Castlevania Dungeon Forums
The Castlevania Dungeon Forums => General Castlevania Discussion => Topic started by: The Zeldaniac on March 17, 2014, 08:07:15 PM
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So I missed out on SOTN, what's the best metroidvania that can substitute it for me? I've played a little bit of each of the GBA ones, but I really only care for AoS. Is there any better metroidvania I could play to get the closest experience of SOTN? :-\
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So I missed out on SOTN, what's the best metroidvania that can substitute it for me? I've played a little bit of each of the GBA ones, but I really only care for AoS. Is there any better metroidvania I could play to get the closest experience of SOTN? :-\
"Missed out"?
Do you have a PSP, a PS3, or an Xbox 360? If so, the game has been released on each of those consoles.
If you don't, your best bet is going to be AoS or DoS.
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uh, why not just play symphony of the night?
That game is so easy to find nowadys, its on Xbox 360,PS3, can be played on the PS2 and PSP (through Dracula X Chronicles).
Not to mention emulators.
But the closest games as far content (such as weapons and enemies) and abilities wise that are the closest to SOTN are obviously Castlevania Dawn of Sorror and Castlevania aria of sorrow.
Other games have the metroidvania formula but these 2 resemble SOTN more than others.
EDIT
E105 beat me to it lol. :P
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Just play SotN man, how do you "miss out" on a widely available game and need a substitute?
it's on PS1, PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, and you can emulate it on PC for free.
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Pretty much your choices are:
Circle of the Moon
Harmony of Dissonance
Aria of Sorrow
Dawn of Sorrow
Portrait of Ruin
Order of Ecclesia
My personal favorites are AoS, PoR, and OoE in that order. But I'd recommend you just play them all including SotN just as Flame suggests.
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Pretty much your choices are:
Circle of the Moon
Harmony of Dissonance
Aria of Sorrow
Dawn of Sorrow
Portrait of Ruin
Order of Ecclesia
My personal favorites are AoS, PoR, and OoE in that order. But I'd recommend you just play them all including SotN just as Flame suggests.
Think he means which is the closest as far as content and resemblance to SOTN goes, not a list of all metroidvanias available, although I could be wrong.
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Just play SotN man, how do you "miss out" on a widely available game and need a substitute?
it's on PS1, PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, and you can emulate it on PC for free.
Nope, I don't any of those platforms... sucks being a Nintendo fanboy sometimes. And I have yet to figure out how to work a PS1 emulator.
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Think he means which is the closest as far as content and resemblance to SOTN goes, not a list of all metroidvanias available, although I could be wrong.
You are correct, "the closest as far as content and resemblance to SOTN" is exactly what I'm looking for.
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You are correct, "the closest as far as content and resemblance to SOTN" is exactly what I'm looking for.
Well as I said before Aria of Sorrow and Dawn of Sorrow are the 2 games your looking for.
Though the downside to Dawn of Sorrow is those damn magic seals.
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Whatever you do, try to watch the cutscenes from the original SotN not the PSP version on YouTube so you can fully appreciate the genesis of some great Castlevania based memes.
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Dawn of Sorrow.
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Nope, I don't any of those platforms... sucks being a Nintendo fanboy sometimes. And I have yet to figure out how to work a PS1 emulator.
not too hard.
download the emulator (EPSXE is your best bet), then get the bios I believe? you can probablu google that. then get the rom. from there it's pretty straight forward.
I would make it a point to get an emulator working just for SotN. the other metroidvanias range from great to bad, but they are all really just pale imitations of the original.
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If you have a GBA I would recommend Circle of the Moon and Aria of Sorrow. Those two are the best next to SotN. The others seem to fall short in more then one way.
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GBA games were all a clone of the SOTN.
SOTN is really a reference to Kid Dracula.
All of these games and above makes no sense, and follows no Canon, I would just play "Circle of the moon", it seemed like the most decent of the clones, that made some sense. Not including the NDS or PS2 games.
..............
However, we are talking about exploration, not straight forward action. Their are many "Mellenium, apocolypse, games on the SNES, that plays like a modern day CV. As well as "Rondo Of Blood". I say ROB because the levels of SOTN, are all from ROB, but they extended the areas.
