Castlevania Dungeon Forums

The Castlevania Dungeon Forums => General Castlevania Discussion => Topic started by: theplottwist on September 21, 2016, 10:30:07 AM

Title: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: theplottwist on September 21, 2016, 10:30:07 AM
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-09-20-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mercurysteam-konami (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-09-20-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mercurysteam-konami)

"The other relevant fact, and for me personally an important one, is gamers' feedback is essentially positive. Not from Castlevania hardcore long-time fans, because they hated us from the day we released the first Lords of Shadow;"

:^)

See, there is a reason why would one want to appease the "hardcore long-time fans" and that is THEY WILL REVIEW YOUR GAMES TODAY. They will review your games and, if they're not reviewers, they will quite easily sway the opinion to their side.

The long-time fans disliked your game because they were essentially regarded as nostalgia-google-wearing buffoons. You can't sprinkle references and namedrop things on your game and call it a day.

That said, LoS1 was a masterpiece. LoS2 is pure garbage with a nice texture.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: KaZudra on September 21, 2016, 10:58:27 AM
Lords of Shadow is a hard one, I personally enjoy them for the most part.
I wouldn't exactly call it a lose-lose situation, but I really wish LoS1 for the most part was seen in a better limelight, it's fun and the story is rather top-notch given that Castlevania isn't exactly a game known for a strong driving narrative.

If LoS1 were received fairly, maybe the quality of the sequels wouldn't have been so off, morale in the workplace is a hugely underestimated factor.

Still, I wish MS could revisit Lords of Shadow and release a Director's cut of LoS2, though it's unlikely
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: Belmontoya on September 21, 2016, 03:20:26 PM
I loved LOS1. But man these guys are in denial about 2.

Batman VS Superman had that same drab, dull god I wish the was awesome but it's not feeling.

They're out of touch assuming that all longtime CV fans hated them. I was rooting for them.
They just blew it. It's not fair to blame that on longtime cv fans and critics.

I don't think any of us WANTED the game to be bad...

You can tell these guys are really butt hurt about it still. ????
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: piscesdreams on September 21, 2016, 03:36:25 PM
I honestly feel like there was a bit of douchebaggery on both sides of the table.  The interviewer was asking some seriously nitpicky questions.  On the other hand, they totally dropped the ball so it's somewhat deserved.  I'm very mixed on this interview.  LoS1 itself wasn't a terrible game by any stretch, it just really should have stayed as simply "Lords of Shadow" and I think it would have done way better across the board.  But what do I know...
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: theANdROId on September 21, 2016, 04:37:57 PM
As I read it, some of the responses really seem to come across like they're still upset and trying to lash back or point back with blame.  Like the kid who started a fight on the playground but lost, and then came back like a week later talking trash and making bogus claims even though everyone knows what really happened.  I mean, maybe they didn't mean to be that way when they responded, I'm just saying that's how it sounds when I read it.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: Claimh Solais on September 21, 2016, 06:23:09 PM
Enric Alvarez needs to go have a seat. Jesus, the guy seemed like he was getting really heated. Dave Cox's responses were much more professional and didn't make me cringe when reading through them.

On a side note, why Enric Alvarez look like Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: TheTextGuy on September 21, 2016, 07:44:11 PM
So, Unseen 64 made a video back then about MercurySteam's Metroid pitch.  In the interview MercurySteam denied that they pitched Metroid.  However, the person who made the video, Liam Robertson, still stands by his stance, as seen by this tweet

https://twitter.com/Doctor_Cupcakes/status/778192259787395073

I doubt Liam Robertson has anything to lose by denying his stance to be honest, so I went from giving MercurySteam the benefit of the doubt to being very wary of them (again).  That, and Cox and Alvarez still seem pretty haughty like they've made THE Castlevania and that anything before is inferior.  Some things never change...
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: Claimh Solais on September 21, 2016, 09:52:39 PM
Quote from: TheTextGuy on September 21, 2016, 07:44:11 PM
So, Unseen 64 made a video back then about MercurySteam's Metroid pitch.  In the interview MercurySteam denied that they pitched Metroid.  However, the person who made the video, Liam Robertson, still stands by his stance, as seen by this tweet

https://twitter.com/Doctor_Cupcakes/status/778192259787395073

I doubt Liam Robertson has anything to lose by denying his stance to be honest, so I went from giving MercurySteam the benefit of the doubt to being very wary of them (again).  That, and Cox and Alvarez still seem pretty haughty like they've made THE Castlevania and that anything before is inferior.  Some things never change...

