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

[affinity]

I wish they would just put this on the PS3 as well, I don't see why they don't

Well I didn't research about the publisher but I heard rumor Microsoft Game Studios is publishing this for
Konami, it sounds like this might be a permanent Xbox360 exclusive if that's true (like the classic TMNT arcade game) .  

I have a PS3 myself and a great deal of money could be saved if it was multiplatform.  But this is too good to miss, so I don't mind buying a Xbox360 again.   I've owned one for about 3 years, so it was my #1 console before I got a PS3.  

But you know this works in Harmony of Despair's advantage because XBLive has the most connected online community (I dunno, its more often a little more friendlier and closer than PS3's community.)
And Xbox360 allows playing your own music on any game online, while preserving the game's Sound FX.
The game doesn't need to support custom soundtracks to use it.  (this means you can play your favorite Castlevania soundtracks and fan made tracks anytime!  During one stage I will play while listening to
Travel Demon.   Travel Demon + Harmony of Despair 6 players co-op online =  *faint*   )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUCW-7h27u0

It has more comfortable triggers than dualshock 3's L2/R2 triggers (I really hate those.  Very uncomfortable)
It's must easier to develop games for that platform.  In that sense, developers can focus on the game
instead of the technical hurdles working with the system.

Overall Xbox360 is a great choice!  And much better choice than just catering to portables for another year (no offense to portable fans but many of us grew up enjoying Castlevania, including SOTN, on a console, since the NES.)    Console fans need some nostalgic Castlevania love too in a fun co-op way!  This is really great timing!   It's been so many years since a console got a new 2-D Castlevania.  

[Kale]

And it's so true.   People don't whine about Megaman 9 and 10 recycling sprites from the 80's.  
People should accept these Castlevania sprites for the great art they are, instead of expecting Blazblue sprites or something that would greatly limit how much enemies, characters, and rooms they can add to the game.  

I do... atleast for 10. 9 was great for nostalgia, and bringing back the old school stuff, but doing it again on 10 was just dumb. Which is somewhat my reason for disliking how this series is doing it, over and over and over....

[uzo]

And it's so true.   People don't whine about Megaman 9 and 10 recycling sprites from the 80's.  

Because they made sure the entire game was consistent looking and they did not reuse 90% of the enemies. Most everything was drawn new. The same cannot be said for ANY of the DS Castlevanias.

[angevil]

I don′t want the existing sprites to go away, actually. I love them. They can give them new moves, new attacks..It′s good when they make SOME new sprites, but keep the older ones, too.

[Ahasverus]

I don′t want the existing sprites to go away, actually. I love them. They can give them new moves, new attacks..It′s good when they make SOME new sprites, but keep the older ones, too.

This is the face of devolution.

[knightmere]

I'd buy it but my 360 is toast, maybe if i get one later on ill check it out.  The gameplay looks somewhat interesting and the concept is cool even though the graphics seemed to be all recycled.

[corneliab]

It's been so many years since a console got a new 2-D Castlevania.  

It's called Castlevania The Adventure Rebirth. You know, that thing that was a bonafide Castlevania game. Which Harmony of Despair clearly doesn't even come close to.

Seriously, your posts make me want to puke. Never have I seen someone not just defend such a slapped-together budget piece of downloadable shovelware, but butter it up to such a sickening extent. You're either a joke of a PR puppet or just a total tool.

[Kale]

Eh, while I think it sucks. The game does have multiplayer. And he might just be one of the people who loves castlevania, and multiplayer games.

[affinity]

It's called Castlevania The Adventure Rebirth. You know, that thing that was a bonafide Castlevania game. Which Harmony of Despair clearly doesn't even come close to, in my opinion.

Seriously, your posts make me want to puke because I have my head stuck so far up my ass, anyone who thinks differently from me sucks.  

Never have I seen someone not just defend such a slapped-together budget piece of downloadable shovelware, but butter it up to such a sickening extent. You're either a joke of a PR puppet or just a total tool or maybe I'm just too stupid to know how fun a game can be regardless of reused sprites and
bringing cooperative ways to enjoy Castlevania with friends using some iconic vampire hunter favorites.

