix: Castlevania - Dracula X: Remixies - Cemetery of Rainbow (Kenn.N/Disco King records) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8jSmygY-uM#)
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Voice acting? Goddamn hilarious. It's not the acting that's bad, but rather the terrible writing in combination with really bizarre emphasis on certain lines that steep it in cheese. Again, as with LoS, good actors can't save a bad script.
LOL, everybody remembers this one, "I'll kill you AND THE NIGHT!!!!!". ;D
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Anti-Soul Mystery Lab is probably one of my most favorite tracks in the series. Because it's a good track and pretty unique for the series.
Generally I think that LOI OST was more experimental in nature, than soundtrack of the "run of the mill 2D metroidvania". That why I like it. Another reason - because LOI was the last game with really good soundtrack until OOE, IMO.
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Well, Curse of Darkness was having a decent soundtrack, but i have to agree that OoE was having the most interesting soundtrack after LoI!!!
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Not sure why some people would say that COD's soundtrack is lame.
On the contrary its pretty good actually IMO.
My favs are definitely Abandoned Castle,Cordavo Town,and Mortvia Aqueduct which where all awesome tracks IMO.
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Not sure why some people would say that COD's soundtrack is lame.
On the contrary its pretty good actually IMO.
My favs are definitely Abandoned Castle,Cordavo Town,and Mortvia Aqueduct which where all awesome tracks IMO.
CoD soundtrack isn't lame, but also nothing so special. Just a few good tracks thrown here and there. For example, listen to the Mortvia Aqueduct playing on the trailer of the game and then the one inside the game. It's different, same with pinnacle music from DoS.
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I didn't play COD, but I have listened few tracks form the game.
My general impression that COD's soundtrack, continuues the trend of the LOI's one, being more electronical and experimental in nature than usual CV music, but it's less bombastic and less memorable. It is weaker, then LOI soundtrack.
But once again, I haven't played that game, so I can't speak for the whole soundtrack and how it works in the actual game.
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Well, I got Lament of Innocence.
I might do an LP of it youtube to show you guys me playing it and expressing my opinions on it, but I dunno yet. Thanks for the help, everyone.
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I love LoS. The atmosphere and mood, yes the acting. The character Leon and his design.. The House of Sacred Remains is just so awesome and thick with atmo. That is a fun music to play after smoking a little bud. The music there is awesome too. Cool things like the Forgotten One, and the way subweapons work. I love that game still.
If you wanna know.. BEAT ME!
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Seeing the trailer to this day, brings back that excitement I had for this game before it came out. Awesome outting:
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence (PS2) E3 2003 Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDcFSAr2DT0#)
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I am going to start with the negatives first. The lack of platforming, the sense of being in no real danger and the overuse of RPG elements. I always say that Zelda II is the perfection of the Action/Adventure/RPG hybrid. The dialogue is a little bit Richter of SOTN PS1 "what a bothersome" and "I know Rinaldo, I do know but," and "why would I lie to you, you must accept the truth (bad motion capture on Rinaldo here). The environments are blah. There is no soul no character and they belong in Simon's Quest. It's just redundant. The game's pace is slow and so are is the way enemies attack you a difficulty setting is definitely in order here. Damn how I hate what is done to Castlevania. It's always a B- to B franchise but has the potential to be a blow your balls off A+++++++++++++ series. Did someone say A or A-? A-!!!!!???? My Anus!!!!!
The game has a lot of positives though. Ok something good, something good, The music has excellent effect at certain points (The Ghostly Theater songs are haunting as is Prelude to the Abyss, this is Castlevania music people), Leon is fun to fight with, the weapons and upgrades are cool, the bosses are fun to look at (except Death) and there is a lot to find. I like the story of the whip & Dracula's origins. There is a build up to the end and it is very well done.
I suppose it is a blessing in some ways that we can dream about how we would like the games in this series to be and always have to search for....... Nah I want a fucking awesome Castlevania game not a ok decent not too shabby version. It seems sad that a lot of these storylines were wasted on games that were so so. Not enough care was given to them. Castlevania is very
much a neglected franchise and deserves to be made the right way. I don't understand why the makers don't get this fact. They recently got it right (really right) with Mortal Kombat 9. Give us some real 1987-1991 remade awesome Castlevania.
Why is this so hard to do?
This one is a mixed bag for me but I say go buy it.
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*Shrugs* They're far from perfect but I enjoyed both Lament of Innocence and Curse of Darkness.
Both of them have... average Castlevania stories. >_>
They got great voice actors but the direction and script are very questionable (far less so with CoD; LoI is a ham-fest).
I liked both the soundtracks. I find it strange when people complain about CoD being standard CV fare but turn around and complain about how different Lords of Shadow's music was. O_o