The Halo devs denied there ever being a Halo DS game until the footage was leaked. And even after leaks of Until Dawn's story expansion, the devs denied it being a thing until it was announced. Devs lie.

That being said, I didn't really interpret Dave Cox as being haughty in this interview. He seemed pretty professional. It was Enric doing all the "MAN WE MADE THE BEST CASTLEVANIA EVER". And to be fair, the LoS games have sold better than any other Castlevania game, so them pointing that out is a decent defense.

I will disagree with their "DURRR DURRR ALL CV FANS HATED US SINCE LOS1" because I was in love with LoS1 and if you go back to old threads I was defending LoS to the death, and I was giddy with excitement over its sequels and even pre-ordered and got LoS2 day of release. He doesn't need to get so defensive; LoS2 kinda sucked.

Also, I do call bullshit on his whole "STEALTH SEGMENTS ARE ONLY LIKE 8% OF THE GAME". That's absolute bull-kaka. They're very apparent in the game and one major section of the game against a boss fight was entirely stealth. They aren't "puzzles". They were garbage. It was a major part of the game that sucked and that's why so many game reviewers gave them crap for it. It's not like a bad menu or a small mechanic that can be ignored. It's a mandatory mechanic that is used multiple times throughout the game.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: TheTextGuy on September 21, 2016, 10:04:20 PM
Quote from: Claimh Solais on September 21, 2016, 09:52:39 PM
The Halo devs denied there ever being a Halo DS game until the footage was leaked. And even after leaks of Until Dawn's story expansion, the devs denied it being a thing until it was announced. Devs lie.

That being said, I didn't really interpret Dave Cox as being haughty in this interview. He seemed pretty professional. It was Enric doing all the "MAN WE MADE THE BEST CASTLEVANIA EVER". And to be fair, the LoS games have sold better than any other Castlevania game, so them pointing that out is a decent defense.

I will disagree with their "DURRR DURRR ALL CV FANS HATED US SINCE LOS1" because I was in love with LoS1 and if you go back to old threads I was defending LoS to the death, and I was giddy with excitement over its sequels and even pre-ordered and got LoS2 day of release. He doesn't need to get so defensive; LoS2 kinda sucked.

Now that you pointed that out, I'm prolly going to have to read the interview again.  Maybe Alvarez was that aggressive :P

Also now that I think about it, LoS1 wasn't unanimously hated around these parts; a base breaker for sure, but not unanimous and total hatred.  It definitely isn't a bad game for sure, just it isn't what me (and prolly others) were looking for in a Castlevania.

To be fair, wasn't that big on Mirror of Fate, and I haven't played LoS2.  October's rolling around, so maybe I might do a Castlevania marathon and include those games in to take a look at.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: SecretWeapon on September 22, 2016, 12:08:34 AM
I liked LoS1. The best thing to come out of those games was this though

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: JR on September 22, 2016, 01:00:14 AM
Quote from: Claimh Solais on September 21, 2016, 06:23:09 PM
Enric Alvarez needs to go have a seat. Jesus, the guy seemed like he was getting really heated. Dave Cox's responses were much more professional and didn't make me cringe when reading through them.


Totally agree. It was like a good cop/bad cop thing, almost. Alvarez sure brought a lot of salt to the table.

I really wanted to see them succeed. I hoped they'd take the criticism of LoS1 constructively and make a game more fitting of the Castlevania title with LoS2. I think they really did the combat well on the sequel, but that's about it.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: TatteredSeraph on September 22, 2016, 09:08:29 AM
LoS had some wonderful potential.  By the end of LoS1, my heart was breaking for Gabriel, and he'd become one of my favourite Castlevania characters hands down.  I wanted to adore 2, but the modern setting parts just felt so sloppily done, and it felt like so much wasted potential.  It felt rushed, and creativity in places stomped on.  Enric just needs to accept responsibility.  The artbooks and the music were wonderful, and the first cinematic trailer for 2 along with the demo just sublime.  If only they could have matched that level for the full game.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: X on September 22, 2016, 09:45:07 AM
Quote
I liked LoS1. The best thing to come out of those games was this though