You seem to sound like a spoiled bitter demon who takes things for granted and can't see the positive sides to a game that undoubtably many will enjoy, whether solo or with friends.  

Too bad you will be missing out...as if anyone cares.  ^.~

Oh and nice job trolling on gamefaqs with your bad atmosphere.   Negativity is your best friend, isn't it?  
You already decided to hate the game, yet you would sink so low as to spread your harsh criticism
over there as well.  So sad.  

[corneliab]

Christ, this is just retarded. It's like talking to an incoherent little brat.

You might not care if a game consists almost entirely of recycled assets from everything including level tiles, room structure, enemies, bosses, and character sprites, but that's typically something that's not to be expected on such a scale in videogames, not even for downloadable titles. Remember that Mega Man comparison you made earlier? 9 and 10, unlike Despair, feature almost completely new content. It's flat-out unacceptable, and it's really quite insulting that Konami would expect fans to welcome such a game with open arms, especially when they've shown that they still have it in them to create genuine Castlevania titles in the form of Rebirth (as well as Metroidvanias, but given all the releases over the years, that goes without saying). Can I understand people grudingly tolerating this under the hope that the game will be fun in spite of this? Sure, I guess so.

However, I find it COMPLETELY BACKWARDS that certain people (namely you) would parade about as if the en masse recycling is a good thing. This is a poisonous game philosophy that does nothing but cheapen game. Fact of the matter is, brand new content (even just of comparable quality, though the it should at least surpass DS quality given the medium) would be vastly preferrable and go a long way in legitimizing the game.

Despair, despite all of your sugarcoating and claims of "2D Castlevania", is hardly anything like either category of Castlevania I previously mentioned. It has stages, but their nature and structure make them far less focused than traditional stage-based Castlevanias. There's a focus on exploration, even though the entire map can be viewed at once, there's a time limit, and secrets are limited to stat-boosting equipment that's required to proceed. There's no cohesiveness between the sections: they're just an awkward assortment or rooms suspened against higher quality backgrounds that further highlight the inferiority of the rest of the visuals. So that's two significant and uncharacteristic strikes the game has going against it.That's right, these are detriments, and rather severe ones at that. You can't really consider Despair a comparable game to either of the main categories of Castlevanias when its mechanics end up being inferior to both categories. In short, this whole "2D console Castlevania" thing really amounts to nothing more than meaningless (even misleading) buzz words.

These are all completely legitimate complaints. Understandably, the fan reaction towards this game has been mostly poor. Your out-of-the blue appearance complete with your do-no-wrong and "best game ever" attitude toward the game just seems ignorant, biased, and indicative of poor standards. Also, your dismissal of those who see more promise in LoS and your steady stream of pretentious, hypocritical "holier than thou" drivel just makes it extremely difficult to take you seriously.

[angevil]

@corneliab
Looking from outside, you are the one with lot of poison..

This game is a chance for many to play co-op mode in well known CV that we all know and love. It is also a chance for those that don′t have DS, but have XBOX360 to get to play with characters from DS games, and enjoy a mix of those games with friends. I would do play it if I had a chance. My disappointment came from the fact that I was expecting HD to be a new game for 3DS. And the menus look very amateurish. Anyway I think it′s great that this game is coming out. I wish it was also available on DSiWare with the online co-op.

Does anyone have the art from the start screen in high resolution? The one with Shanoa, Alucard and Soma..I like it

[affinity]

corneliab
Christ, this is just retarded. It's like talking to an incoherent little brat.

*Brat? You are the one whining like a child who would only accept a brand new soccer ball instead
of a soccer ball that is still in acceptable condition. 9_9

Remember that Mega Man comparison you made earlier? 9 and 10, unlike Despair, feature almost completely new content.

