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

[Gecko]

I understand appreciating elements of the game, but dude..

lolz

I didn't mean it that way.

[crisis]

Why are we using spoiler tags

Jorge put it in the topic title PLZ USE SPOILER TAGS so we must follow protocol till he changes it


@Gecko,
After replaying LoS I too have grown to appreciate it more. I've said this before, but I think the best way to approach this game is by viewing it as "Castlevania The Movie:The Game." it's the closet thing we'll get to a real Hollywood-style CV movie with all te high profile actors n all. While I don't agree it "oozes Castlevania," it does just enough to be similar to Castlevania in much the same way a Hollywood director would approach the series.

[A-Yty]

lolz

I didn't mean it that way.

No, that's not what I though you meant..I was talking about..ugh, nevermind. Back to square one

I meant that I think saying LoS "oozes Castlevania" is giving it waay too much credit.

[DarkPrinceAlucard]

I meant that I think saying LoS "oozes Castlevania" is giving it waay too much credit.

I agree.

It may pay obvious homage to Castlevania (such as man with whip fighting mythical monsters) but saying it "oozes castlevania" just seems like a obvious exaggeration to me.

[jestercolony]

/facepalm

Guys, it pains me to say this -

If you do not understand what is going on, then you obviously need to look at the story again and this time closely. There is a lot more going on then what is shown - but if you take the time and actually, observe, read...etc. And have an excellent recollection of the original things that happened in the original games (sights, sounds, references...etc.) you will see exactly what is going on.

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I remember years ago people where like: LOL! Wouldn't it be cool to play a game as Dracula?

and...

"Castlevania isn't really known for its storyline."

...So let me get this straight -

#1. Now we have a game where we are actually going to play as, well...

#2. We are finally given an actual good story and people's brains have melted due to the complexity.

...What is wrong with this picture? O.o

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A lot of people complain about Gabriel being a Belmont and then becoming Lord Dracula. Ironic part is, did you ever think that with what Dracula has said in the movies of "I have many names." and not to think that the Belmont family could perhaps make a return and the surname is actually used to mock him and piss him off? I have seen a lot of stories that do that approach.

Now, Lords of Shadow's combat dynamics was a very great approach to the series. It's quick, fluid, random and always interesting (imo.) The Combo's have their own feats if one can actual pay attention to detail and observe what they do instead of LOLBUTTONMASH!

The Music, honestly - from a musician's point of view is genius. Especially one who has dabbled in music theory. I find it funny when LoI was going to be released - we had been told that there would be no driven guitar tracks...etc. But we would be given a mere musical score that was related to that era... Back then, people when seeing that had thought it was gonna be cool! But then we are smacked with techno-related beats.

Now look at LoS's musical score. Hmm.. And yet, now people bish'... :/ I honestly have sat in front of my TV with regular CV music blaring during regular play throughs of LoS and honestly coming from an artistic and composer's point of view with theme, the setting, backgrounds...etc. The music doesn't fit at all.

The graphics are excellent - but what pissed me off is the overall design of the game. What I mean by this is that we have been given an adventure... But the challenge? Horrible - back in my day- had we entered that Bog level, I'm sorry -  but the entire swamp should of came alive and come at Gabriel...etc...etc. Sorry but the producer was clearly not thinking outside of the box in terms of monster design and level mechanics. We had a horse and yet we weren't given the option to actual roam the country side (like in Simon's Quest) via horseback to actually backtrack and visit actual spooky cemeteries at night, or villages...etc

I mean, so much more could have been done... Yeah, the game does have Castlevania smashed in to it, but imo? Cox was horrible as an actual producer in terms of creativity and level design. Yeah, the combo system was great, but the platforming was way off, the puzzle system was pathetic when it came to terms of solving them (you didn't even need the hint scrolls.) The only time I had seen real challenge in platforming in LoS was the Music Box level and of course one of the levels in the Reverie DLC.

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During the underground level in Reverie, when we had climbed the pillars, when I had seen the bats while trying to use the balance beam I said to myself: Oh, they finally are gonna let bats try to knock us off? Yeah, I was wrong there... -_- thanks Konami/MS for making me smile over nothing.

I could go more and more in depth in this, but meh. I'm too lazy to write a novel.




 

[C Belmont]

I have seen a lot of stories that do that approach.

Such as?
I think this theory is wishfull thinking at best

[jestercolony]

Because I'm respecting the wishes of a board admin? No need to be snide. I've seen the mocking aspect from many types of movies, novels and games. Especially based vampire films of that mythological creature type that simply wish to be forgotten. I've also seen it used in a lot of Dragonlance, amongst many others.

[Inccubus]

The Music, honestly - from a musician's point of view is genius. Especially one who has dabbled in music theory.

With all due respect, who gives a crap about a musician's point of view. That's irrelevant. It's a game sound track and as such should be engaging and memorable. This soundtrack sounds like a monotonous regurgitation of Hollywood-esque garbage. It's bland, repetitive, and uninspired. It is many things, but genius it is not one of them.

Edit:
And for me, personally, it has the dubious distinction of being the only CV soundtrack I ever deleted from my hard drive. Not right away either. I listened to it a dozen times before I just gave up on it completely.

[crisis]

Belmont's Theme is the only track I deem worthy, everything else... forgettable.

