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

[DingusBelmondo]

Here is the thing. There is nothing wrong with the sprites. The sprites are great. But no other franchise does this. We deserve new artwork, new enemies ect. Almost every other production team understands that when you make a new game, you make a new game, not just scramble pre-made shit.  "it takes more money/time" doesn't cut it, its their job. Hypothetical situation, if the SOTN development team had finished the game in half the time allotted, then most people would expect them to have taken the extra half to make the game even BETTER rather than just rush release it early. My point is there is no excusable reason that a new game should be half assed, no matter what.

[affinity]

LordOfShadows
Here is the thing. There is nothing wrong with the sprites. The sprites are great. But no other franchise does this.

Blazblue Continuum Shift uses the same sprites from the previous game. Yes adds a few more, but 95% of gameplay art is recycled.

We deserve new artwork, new enemies ect.

Each character got new art in the status music.  And the backgrounds behind the stage are new too. And some other finer details.

Almost every other production team understands that when you make a new game, you make a new game, not just scramble pre-made shit.  

They reused assets for very good reasons, it would help keep the online lag free and fit more players at once.  

It helps them concentrate on making the multiplayer better and the new castles work for multiplayer, as well as fit multiple different characters into the gameplay, and many many other gameplay related things.  
This game really is dedicated to all Castlevania fans that wanted an online CV to play with groups of people online first and foremost! And it's really character variety and multiplayer that will allow fun in new ways never possible before in Castlevania series!  

And even the single players out there will be getting a great deal out of this because they will be faced with one of the greatest challenges trying to conquer the castles alone!

"it takes more money/time" doesn't cut it, its their job.

It's their job to offer things that are beyond the scope and budget of the game?  

Hypothetical situation, if the SOTN development team had finished the game in half the time allotted, then most people would expect them to have taken the extra half to make the game even BETTER rather than just rush release it early.

SOTN team didn't have to work with an online infrastructure, and offer features
like being able to display over a million pixels onscreen with a real-time view of the map, and at least 5 playable characters with their own unique skills, and a redone equipment system and difficulty balance that scales based on whether there's 1-6 players.  And many other things.

My point is there is no excusable reason that a new game should be half assed, no matter what.

Your definition of half-assed sounds like it's fueled by your own personal opinions, expectations and preferences that aren't met.   To some fans, Castlevania HD is already more than they wanted from a online-featured Castlevania!  


Well Lords of Shadows, you can always make your own Castlevania game.  We'll be here to remind you what a Castlevania game 'should be' and don't think our review of your game will get bonus points just because you're our friend.    

You have 1 year to develop it, and as for budget, well you have all the answers so it should be a piece of cake for you.   Oh yes your Castlevania game better have Soma, Alucard, Jonathan, Shanoa and Charlotte playable. Don't forget to add at least 300 items, and 6 players co-op that can be played with others online in the world. Have you finished any of the castles yet?  What do they look like?  Have you even decided what platform you will be releasing your Castlevania game?   When will you be done developing it?    Have you even started working on it?  

I can't believe our most intelligent and knowledgable member on these boards hasn't made any progress with a Castlevania game yet.   They sure are good at criticizing the games other people make though, which is good because criticisms can make a game better.  

Maybe Shadows doesn't want to make a Castlevania game because he doesn't want any criticisms towards himself for not making the Castlevania game 'everyone' wanted?

Well that's okay, LordsofShadow, you don't have to make the next Castlevania game, but I guess the fan community is better off depending on IGA, at least he gets things done, and done right in many ways!  

[thernz]

The point isn't really that they're recycled, but the way they just seem tossed together in this game with Chupacabras in clock towers and Tree Golems in winter wonderlands. Not to mention, that looking at the videos, all the bosses seem to have actually stopped being good even with the added attacks. There's no "weight" or tension to them (I kinda think enemies increasingly lost this after SoTN). Everything in HoD just seems to exist. There aren't any real obstacles (though admittedly, that's been a problem with Castlevania since Aria of Sorrow), nothing to make you really geared up.
So yeah, everything is reused, sure, but the real problem lies in that they're all utilized horribly.

And who really cares about 300 items when all accessories and armors do is stat boost. Boring. Order of Ecclesia was great for cutting down the bulk of items then this game just seems to bloat everything.

I also heard in a review that the enemy variety was really low which kinda... makes no sense for a game that likes recycling so much.

[affinity]

http://screwattack.com/videos/VGR-Castlevania-Harmony-of-Despair

Video review!  They love it! (despite their quibbles)      

Well so long Castlevania fans and.....people who think they are fans?  