*Harmony of Despair has enough new content in the form of how the game is played.  Name a Castlevania
that lets you choose Alucard, Soma, Jonathan, Shanoa and Charlotte in the same game, with a NEW
equipment system designed for this particular game's balance, 6 players co-op online, and a living castle
that doesn't pause for a second.  Also new elements to the castle are added, like switches that affect door in another room, platforms that require teamwork to give someone a boost to an out of reach section above.  New secrets hidden in walls.  And lots of treasure to collect, all while a boss is firing a huge
laser all over the castle.  

It's flat-out unacceptable, and it's really quite insulting that Konami would expect fans to welcome such a game with open arms,

*it's flat out insulting some fans are so blind and ungrateful to the fun factor this game will provide,
especially for Xbox360 owners (whether they own a DS or not.)

especially when they've shown that they still have it in them to create genuine Castlevania titles in the form of Rebirth

*they did a great job with that but you still underappreciate the value of reused art and other assets.
Also a Castlevania need not rebuild it's graphics from scratch to be considered genuine.  


However, I find it COMPLETELY BACKWARDS that certain people (namely you) would parade about as if the en masse recycling is a good thing.

*Recycling is a part of gaming industry history.

At least it's better than reselling the same exact game/episode.  

I would prefer Harmony of Despair over a graphical remake of Symphony of the Night.

This is a poisonous game philosophy that does nothing but cheapen game. Fact of the matter is, brand new content (even just of comparable quality, though the it should at least surpass DS quality given the medium) would be vastly preferrable and go a long way in legitimizing the game.

*You have yet to realize your own self-righteous 'logic' is poisoning your ability to accept different types of games, not just games that have prettier and newer polish to its visuals.
You fail to consider the amount of money and work it would take to really develop from the ground up.
It's not likely this project would have been possible if they didn't recycle assets.  

Look at The King of Fighters XII, they had to work extra years to redo the same characters with new sprites and animations, and ended up with less than half of what they planned to include.

The sprites look better than the ones in the past, but gameplay content wise it was severely lacking in all areas.

Despair, despite all of your sugarcoating and claims of "2D Castlevania", is hardly anything like either category of Castlevania I previously mentioned.

*What's wrong with that?  It combines some of metroidvania,
with some of the stage-based nature of the classic Castlevanias, brings in co-op and versus modes,
over 4 different unique characters to use, online play for 6 players, and more.

It has stages, but their nature and structure make them far less focused than traditional stage-based Castlevanias.

*That's good otherwise it would be too linear.

There's a focus on exploration, even though the entire map can be viewed at once,

no one is being forced to use the entire map view.  You can simply use the closest zoom and
at least the first playthroughs will feel exploration based.
Also part of the exploration is finding and obtaining items to upgrade your character's equipment.
It's possible they might be in random locations in the castle, enhancing the element of exploration,
even if you are already familiar with the castle.  

there's a time limit, and secrets are limited to stat-boosting equipment that's required to proceed.

a 30 minute time limit is confirmed to be at least an option.  the 10 minute time limit at E3 appears
to be primarily the demo version (as seen by the "unlock full game" displayed on the menu).  Either that or there will be a adjustable time option for players to challenge themselves.

There's no cohesiveness between the sections: they're just an awkward assortment or rooms suspened against higher quality backgrounds that further highlight the inferiority of the rest of the visuals.

*I don't even see it that way.  Nitpicking too much?  How can you enjoy anything with that attitude?

So that's two significant and uncharacteristic strikes the game has going against it.

*based on your opinion and perspective, that is.


That's right, these are detriments, and rather severe ones at that. You can't really consider Despair a comparable game to either of the main categories of Castlevanias when its mechanics end up being inferior to both categories.

*based on your standards and tastes, that is.

In short, this whole "2D console Castlevania" thing really amounts to nothing more than meaningless (even misleading) buzz words.

*It's only meaningless to people like you.  Unlike the Rebirth remake and other recent Castlevanias,
this is a totally new spin to Castlevania gaming by a large margin, without stepping too far from its roots.
 

These are all completely legitimate complaints.

Everyone has the right to complain.  Just as everyone has the right to miss out on a good thing because of their negative viewpoints.

