Topic: CoD "Wasted space!"

[X]

Whom of you people out there think that certain parts of Curse of Darkness was mirely a waste of space instead of using that space for a more better graphical representation?

My feelings on that wasted space is the two 50 floor towers. They don't really serve any practical purpose in my opinion and therefor they took up precious room on the game disc that could've been used for giving the game itself better more smother and more detailed graphics then what we were presented with.

opinions please?

-X

[thernz]

Actually, I don't think that took up a lot of space. If anything, it was the FMVs.

[ReyVGM]

The actual games don't take a lot of space. Space on disks is filled with FMVs, music and voices.

The reason a blueray disk gets filled is because the FMVs, music and voices are not compressed.

[Munchy]

Yeah, CoD's hallways twisted and turn to simulate the game taking twelve hours to beat. Lots of fun.

CoD would've been way cooler as a 4th DS game.

[DragonSlayr81]

There was a LOT of wasted potential for CoD. I would've gladly sacrifice FMV, some of the songs, and some of the voice acting if it meant a better game. And yeah, the towers weren't really needed. What they should've done was:

1. plan the area layouts much better(no flat paths).
2. cut the size of for the larger areas(particularly the Infinite Corridor, which was one of the most annoying dungeons the game, not because it was hard, but because it went on FOREVER). Other areas that should've been downsized are Baljhet Mountains, Forest of Jigramunt, Cordova Town,  Eneomaos Machine Tower and Aiolon Ruins. (NOTE: Abandoned Castle is fine as an intro area).
3. Other areas, like Garibaldi Temple, Mortvia Aquaduct and Dracula's Castle should've been broken up into multiple smaller areas. You could've made TWO areas out of Mortvia Aquaduct, the canals(have a boss specifically for it) and the Deep Ones-styled temple(which would have it's own boss). Dracula's Castle, other than having a horrible layout, could've benefited from multiple areas(like OoE) with their own bosses.
4. Trevor's mode should've been it's own story, telling his side of what was going on(when he was questing around Wallachia while Hector was doing his own thing). Make it so that a few of Trevor's bosses are unique to him.

[uzo]

2. cut the size of for the larger areas(particularly the Infinite Corridor, which was one of the most annoying dungeons the game, not because it was hard, but because it went on FOREVER).

But, but, but-

[X]

That's a lot of 'buts' 

I think what would've made the game better is if Dracula's castle appeared right where the Abandoned castle is situated since the abandoned castle is the old CV 3 Dracula castle. It would be far better then that silly cathedral-ish thing that is nowhere near to being a proper 'Dracula's castle'

-X

[MeSako]

I think what would've made the game better is if Dracula's castle appeared right where the Abandoned castle is situated since the abandoned castle is the old CV 3 Dracula castle. It would be far better then that silly cathedral-ish thing that is nowhere near to being a proper 'Dracula's castle'

Yeah, I didn't get that either.. and why is the abandoned castle standing anyway? Isn't Draculas castle held together by Draculas power, and since he is dead in CoD (exept for the end) the abandoned castle should be a rubble..

[Inccubus]

Whom of you people out there think that certain parts of Curse of Darkness was mirely a waste of space instead of using that space for a more better graphical representation?

My feelings on that wasted space is the two 50 floor towers. They don't really serve any practical purpose in my opinion and therefor they took up precious room on the game disc that could have been used for giving the game itself better more smother and more detailed graphics then what we were presented with.

opinions please?

-X

You can't say that the towers impact storage space on the disc without knowing how they were programmed in to begin with. What if they are actually only 1 room that is repeated over and over with the enemies rearranged after each transition?
Also, you obviously have no idea what programming a game entails. The amount of storage space on the disc has nothing to do with the graphics being more smooth, that is a function of the hardware the game is running on. The details in the graphics are only marginally affected by disc space depending on their resolution, the extremities of which are also largely determined by the hardware.
However, the level design itself is what could have been greatly improved upon. As long as game play and level design are fun, the graphical limitations of a system can be overlooked.

[CastleDan]

What I want to know is, why did Lament of innocence look way better than Cod?

I mean it was sharp, colorful and beautiful...

Cod was, pretty much the exact opposite.

[DragonSlayr81]

What I want to know is, why did Lament of innocence look way better than Cod?

I mean it was sharp, colorful and beautiful...

Cod was, pretty much the exact opposite.

Who knows? They probably had more space to touch up the detailing because LoI's stages were all, basically, half the size of each area in CoD. I actually think LoI's areas were perfect size, and weren't as much a chore to get through than the long ass areas in CoD. Then again, the fixed camera angle could've also had something to do with it.

[The Last Belmont]

That's a lot of 'buts'  

I think what would've made the game better is if Dracula's castle appeared right where the Abandoned castle is situated since the abandoned castle is the old CV 3 Dracula castle. It would be far better then that silly cathedral-ish thing that is nowhere near to being a proper 'Dracula's castle'

-X

Yeah but Dracula didn't even come back in full he had to steal a body. If it was part of his regular resurrection cycle the abandoned castle probably would have been rejuvenated and become castle dracula proper. That's the only reason Hector could take him. If he was at full and commanding armies of darkness with his incredible power Hector would have run home with his tail between his legs again.

