Topic: I knew it! Castlevania: Lords of Shadow!(SPOILERS HERE, PLZ USE THE SPOILER TAG)

[DragonSlayr81]

I really don't understand how some still say the game doesn't look CV-ish. After seeing the new trailer and the two gameplay vids(the one with the Giant and the one with Malphas), it looks VERY CV to me. And while I didn't see it at first(when it was introduced), the locations have a fair amount of detail and class to them(the kind you'd find in IGA's CVs). Hell, this looks like what I WANTED Curse of Darkness to be like in the first place.

[Dremn]

It has everything I want in it so far that I expect out of a Castlevania game (well, except good music so far :/). I think people need to try and not compare this game so much to the older titles and realize this one is trying to do it's own thing.

Meanwhile, I'm still very excited to see Super Castlevania IV whip swinging in this game. :>

[The Silverlord]

Just watched that trailer again with full surround sound and it gave me goosebumps.  The music is, actually, quite superb (edit: some of it reminds of me of old Hammer stuff, just certain bits).  It's dramatic, it marks a huge change from the style of Yamane, but it's going to complement the story IMO.  I can't help thinking that playing this game you're going to have emotions coming out, its story and atmosphere is going to touch you.  Can't ask for more.

Mind, as I say that, and reading some of the comments elsewhere, it reads like some of the fans' hearts have turned to dust.  For some, it's almost like admitting Lords' is doing anything right is a challenge.  Had IGA produced the game, would all be perfect?  Ha ha, we'll never know!

This is the change I'd chipped in for five-ten years ago, and it's finally coming now.

[Ahasverus]

Edit: Absurd typo. I read "I still can0t understand how people says this is a CV game" 

[thernz]

Nah, I'm pretty sure if the Alucardvania IGA made ever came to fruition it would have suffered from the same flaws LoI and CoD did.
That said, the things that aren't Castlevania are the enemies and music. The gameplay itself is basically Castlevania. I mean, it has combat, it has platforming, it has exploration (asdasdafd). But the way it does each of these elements aren't really done the way I would have liked them to be, nor do I associate them with Castlevania. GoW arena combat and SoTC boss fights, PoP-style platforming, etc. Plus I'm irked by some other game design choices but whatever.
I wouldn't really call the music dramatic. It's very dry and shallow. Despite being recorded by an orchestra, the sound is just so dead, there's no richness or texture to it at all. It's change from the style of Yamane, but for the worse. If they were going Hollywood score on us, I wish they would've done like... a decent Hollywood score. Because right now to me, it just sounds like a mess of different uninteresting melodies that have no integrity.
You can see how it doesn't look like CV with all the bright daytime areas, the enemy designs, and general stronger fantasy feel it has. Everything before was a bit more subdued with the fantasy element. With LoS, it is trumpeting all its might and creating these colossal epic set pieces. LoS is trying its hardest to be as epic as epic. But I kinda feel it shouldn't be that.

i am being negative.

I think this will be a cool game, but it's not the 3D Castlevania I wanted.
N-no, my 3D Castlevania would not have Alucard. I guess my idea would be more like a mix of Demon's Souls for the atmosphere, CV64 without the awkward puzzle adventure gameplay but with its whip mechanics and some of its great mixture of platforming and combat, LoI for its fluidity and some of its secrets like how you found elementals and the revolving bookcase. The place wouldn't be divided into segments, but I'm thinking it'll be all weaved together more like Simon's Quest than a Metroidvania. Countryside to Castle. The Castle itself might be more structured like a Metroidvania though. There would be no frills. No extra castles, though there might be mansions, no extra vampires, just one single goal: the castle of Dracula, armed with your whip that acts like a whip. The parts it would inherit from the classic titles would be its mix of combat and platforming, and tight level design, though taking cues from Rondo with many alternate routes and levels. Meanwhile, the metroidvanias will influence its exploration elements for some items and relics, though not all would be needed like in LoI. Then add a lot of extra touches like in SoTN to make it really something.

it would be the finnishiest game. i basically want a 3D SCIV with the level design of Rondo and the trinkets of SoTN. ok.

[shelverton.]

You can see how it doesn't look like CV with all the bright daytime areas

I disagree. Again, Castlevania is not Silent Hill. There are daytime areas in pretty much every Castlevania ever made, and even the "darker" areas aren't pitch black, never was. There are plenty of dark areas in LoS, we've seen them time and time again in screenshots, trailers, E3 demo and so on. I would argue that the E3 demo is THE darkest I have ever seen in any Castlevania. The daytime areas are nothing new - Castlevania is shockfull of blue skies and daylight. LoS is very true to the series in this regard.