Also do not fret, SOTN is not really the first Castlevania to have a Metroid/Kid Icarus gameplay, there is the N64 games. However it is in 3d, does all the same thing that SOTN does but was an experiment, and follows the official timeline of the games.
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GBA games were all a clone of the SOTN.
SOTN is really a reference to Kid Dracula.
All of these games and above makes no sense, and follows no Canon, I would just play "Circle of the moon", it seemed like the most decent of the clones, that made some sense. Not including the NDS or PS2 games.
..............
However, we are talking about exploration, not straight forward action. Their are many "Mellenium, apocolypse, games on the SNES, that plays like a modern day CV. As well as "Rondo Of Blood". I say ROB because the levels of SOTN, are all from ROB, but they extended the areas.
Also do not fret, SOTN is not really the first Castlevania to have a Metroid/Kid Icarus gameplay, there is the N64 games. However it is in 3d, does all the same thing that SOTN does but was an experiment, and follows the official timeline of the games.
i seriously think you are just some kind of troll. I can't fathom anything else that doesn't include some form of brain damage.
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Let's not make fun of brain damage, but yeah, Flame, this is getting a little weird. RegalSin, me and the other mods offered our help if you're not a native English speaker, but your posts are so hard to read they're getting a little annoying. This is your second warning; we may take action if you make no effort to try and be more understandable.
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Aria of Sorrow is basically a successor to SotN, so I would recommend that. DoS follows a similar template, but there's some weirdness involving weapon acquisition that may not be everyone's cup of tea. Getting all of the weapons in that game, most of which were useless little stepping stones, was incredibly tedious.
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Yeah, I didn't like the weapon system of DoS either, especially since not that many of them were unique or useful, aside from the final ones. I really liked the soul system, though, and thought it an improvement over AoS's. I liked how you could level up souls by getting more of them, though "releasing" souls did absolutely nothing. T_T
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DoS felt way too grindy. Instead of making a Soul one way, it started weak and you needed to level it up. Its an interesting concept in theory, but the fact that you had to grind for more souls and shit made it too tedious. And yeah, that weapons thing was bullshit.
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In retrospective the only good thng out of DoS was Julius mode. The game itself is nothing to write home about and certainly not a worthy sequel of AoS.
If you're going to replace SOTN (I'll advice you not to) try Ecclesia. And only Ecclesia. maybe Aria. After Ecclesia.
You are correct, "the closest as far as content and resemblance to SOTN" is exactly what I'm looking for.
Then play Harmony of Dissonance, it's a SOTN super clone.
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If you're going to replace SOTN (I'll advice you not to) try Ecclesia. And only Ecclesia. maybe Aria. After Ecclesia.
Ecclesia is a sizable-enough departure from the SotN style, though. I like it, but I wouldn't recommend it as a "replacement".
Then play Harmony of Dissonance, it's a SOTN super clone.
Holy crap, no. I like Symphony, but there is no way I would recommend HoD to someone looking for more of the same. Harmony does ape visual elements from SotN as well as the whole "alternate castle" thing (although it does it much worse), but the game is hardly a clone. The weapon system is gutted, Juste handles very differently, the alternate castle is way too samey (on account largely just being reskinned instead of inverted), and the music quality just doesn't compare. It's like they looked at CotM and thought "let's make this like Symphony", while fumbling throughout.
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Ecclesia is a sizable-enough departure from the SotN style, though. I like it, but I wouldn't recommend it as a "replacement".
But it's the only one that is fine balanced. Aria was kinda short and predictable. Ecclesia is long, beautiful, and has the twist. It would be a comparable experience while not being a similar game experience.
And yeah, harmony isn't the super masterpiece, but he said the closest to sotn and hod is probably the most faithful clone. NOt the best experience for sure.
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In retrospective the only good thng out of DoS was Julius mode. The game itself is nothing to write home about and certainly not a worthy sequel of AoS.
