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

[Ahasverus]

That game is the shit.

It's a shame it lasts 4 hours :runs and hides:
//hyperbole mode off//

[Ridureyu]

Well, if you've lost interest in the game, then that's fine.

[Dremn]

It's a shame it lasts 4 hours :runs and hides:
//hyperbole mode off//

It took me 2 hours to beat the first act so I think I'll be ok.

The length of games doesn't bother me, replay value is what matters the most to me.

[Puwexil]

Length is such a good measure of quality, guys. Oh wait, no it's not. Lords in particular is at least twice as long as it ought to be, considering what kind of ideas and mechanics (read: none) it has to offer. Even if you liked the game, don't tell me you didn't feel it dragging in places like Agharta.

[Ridureyu]

Some games are too long (Lords of Shadow, apparently?) whereas others are too short (Order of Ecclesia. And it's not ROM space, either, I've looked at how much empty space there is in that cartridge).

[Puwexil]

Ecclesia was pretty refreshing after the fat, bloated mess that was Portrait. Not that it couldn't have stood to go the distance even more, in the light of how many area theme duplicates still exist in it. C'est la vie, I guess. At least with this series.

[Ridureyu]

Ecclesia is one of my favorite games, period - but it's biggest, most glaring flaw is that it needs more. Everything about it feels unfinished - not enough glyphs, not enough stages, not enough ground in the stages, not enough enemy drops, certainly not enough enemies, and Large Cavern is just disgraceful (We get it, we get it, double hammers are mean. Can you give us some variety now?).  And yet I totally love the game. I just wish it had a little more meat on its bones.

[thernz]

It's probably more disappointing that OoE manages to still recycle areas when you have SoTN which was made with about 15 people in 2 years and OoE was made in the same period of time. I don't think I would've liked a OoE with more though. Just more quality in what was already in it. The stages were extremely lacking. They were only bearable because of some nice enemy placement here and there. Glyphs were great because it offered you everything you needed. Anything else added would've been gimmicky fluff or redundant. Also Large Cavern was terrible. Hey guys, I know you upped the combat and all, but arena challenges aren't interesting at all okay.

Also, lol LoS's length.

[darkwzrd4]

Ecclesia is one of my favorite games, period - but it's biggest, most glaring flaw is that it needs more. Everything about it feels unfinished - not enough glyphs, not enough stages, not enough ground in the stages, not enough enemy drops, certainly not enough enemies, and Large Cavern is just disgraceful (We get it, we get it, double hammers are mean. Can you give us some variety now?).  And yet I totally love the game. I just wish it had a little more meat on its bones.

It also seems that the makers of the game gave up half way through because the second half of the areas are nothing more than reworked versions of the first half (tristis pass: tymeo mountains, mystery manor: giant's dwelling, etc.).  Plus, as big as the castle was, it had few bosses.  Its size was to close to that of SotN, yet only had five bosses including Dracula.  OoE could have been so much more.  It would seem that Iga and his team aren't creative enough to create a decent game.  I'm not saying that they didn't have some good ideas, but they seem to fall a little short.  We need more variety.  At least LoS gave us that as well as a long game.  But yes, it did drag in certain places like Agharta.

Essentially, what needs to be done is for people to check out some of the fan sites like this one and see what we think.  I've heard that Cox has visited this forum a few times.  Let's hope that he and the team at MS takes our criticism into account when making the sequel (probably won't happen, but it's nice to dream).

[thernz]

"add more"
-cv fans

[Ridureyu]

It also seems that the makers of the game gave up half way through because the second half of the areas are nothing more than reworked versions of the first half (tristis pass: tymeo mountains, mystery manor: giant's dwelling, etc.).

That's a lot of Metroidvanias, right there. SOTN was the worst offender.  Honestly, I'm pretty sure that OOE just ran into a deadline.  It LOOKS like they just had to stop work early on it.

[crisis]

[paulstanley]

I really don't mind Ecclesia as it is. It's still a superb game and I love to play it to this day. Of course, it could stand to improve in some ways (some areas need better level design, etc.) but I like it as it is.

And say what you will about Large Cavern, that Jiangshi at the end was the best thing ever.

[Ridureyu]

Jiangshi was indeed awesome.  And I love, love, love, love Ecclesia, which just makes me go  at its flaws more.

[darkwzrd4]

I love OoE too, but it could be soooo much better.