Topic: is Castlevania: OoE possibly better than Symphony?

[uzo]

OOE while a good solid game doesn't compare to SOTN.

This.

[Battler Ushiromiya]

This.

Because OoE is that much better than SotN?

[True Sorrow]

I personally have a hard time choosing between the two, they both have very attracting parts.

In the gameplay part of things, they excelled in very different ways. SotN did have better level design, there's no question there, and the wholesome castle really had a good progression going on. The Inverted Castle is also something I actually liked, unlike most people. It had a good feel to it, and the level design actually made a lot of sense. While some places seemed a bit less solid than in the normal castle, some places were designed very well, providing even more interesting places than in the normal castle.
On the other hand, OoE excelled at every other gameplay aspect: It was smoother, with a better battle system, improved back-dash and the ground-slide (although the latter two were fixed before OoE, but...); it had better enemy placement, as well as overall better enemies, making for much more of an actual challenge, as well as making it much more fast-paced; and then it had much better bosses, some of the best I've seen in the whole series. And with DoS in the series, that's saying a lot!
So I guess that in this sense OoE is better.

But then there's the aesthetics. SotN is better in this regard, with both better graphics and better music. Even though OoE has very good visuals and music, it just doesn't deliver the same amazing experience that SotN does.

So, I've only played OoE once and I haven't played SotN for a while, but while OoE may deliver much, much, MUCH better combat and more fast-paced gameplay, SotN somehow manages to give a more fulfilling experience. And the levels are also designed better.

[Battler Ushiromiya]

I personally have a hard time choosing between the two, they both have very attracting parts.

In the gameplay part of things, they excelled in very different ways. SotN did have better level design, there's no question there, and the wholesome castle really had a good progression going on. The Inverted Castle is also something I actually liked, unlike most people. It had a good feel to it, and the level design actually made a lot of sense. While some places seemed a bit less solid than in the normal castle, some places were designed very well, providing even more interesting places than in the normal castle.
On the other hand, OoE excelled at every other gameplay aspect: It was smoother, with a better battle system, improved back-dash and the ground-slide (although the latter two were fixed before OoE, but...); it had better enemy placement, as well as overall better enemies, making for much more of an actual challenge, as well as making it much more fast-paced; and then it had much better bosses, some of the best I've seen in the whole series. And with DoS in the series, that's saying a lot!
So I guess that in this sense OoE is better.

But then there's the aesthetics. SotN is better in this regard, with both better graphics and better music. Even though OoE has very good visuals and music, it just doesn't deliver the same amazing experience that SotN does.

So, I've only played OoE once and I haven't played SotN for a while, but while OoE may deliver much, much, MUCH better combat and more fast-paced gameplay, SotN somehow manages to give a more fulfilling experience. And the levels are also designed better.

I believe this post just summarized the entire topic.

[Twizman]

Don't know because it's not out in Australia until February sometime  :

[thernz]

Wait, you're actually saying OoE's story beats SoTN? They're both meh and just there imo.

[thernz]

Well, yeah it introduced a lot of story innovation for Castlevania, but it was still meh. I mean, it was good for Castlevania stories. But, yeah, meh.
...Besides the beginning.

[Azmodan]

introduced us to an "evil Belmont"

Castlevania Adventure II: Belmont's Revenge

brought back characters from previous games, etc. Come on, it was very well done.

Castlevania II: Simon's Quest

[le052383]

Castlevania Adventure II: Belmont's Revenge
 

Castlevania II: Simon's Quest

So true! LOL

I mean, if someone wants to get very technical on what was the first game to introduce many of the same characters, it would be vampire killer.  True, it was basically CV1, but it had a lot of changes.  It wouldn't be a Castlevania game
if Dracula is not mentioned of fought in the game.

Regardless, SOTN isn't the first game to have the same characters.

SOTN, however, introduced the metrovania concept.

[Battler Ushiromiya]

Well, OoE isn't exactly a full MetroidVania itself. The way it splits up the maps makes it feel like something different, especially since I can't remember any Metroid game that splits the map the way OoE does.

[Beowulf]

I dont know, Symphony of the Night will always and WILL be my most favorite Castlevania game next to Castlevania and Rondo of Blood (The Dracula X Chronicles now), Order of Ecclesia was a great game and all but... i was dissappointed possibly because 1. I didnt like the music for some odd damn reason, it just didnt seem "Castlevania" to me 2. Castlevania is losing its dark setting that I have always adored 3. IGA IS RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS!!! 4. Castlevania died once they made Dawn of Sorrow, all of the Castlevania games are great in alot of ways but just, when I mean, im not meaning literally DEAD but just, not Castlevania, they've added well, to me, a bunch of bullshit and killed it for me, the games have Castlevania on the covers but is not CASTLEVANIA. Im not trying to be a critic and all, its just how I feel about it, I miss the old chilling feel that I once had for the series, especially the dark settings with Symphony of the Night and Lament of Innocence... yall should notice what I feel from it... right?

[Battler Ushiromiya]

1. I didnt like the music for some odd damn reason, it just didnt seem "Castlevania" to me

Eh, I didn't mind the music, but it definitely isn't the classic Castlevania sound. But hey, that's why the records were included.

2. Castlevania is losing its dark setting that I have always adored

The originals wern't really that dark to begin with, and OoE's easily as dark as or moreso than most of the IGA Castlevanias, anyways. Shanoa and Albus are a couple of tragic characters when you really think about it.

3. IGA IS RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS!!!

What the hell was the Glyph system, then?

4. Castlevania died once they made Dawn of Sorrow, all of the Castlevania games are great in alot of ways but just, when I mean, im not meaning literally DEAD but just, not Castlevania, they've added well, to me, a bunch of bullshit and killed it for me, the games have Castlevania on the covers but is not CASTLEVANIA.

DoS was extaeneous, I'll give you that. However, OoE and PoR actually had some bearing on the storyline, however limited it was (OoE explained why Dracula was revived despite the seal Alucard placed on him at the end of SotN failed, and PoR... well, PoR expanded upon how the VK works. Kinda.)

[Skull_Kid]

Well... First of all, hello, I'm new lolz...

Next...

Order of Ecclesia is one of my favorite Castlevania's now, haven't played most of the old ones, before Super Castlevania IV...
Even though it is "level-designed" it is awesome,and it feels so big.
SotN is awesome, but Order is better, imo.
Plus, it has Shanoa, that Hot brunette:D

On a side note... Just finished DoS and i didn't like it.
While AoS was awesome, DoS feels like a bad copy of it

[darkwzrd4]

OoE and PoR actually had some bearing on the storyline, however limited it was (OoE explained why Dracula was revived despite the seal Alucard placed on him at the end of SotN failed, and PoR... well, PoR expanded upon how the VK works. Kinda.)

What seal?  I don't remember Alucard or anyone placing a seal on Dracula's remains in SotN.

[Battler Ushiromiya]

What seal? I don't remember Alucard or anyone placing a seal on Dracula's remains in SotN.

I could swear I remember Alucard sealing off Drac's power at some point... Maybe it was my imagination. :/