It's time to prepare for Castlevania Harmony of Despair release this Wednesday!  
Have fun and don't be a miserable pile of secrets!   

[Little Dracula]

Do we know if the demo is going to be a full stage with both, offline and online game?.

[RegalX7]

Well so long Castlevania fans and.....people who think they are fans?   

It's time to prepare for Castlevania Harmony of Despair release this Wednesday!   
Have fun and don't be a miserable pile of secrets!   

So, you really are doing the same thing as before... Please don't return, this time. <insert Dracula joke>

[Super Waffle]

Blazblue Continuum Shift uses the same sprites from the previous game. Yes adds a few more, but 95% of gameplay art is recycled.

CS was also sold at a reduced price at launch in consideration of the fact that it's basically a Super version of the first game.

Harmony of Dissonance advertises itself as an INNOVATIVE HD EXPERIENCE!!!1, and 1200 MS Points is not reduced.  Earthworm Jim HD, Mega Man 10, and Perfect Dark had infinitely more work put into them, and they're sold for 800 Points.

[Reinhart77]

now begins the challenge to see how many days i can go hoping for news of a PS3 release without just going out and buying an XBox360...

[DingusBelmondo]

OK affinity, since you took the time to write that silly post, I have decided to create a game that's even better than HoD

[ChibiMaddiChan]

Blazblue Continuum Shift uses the same sprites from the previous game. Yes adds a few more, but 95% of gameplay art is recycled.

It's just like Super Street Fighter 4: it's more of a direct sequel/upgrade rather than trying to play itself off as a brand new game and new and innovative HD experience. And both came at a reduced price and featured more things to warrant buying it: characters, music, backgrounds, stories, and modes. It's not the same thing so stop trying to justify it and put it on the same level.

Each character got new art in the status music.  And the backgrounds behind the stage are new too. And some other finer details.

...No they are not. The artwork is new for the characters, yes, but the backgrounds? Please, I easily spotted areas lifted straight from Dawn and Order alone. And if it's not the exact same room, it's items/background fixtures from the game just set up differently. The entire game is/or almost practically comprised of rehashed work.

They reused assets for very good reasons, it would help keep the online lag free and fit more players at once.

Are you seriously trying to use this as a good excuse for IGA and his team not actually making a good game with brand new spirits and backgrounds AND making sure it's lag free with more downloadable players? Really? Cause other developers have been able to do it, even in 3D, so I don't see why IGA couldn't.  Using a few assets wouldn't even be so bad: it's not like it hasn't been done in previous DS titles. But a supposed HD experience comprised with 90% of it? Absurd.

It helps them concentrate on making the multiplayer better and the new castles work for multiplayer, as well as fit multiple different characters into the gameplay, and many many other gameplay related things.

Or...they could have just spent more time on the game itself, and made a great experience without coming off as so lazy for reusing old sprites and backgrounds. They also could have spent some of that time on making the gameplayer better for solo players, who may not want to play the game co-op and online. If they weren't going to put the effort into the the sprite work, they could have at least ensured that it didn't alienate anyone.
 

This game really is dedicated to all Castlevania fans that wanted an online CV to play with groups of people online first and foremost! And it's really character variety and multiplayer that will allow fun in new ways never possible before in Castlevania series!

...While it alienates the rest of the CV community or newbies that could have gotten into the series. Not to mention anyone that wanted to give the Co-op a try but can't because it's online only. (Hey, some people just don't like online play or have friends that don't/can't. Some people actually still have friends over and like playing in the same room...) Or people that are playing this by themselves, as while the mode is there, it's obvious made for multiplayer and well...sucks on single player. Bravo, that's ALWAYS a good strategy.   

And even the single players out there will be getting a great deal out of this because they will be faced with one of the greatest challenges trying to conquer the castles alone!

I'll admit, I love a good challenge, but not when it's cheaply done. To me, a game being played on single mode when it's obviously made for multiplayer isn't 'a great challenge', it's just cheap. It's the same reason why certain practices in games from the past aren't done anymore: it's just not fun. Even the respawning at the beginning thing doesn't bother me as much as the experience being made difficult simply because I'm playing alone. It's like the single player is being penalized for wanting to experience the game alone. Think NSMBWii: it's harder alone but still playable and fun. Or to be more fair, Demon Souls: it's difficult no matter if you play it alone or with others, but the experience is still there and (for me) still a blast.

It's their job to offer things that are beyond the scope and budget of the game?  

