Topic: Your Top Ten --Storyline Elements Poll

[cecil-kain]

This should be Interesting....

[RichterB]

[With Cecil-Kain's encouragement, I repost my response. I originally took it down because I was tired and felt I had rambled on too long.]:

This is a lot harder than the previous poll. Ultimately, Castlevania isn't involved in the "story" area as much as, say, a Metal Gear. Castlevania's story is primarily dictated by gameplay. But, in the end, Castlevania is about one man or woman's multi-generational struggle against all odds fighting the undead across the land. And that purity of good vs. evil is refreshing.

...With that said, here's how I broke down my conclusions based on the choices available:

-->VERSION 1: "ULTIMATE" = BARE BONES:

THE CONFLICT
1.) Count Dracula -Blasphemous Nemesis of God
***If we're talking ULTIMATE, one-and-only Castlevania, then you can't get rid of the iconic Count Dracula.

2.) Demon Castle Dracula --Duh!
***Clarification: The whole story SHOULD NOT take place in Drac's castle. Dracula's castle is the climax like in CV III and IV. There needs to be epic build-up by having a journey through various locales to see the evil Drac has spread. But Castlevania has "Castle" in the name, so it's fundamental.

THE SOLUTION
3.) Belmont Family
***If we go ULTIMATE and its vs. Dracula, I want a Belmont to be on the job. It's just iconic that a family has this duty and feud with a monstrous force-of-a-being.

And...It's on!

-->VERSION 2: MORE COMPREHENSIVE LOOK:

THE CONFLICT   
1.)Count Dracula -Blasphemous Nemesis of God
***If we're talking ULTIMATE Castlevania, then you can't get rid of the iconic Count Dracula.

2.) Demon Castle Dracula --Duh!
***Clarification: The whole story SHOULD NOT take place in Drac's castle. Dracula's castle is the climax like in CV III and IV. There needs to be epic build-up by having a journey through various locales to see the evil Drac has spread. But Castlevania has "Castle" in the name, so it's fundamental.

3.) Vampires, Vampires, and more Vampires
***When it comes down to it, what sets Castlevania apart is vampires. Generally, it's Dracula, and that's all good and well. But I realized through characters like Walter Bernhardt (LoI), Carmilla (Bloodlines), and Brauner (PoR) that a compelling story could be told with these types of villains as primaries, even without Drac. (Though "Dark Lords" like Graham don't appeal too much to me, especially in the long run. They "water down" the central vampire theme). Still, in the case of "Ultimate," you'd have to pick the top dog, Drac. It's just compelling

[cecil-kain]

Never mind. Mods can remove this post. Sorry.

I thought your post was insightful --why take it down?   

Oh well.
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Never expected to see the cannon-fodder off to such a good start --keep those opinions coming. 

[cecil-kain]

This poll is struggling a bit --there seems to be quite a bit of disagreement about what defines Castlevania in terms of story...  Anyone care to comment?