@Dave Cox (who I know still lurks these forums),
I'm still waiting for these to be mass-produced with the same quality, the one that came with the EU Limited Edition is lame in comparison

[Gecko]

No, that's not what I though you meant..I was talking about..ugh, nevermind. Back to square one

I meant that I think saying LoS "oozes Castlevania" is giving it waay too much credit.

Aaahhh okay.
My point was that it seems to me that its developers were really passionate about the classic series, and it shows IMO. I mean, the detail of certain locations like Wygol villiage having the same number of buildings as in OoE for example, shows that these people know their stuff, or at least cared enough to check. And there's a hedge maze like in 64 and LoD. Again, I'm not referring to character usage or storyline, but atmosphere, stages and gameplay when I say it "oozes Castlevania". Again, my opinion. At this point in the series, different people recognize the core of Castlevania in a great variety of ways, since it's changed a lot over the years. I like the earthy region with huge old towers and a run-down castle approach. Other people may love elaborate chapels with huge stained-glass windows in the background, colorful passageways, etc.


And Jestercolony:
Good point. It would have been cool to see mudmen emerge from the bog, though I don't know how I'd feel about horseback riding in Castlevania(I know there was that one small part of the game, but yeah). There are definitely other situations where more classic-style moments could have been had. Hopefully the sequel will make better use of area-specific enemies.

Crisis: Yeah, I can see it like that. It is much more cinematic than the other games in the series, and rather than a looping theme on each stage, it is more hollywood-like and certain parts play at certain moments. The story and characters are used in a way similar to how a lot of Hollywood translations of other media often do, throwing things and characters together in ways different from their core series' counterparts.

----
Anyway, I don't by any means mean to say that this game is the greatest thing ever to grace the series, as it definitely falls short in some areas, but I keep having urges to go back and replay it, and to me it really feels like a great Castlevania experience. I do think it's the best 3d Castlevania thus far though.

[Dremn]

Oh, wow. Thanks for reminding me we're never going to get catchy tunes in Castlevania ever again guys.

No more Wicked Child, no Bloody Tears, no Beginning, no Tower of Dolls, Clockwork, Aquarius, Reincarnated Soul, or any of that good stuff. We'll hear Simon's theme but it's gonna be heavily rearranged to the point of it not even sounding like the original anymore.

Belmont's theme was a nice track though, probably my favorite from LoS, but that's not saying much.

[A-Yty]

Sometimes I feel

Anyway, I don't by any means mean to say that this game is the greatest thing ever to grace the series, as it definitely falls short in some areas, but I keep having urges to go back and replay it, and to me it really feels like a great Castlevania experience. I do think it's the best 3d Castlevania thus far though.

You constructed your opinion very well - especially compared to many others who do more than try to like LoS

From some of those people, I get an odd feeling. It's like they think they have to keep yelling as hard as they can that LoS rules, because they fear not doing so will enable an endless stream of Harmony of Despairs. But i's an unnecessary fear; judging by Konami's recent actions, the "old" fans are not a priority (which means LoS is the way to go for them).

But if I were Konami, I would not place all my eggs in the same basket. I wouldn't put everything into making LoS sequels simply because there is absolutely no way that ship could go on for 25 years. I'd be surprised if it could theoretically be fleshed out for more than a trilogy. After that..what? Do another reboot?

I'll be the first to admit the CV fanbase is a mixed bag, but at least it's been really loyal. Even with the recycled content and the undelivered 1999 teasing and everything else, we've kept talking about the games and kept on buying them. But placing a new player's preferences over a CV fan's divided everyone's opinions more than any Metroidvania or IGA experience could. Because it felt like a hostile takeover. I think that even with all the success LoS has brought to Konami, it's a gamble to ignore fans in favor of an audience that can easily turn their attention to GoW 5 or DMC's third reboot or whatever. They're not gonna be theorizing their ass off at forums or spending their money on rare CV merchandise. And I don't mean that their taste is worse than a Castlevania fan's. I mean that they choose not to focus their passion like this because their motivation is completely different.

While it's nice and cool there were recognizable things in LoS for CV enthusiasts, it felt more a like a series of fragmented homages than an overall motif. When I take into consideration the heavy teasing (like using the intro music of SCVIV in a trailer and giving the impression there's gonna be a Dracula fight in the game) and  comparing it to what I played through, I feel more like a fan baited than a fan served.

[Munchy]

While it's nice and cool there were recognizable things in LoS for CV enthusiasts, it felt more a like a series of fragmented homages than an overall motif. When I take into consideration the heavy teasing (like using the intro music of SCVIV in a trailer and giving the impression there's gonna be a Dracula fight in the game) and  comparing it to what I played through, I feel more like a fan baited than a fan served.

This. That trailer with the footage of the castle (which was NEVER used in game) and Jason Isaacs' voice mega hyped me and I was pretty let down. Hell, I'd've been happier if A) the Castle were at the end of the game rather than the middle, and B) if it was Satan's for some stupid reason.

[uzo]

That trailer had me so hyped too. It's a shame the game was a let down in that light. I feel lied to, and played under promises that never got fulfilled.

[Ahasverus]

http://www.originalsoundversion.com/castlevania-timeless-classic-or-retro-goggled-nostalgia-editorial/
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