Topic: The details that make Castlevania special....

[cecil-kain]

It's the attention to detail that sets Castlevania apart from everyday gaming trash.  Of course, there's something to be said about declining production value, but nearly every game has a special moment or place.  Sometimes quirky, beautiful, humorous, or bizarre --and always unnecessary-- these are the moments that say "this game was made with love"  While some are annoying or out of place --most are just the right touch.  Here are a couple of my favorites to get the conversation started....

----------------Castlevania Chronicles PS1------------------
In the Dracula's Keep, there's an old, abused chapel --secluded behind a wall.  At the front is a giant crucifix; when Simon kneels before the Christ figure in prayer, a 1-up rises from the floor.

-------------------Harmony of Dissonance--------------------
Deep inside the Clock Tower, there are many massive gears relentlessly turning, but one of them has something the others do not, the bones of some poor soul who got caught within gear's teeth.  With each rotation the lifeless skeleton dangles here and there for all eternity.

----------------------Aria of Sorrow------------------------
Deep beneath the Castle, Soma finds a small underground cemetary...  As he enters, he comes upon some lemming-like zombies.  They seem harmless enough, but there's something odd --as they seem to be going somewhere --and the more Soma follows, the more they appear in droves, until suddenly...  Best Legion intro ever revealed!

In a secluded corner of the Castle Arena, Soma comes across a Succubus and a Lilith soaking it up in a bath with a rubber ducky.  Perhaps they attacked Soma because he was interrupting something?

---------------------Lament of Innocence-------------------
Leon looks at the whip and slowly picks it up.  He looks somewhat puzzled.  "What is THIS?"

------------------------------------------------------------
I best not get carried away...

Why not share your favorites?

[Donvermicelli]

For me it's the attention to detail indeed, I completely agree on that. Instead of talking about specific games I'll talk about the games in general.

I have always had an obsession with architecture, though it was not the initial thing that drew me to castlevania it was the thing the made it all the more special for me once I got to know the series. Almost all of the castles have great architecture. Not all of them seem realistic but most of them are based upon real structures and altered to look even better in most cases! The even cooler part about this is that when you visit the actual places that the castle parts are based upon you will always see castlevania back in it instead of the other way around.

Another thing that you mention is something I have also felt very strongly. Castlevania might have had a lot of different directors and they all had different idea's about the game, all of them put their love into making the games. ( I have yet to find the love in order of shadows but let's not mention then right now >_>)
Something that shows this is the fact the the developers read these forums, they hear our thoughts and act upon them.

The last thing I will mention is the great deal of depth put into the story and characters, even in games such as castlevania (1) where no real story seems present, you still feel as if it is there being unfolded before your very eyes. Not to mention Castlevania II which had superb gameplay for a game in it's time.

I will finish with this and leave room for others to share their views. Share your thoughts with us!

[Profbeanburrito]

I like the meat in the walls!

[Saner]

Succubus and Lilith bathing with a rubber duckie?!??!?!?!  @.@

*goes play AoS*

[cecil-kain]

In Reply To #1

Here's another one...

--------------------Super Castlevania 4---------------------
While boldly exploring the Grand Halls of Castle Dracula, Simon happens upon a secret cellar loaded with a cache of his favorite subs --and something else...  a demonic ghost hound attacks!  Simon quickly dispatches the beast --and then the sad spirit of an old man kneels over his slain pet and begins weeping himself into oblivion.  Priceless.

[sonicabid]

In Reply To #5

That SCIV one sounds cool. Is there a Youtube video of it somewhere? I would go play it but, I only got a few days left before I go out on vacation, trying to get in as much PS3 gaming in as possible.

I've missed most of those other things too, and damn do I need to find LoI for PS2.

[Archdemon]

i like the parts that seem to be pointless and wierd
like...

AoS:
-the wierd head at the end of the corridor which opens its mouth when you turn away. (yeah, i know you can go through it)
-being able to ride the riderless nightmare and joust with the one with a rider.
-intro to death where you see him way in the distance watching, and then he disappears and appears infront of you.
-excalibur still stuck in the rock. hilarious. random though, cos excalibur wasn't the sword in the stone. that was a different sword.

LoD:
-getting chased by that frankenstein thing in the maze. mechanical footsteps in the distance...creepy.
-bleeding statue

general:
-seeing the peepingeye things outside the window or behind a curtain etc.

etc.etc.
as you can see AoS is my favorite game of the series