Carmilla is a knockout.  :D
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: piscesdreams on September 22, 2016, 03:02:35 PM
Just because a game does well financially doesn't exactly make it a total success.  I think Alvarez is completely blinded to the fact that sure, it sold a shitload of copies, but it also amassed a lot of bad criticisms.  Money does not always equal success.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: theANdROId on September 22, 2016, 03:40:41 PM
Would the product cost have anything to do with the claim that it made more money?  If new NES cartridges were $30 and the LoS titles are $60-$80, of course it made more...I dunno!  I mean, I would think that is something that should and would be taken into account -- like inflation or whatever -- but I could also see it being easily overlooked.

I don't suggest this to rail them as the worst ever or anything.  I did enjoy LoS1 and MoF.  I haven't played LoS2...I have it, but sickness/transplant happened and I just haven't picked it back up yet.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: Belmontoya on September 22, 2016, 03:44:30 PM
Exactly.

It sold a lot because everyone was expecting a game sure to better than LOS1 which was good.

Then we cracked it open, got a few hours into it and realized it was bad.

All the large sales indicate is how many people got ripped off.

Another parallel with Batman VS Superman...
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: piscesdreams on September 22, 2016, 04:25:53 PM
I would imagine that the budget to profit ratio is something Alvarez is figuring into the equation. But like Belmontoya said, people got ripped off.  The BvS is a very good comparison.  Ghostbusters is another one.  I don't exactly see Konami rushing to make another Lords of Shadow.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: Rugal on September 28, 2016, 01:02:58 AM
"Enric Alvarez: No game is perfect, okay? We also had a lot of hate for the first Lords of Shadow. We received death threats in the studio."

LOL none of these were me I swear.

"The other relevant fact, and for me personally an important one, is gamers' feedback is essentially positive. Not from Castlevania hardcore long-time fans, because they hated us from the day we released the first Lords of Shadow."

Yeah no shit you stupid fuck.You take a nice big shit on a 30 year legacy with your retarded god of war clone, and got Dracula fighting terran marines from starcraft and shit. Fuck you pretentious waste of skin.

"Enric Alvarez: Sometimes, common sense is the less common of sense. We are in an age when anybody can post what he or she thinks on the internet, and that can be read by millions of people. This is good, in itself, and it's changing our society. But at the same time we need to be aware that just because someone says something, that is not the truth."

It is the truth when your game fucking sucks shit from a dead moose. You yourselves created your "shit storm" what the hell did you think was going to happen? You made three disgustingly shitty games and ruined a legendary franchise with your inability to create anything worthwhile. Go fuck yourself.

So when's that Contra reboot where we have Bill Rizer sneaking through Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory in order to save his long lost transgendered child named Lance but then Bill dies and becomes resurrected as an Oompa Loompa, so his transgendered child must seek out Bill inside the chocolate factory where they are secretly developing a cure for cancer but the aliens have showed up but the aliens are ninja turtles?
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: X on September 28, 2016, 09:27:08 AM
Quote
So when's that Contra reboot where we have Bill Rizer sneaking through Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory in order to save his long lost transgendered child named Lance but then Bill dies and becomes resurrected as an Oompa Loompa, so his transgendered child must seek out Lance inside the chocolate factory where they are secretly developing a cure for cancer but the aliens have showed up but the aliens are ninja turtles?

lol! Nice read first thing in the morning  ;D
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: SecretWeapon on September 28, 2016, 09:52:59 AM
I still want Castlevania: Lords of Shadows 3: Founder's Curse though
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: Kingshango on September 28, 2016, 11:42:39 AM
Surprised Konami hasn't does a Lords of Shadow remastered collection yet.

If Konami couldn't care less enough to do even that, then they're truly done with gaming and Castlevania as a series is dead.  :(
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: piscesdreams on September 28, 2016, 04:02:07 PM
Quote from: Rugal on September 28, 2016, 01:02:58 AM
So when's that Contra reboot where we have Bill Rizer sneaking through Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory in order to save his long lost transgendered child named Lance but then Bill dies and becomes resurrected as an Oompa Loompa, so his transgendered child must seek out Bill inside the chocolate factory where they are secretly developing a cure for cancer but the aliens have showed up but the aliens are ninja turtles?

