Topic: Harmony of Despair (The next Castlevania game?)

[olroxshade]

This game at least has lots of items to update your characters skills and equipment (and there are
5 characters to start with, each with their own records and differences. Not just 1 or 2 characters.)

Harmony of Despair still has the item hunting and equip upgrade aspect, so people will keep coming for
more, besides playing with friends, or against them in versus mode.
There is also that Ghost time attack feature.  So speed masters will have something to do too.

And getting all the best equipment for each character will take longer than you think.  
Even then, many will still have fun with friends online with it. And even some solo players will just enjoy
going through the stages in different ways and beating each boss for fun.  

Farming items it's...annoying, since you can have a better equipment or something worse that the one that you have, so, if you aren't of the collector kind, it's wasted time.

I think that Castlevania fans care more about gameplay, story and music than extensive features, like 100+ swords or armors...

[affinity]

Farming items it's...annoying, since you can have a better equipment or something worse that the one that you have, so, if you aren't of the collector kind, it's wasted time.

I think that Castlevania fans care more about gameplay, story and music than extensive features, like 100+ swords or armors...

You didn't know of the many Castlevania fans that enjoyed trying to get 200% and finding every single item/weapon/secret in SOTN and other games?   

The gameplay is already there.  2-D gameplay and rhythm we are familiar with since SOTN onwards.

Story aspect of this game is still unknown, but even without it, but the gameplay, cooperation
and content will keep players playing regardless.

IGA is in charge of this, so of course there will be someone composing Castlevania's flavor of great music.   

What people have to remember is that this is a new evolution of 2-D Castlevania formula.
It isn't the stage based Castlevanias of the past, and it isn't a "metroidvania", it's a new angle to
Castlevania that strongly focuses on multiplayer (but still enough content for solo players to enjoy as well) , as well as fun in different ways using familiar combined formulas and new layouts. 

You may think farming items is annoying, but many fans are not bothered by that at all. 
Farming is a concept that is well received even in games outside of mmorpgs and monster hunter games.
It's somewhat related to grinding, but personally I feel this will make growing in power more rewarding
in Castlevania HD and also balances the difficulty better so players can't overlevel and end up killing the
challenge too quickly.

Finding and upgrading equipment also makes "level boosting" impossible for exploiters.
And it would take longer to find and collect all the best items, so overall this also extends
the element of surprise and more reasons to keep playing.   
 

[Ahasverus]

Yeah, whatever you say IGA affinity, GOTY right now

[Hydrostorm]

So.

Anyone want to -ahem- hook up and play this when it gets released?

I was serious, I am going to buy this rubbish.

[crisis]

I'll buy it, I'll give out my xbox tag when it's released.

Possibly, like there's a topic for Judgment/OoE friend codes (which no one uses), there can be a HoD gamertag sticky.

[Aridale]

Ill get it once I get a new 360... it might be next month it might be closer to november I dunno yet. At any rate tho my gamertag is ElevatedTugboat

[The Silverlord]

Good for you affinity.  You've evaded the pack of wolves, dodged the traps, swung over chasms with confidence and confronted the coffin and nail-bearers.  I'm not sure if you'll still make it out alive just yet, but you've taken your opinion into the heart of the castle and it's resounding.

It's never easy to make yourself (and the merits of the game) heard when you're essentially a lone voice, but you've done well.  I sincerely hope you enjoy the game.  It's just a shame it's 1200 MSP.  400 and I'd probably have jumped in for curiosity's sake.

[Buflame]

1200 MSP + xlive gold mensual fees, remember is not like psn , u have to pay for online gaming in xbox live.

[angevil]

Interesting how everyone that doesn′t like Despair is still visiting the topic and replying. I have low opinion of the non-Castlevania LOS so I am not even interested anymore to go into that topic. I guess you guys really like to fight.

As I said, I have read nice comments about this game on other blogs/websites and people can′t wait to play it this summer.

[olroxshade]

It's never easy to make yourself (and the merits of the game) heard when you're essentially a lone voice, but you've done well.  I sincerely hope you enjoy the game.  It's just a shame it's 1200 MSP.  400 and I'd probably have jumped in for curiosity's sake.

Well, if the game actually ends being good, I don't know how some users here will feel, in the other hand, if it is a total shame for Castlevania, someone should stop posting...

And yes, the main factor that I dislike it's the price, but being positive...maybe it worth.

[Hydrostorm]

I'm not looking forward to it, but I will still buy it. If it ends up being good, then great. If it ends up being bad, then fantastic.

[crisis]

I'm trying to think positive. It's gotta have more replay value than Judgment, who knows, maybe there'll be some interesting situations.


I didn't have that much fun with the online mode of Portrait. Few times I played it, my partner always sucked and we never got anywhere. There's gonna be a lot of noobs that have never touched the DS games playing HoD. I just hope it won't be everyone choosing Alucard for every round, which will probably happen anyway.

[angevil]

I know who I would choose to play with and it′s not Alucard. My avatar says everything.

[Hydrostorm]

I know who I would choose to play with and it′s not Alucard. My avatar says everything.

I think we all know who I'm playing with.

[affinity]

I just hope it won't be everyone choosing Alucard for every round, which will probably happen anyway.

Well the chances of Alucard packed groups would be smaller if you meet and add good players on your friends list that like maining other characters.    The more good ones added, the more diverse selection of players you can invite and play with.