Even DoS Julius mode is a hack job. The spritework is terrible- youve got Alucard squeezed right outta SotN into the DS, and Julius with a solid black outline. Also, the mode is unbalanced as shit. Julius is nerfed from Aria, his Grand Cross being kind of weak, Alucard is almost worse than his CV3 incarnation, and Yoko... first she's animated very weirdly- second- she uses up way too much magic to be useful at all.
And by the time you are halfway through, everything suddenly becomes retardedly difficult because it's designed for Soma without any balancing factor for Julius and Co.
Also, Soma is a disappointingly shit Dracula fight.
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Just play SoTN, any other substitute feels like a cheap knock-off... mostly because most were made like cheap knock-offs...
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Just play SoTN, any other substitute feels like a cheap knock-off... mostly because most were made like cheap knock-offs...
Except Aria. Aria was the sequel SotN deserved.
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The first thing that came into my mind was: How could someone miss out in Symphony?
But anyway, as mentioned by the rest of the gang, it is readily available on a lot of platforms.
As for your question, I would highly recommend Aria of Sorrow, although it is short and sweet compared to the massive size of Symphony.
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Except Aria. Aria was the sequel SotN deserved.
I completely agree with that one
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HoD was made by the same team behind SotN. Seriously, check the credits.
I mean I like HoD, but I wouldn't recommend it to a person starting out or anything. The deal with the Castle wasn't to be like the inverted castle (PoR toes that line far more closely), but to be more like Silent Hill. You have an evil world and an even more evil world, and what you do in Castle A (like smash a breakable wall in the Skeleton Cave A) will open a solid wall in Skeleton Cave B. Plus some areas like aforementioned Skeleton Cave will have different layouts. And box puzzles (hgngnghg). But constantly running back and forth will confuse a lot of less committed people and it's certainly the most divisive of all the Metroidvanias, CotM was far more accessible.
But yeah, I'd still Dawn of Sorrow would be the best bet if you're looking for the SotN experience. The castle is gigantic, the difficulty is juuuust right, the boss battles are very memorable and superior to the ones in SotN (topped by OoE and ReBirth, though), and the graphics still hold up very well 10 years later. The soul system is kind of wonky as Flame already explained, but I found that a lot of souls are effective enough as it is without upgrading them. The weapon system does stink, though, it was done much much much better in Curse of Darkness.
The music is also good but ironically I found that Masahiko Kimura's contributions were actually superior to Yamane's part of the soundtrack.
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Even DoS Julius mode is a hack job. The spritework is terrible- youve got Alucard squeezed right outta SotN into the DS, and Julius with a solid black outline. Also, the mode is unbalanced as shit. Julius is nerfed from Aria, his Grand Cross being kind of weak, Alucard is almost worse than his CV3 incarnation, and Yoko... first she's animated very weirdly- second- she uses up way too much magic to be useful at all.
And by the time you are halfway through, everything suddenly becomes retardedly difficult because it's designed for Soma without any balancing factor for Julius and Co.
Also, Soma is a disappointingly shit Dracula fight.
Eh, why complain? It was the only part of DoS that was actually difficult. ;D
But yeah. Everything about DoS Julius was off. The speed, the strength, the abilities, the sprite, the character design -- damn it, they even took away his theme. Thank god that one came back in CVHD.
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You dawgs are crazy. They had to balance him to accomodate Yoko and Alucard. If he was the same as he was in AoS, he'd be too overpowered. He's still the most versatile and powerful of the three, even though Alucard was faster and more agile.
But yeah he looked leagues better in AoS.
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Think he means which is the closest as far as content and resemblance to SOTN goes, not a list of all metroidvanias available, although I could be wrong.
I know that and my suggestion was to play them all regardless. And when I mentioned my favorites I meant that to also reflect his question.
Strictly speaking the closest to SotN on technical terms is DoS. Similar graphic quality, most similar game play.
However, the setting and story is probably the most bland out of the six choices.
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Would they be worth getting now though? To be honest, I only played the GBA titles, the PS1 games, and Lords of Shadow. Would any of you recommend that I get a DS and play through the DS titles?
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Would they be worth getting now though? To be honest, I only played the GBA titles, the PS1 games, and Lords of Shadow. Would any of you recommend that I get a DS and play through the DS titles?
