Topic: imporant Improvements for the Castlevania 3D genre

[VampirehunterB]

I was very satisfied with the artwork, soundtrack and the overall concept in both Lament of Innocence and Curse of Darkness. LoI was a very successful game in my opinion, cod as well in a few ways...though there are some decisive flaws:

I: As for all castlevania games(except for sotn,bless that game) the characters does not change appearance in accordance to what they are equipped with(except for weapons), which is a very notable flaw for the overall experience(at least there should be an option between wearing the original appearance permanently through the game buttt still possess other items powers, or alllowing the appearance to be changed.)

II: difficulty option should always be available, for the experienced castlevania players, there should be Very Hard as an option, respectively Hard and Normal.

III: The entire setting in LoI was superb, pure, authentic Castlevania(yes I prefer the sotn elements)... from the House of Sacred Remains to the Ghostly Theatre..perfect envoirmental experience. The same goes for Cod...

The games were too short though, and there should have been more physical obstacles(such as towers to jump over, chandeliers or whatever..inspiration from the 2D would probably help) in order to improve the overall gameplay.



CoD had almost no obstacles at all, just plain ground. the enemies were all very similar to each other, and it became too easy finishing through level ups.





simple summary:

*add difficulty option

*allow the characters to change appearance in accordance to what they are wearing

*create obstacles similar to the 2D games

*enlarge the games with massive forests, castle areas, hints, and interesting items

*develop dozens of cool advanced combos unique for different weapons and levels


If these general problems would have been greatly improved, and if they would still follow up the genre as they have done earlier with the envoirmental looks, the soundtrack and the artwork, then I think we will finally face a castlevania masterpiece that will reach the top lists for both castlevania fans and gamers in general.

Am I wrong about this or would you agree? please share a thought=)
thanks 

(no more LoS for me in my opinion..)

[crisis]

The concepts of LoD + the style/mood of the ps2 games + LoS gameplay/graphics/budget = ultimate 3D Castlevania

In my opinion

[Flame]

Lords of SHadow actually changes Gabriel's appearance depending on the  relics he gets.

[darkwzrd4]

The concepts of LoD + the style/mood of the ps2 games + LoS gameplay/graphics/budget = ultimate 3D Castlevania

In my opinion

Lords of SHadow actually changes Gabriel's appearance depending on the  relics he gets.

These two quotes represent what most of us want for the future.

[Dremn]

The option to play as more than 1 character, I think it would be neat anyway. I prefer playing as hunters/Belmonts with whips and sub weapons, and other people prefer playing as characters with more versatility like Alucard and Soma. Being able to play as all types would be excellent.

Platforming, proper platforming is a must. Castlevania just isn't Castlevania without the platforming and well designed levels. More uses for the whip too, LoS demonstrated this perfectly. Being able to swing across chasms and scale walls/mountains is pretty awesome.

Combat needs to be finalized, I personally would like something similar to Lords, without the QTE's and enemies with massive HP. I don't like focusing on the same enemy for 2-3 minutes unless they're large foes/bosses.

That's all I can think of right now.

[Reinhart77]

Ha, well, Judgment changes what the character looks like when you equip items.  But its mostly ridiculous.  But now that they've had experience changing character's appearance, maybe Iga's ready to do it in his next 3D game?

[corneliab]

I don't get it. The TC spends his whole post dwelling on the cruddy PS2 games, but completely brushes LoS aside.

I'm also getting a serious "CV didn't exist before SotN" vibe over here.

[DragonSlayr81]

What I'd like:

1. IGA's artists to design the look of the locations. I tend to prefer the CV world IGA's games present as far as overall look is concerned.

2. Mercury Steam to design the layout of the locations, with more platforming over grappling areas. They are more skilled in delivering greater platforming layouts than IGA's team.

3. IGA, Cox and Kojima producing together(as the Three Musketeers).

4. IGA writing the treatment, fleshed out by Enric Álvarez.

5. Music is a collaboration effort betwee Aroujo, Yamane, Kimura and Koshiro.

6. Twice as long as IGA's 3D CVs and twice as many locations as LoS.

7. TRY to deliver a complete story that isn't left with vague plotholes or hooks to be completed with DLC or another game(both IGA's games and LoS are guilty of this). A great way would be to do something straightforward with a basic concept that can be resolved in completion(like the first CV), and build a story on that.

8. Monsters that are well diverse(little palette swap, if possible), and majority are based on classic CV monsters(even enemies like Balloon Pods and Medusa Heads).

9. Whip ability to ensnare enemies and pull them off ledges, or use them as weapons by flailing them around with your whip. I can imagine ensnaring a Medusa Head in mid-flight, then batting it around to take out other Medusa Heads.

10. ALL classic sub-weapons return.

11. Belmonts are Belmonts, Dracula is Dracula, Death is Death. All appear as themselves without any ambiguous nature of whom is what.

