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

[Mike Belmont]

It´s true. But that are not enough things to make a CV game. Other games have it, and are not CV. At least don´t put key gameplay elements from other games in a new CV one, if you don´t want to have complaints from fanbase.

[Vampire Killer]

It´s true. But at least don´t put key gameplay elements from other games in a new CV one, if you don´t want to have complaints from fanbase.

But that's what ALL videogames do.  They copy from each other, and eventually evolve through it.  Iga was just copying from Metroid, if you want to get that exacting.

[Mike Belmont]

You are right with the Metroidvania concept. But, to be true, I prefer pre SOTN games to Metroidvania´s ones. I don´t care if they last only two hours. Am I wrong with that?

[Vampire Killer]

You are right with the Metroidvania concept. But, to be true, I prefer pre SOTN games to Metroidvania´s ones. I don´t care if they last only two hours. Am I wrong with that?

Are you wrong in preferring the pre-metroidvania type of CV game? Of course not.  I do disagree with you though, in that I strongly feel that LoS is without a doubt a "Castlevania" game (and a great one at that).

Having grown up playing CV, starting way back in the 8-bit era, CV has a strong place in my heart.  For me at least, when I play through LoS, I see CV everywhere in that game. To me, LoS oozes Castlevania-ness.  It even has a stage-by-stage progression, just like the older titles (loved that).

Perception is 9/10 of reality I suppose though, so some people simply aren't able to see what I, and others who love LoS see.  The game is certainly not perfect, and yes it copies from other games, but it still has a very strong identity of it's own.  If we as gamers start disavowing games simply due to their similarity to other games, we might as well find a different hobby.

[Mike Belmont]

Ok, I accept my mistakes. More over because I´m new here, and my intentions are not to judge anyone. Maybe I need time to assimilate LoS as a Castlevania game. I mean, is only one game yet. But I hope (really hope) that the consoles CV games take a correct path to success. Or continue with it.

[Flame]

It's fine, we all have opinions.

Some people just don't like LoS as a CV as much as others.

Personally, I LOVED the way they included CV references up the wazoo. Theres always some little tiny detail that you think "heeeey.... Wait a second..."

Also, i really do have to call you out on that "Fake Belmont" stuff.

He's just as credible as a Belmont as Leon was. You have to remember that LoS does NOT take place in the classic timeline. Therefore, in his world, Gabe is a Belmont. the first of the Belmonts of his universe. He came from another family by blood, but even in Leon's lineage, im certain if we traced back enough, there would be another name somewhere down the road.

[Mike Belmont]

Also, i really do have to call you out on that "Fake Belmont" stuff.

Yes, I admit that I have my mind full of unfair attacks for LoS when I write about that. I apologize for that coment. Let´s wait until Gabriel legacy in LoS continue, in Resurrection, or in a sequel. All heroes deserves an opportunity, and I´m not anyone to speak bland of a hero origin nor name. Again, my apologies.

[Ahasverus]

Yes, I admit that I have my mind full of unfair attacks for LoS when I write about that. I apologize for that coment. Let´s wait until Gabriel legacy in LoS continue, in Resurrection, or in a sequel. All heroes deserves an opportunity, and I´m not anyone to speak bland of a hero origin nor name. Again, my apologies.

Your opinion is nothing to apologize for we are just debating your points but not for judging you but because we feel they are inaccurrate, however you ahev the right to express yourself.
Hope you accept LoS though, if seen through CV-eyes is a very refreshing yet familair experience

[Ahasverus]

--Error--

[cecil-kain]

I can't speak for all the critics, but I think LoS was such a good game it didn't NEED to be called Castlevania.

Castlevania would have been just fine without LoS.
Los would have been just fine without calling itself Castlevania.

The only question now is --thanks to this "reboot"--
Will we ever see closure for almost 25 years of continuity?

[Joachim]

it isn't so much a matter of the idea of pilferance: its a matter of how these things are pilfered and applied within the context of the new game. it is here that lords fails; it doesn't bother to apply these things in a consistent manner, simply using them as a template while simultaneously never building off of that template to any reasonable degree. the entire game feels factioned, and not in an interesting or artistic way (something that the earlier Castlevania's made part of their identity); it is factioned in the sense that it is fundamentally broken, and its core elements - the ones that relate to how a person interacts with the medium directly - are dysfunctional and inconsistent. we don't need to be reminded over the course of the game what buttons do what, or when to press them. further, if you're going to go out of your way and tell us, be consistent about it: don't try and teach us that we can only grab ahold of "lit-up" ledges and then expect us to know to grab hold of one that isn't.

when Castlevania prided itself on being a hodgepodge of influences, it was because it was a reimagination of those influences; western concepts redefined and redesigned, perceived through a japanese eye. it borrowed from greek, norse and christian mythologies, it borrowed from camp gothic horror, it referenced everything from shakespeare to The Lord of the Rings but it did so in a way to make it its own, in a way to make it all cohesive. LoS does none of that: it is, through and through, pretty cleanly an uninspired and literal take on the scandinavian mythology/aesthetic, with its overtones borrowed from The Lord of the Rings and its ilk.

there is certainly a reason to not be satisfied with how Lords treats Castlevania's identity.

