Topic: So, What Exactly is Castlevania? (LoS Spoilers within)

[Grim Fandango]

In the wake of the recent release of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, a number of questions have arisen regarding it's validity as the inheritor of the Castlevania name.  The gist of the issue is this: What IS a Castlevania game?  What elements do you think constitute a Castlevania game?  Is there a specific gameplay mechanic necessary?  Is it the monsters?  The castle? Dracula?  Hopefully, this thread can serve as a place to debate, or argue, about this question, rather than shitting up other threads with inane prattle.

As for my own view...

I think only few things are required to make a Castlevania game.  Monsters drawn from folklore, mainly of European origin, being hunted by a hero through a setting ripped out of a Hammer Horror film.  Whips, Belmonts, and Dracula are a bonus.

Seriously though, all this bitching and moaning over whether or not LoS is a Castlevania game needs to stop.  If you feel it is, then why?  If you don't, then why not?  Real answers people, not feelings.

[crisis]

Goddamn threads like these have been done to death.


To answer the question:
man with whip/sword fighting monsters in pursuit of vampire

[Harrycombs]

man with whip fighting monsters in pursuit of vampire

and the vampire is in a castle.

[jediblaster]

The vampire was in a castle in this game.  It just wasn't the vampire most expected. 

[Alutwon]

Atmosphere man.....
Dark, gloomy, somber, twisted

[Oralox]

I think whats he's asking is about LOS.

Now that castlevania is rebooted in new timeline, he wants to know what is castlevania now.

[Mr.Bushido]

I think whats he's asking is about LOS.

Now that castlevania is rebooted in new timeline, he wants to know what is castlevania now.

man with whip/sword fighting monsters in pursuit of Satan, and then the man turns in dracula

[Ahasverus]

Christian Imagery, mythology, slayering monsters, troubled protagonist.

man with whip/sword fighting monsters in pursuit of Satan, and then the man turns in dracula

I see what you did there -_-

[corneliab]

castlevania is about

poorly implemented bone towers

[OmegaDL50]

Many people seem to mistake the association that Castlevania games must always take place inside a Castle which many of the earliest games, notably Castlevania II, III, IV, Bloodlines, Rondo of Blood, and a few of the Gameboy titles, which had many outdoor areas such as caves, swamps, rivers and waterfalls, and even forests while traversing through the countryside on you your way TO the Castle, rather then simply being inside the Castle from the very beginning.

However the other thing to point out as just identifying with the series artwork style is also it's atmosphere and tone of the series. Which is usually has strong Gothic and some religious overtones. Something that is very hard to convey it in just words because I feel that is something that needs to be experienced to grasp it.

Such as when you descend into catacombs and caves, passing through dark forests and murky swamps surrounded by dark creatures such as skeletons, spectres, and demons fighting your way to through the evil as you as you approach that ever foreboding Castle passing through it's halls and that area akin to a cathedral with the windows full of paned glass, then ascending towards the upper section through the clock tower and balcony and then that final staircase to reach the tower spire to throne room with the inevitable battle against the Lord of Darkness.

That is what I feel what the essence of the Castlevania series is as was present since the very earliest games in the series, that slow build up and progression. Lords of Shadow has some of the above fairly represented giving it a place in the Castlevania series.

[eternal night]

Honestly, see "Lords of Shadow" for the answer. The game has included everything that makes up what a *Great* CV game is. Atmosphere, music, combat, platforming, love, loss, heroes (tragic), villains...It's all there. If some of you can't see that, you need to open your eyes and play it again. Seriously.

Want to know what is *NOT* a CV game? Go play crap like Portrait of Ruin or whatever that latest nonsense IGA just put out on Live is supposed to be.

[DingusBelmondo]

Castlevania = Candles. If it has no candles, its not castlevania. To be honest, any game featuring candles, i consider a castlevania now a days.

[OmegaDL50]

Honestly, see "Lords of Shadow" for the answer. The game has included everything that makes up what a *Great* CV game is. Atmosphere, music, combat, platforming, love, loss, heroes (tragic), villains...It's all there. If some of you can't see that, you need to open your eyes and play it again. Seriously.

Want to know what is *NOT* a CV game? Go play crap like Portrait of Ruin or whatever that latest nonsense IGA just put out on Live is supposed to be.

I certainly won't say Lords of Shadow has "everything" that makes up a great Castlevania game. For one thing it's particularly lacking in the music department and platforming was mostly forced. Having been played the series since it's very origins and initial release in 1986 on the NES. The music in Lords of Shadow was quite a departure from the series more Gothic or Stravinsky inspired classical themes.

As for the comment in telling others that they "can't see" Lords of Shadow as a *Great* Castlevania game, It's alright to dislike games, but comments such as this only spur pointless arguments. It's one thing having an opinion on something, it's something entirely else to try to force it upon others. No one needs to "open their eyes" just so their view conforms with yours.

If they dislike the game they have the right to dislike. No point making a fuss about it, simply accept it and move on.

[X]

As for the comment in telling others that they "can't see" Lords of Shadow as a *Great* Castlevania game, It's alright to dislike games, but comments such as this only spur pointless arguments. It's one thing having an opinion on something, it's something entirely else to try to force it upon others. No one needs to "open their eyes" just so their view conforms with yours.

If they dislike the game they have the right to dislike. No point making a fuss about it, simply accept it and move on.

Exactly. Each to his/her own. For me, Castlevania brings up images of Stage by stage classic plateforming, whipable candles containing items, breakable blocks that hold food, Belmonts (Male or female) wielding whips to smite thy foes, haunted castles and countrysides, mythicle monsters (Medusa), vampire lords (Dracula), the Grim Reaper, the Monster (Frankenstien), etc. I could go on and on and on. but you get the idea.

-X

[Pemburu Vampir]

Exactly. Each to his/her own. For me, Castlevania brings up images of Stage by stage classic plateforming, whipable candles containing items, breakable blocks that hold food, Belmonts (Male or female) wielding whips to smite thy foes, haunted castles and countrysides, mythicle monsters (Medusa), vampire lords (Dracula), the Grim Reaper, the Monster (Frankenstien), etc. I could go on and on and on. but you get the idea.

-X

This. And the awesome music.