12. Stage based like LoS. The course of the adventure works through the countryside and finally, the castle, and backtracking through previous levels is possible(option given to do it on foot, or to warp).

[Kingshango]

What I'd like:

1. IGA's artists to design the look of the locations. I tend to prefer the CV world IGA's games present as far as overall look is concerned.

2. Mercury Steam to design the layout of the locations, with more platforming over grappling areas. They are more skilled in delivering greater platforming layouts than IGA's team.

3. IGA, Cox and Kojima producing together(as the Three Musketeers).

4. IGA writing the treatment, fleshed out by Enric Álvarez.

5. Music is a collaboration effort betwee Aroujo, Yamane, Kimura and Koshiro.

6. Twice as long as IGA's 3D CVs and twice as many locations as LoS.

7. TRY to deliver a complete story that isn't left with vague plotholes or hooks to be completed with DLC or another game(both IGA's games and LoS are guilty of this). A great way would be to do something straightforward with a basic concept that can be resolved in completion(like the first CV), and build a story on that.

8. Monsters that are well diverse(little palette swap, if possible), and majority are based on classic CV monsters(even enemies like Balloon Pods and Medusa Heads).

9. Whip ability to ensnare enemies and pull them off ledges, or use them as weapons by flailing them around with your whip. I can imagine ensnaring a Medusa Head in mid-flight, then batting it around to take out other Medusa Heads.

10. ALL classic sub-weapons return.

11. Belmonts are Belmonts, Dracula is Dracula, Death is Death. All appear as themselves without any ambiguous nature of whom is what.

12. Stage based like LoS. The course of the adventure works through the countryside and finally, the castle, and backtracking through previous levels is possible(option given to do it on foot, or to warp).

Everything you said.

[darkwzrd4]

Everything you said.

I second that.

[Flame]

3. IGA, Cox and Kojima producing together(as the Three Musketeers).

You sure the world is ready for that much epic?

[DarkPrinceAlucard]

I second that.

I third that.

Nice Layout for the perfect game DragonSlayer.

[Vrakanox]

The option to play as more than 1 character, I think it would be neat anyway. I prefer playing as hunters/Belmonts with whips and sub weapons, and other people prefer playing as characters with more versatility like Alucard and Soma. Being able to play as all types would be excellent.

I've always been a big supporter of this kind of thing in games since I was a kid. I feel like there should always be an option and for me it always gives the game much more replay value. Even if it's just a choice between two characters it's still a choice.

[whitedragon_nall]

What I'd like:

1. IGA's artists to design the look of the locations. I tend to prefer the CV world IGA's games present as far as overall look is concerned.

2. Mercury Steam to design the layout of the locations, with more platforming over grappling areas. They are more skilled in delivering greater platforming layouts than IGA's team.

3. IGA, Cox and Kojima producing together(as the Three Musketeers).

4. IGA writing the treatment, fleshed out by Enric Álvarez.

5. Music is a collaboration effort betwee Aroujo, Yamane, Kimura and Koshiro.

6. Twice as long as IGA's 3D CVs and twice as many locations as LoS.

7. TRY to deliver a complete story that isn't left with vague plotholes or hooks to be completed with DLC or another game(both IGA's games and LoS are guilty of this). A great way would be to do something straightforward with a basic concept that can be resolved in completion(like the first CV), and build a story on that.

8. Monsters that are well diverse(little palette swap, if possible), and majority are based on classic CV monsters(even enemies like Balloon Pods and Medusa Heads).

9. Whip ability to ensnare enemies and pull them off ledges, or use them as weapons by flailing them around with your whip. I can imagine ensnaring a Medusa Head in mid-flight, then batting it around to take out other Medusa Heads.

10. ALL classic sub-weapons return.

11. Belmonts are Belmonts, Dracula is Dracula, Death is Death. All appear as themselves without any ambiguous nature of whom is what.

12. Stage based like LoS. The course of the adventure works through the countryside and finally, the castle, and backtracking through previous levels is possible(option given to do it on foot, or to warp).

i support this as well. IGA's games and Mercury Steam's game have strengths and weaknesses. A team effort between both would be  kick ass.

[VampirehunterB]

I don't get it. The TC spends his whole post dwelling on the cruddy PS2 games, but completely brushes LoS aside.

I'm also getting a serious "CV didn't exist before SotN" vibe over here.

You're right, I Do consider sotn to be the greatest of all..but that doesen't mean I don't like the previous games...who could dislike such immortal classics as super CV IV?

Please dont get me wrong, LoS IS a good action game..but not a very good CASTLEVANIA game if you ask me...as crisis and dragonslayr81 says...combining different elements would probably be the best...I just think that LoS was too much like..any other fantasy game