Topic: So I took her off the case...

[jestercolony]

And decided to dust off my old copy of SoTN and proceeded to pop it in to my PS3. It's kinda funny how I've owned at least 10 copies in my life time (since I was like...9 or 10?) It was one of the last few Christmas presents I had acquired from my parents (that with Final Fantasy VII and Mortal Kombat: Mythologies 'cuz I was really big on MK back then.) And with each copy, I had actually broken the CD (accidental, old age...etc.) and honestly, after all this time - even though I haven't touched the game since '06 - playing it again made me take a step back and feeling like a kid all over again.

Now, keep in mind - I never started out playing the franchise since the SoTN release. I started playing the series since the ol' NES days, watching my brother play it, and honestly it was the first game I had ever picked up as a toddler. I pretty much fell in love, because this game had introduced me to the horror genre craze not only of the 80s, but from the 90s to present time.  It's kinda funny how it peaked my interest in such things of the unknown and has led me to enjoy a hobby of paranormal investigation and research. Odd? Maybe, but it has sparked my imagination.

Through out the years as I have seen the series change, either better or worse - regardless, I can never resist the urge for playing a CV title. Heck, it's quite funny - even the guys at the local game stop (that I happened to use to work at) know me by name and just get the hair up their arse that when a new title is released, I am -always- the first one in the store upon opening. Not like there is some huge line, but its funny to know that I don't even have to ask for the installment title. "Here to pick up the new Castlevania, eh?" they'd always tell me.

And honestly, I'm kinda curious as to what other fans, especially from these very forums that I have been a part of, for what seems like forever. How has Castlevania effected your life? Has it introduced you to anything new and exciting that you thought you'd never get in to? Either it be the horror genre or, whatever. What has it done to inspire something in you as  in a hobby or artistic, perhaps maybe even in real life?

Even though I feel stupid saying all of this, but eh - wanted to see if I'm not alone on this ^_^

[X]

Dude you are not alone in this and what you said isn't stupid at all. I feel the same way too. Castlevania is just one of those rare instances that kick-starts a portion of your life in ways other things can and will never be able to do for you. There's just something about playing these games that really takes me back in time and I get all giddy again like I was when I was a kid. The characters, weapons, sounds, music, graphics, etc. All these things add up to one whole unique experience that should be treasured. Because from where we are now in the series? Such treasures like this may never come again.

[Odile Kuronuma]

I started the series with SOTN, although I knew of Castlevania long before that. I used to watch my brother play the SNES   and GB games. I was always interested in the series, but never really played those games when I was a kid, except maybe for Adventure, that I liked mostly because of Battle of the Holy. When I was a bit older, I finally picked up SOTN and it was the first Castlevania that I beat. I was in love with the game ever since I was a kid . The graphics, the music, the characters.... it was perfect. But what I really liked about the game is Kojima's artwork, and thanks to her I'm now learning how to draw, paint etc. SOTN affected me in helping me find out what I  really wanted in life. Normal studies are boring. I was always good at school. Learning how to draw is much more challenging.
It's also a  therapy for me , since when I draw I forget about all of my problems.
Well that's how CV affected my life

[jestercolony]

It's also a  therapy for me , since when I draw I forget about all of my problems.
Well that's how CV influenced my life

Now that there, is efin' awesomesause. ^_^

[darkwzrd4]

I just love SotN.  It's what changed everything gameplay-wise.  The only thing that I don't like about SotN and its many "clones" is the leveling system.  Max increasers, different armors and weapons, and exploration are what work.  Being able to level up is what makes the game way too easy especially if you know where to farm experience (*cough* guardians cough*). The crissargram took away from the difficulty too.  If you take away the leveling up and the broken weapons, you actually have a decent and challenging game.  Actually, the non-leveling in LoI is what made if a little challenging and fun.  Leveling up ruins these games.

I'm just glad that people still get enjoyment out of SotN.

[Kusanagi]

Well I came to the series rather late than most people on this forum; probably only just last year I started with DXC. Since I was small I was always a platformer game fan, pity though I never got the chance to play the original castlevanias while I had my snes, but that aside.

