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

[Sonic_Reaper]

OMG, if they had a Castle based on the SotN Castle, with the Fake Trio as the bosses  

I'd probably orgasm on the spot.

[Super Waffle]

Rage time.

I'm sorry, but attaching the entire experience system to a Luck attribute is objectively one of the worst RPG gameplay design choices in history. Random drops for optional items are one thing, but when you're effectively saying "Hey! Spend 20 minutes fighting this boss for a CHANCE to gain the experience points you deserve for beating it!", that's just horrible.

And that's effectively exactly what Charlotte's system is. Her overall level is determined by how many spells she has, and her spell list is, in turn, determined entirely by whatever she's randomly picked up. Not through skill use; not through defeating enemies; but through randomly gaining spells from blocking.

Are all of the characters built that way, or did Konami just go out of the way to ruin Charlotte because they thought no one would use her? :/

How does this make you feel?

[thernz]

Someone mentioned that Jonathan got stronger when he got more subweapons so I guess it would apply to them all.

[Super Waffle]

Also, Charlotte's voice is as annoying as ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTL0H_jAFWc

Happy now?

[Koutei]

there seems to be a pretty good rumor (got pics and it all fits with what else we know) that the first dlc will be the pyramid with Astarte as the boss and Julius and Maria as new characters.  Julius has learned some new tricks too.  

http://img641.imageshack.us/g/img0466na.jpg/

Game FAQs thread:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/997663-castlevania-harmony-of-despair/55881089

Good bye X Chronicles Pretty Pink Boy.
LOL

[Lumas]

Ya know would it really kill him to make new sprites instead of reusing them....

[Little Dracula]

Ya know would it really kill him to make new sprites instead of reusing them....

To do that you need money and more staff, both things are not available to IGA anymore. This is a low budget/low risk game, deal with it. The game is fun, old sprites or not.

[Lumas]

To do that you need money and more staff, both things are not available to IGA anymore. This is a low budget/low risk game, deal with it. The game is fun, old sprites or not.

Do you really think thats not available? You probably dont know exactly whats available to him these days. Hes notorious for reusing sprites even when konami was "backing him".

Your opinion in noted but i disagree, its really not that fun.

[MarquisX]

To do that you need money and more staff, both things are not available to IGA anymore. This is a low budget/low risk game, deal with it. The game is fun, old sprites or not.

Yet, every other game developer with smaller budgets can still come up with games with all new original sprites. I've defended the reuse of sprites in the DS trilogy but he has gone too far in this title. It would be MUCH more appealing if it had new sprites- or at least more new than old. Oh well.....

[Little Dracula]

One has to asume that he have a smaller budget and staff that those developers you mention.

[The Silverlord]

Just catching up with the game now it's released.  Some comments from some media outlets:


Joystiq (2.5 stars/5)

"I'm pretty sure that if I could get a peek at Castlevania: Harmony of Despair director Koji Igarashi's Netflix queue, I'd find that his most recent rental would be the 1993 comedy Groundhog Day. Virtually nothing is explained,  it reuses background tiles and sprites from years-old games and is, frankly, not fun at all if you intend to play it alone. Save your $15.

Played with friends, however, Harmony of Despair is actually ... kinda fun."


Eurogamer.net (4/10)

"I considered what a joy it would be to play a Symphony of the Night-type adventure with a few friends, exploring a castle that had untold hours of secrets to unlock, each of us developing our own fighting styles from an array of possible strategies ... that would be a fantastic journey. It's what this mess of half-ideas and compromises wanted to be."


Kotaku

"There's a brilliant idea behind Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, but its execution is disappointingly lacking."


IGN UK (7.5)

"I applaud Konami for trying something new ... but I'd have to say this Castlevania experiment is only a modest success and there is definitely room for improvement. The focus on multiplayer came at the cost of the single-player experience. With so little of the game explained, some players may find themselves confused or, worse, frustrated. ... because assets seem to have been plucked straight from previous games, that $15 price tag is questionable."



Average reviews, but they're all saying it'll appeal to fans of the series.  I agree with the principle of a multiplayer Castlevania, but it just all seems a bit lacklustre.  I don't fancy playing flat PoR type level-design over-and-over again, even if there is a bit of excitement in teaming up and downing bosses.

[angevil]

Doesn′t everyone get the fact that this is just a DS remix with enhancements intended for multiplayer? The main game is now LOS (sadly)..I am convinced IGA got a low budget a told to do something small, so they wouldn′t have two big Castlevanias coming out at the same time.

I have to admit I am not too happy about each of those games, but at least I will get some good music arrangements from them. So that is a positive point for me now.

[MarquisX]

Doesn′t everyone get the fact that this is just a DS remix with enhancements intended for multiplayer?

We know, but why? One of the biggest complaints in the DS trilogy was the reuse of sprites- and then he makes a whole game based off that complaint. I would still get it- but I am disappointed it wasn't more. Maybe next time.

The main game is now LOS (sadly)..I am convinced IGA got a low budget a told to do something small, so they wouldn′t have two big Castlevanias coming out at the same time.

I love IGA's games and PoR and OoE are my two favorite of the IGA games- but I am very excited for LoS. If Castlevania is going to go to 3D successfully, than it needs a fresh new start. I'm open minded to anyone giving a shot at Castlevania- it doesn't belong to IGA alone. Plus IGA is most likely still making his games so we all win at the end.

[Ahasverus]

My GOd.... IGa is A FUCKING WHORE, what a whore... a BITCH! Hell we have to kill this man, now look at this:
http://www.destructoid.com/rumor-castlevania-hd-add-ons-leaked--180767.phtml
I bet, $2 ($1,99!) for each one of them, and I'm pretty sure the were finished before release.

So, (fool) people who bought "this" not only got a miserable and mediocre cash-in, but an INCOMPLETE miserable and mediocre cash in.

God hail IGA!!

[angevil]

Well, if you want bonus characters and bonus levels, you have to buy them. It is becoming a trend. Games on the iPhone have been doing it for the last year. You can enjoy the game even without these bonuses..