That sounds far more entertaining than the LoS games.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: Claimh Solais on September 28, 2016, 04:13:17 PM
Quote from: Kingshango on September 28, 2016, 11:42:39 AM
Surprised Konami hasn't does a Lords of Shadow remastered collection yet.

If Konami couldn't care less enough to do even that, then they're truly done with gaming and Castlevania as a series is dead.  :(

"Hey, should we remaster Lords of Shadow the same way we're remastering MGSV?"
"Lord, no. WE don't even want that."
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: zangetsu468 on September 29, 2016, 07:06:39 AM
LOS1 was to Castlevania what Mario 2 is to the Mario franchise.
But for what it's worth MoF can lick my balls.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: LuxKiller65 on October 04, 2016, 06:12:54 AM
Guys, hello guys? All the cursing and rude words aren't necessary. Games are bad enough :) think we can express ourselves in a more mature way
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: X on October 04, 2016, 10:52:21 AM
Quote
LOS1 was to Castlevania what Mario 2 is to the Mario franchise.

Interesting comparison. Although I was far, far more accepting of Mario 2 the LoS1.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: Rugal on October 04, 2016, 11:41:17 AM
Quote from: LuxKiller65 on October 04, 2016, 06:12:54 AM
Guys, hello guys? All the cursing and rude words aren't necessary. Games are bad enough :) think we can express ourselves in a more mature way

No. Swearing can represent high amounts of anger. LoS angered me and a lot of other people

FUCK ENRIC ALVAREZ AND FUCK DAVID COX

Castlevania 3 was the first video game my 3 year old little shit hands ever played and I've been a huge fan of Castlevania ever since that day. Now look what it's become. Ruined a god damn 30 YEAR LEGACY in order to make a quick buck with their mediocre trailer trash series of games.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: TheTextGuy on October 04, 2016, 03:43:50 PM
Quote from: X on October 04, 2016, 10:52:21 AM
Interesting comparison. Although I was far, far more accepting of Mario 2 the LoS1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzynkmq0G6U (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzynkmq0G6U)
Thing about Mario 2 was that even when it was Doki Doki Panic, the devs still aimed it to be "Mario like."

Also glad they (MercurySteam) are not working on Metroid.  Not angry at MercurySteam, but just have a sense of ennui towards them.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: Belmontoya on October 04, 2016, 04:16:35 PM
Hey Rugal what kind of drugs do you do?

LOL. You're hilarious dude!
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: piscesdreams on October 04, 2016, 05:03:19 PM
Quote from: Rugal on October 04, 2016, 11:41:17 AM
FUCK ENRIC ALVAREZ AND FUCK DAVID COX

(https://media.tenor.co/images/70d15b6d6e00b1537e00fe3181ae2060/raw)
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: Jorge D. Fuentes on October 04, 2016, 07:10:35 PM
There are some people who seem to have been personally touched by the development of the LoS games.

But, calm the fuck down with the swearing. :P
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: Rugal on October 05, 2016, 04:09:47 AM
Quote from: Belmontoya on October 04, 2016, 04:16:35 PM
Hey Rugal what kind of drugs do you do?

LOL. You're hilarious dude!

I don't use drugs. Never even tried them. I'm just pissed off about this. I hope both of these fools see what I had to say about them. No, I'm not gonna be retarded and send them some death threats, but I'd LOVE to have a two on one boxing matches with these dumb fucks. David Cox is so fat that he probably won't even be able to make it into the ring, and Enric Alvarez is a skinny old geezer that he'd be down in one punch Mike Tyson's punch-out style. I wish those two assholes would meet me sum fuckin where.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: zangetsu468 on October 05, 2016, 05:37:51 AM
Quote from: Rugal on October 05, 2016, 04:09:47 AM
I don't use drugs. Never even tried them. I'm just pissed off about this. I hope both of these fools see what I had to say about them. No, I'm not gonna be retarded and send them some death threats, but I'd LOVE to have a two on one boxing matches with these dumb fucks. David Cox is so fat that he probably won't even be able to make it into the ring, and Enric Alvarez is a skinny old geezer that he'd be down in one punch Mike Tyson's punch-out style. I wish those two assholes would meet me sum fuckin where.