Absolutely yes :). Get a DS or 3DS (or 2DS), so you can play those games. If you like the metroidvania style, you will feel just like home with DoS, PoR and OoE. Also, if you enjoy AoS, then you will enjoy DoS too, ´cause they share the same Soul System. You can see trailers and gameplays on the Internet.
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Absolutely yes :). Get a DS or 3DS (or 2DS), so you can play those games. If you like the metroidvania style, you will feel just like home with DoS, PoR and OoE. Also, if you enjoy AoS, then you will enjoy DoS too, ´cause they share the same Soul System. You can see trailers and gameplays on the Internet.
I'm a fan of all things Castlevania. :) Linear, Metroid style, 2D or 3D, it's all good to me. Grew up with Circle of the Moon and moved on from there.
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I'm a fan of all things Castlevania. :) Linear, Metroid style, 2D or 3D, it's all good to me. Grew up with Circle of the Moon and moved on from there.
Then I am sure that you will like and enjoy all of the DS vanias :D. Also, the NDS has plenty of great games to play (Contra 4, Megaman ZX and ZX Advent, both Zeldas, Nanostray 1 and 2, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days...)
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Would they be worth getting now though? To be honest, I only played the GBA titles, the PS1 games, and Lords of Shadow. Would any of you recommend that I get a DS and play through the DS titles?
Yes. Play through all the DS titles. They are good.
Get a ds/3ds xl so that the screen would be bigger. hehehe.
Get a ds if you want backward capability with GBA games.
Get a 3ds if you want to play newer 3ds games.
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The very first game in the series to have the barest glimmer of metroidvania flavor was Vampire Killer on MSX.
Then after that it was CV2 which is closer to Metroid, but simpler and flatter.
You know the rest.
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I'd consider either of the DS games a good substitute.
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Even DoS Julius mode is a hack job. The spritework is terrible- youve got Alucard squeezed right outta SotN into the DS, and Julius with a solid black outline. Also, the mode is unbalanced as shit. Julius is nerfed from Aria
CV reuses sprites, doesn't concern itself with balance and Julius is OP in AOS
Alucard is almost worse than his CV3 incarnation
If he's almost worse then he's still better.
He comes in handy when wanting to superjump and fight Death.
Yoko... first she's animated very weirdly- second- she uses up way too much magic to be useful at all.
She's a hottie and her spells are very useful (also for Death)
And by the time you are halfway through, everything suddenly becomes retardedly difficult because it's designed for Soma without any balancing factor for Julius and Co.
Retardedly difficult.. And which retard is playing the game? Balance has never had a place in CV
Also, Soma is a disappointingly shit Dracula fight.
It's the same fight as Rondo, a game which everyone seems to worship. I don't see how this fight is so bad. If anything it's better because Soma summons monsters to fight by his side.
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CV reuses sprites, doesn't concern itself with balance and Julius is OP in AOS
that's a lie. CV has always been balanced. It's designed the way it's designed. it isn't by chance that it's hard. it's hard because it's supposed to be. Unbalanced would be the US CV3 that scales enemy damage per stage, so by the end, even skeletons do tons of damage because why not. (that was US CV3 right?) also sprite reuse is fine when kept to a minimum, and in the NES games, any reuse was generally not too noticable because the stype and other sprites fit the same style and look. But games like DoS or PoR have MUCH better detail than Rondo and Symphony, and therefore you get a very harsh clash of these very detailed bosses and enemies, and then, a rondo skeleton. Also, AoS Julius is unbalanced because he was just tossed in as a bonus mode with little regard for balance. It's just for fun and nothing else. They HAD to make him playable. play hard mode with him. I guarantee it gets harder.
She's a hottie
irrelevant.Doesn't make her animations any less awkward and bad.
and her spells are very useful (also for Death)
i always found her just too energy hungry to be useful.
Retardedly difficult.. And which retard is playing the game?
U wot m8
Balance has never had a place in CV
that's an outright lie. This isn't Dark Souls.
