Topic: Aria of Sorrow is Super Weird

[DingusBelmondo]

 First of all, what student dresses like Soma? http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/88/Soma_Cruz_(Castlevania_character).gif
As well as Mina! Is it just because shes in ceremonial garb? Or is she just a little "traditional". Also, what the hell is Hammer doing in Japan, wandering around a castle in a solar eclipse, deciding to fucking set up a shop that can OBVIOUSLY only sell to you, and possibly Arikado, due to him being sealed inside. Honestly, the game is a HUGE departure from previous Castlevanias. In fact, it's almost only Castlevania by text only. Other than the title of the the game and the in game text, there is no indication or connection to anything remotely Castlevania. Other than, say, Death, and it having monsters. That being said, it's a great game.

[e105beta]

It has hearts and candles. Those are the most important thing about Castlevania

I'd have to agree, though. It was quite the departure from Harmony of Innocence which was already starting to get a bit odd, though not nearly as much.

[thernz]

It's the future. This is Ayami Kojima's interpretation of what future fashion trends may look like. Though, yeah, Mina's a shrine maiden going to a shrine so she went in her ceremonial dress to be respectful or something. Hammer's just Hammer. But hey, it has a castle, it has a teleporting boss that shoots fireballs, it has a whip (though in Julius Mode, unless you count that Whip Sword), hearts and all that jazz. The only thing is that everything's shoehorned into Japan in the beginning. Fortunately, they all get sucked into THE SUN.

[le052383]

Assuming Hammer's nationality is american (I do not remember if they ever mention that he is in the us military) and that there are a lot of foreign military bases stationed in Japan, I say Hammer stationed there

As for Soma, he is wearin what the japanese people over there are wearing.  I understand not every teenager in japan wears jpop/anime based attire, but it is a popular trend over there.

As for the merchant question, l believe this applies to most CV games that has a shop in the castle.  The librarian in SOTN doesn't make much sense since what would a creature like him would do with money

[Nox_A15]

Hammer is amusing character, I like him for that. And that's true - sellers in Castlevania games usually don't have much logical sense anyway, so his strange reasoning is hilarious in a good way.

And even Soma after their first meeting said to himself - "A shop, huh? I don't get it...". Other dialogues with him or about him are also quite funny ("A child? You're rude, Granpa"; "Whoa! I had no idea you were so popular with the ladies", etc.).

[darkwzrd4]

Hammer is amusing character, I like him for that. And that's true - sellers in Castlevania games usually don't have much logical sense anyway, so his strange reasoning is hilarious in a good way.

And even Soma after their first meeting said to himself - "A shop, huh? I don't get it...". Other dialogues with him or about him are also quite funny ("A child? You're rude, Granpa"; "Whoa! I had no idea you were so popular with the ladies", etc.).

I think that he is suppose to be some kind of comic relief.

[Nox_A15]

That's true. And in Dawn of Sorrow he also was kind of comic character.

Spoiler below!

The part of Aria I really love is fight with... someone special (it would be too important spoiler) in the middle of crumbling walls below castle (and Heart of Fire music in the background - great piece!).

[e1shw]

I just started Aria a few days ago and I think it is a great game. There are many unique elements to the game. One thing I have not figured out yet, is where exactly did Soma come from and his relation to the Belmonts? 

[Nox_A15]

I won't tell You anything to not ruin Your experience. Just remember that game have more than one ending. And in Aria it isn't exposed like in next parts of the series (with Game Over inscription instead of credits for example) so many people probably don't even know the "true" ending.

Don't forget to tell us Your impression after finishing the game e1shw.

[e1shw]

I looked on GameFAQs to make sure I get the best ending, but I always create a separate save first so I can see all of them. I don't use the walkthrough unless I get stuck. I just check to see what I need to have get the best ending first. I am close to 50% done right now and level 30. They really make you grind to get some of the souls. Now that I have started playing this one, I am starting to see where some of the ideas for Curse of Darkness came from. I'll let you know what I think when I am finished.

I wouldn't mind finding some threads or starting new ones to discuss in depth each game of the series.....hmmm.....

[X]

I'd have to agree with LordOfShadows interpitation of Soma's attire in AoS. It's true that Jpop is a very popular fashion trend in japan but let's not forget that Soma is a foreign exchange student studying in japan from god-know-where. So I highly doubt that he would even consider wearing something so alien to his own preference. In my mind I does announce  homosexuality and the pretty boy look. Not something that a foreigner would easily slide into. 

-X

[Nagumo]

Um, Soma is Japanese, that exchange student crap was made up by the translators. That's right, Dracula's reincarnation is azn!!!!!         

[e105beta]

He's a disgrace to Dracula's name.

[X]

Definitely. Dracula wouldn't even be caught undead dressing like that. I find that Soma's DoS outfit was much better. He had a proper trench coat design and they took away those tacky looking wild-west boots of his. But I wish that Konami had properly translated the AoS story cause I had no idea that Soma was from Japan.

Konami of America! Stop screwing with the given layouts!!

-X

[darkwzrd4]

Definitely. Dracula wouldn't even be caught undead dressing like that. I find that Soma's DoS outfit was much better. He had a proper trench coat design and they took away those tacky looking wild-west boots of his. But I wish that Konami had properly translated the AoS story cause I had no idea that Soma was from Japan.

Konami of America! Stop screwing with the given layouts!!

-X

I completely agree.  They shouldn't mess with anything.  All they need to do is translate it and sell it.  Nothing more.