Sounding more like God Rugal at this stage  ;)
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: TheTextGuy on October 05, 2016, 05:50:32 AM
Quote from: zangetsu468 on October 05, 2016, 05:37:51 AM
Sounding more like God Rugal at this stage  ;)

Two non-superpowered people who prolly can't fight well against freakin' God Rugal?

You see, this is why you don't piss a SNK boss off.  :)
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: Dremn on October 05, 2016, 10:37:28 AM
Lords 1 was a great game, but aside from MoF's cast and atmosphere none of the LoS games feel like Castlevania to me, or the direction I would have preferred for a reboot.

In the end LoS is a God of War clone with a lot of ideas and mechanics borrowed and mishandled from other games, I would have preferred gameplay that was a bit more slow and tactical like Dark Souls instead of the heavy hack and slash feel and damage sponge enemies.

LoS did a nice job of breaking up the pace of platforming and combat though, but I would have preferred a game that blended both magnificently.

The music overall does not stick with me besides a few tracks; Belmont's theme and Dracula's theme, and that heavy arrangement of Beginning from LoS1's final battle.

I think the biggest offender though is the story, it is an absolute convoluted mess from start to finish. Dracula's origin being locked behind a DLC, the origin of the "Belmonts," and Satan in general. Just awful. It's like they just winged it with the first game and didn't really have a planned roadmap going forward, then tried to make it all feel more like Castlevania responding to criticism which resulted in MoF and LoS2.

The whole series feels more like a big spin off, I won't remember them as positive highlights for the series.
Quote from: Kingshango on September 28, 2016, 11:42:39 AM
Surprised Konami hasn't does a Lords of Shadow remastered collection yet.

If Konami couldn't care less enough to do even that, then they're truly done with gaming and Castlevania as a series is dead.  :(
It absolutely seems that way. My hopes lie in Bloodstained to carry the torch.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: Flame on October 05, 2016, 10:04:26 PM
Quote from: theplottwist on September 21, 2016, 10:30:07 AM

That said, LoS1 was a masterpiece. LoS2 is pure garbage with a nice texture.

I wouldnt call it pure garbage. Honestly the worst aspect is the story and worldbuilding which has a horrible payoff.

but the gameplay is solid. (also, credit where it's due, the whole subplot within the castle, about the castle rebelling against it's master, and Dracul's interactions with the ghost of his wife/son were good)
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: zangetsu468 on October 06, 2016, 02:16:37 AM
It may just be me and because I haven't played LOS2, but from what I understood it was set in an imagined city, LOS1 is set in 1094 in what seems to be an imagined world. The only time we get a bearing of context is in LOS1's ending (after the credits).

Granted the original Castlevania is also set in a world with mythology and imagined elements, but it always felt much more gothic and more clear with context than LOS did. For instance LOS1 some people claim feels a bit like LOTR in context. However, MoF which realistically is not set that far away in terms of timeline feels like a completely different context. The 2 worlds don't feel connected, and the connection with context and feeling/ atmosphere lacks overall cohesion. Even between the Classicvanias and Igavanias the ost, ambience and details (both little and big) gave the player a more clear perception of the era in which the games were set, which relate to our world. Just a thought.

I didn't mind LOS' context. MoF I could take or leave.
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: theANdROId on October 07, 2016, 02:33:27 PM
Quote from: TheTextGuy on October 04, 2016, 03:43:50 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzynkmq0G6U (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzynkmq0G6U)

I'm just lost and confused now why there's a random review of some Radio Shack racing game. :-/
Title: Re: Enric Alvarez Interview
Post by: TheTextGuy on October 07, 2016, 09:58:06 PM
Quote from: theANdROId on October 07, 2016, 02:33:27 PM
I'm just lost and confused now why there's a random review of some Radio Shack racing game. :-/

...shite.  I posted the wrong link!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EUYSN5aFcE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EUYSN5aFcE)

This was what I originally intended to post!  I don't know how I somehow posted Classic Game Room reviewing a Radio Shack game instead.  :V