It's the same fight as Rondo,
Oh really? I don't recall Dracula in Rondo using the giant axe soul, or having a Gaibon familiar. The ONLY similarity they have is Soma Teleports, and has that Rondo final form. Aside from that, they are nothing alike other than the music.
I don't see how this fight is so bad.
because Soma fights no different than he plays. It's just aggravating, that after all the hype of fighting Soma, he's just lazy. he doesn't use any new moves, He doesn't even fireball if I remember. ALL of his moves, are in-game souls. With the exception of his transformation. And even then he still uses souls like Abbadon. i expected some more originality in how he attacks.
If anything it's better because Soma summons monsters to fight by his side.
that doesn't make it better. it's interesting, but not really better. if he were to summon anything, i'd wish it was some monster we never saw. Something ORIGINAL. Also it's kind of telling that they needed a familiar to attack you, because his moveset is so piss poor.
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that's a lie. CV has always been balanced. It's designed the way it's designed. it isn't by chance that it's hard. it's hard because it's supposed to be.
Oh really?
The CV Chronicles Clock Tower, the cogs that keep rolling down the stage which deduct 1/4-1/3 lifebar and the boss who can jump around the stage quicker than Simon can turn and just throw parts of the clocktower at you.
The CV 64/ LOD Hard mode stage where Reinhardt carries the TNT having to not fall off platforms, be crushed by the mechanisms and avoid 5 x 2 sets of bone pillars and avoid enemies.
The Final Boss of Dracula XX (unless you've mastered the game)
The knights in the Clock tower of CV1
I'm not even going to comment on CV3
All the other games are hard because they're supposed to be, that doesn't mean they're necessarily 100% or perfectly balanced.
Julius Mode in DOS is the equivalent to Hard mode. It's supposed to be difficult. With MV's platforming takes a back seat and the game is harder in other ways.
Also, AoS Julius is unbalanced because he was just tossed in as a bonus mode with little regard for balance. It's just for fun and nothing else. They HAD to make him playable. play hard mode with him. I guarantee it gets harder.
I've played hard mode with Julius on AOS, it took me under a couple of hours to finish the game, and a few hours to ransack the entire castle.
This is not even close to being difficult. Hell, Hard mode with Soma is probably easier than normal, there are more weapons in the game like Death's Scythe and it's not that noticeable in difference.
irrelevant.
Objection!
Now we're playing Phoenix Wright
Doesn't make her animations any less awkward and bad.
It makes her sprite more appealing.
I grew up playing MVC 2 using Morrigan so I guess my standards are lower... (why is it always the pretty ones?)
i always found her just too energy hungry to be useful.
That Ice move is Death's Bane, for real.
that's an outright lie. This isn't Dark Souls.
If Dark Souls were 2d it very well could be.
Oh really? I don't recall Dracula in Rondo using the giant axe soul, or having a Gaibon familiar. The ONLY similarity they have is Soma Teleports, and has that Rondo final form. Aside from that, they are nothing alike other than the music.
Similar in essence, meaning it feels like the final fight.. Not down to every detail. It's more reminiscent of Rondo than say Dracula XX (aside from Dance of Illusions) which was a remake.
because Soma fights no different than he plays. It's just aggravating, that after all the hype of fighting Soma, he's just lazy. he doesn't use any new moves, He doesn't even fireball if I remember. ALL of his moves, are in-game souls. With the exception of his transformation. And even then he still uses souls like Abbadon. i expected some more originality in how he attacks.
It's Soma, he's the new Dracula. I don't see this being an issue. I like that it's different to other Dracula fights.
Though I will say in terms of MV, POR/OOE were much better Dracula fights.
that doesn't make it better. it's interesting, but not really better. if he were to summon anything, i'd wish it was some monster we never saw. Something ORIGINAL. Also it's kind of telling that they needed a familiar to attack you, because his moveset is so piss poor.
Not really, it just makes it more varied because you're attacking other monsters. It makes logistical sense because Soma supposedly absorbed all of their souls.
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And yeah, harmony isn't the super masterpiece, but he said the closest to sotn and hod is probably the most faithful clone. NOt the best experience for sure.
I like Harmony a lot at the time, after COTM it was just far too easy.