Understandably, the fan reaction towards this game has been mostly poor. Your out-of-the blue appearance complete with your do-no-wrong and "best game ever" attitude toward the game just seems ignorant, biased, and indicative of poor standards.

*Now you are sounding like some elitist who hides behind the majority vote.  Your views are full of ignorant and biased opinions.   A game can still be great and valuable regardless if the majority of so
called fans don't like it.   Remember even polls are no indicator to a game's significance.  

If 1000 people hate something, while 100 people do, that doesn't make those 100 people wrong or ignorant.  

And you dare say I have  poor standards just because they do not match your merciless high standards?
Who do you think you are?    

Also, your dismissal of those who see more promise in LoS and your steady stream of pretentious, hypocritical "holier than thou" drivel just makes it extremely difficult to take you seriously.

*Your whole post has "Holier than thou" written all over it.  >.>

And if you were paying attention, I already taken back what I said about LoS and accepted it as a
Castlevania people who are anticipating it will enjoy.  Don't bring LoS to this because as people here
have noted, they are two different subjects altogether.   If you are going to bother comparing which is better than the other, than you are only waving around your own opinion about which one you think is better, nothing more.



So there.

[thernz]

But all those features you mention just seem necessary for a multiplayer game. I mean, the pausing. It's nothing to write home about. I guess it might add some tension, but tension in a Metroidvania is pretty rare since all the enemies are too stupid for the relatively overpowered characters you play as. The equipment system just gets rid of leveling. I can't see it making the game deeper than others. Plus, there were always secrets and lots of treasures to obtain in the older Castlevanias so.

Besides, those two aspects are implemented in pretty superficial ways and cater to OCD (GOTTA WHIP EVERY WALL). In the trailer, the placement of one item in a wall was just illogical and random. So it might actually be detrimental to HoD, destroying all rhythm in a level (as if it had any) with the urge to smack everything. So, essentially, there's no "exploring" to be done besides hitting a few switches here and there and slapping walls for goodies. There's no secret or alternate paths to uncover because everything is shown to you. And there is nothing inherently Classic Castlevania in the level designs. They're still stuck in the Metroidvania mentality of boring open rooms with a few platforms here and there with no relation to the enemy placement. You'd expect them to have more engaging level design for something like this, but you know, they literally ripped the rooms from the older DS titles anyway. It would work if there were new vistas to explore at least but there aren't. That kinda requires new graphics! Of course, all the stages in this are full of thematically different areas too.

Then IGA mentions that players will likely play through the same level over and over and I'm going, "derp." Death and repetition. Is that the motive to explore? That's horrible. There's a lack of reward unless you find pleasure in progressing just to slap a few more generic enemies in a room you've probably already seen, just slapped on top of another room you've already seen, just not together and finding items that probably just boost stats. The gameplay doesn't seem all that revolutionary at the combat level either. There doesn't seem to be anything added for multiplayer in what is essentially the main gameplay of the game. In this case, hitting switches and etc. would probably work if the game was focused on platforming beyond just gonna press jump 3 times to get up these platforms stacked on top of each other lol.

So yeah. I rather they not even try, because all they're doing is making a Castlevania-themed stripped down Maple Story with a bit more focused combat and ways to limit having to create more content. The game's design just screams at me, "Way to minimize use of original content!" rather than actually trying to accomplish something evolutionary.

rrrrr game design

[Reinhart77]

heh, people who are skeptical have points and people who are enthusiastic have points.  nobody's wrong.  

the E3 demo version that was played had an option "get full game".  i hope that means that the demo will be available to download for anyone to try it before deciding to buy it.

[corneliab]

Your views are full of ignorant and biased opinions.

Are you fucking kiddding me? My rationale is sound and supported with facts. Your defense of the game can hardly be considered anything close to this: it's all gushy arbitrary nonsense. Every one of your posts, ESPECIALLY your haphazard attempt to reply to mine, consists of you tossing around irrelevant bullshit, belittling/ignoring understandable concerns, and making completely asinine statements.

You are the definition of an idiot, possibly even a retard. I'm out.