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

[Dremn]

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9647440

LOL at the guy dressed up as Gabe, looking good!

[cecil-kain]

Thinking about it, music has always been one of the most consistent elements of Castlevania --quite a feat considering how many musicians have actually been involved...  Probably the only games that have really strayed would be the N64's --and I really don't see LoS going to that extreme.  Like I said before, it really seems inspired by SCV4.  Quite a few Dungeonites have bitched and moaned over the years about cheap "production values" and here we are with a fully orchestrated soundtrack!  Reading back through this thread, I'm surprised so many of you seem to be clamoring for more of the same old remixes --really? what's wrong with fresh material?  The only question we should really have is "does the composer know Castlevania?" the trailer music says "yes" in terms of epic, --but.... I too am still waiting to hear the heart pounding rythms of battle, melodies of mystery and granduer, the otherworldly harmonies of gothic romance, and the moody tensions of hell's master ....  These elements are the musical soul of Castlevania.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

To me, Super Castlevania IV and Castlevania64/LoD nail the "Atmospheric", "Ambient" and "Situational" tunes.

In Super CV IV, most people think of the highlight pieces (Theme of Simon, Chandeliers, etc.).
However, think of the pieces in the game that have set the mood, not the ones you put in your MP3 player:

1. The title screen music with its deep acoustic base and low base woodwinds.
2. The Intro music (Theme of Dracula), with its low pianoforte notes (also used when the torches light up at the Castle Keep).  It does pick up.
3. The skull rock before the drawbridge music.  It's just low strings playing two notes, but it gets you somewhat fearful.

Castlevania64/LoD
1. The Castle Wall starts up with a little Bloody Tears jingle, but that's not the music throughout the stage. You get the slow-paced "Watchtower" music.
2. Once you make it over the wall, and get into the Villa's grounds, there's a part in the game in which the entire stage goes dark and the fire cerberus hounds show up. There's a jump in the music here that really sets you in a chilling, almost "Resident Evil" claustrophobic mood.  It is later accented by the "Silent Annex" harpsichord piece.  Although Silent Annex is a stage theme, when you get into the dining room and the rose falls on the floor, at the cutscene, you get another musical cue.  These cues are not present in the PS2 titles.
3. There are times later in the game in which you bump into Malus and you begin to see that he's... 'off'... although they are quite obvious, they are exemplified by the music that goes along.

I think Lords of Shadow is going to have music more similar to the n64 titles, in that it matches both story, and area.  That is to say, when we get to a point in the story in which we're supposed to be pumped up and ready to take on the challenge, then and only then will we hear Vampire Killer, etc.  But since that's probably gonna be near the later third of the game, that's not gonna be shown in any trailer video.

[cecil-kain]

To me, Super Castlevania IV and Castlevania64/LoD nail the "Atmospheric", "Ambient" and "Situational" tunes.

In Super CV IV, most people think of the highlight pieces (Theme of Simon, Chandeliers, etc.).
However, think of the pieces in the game that have set the mood, not the ones you put in your MP3 player:

1. The title screen music with its deep acoustic base and low base woodwinds.
2. The Intro music (Theme of Dracula), with its low pianoforte notes (also used when the torches light up at the Castle Keep).  It does pick up.
3. The skull rock before the drawbridge music.  It's just low strings playing two notes, but it gets you somewhat fearful.

just to expand on that...

The SCV4 Library is the most underrated piece of music in the game.

[crisis]

From what I've heard so far it sounds like the music fits better with Christopher Nolan's next epic movie.

But whatever, I won't fault the entire game just because the music isn't delivering for me.

[Thunderbrand]

Remember guys, we've only been given a few trailers and a couple gameplay vids. In other words, we've only seen a very small portion of this game. It's HUGE! I'm guessing there are dozens of tracks on the score, the vast majority of which we haven't heard yet, and won't until we get the game. I bet when we complete the game we'll all love the soundtrack.

[shelverton.]

The SCV4 Library is the most underrated piece of music in the game.

It's also my favourite track from that game. It's really unique. I don't think I've heard anything quite like it in any other game..

[thernz]

I love how jazzy yet dark SCV4 is.

[GummiCandyful]

Wow, I've only been gone for almost a day, and the pages in this topic keep going up. LOL.

Already made gifs for you guys





in addition to my new sig 

Yousef

Awesome GIFs. I especially love the Chupacabra. 

I dunno, but something about this image screams Castlevania to me (the others do as well, but this one takes the cake). Maybe it's the giant knight armors?

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9647440

LOL at the guy dressed up as Gabe, looking good!

Wow! I thought the real Gab actually jumped out of the game! That is one awesome cosplay! 

[thernz]

I'm really really looking forward to the environments in the game. I really enjoy watching Gabriel go through them with all that platforming. The only problem is that the pacing kinda dulls when you get stuck fighting enemies in a circular room, but I guess I can deal with it. I'm really hoping for some more diverse places to fight like uneven ground and all. There was a fight on a narrow place, but that wasn't really enough for me. I guess most of my concern just deals with the combat and music. Part of the Malphas fight was good, but then you had to beat it with a QTE, and it was a bit grating to see the same cutscene happen twice. But the clocktower looks great with its fire traps, and it looks pretty distinct from the older clocktower video.
But yeah, I think the platforming has a a lot of flow and good pace, especially when compared with the combat. I do hope there's a bit more variety in it but yeah.

[Gecko]

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9647440

LOL at the guy dressed up as Gabe, looking good!

I haven't been fully keeping up with this topic because it's growing faster and faster, but I just came to a few realizations thanks to this video.


1. Dave Cox LOVES whip swinging(which is great, because I wished there was a little more of that in IV) Also, whipping range seems to take a very significant role in combat, as it always has in the series. Even with combos and such, killing things with the whip(I know, combat cross, but whatever...) is going to feel much like in the 2D games of the series.

2. The stage design seems to be very much like if a 2D 'vania opened up a 3rd dimension. Meaning there's sidescrolling portions, but you also spend a good portion of time. There's even bottomless pits to jump over!

3. That monster is fucking BALORE!! Hell yeah! And the whole fighting his hand first as a miniboss should remind anyone of the Scylla boss in Symphony, and how you fight part of her before the bigger fight. It's also neat to see the boss interacting with the level.

4. Atmosphere seems very Castlevania IV-like(particularly the first half of IV). I love the bats flying past the screen, and the earthy look.

5. Music fits what's on-screen It's not as straight-up catchy as classic Vania music, but it's good, and it compliments the scenery.


Basically, this is a CRAZY high budget version of Castlevania in 3D, done right. I can't wait to pick up my copy.

[Kale]

Bah, enough of these things.. gimme the game!

[shelverton.]

The only problem is that the pacing kinda dulls when you get stuck fighting enemies in a circular room, but I guess I can deal with it.

Yeah, it's also partly because enemies in modern 3D action games have too much health. LoS seems to be no exception from this rule. I wish games were more like PS2 Shinobi.

[Munchy]

I love how jazzy yet dark SCV4 is.

Yeah, this quote pretty much encapsulates why I love that soundtrack.

[Thunderbrand]

Looks like the strategy guide will be out a week before the game, so any speculation on characters/enemies/locations/spoilers, etc. will be revealed then.