And at the looks of this game, Konami is A.) Trying to make IGA leave...disgracefully. B.) Told him to go **** himself and didn't give him a dime or a laughably bad budget. C.)IGA should have waited until after LoS so he could at least get a decent budget, which must all be going into LoS. D.)This is like KoF XII: a 'test' almost for the actual game he wants to make that he's trying on the masses. (Hey, I'd love a mulitplayer remake of CV III or the 1999 game. Who knows...)
 

SOTN team didn't have to work with an online infrastructure, and offer features
like being able to display over a million pixels onscreen with a real-time view of the map, and at least 5 playable characters with their own unique skills, and a redone equipment system and difficulty balance that scales based on whether there's 1-6 players.  And many other things.

Unlike other titles, there doesn't seem like they put a 'difficulty' scale in the game: it's the same difficulty that just happens to get easier depending on how many people you get to play with you. That's not the same thing. Though I will say, I love what they're trying to do mulitplayer wise, it just doesn't seem like it was utilized to it's full abilities. If it was, this game wouldn't be getting such low scores. One or two is one thing, but the magnitude of bad scores speaks for itself.

Your definition of half-assed sounds like it's fueled by your own personal opinions, expectations and preferences that aren't met.   To some fans, Castlevania HD is already more than they wanted from a online-featured Castlevania!  

And to those fans, I say good for you but learn to expect more from a franchise that usually delivers. I'm sorry, but after being spoiled for so long, I just expect more from my Castlevania games and have every right to. Reusing sprites and background to such a degree is half-assed and laughably bad, even for IGA. More so after CV the Adventure Rebirth. (Which feels like more of a 'salute' to CV fans then this game ever will.)

Well Lords of Shadows, you can always make your own Castlevania game.  We'll be here to remind you what a Castlevania game 'should be' and don't think our review of your game will get bonus points just because you're our friend.    

To be honest, there actually are some homebrew games out there that fans would probably admit is more fun than this, whether it's multiplayer or not. That ridiculously awesome remake of CV3 (that never got finished I believe   ) comes to mind quickly. And there was a heck of a lot less reused (seriously, even the background was being redone) then that old homebrew then in this game. Pathetic.

You have 1 year to develop it, and as for budget, well you have all the answers so it should be a piece of cake for you.   Oh yes your Castlevania game better have Soma, Alucard, Jonathan, Shanoa and Charlotte playable. Don't forget to add at least 300 items, and 6 players co-op that can be played with others online in the world. Have you finished any of the castles yet?  What do they look like?  Have you even decided what platform you will be releasing your Castlevania game?   When will you be done developing it?    Have you even started working on it?

 

Please, some games have had YEARS to develop it and they still suck to the masses. Meanwhile, there are some indie games that have taken less then a year to develop and they're so fun and liked that they're being sold retail or heck, sell more then some of the mainstream heavy hitters. So not even time taken to develop is a good excuse. Look at CV the Adventure. I don't believe that game took too long to develop and make but it still was a solid, fun game to play. So is Limbo. So is Plants vs Zombies.

Well that's okay, LordsofShadow, you don't have to make the next Castlevania game, but I guess the fan community is better off depending on IGA, at least he gets things done, and done right in many ways!  

As much as I like IGA and have defended him in the past, this is a matter of opinion rather than fact I'm afraid. There are some people that haven't liked him from the start or have had their opinions lowered after so many Metrovanias and Judgement. So yeah: opinion.

If anything, I hope the multiplayer gives IGA good ideas to make a better game with a solo and mulitplayer mode worthy of CV fans. The idea isn't bad, but the application could be better.

[RegalX7]

Despite your effort in typing that, arguing with Affinity (AKA "xenosaga123") is impossible.
Now that she's left the site, I can point out: she is infamous among various forums for, as you can guess, being a psycho fangirl. During the KoF XII thing, people even thought she was working for SNK to hype the game, and observe reactions of people online!

[uzo]

Blazblue Continuum Shift uses the same sprites from the previous game. Yes adds a few more, but 95% of gameplay art is recycled.

Do you have any brain cells in there? No? Well since you haven't noticed, Blazblue sprites aren't hitting 20 years old.

Harmony of Despair isn't SotN+ or DoS+, its a new game entirely.

[thernz]

Maybe she does commissions to hype things up.
A freelance hyper.

[uzo]

A freelance hyper.

A freelance failure.

[MarquisX]

A freelance failure.

Hahahahahahahaha! That's great! She is such a failure to hype this game.... If anything she is making my opinion of it more negative.