[The Silverlord]

I wouldn't really call the music dramatic. It's very dry and shallow. Despite being recorded by an orchestra, the sound is just so dead, there's no richness or texture to it at all.

Well, I disagree, I find the music dramatic, engulfing, and there is an orchestral richness to it.  I would agree there's not necessarily texture, there's not a lot of contrast.  It's perhaps lacking subtlety and finesse, but I bet there are some surprises in store though!

[thernz]

I disagree. Again, Castlevania is not Silent Hill. There are daytime areas in pretty much every Castlevania ever made, and even the "darker" areas aren't pitch black, never was. There are plenty of dark areas in LoS, we've seen them time and time again in screenshots, trailers, E3 demo and so on. I would argue that the E3 demo is THE darkest I have ever seen in any Castlevania. The daytime areas are nothing new - Castlevania is shockfull of blue skies and daylight. LoS is very true to the series in this regard.

Oh yeah, I agree with that. It's just that some areas are wee too bright. Like that rainforest. Actually, it's really that rainforest. I hate it.

Well, I disagree, I find the music dramatic, engulfing, and there is an orchestral richness to it.  I would agree there's not necessarily texture, there's not a lot of contrast.  It's perhaps lacking subtlety and finesse, but I bet there are some surprises in store though!

Yes, yes. But that's why I dislike it so much. Everything just sounds muddled to me. And imo, good music needs subtlety, especially in orchestral stuff like this.

[The Silverlord]

Oh yeah, I agree with that. It's just that some areas are wee too bright. Like that rainforest. Actually, it's really that rainforest. I hate it.
Yes, yes. But that's why I dislike it so much. Everything just sounds muddled to me. And imo, good music needs subtlety, especially in orchestral stuff like this.

I do know where you're coming from.  Production values here are top notch, but we could do to hear a little more variation here and there.  The whole trailer is practically bellowing out music, but it fits the mood given it's, er, boss-heavy?  Yuzo Koshiro (and Quintet) pulled off just what you're saying with the likes of Actraiser, way back in 90 was it, it had all the intensity and yets moments of beauty.  That North Wall (!) sound . . . *off to YouTube it*  Oscar and Konami have got to have some in the locker!

[thernz]

I didn't really dig the Actraiser Suite, but I think that was more the fault of the arranger, Kaoru Wada, than Koshiro. It was also very shallow and superficial. Though if you're speaking of the original SNES track, it was good. It had a very nice softness to it, and the instruments were great for the SNES.
Plus I'm basing my opinion on LoS's music based on all I heard which included all those normal gameplay clips. The fact that nothing has hooked me yet despite all these videos is worrying me. Plus, if LoS's main theme didn't even catch me, that kinda worries me even more.

[Ahasverus]

Does anyone remember the scores and magz that Dtritus (Enric Alvarez) posted before having being interrupted by Cox and editet? Is it true that they were all 90+?? 

[Kingshango]

Does anyone remember the scores and magz that Dtritus (Enric Alvarez) posted before having being interrupted by Cox and editet? Is it true that they were all 90+?? 

So that what Dtritus posted but edtided out, I was wondering what that was. Hope that wont be the only 90+ score we see for the game

[e105beta]

Yes, yes. But that's why I dislike it so much. Everything just sounds muddled to me. And imo, good music needs subtlety, especially in orchestral stuff like this.

I really don't see how it sounds muddled at all.
Ayami Kojima's music is also not subtle at all.

I think the dissonance is coming from the fact that Ayami Kojima never crafted her music to set a mood within the game. Oscar Araujo is setting a mood, and because of that, the music is less stand alone catchy and more to engross you into the game.

[CastlevaniaX]

My family is so castlevania freak. For example, my neice was born in 1994 and my youngest sister was born in 1992 ... Yada yada yada they happen to like Castlevania series and LOS seems to be their favorite one  :

Yousef

[shelverton.]

I really don't see how it sounds muddled at all.
Ayami Kojima's music is also not subtle at all.

I think the dissonance is coming from the fact that Ayami Kojima never crafted her music to set a mood within the game. Oscar Araujo is setting a mood, and because of that, the music is less stand alone catchy and more to engross you into the game.

You mean Michiru Yamane