I actually had tried the game once before, and it felt too slow for me at the time so I didn't touch the game again for a long time; kinda funny when I think of it now. But after watching a playthrough of the original Rondo of blood, I decided to give the game another try. It was at that point I got to appreciate it for what it was, and that's probably where I first became a Castlevania fan. But probably what did it the most was playing Symphony of the Night, then the original Rondo of Blood (Rondo of Blood being the one I always come back to just because of how much fun the game is). Both of them amazing games, and since then I've wanted to play as many Castlevania games as I possibly could get my hands on.

One other thing that really got me into the series was the music. Every single piece was amazing and really set it for me when I played through Rondo of Blood, Symphony of the Night, and the games onwards. At the moment, I find myself switching between Harmony of Despair's remixed tracks and the original NES castlevania tracks (can't beat the original xD).

Castlevania- Vampire Killer
Castlevania Harmony of Despair OST - An Empty Tome [Order of Ecclesia]

Just some Im listening to right now, but that's besides the point xD

I can't say I've had as much dramatic/life changing experiences as of the long time fans, but after playing the games I truly want to see more from this series. The gameplay is what really got me into it, so good story or not, I'll want to play that game (That means Harmony of Despair is on my list despite its criticisms). Suppose that should be what matters the most when it comes to games xD

[Mystic Myotis]

I started playing the series since the ol' NES days, watching my brother play it, and honestly it was the first game I had ever picked up as a toddler. I pretty much fell in love, because this game had introduced me to the horror genre craze not only of the 80s, but from the 90s to present time.

Story of my life, lol.  Let's see... in 1991, when I was three, my parents bought a used NES bundled with 20+ used games, including Zelda 1-2, Super Mario Bros 1-3, Castlevania 1-2, Legacy of the Wizard, Dragon Warrior/Quest 1, Gauntlet, Bubble Bobble, and Ironsword: Wizards and Warriors 2.

I think Simon's Quest is the first game I ever played.  I could get to the first mansion but then I always died. XD  While the game has numerous flaws I've always enjoyed it.

These old games feel like they're in my blood, almost, especially the music.  I was struck by how atmospheric the Castlevania music (and music in the other games, too) was.  There was something about them that was special.  Whenever it turned to night in Simon's Quest or got to a dungeon the first two Zeldas or got near a boss in Ironsword or made the ghost shark things show up in Bubble Bobble or got to the ships in SMB3, I got scared and gave my controller to my mom.

A couple of years later, I think? we got a SNES and a Sega Genesis and by that time I was capable of truly playing games rather than just watching or tinkering until it got too hard and then giving my controller to my parents. XD  That was when I really got hooked; Final Fantasy II/IV and A Link to the Past, Sonic 1-3, Super Mario World, Super Castlevania IV...

Castlevania shaped the way I paid attention to video games and other media.  I pay more attention to music and atmosphere because of it.  Unsurprisingly, I have a bunch of Castlevania music on my Ipod. XD

And honestly, I'm kinda curious as to what other fans, especially from these very forums that I have been a part of, for what seems like forever. How has Castlevania effected your life? Has it introduced you to anything new and exciting that you thought you'd never get in to? Either it be the horror genre or, whatever. What has it done to inspire something in you as  in a hobby or artistic, perhaps maybe even in real life?

Eh, in addition to Disney XD I grew up on The Lord of the Rings, The Terminator (I wanted to be a 'Ternimator' when I grew up for a while, I was a weird little girl XD), Aliens, The Dark Crystal, and B-movies that Castlevania often references.
My family always exposed my sisters and me to art, literature, and music (we were poor but classy XD). Whatever games might have introduced to me, I was already familiar with through other means.

But the gaming experience itself was something different. Games have the potential to wrap a story, a movie, and an album into one single package and still have MORE because they also have immersion and the satisfaction of overcoming obstacles going for them.
And they are oh so nice to fall back on when you've had a bad day. XD

[VampirehunterB]

the fashion, the soundtrack, the view of artistic perspectives and the art of video games..only within castlevania...thats what makes castlevania collecting so expensive... its awsome, hence the amount of money required to collect the treasures out there..