[Flame]

I can't speak for all the critics, but I think LoS was such a good game it didn't NEED to be called Castlevania.

Castlevania would have been just fine without LoS.
Los would have been just fine without calling itself Castlevania.

The only question now is --thanks to this "reboot"--
Will we ever see closure for almost 25 years of continuity?

the way i see it, the only closure we need is the 99 war. IGA already wrote himself into a corner with the sorrow series, prohibiting any more Dracula. basically setting an "end".

We could always have more games with No dracula, but the story of Castlevania IS about the feud between Dracula and the Belmonts. (and all associated allies) You can only do so much without him involved. And Aria was the limit. (Dawn was passing that limit.)

[darkwzrd4]

I can't speak for all the critics, but I think LoS was such a good game it didn't NEED to be called Castlevania.

Castlevania would have been just fine without LoS.
Los would have been just fine without calling itself Castlevania.

The only question now is --thanks to this "reboot"--
Will we ever see closure for almost 25 years of continuity?

I agree with this.  LoS is a great game, but it shouldn't call itself castlevania.  It has the potential of being its own series separate from castlevania.

the way i see it, the only closure we need is the 99 war. IGA already wrote himself into a corner with the sorrow series, prohibiting any more Dracula. basically setting an "end".

We could always have more games with No dracula, but the story of Castlevania IS about the feud between Dracula and the Belmonts. (and all associated allies) You can only do so much without him involved. And Aria was the limit. (Dawn was passing that limit.)

I also agree with this.  Iga did sort of create an end to CV with AoS, but there are still some areas that can be filled in.  Plus, as you said, there could be more games without Dracula.  For example, games about the origins of some of the non-Belmont characters like Sypha and Maria.  For Maria, she was searching for Richter for a year before the events of SotN.  Surely there could be a game staring her and ending with her entering the castle.  Plus, there is still the '99 game with Julius that everyone is wanting.  Plus, there is a nearly 400 year period between LoI and CV3.  There are so many things that could happen over that period of time.  I mean what are the Belmonts up to during that time.  I mean at the end of LoI, Leon states that "from this day forward the Belmont clan will hunt the night."  There are plenty of vampires and other demons of the night that they can hunt.

[Vampire Killer]

if seen through CV-eyes is a very refreshing yet familair experience

Bingo! One of my favorite CV aspects of LoS are the candles. It's great that they are so well implemented into the background and scenery, but at the same time are 100% CV, because hey, CANDLES!!  Just recently, I've come to the conclusion that the Chupacabra is graphically either an supposed to be an imp (or whatever those annoying as hell hoppy things were in the first CV), or Egor from the Frankenstien boss battle in the same game.  Strangely enough, I always pictured the hoppy guys/Egor in that manner.  Visually I mean.

Thought it was a great nod to the CV2 box-art, how much Gabriel's outfit resembled the armor Simon had.  Primarily red in color, dark leggings and arms, red sash covering sides and front, shoulder pads, gauntlets, ect... . Even the trim is gold! But no, Gabriel looks nothing like a Castlevania character. Well, you know, except for Simon Belmont.  Took me a bit before I noticed it, but when I did I was really surprised at how much he looked like the boxart (and therefore Simon, sans the golden locks). Made playing the game that much cooler.

Also cool that donning the headband makes him look more (at least his head anyway) Simon CV1.

I'm thinking of writing a FAQ, going stage by stage, pointing out all the CV references I can find, whether real or imagined. If I do I'll post a link. Anyone who wants to contribute feel free.



LOL, just found this. It's a character sprite someone made out to be simon from CV2.  Looks so much like Gabriel's outfit.


http://scrollboss.illmosis.net/customsprite/cvania-capfgt_simon_cv2_stand-nes.png

[crisis]

Another point of interest, one of the reasons many people have issues with LoS is because of this entire REBOOT EVERYTHING fad that's happening to a lot of series nowadays. There's still lots of us that like the main continuity and want to see it continue. It seems as though Konami just took the easy way out and said "hmm everyone else is rebooting their franchises, we might as well too!!!" With all the Hollywood references, it makes it even clearer. I can only imagine what the Devil May Cry communities are going through right now.