Yeah, I didn't get that either.. and why is the abandoned castle standing anyway? Isn't Draculas castle held together by Draculas power, and since he is dead in CoD (exept for the end) the abandoned castle should be a rubble..

That's an interesting question. There is much that should've been expanded upon in the main game.

[X]

You can't say that the towers impact storage space on the disc without knowing how they were programmed in to begin with. What if they are actually only 1 room that is repeated over and over with the enemies rearranged after each transition?
Also, you obviously have no idea what programming a game entails. The amount of storage space on the disc has nothing to do with the graphics being more smooth, that is a function of the hardware the game is running on. The details in the graphics are only marginally affected by disc space depending on their resolution, the extremities of which are also largely determined by the hardware.
However, the level design itself is what could have been greatly improved upon. As long as game play and level design are fun, the graphical limitations of a system can be overlooked.

Actually I do have a sense of programing. But you are correct that the music and voice acting in the game are what takes up a lot of room. But personally and as you have stated, IGA's team could've put in far more effort to deliver us a visually stunning game then what was delivered. Minus the two towers.

-X

[Lumas]

Not only could they have created a more visually stunning game (Lament's Graphics were far better the Curse of Darkness') but they also could have made the story better. This was a perfect opporunity to get rid of this "self contained" story crap and actually taken time to expand what happened  to the rest of the characters like Grant and Sypha as well as pull of Crisis Core and shown where Alucard was sleeping as a hidden bonus. It couldve also taken the opportunity to reveal Trevor's son who would've been around 6 or 7. We also would have been given official art work by Ayumi Kojima showing her vision of the other characters but instead they decided to focus on two characters that weren't even mentioned in Dracula's Curse  (yeah i know its a secret art and they got a manga detailing what happened) Sorry but personally I would've liked to have got all that from a game not a cheap filler story in a manga. Also I dont really have much programming knowledge but Im gonna assume making room after identical room x a billion would take up a lot of space as opposed to using that space to make more elaborate stage designs, monsters and improve the playability instead of having you run into a room/area fight some monster move on to the next room fight some more monster move on to the next room (which mind you looks just like the previous rooms before it) and solve a mundane puzzle all the while leveling up your pokemon.....ummm i mean Innocent Devil as well as creating uselss items like a bamboo sword. This game was clearly a miss opportunity and Im sorry but in my own opinion is the worst 3d castlevania game in the entire series.

[DragonSlayr81]

How much space DID they use for CoD, because if voice work for cutscenes takes up a lot of space, they sure as hell don't know how to get their bang for their buck. I mean, most RPGs(single disc for PS2) has WAY more voice acting, more music, more CGI movies and nothing seems skimped. I mean, you could probably say gameplay might make a difference, but if you try the most basic action-style mechanics, I couldn't imagine how you'd be able to use up all the space. Let's use Action RPGs as an example, which IGA's 3D CVs are much like. Kingdom Hearts and KH2 had, interestingly enough, had some platforming, large locations, MANY voiced cutscenes and huge stories, all with an action based battle system composed of combo attacks and d-pad menu(which is not unlike whot LoI and CoD did, as well). It's probably the team not knowing how to push the game to it's limits and the limited budget which hindered IGA's CV games.

Some of the things I would've done to make CoD better would be:

- Make each "area" half their size. Incorporate platforming into the mix.

- Make Eneomaos Machine Tower a REAL Clock Tower, with MUCH platforming, gear jumping and pendulum riding.

- Make the Abandoned Castle Dracula's previous abode, and make the "resurrected" Dracula's Castle appear over it during the final portion of the game.

- Dracula's Castle(final) will be comprised of 5 areas(Entrance Halls, Marble Gallery, Outer Wall, Dungeon and Castle Keep). All areas will have their own bosses(some case, more than one boss, like Slogra and Gaibon).

- Cut the number of monsters. We don't need Two Cyclops-type monsters. One Cyclops is fine, just like one Zombie type, one Flea Man, one Axe Armor(keep the style in individual enemies short and sweet like the classic games). Nix the Orcs and stuff, and instead, use some CV3 enemies in 3D form(Giant Spiders, Winged Guards, and Balloon Pods would've been great).

- Intro battle scene like SotN's recreation of RoB's final battle. Recreate(in 3D) the final battle in CVIII, where you play as Trevor.

- Flashback cutscenes to CVIII, showing the roles Hector and Isaac played behind the scenes during the game.

- Cutting Saint Germain and Zead from the game, and disposing of their whole "chase" subplot. Death will be Death, not disguises.

- Make Julia have a more significant role than just "Isaac's sister who acts as the shopkeeper".

- Have Grant and Sypha make an appearance(in game and flashbacks). Alucard will appear in flashbacks, and will be hidden in his coffin as an easter egg.