Topic: Operation: Akumajo commencing Viral Campaign

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

Although I don't agree with all the points, I linked this on my Facebook wall, and on two Castlevania walls I know of.

I understood it as "not enough 2D games for consoles" but it really should not have had a pic of Gabriel as if the game was horrible (it's really not that bad, you guyz).

I put it up on my Twitter account as well.  Hopefully people will pick it up a little from there.

[cecil-kain]

What a pity I'm not on facebook, any alternate ways to show support?

Just viewing and sharing the Youtube video shows support.  Once word of our existence has had some more time to circulate, there will be an email campaign to help send Konami a message.  You can still participate by sending Konami email in support of our objectives.  Look for this to start happening sometime after the Tokyo Game Show, but no later than the official Anniversary Date Sept 26th.

I do agree with some of the things stated in this, like finishing the classic timeline and a remake CV3. but that's about it.

right at the end it seems to say, or at least I get the impression, that the hasn't been a single good Castlevania since SotN, and while some of the games have been lacking, I wouldn't go as far as to say there hasn't been a decent new castlevani since then.

but the thing I really disagree with, and the main reason why I won't support this is the strong dislike for Lords of Shadow. I recognize that it's missing some classic elements from the series that I love. Mainly enemies and music. But at some point, which I feel we've just about reached, you run out of space and ideas in the classic series nd need to do something new and different, hence, lords of shadow. From what this statement says, it seems like "the fans" want nothing to do with LoS, and do not want to see a sequel or at least not have the Castlevania name on it. We all knew from the start that it would be a different take on the series, so why all the bitching?

I look forward to a new LoS and as a longtime Castlevania fan, I just feel like I can not support this point of view

The decline mentioned toward the end of the mission statement refers to 2 things.  First how the 2-D games have been plagued by cookie-cutter copy/paste content (as mentioned in the second paragraph).  Secondly *and far more importantly* how subpar 3-D games have dominated the consoles for 14 years since SotN.  Just to give an example, I think AoS had the potential to dethrone SotN, but it failed because of the limitations of vastly inferior GBA hardware.  Also some of our members feel the same way you do about Lords of Shadow...  We are NOT calling for LoS2 to be abandoned --we can live and let live.  What we stand for the preservation of the traditional gameplay and mythology --we object to the LoS universe replacing Castlevania and that's the extent of our intended hostility.  If a multiversal approach is acceptable to you, our door is wide open.

I support it, though I do not totally agree with every point you're talking about in the video (especially the 3D part), but I guess everyone has different opinions on it.

Here's the thing.  Most of us have enjoyed at least one of the 3-D games, but few would disagree that 2-D is Castlevania's superior artform.  The 3D games have consistently divided the fanbase, instead of uniting us --and THAT is 3-D's biggest failure.  Konami has released 6 different 3-D Castlevanias on home consoles. How many second chances are we really willing to give them to get it right?

While I've always been in agreement that Dracula's Curse would be even more wonderful remastered, the video had me until it took a sloppy shit all over Lords of Shadow.  That episode--to me--feels like the most significant CastleVania event since Symphony of the Night and JUST the testosterone shot the franchise needed after all these years of wussy, whiteface heroism...especially that Wii-Wii fashion show called Judgment.

That blue Grim Reaper was badass.  Where in the realm did he come from?

See previous comment about LoS...  As for the Blue Reaper, he is my own personal edit based on his Order of Ecclesia appearance.  The color palette was either SotN Prologue or CV4 --can't remember which.  The Sythe comes from Castlevania Chronicles.  Working on the Death sprite was rather fun, but getting Leon Belmont right was pure hell...

I believe Cecil-Kain is talking about the lack of Console for 2D CVs in this statement. And I agree with him. Since SotN, No real 2D game has ever appeared on a console again (Excluding HD). This is a serious disappointment to me and I fully endorse the Operation: Akumajo.

PS In terms of IGA coming back, I'd have to disagree. We need someone who can come up with the story FIRST and THEN build the game around it.

"We grumbled over cheapening production values and shamelessly recycled content.  And now we gnash our teeth at the possibility that Lords of Shadow may indeed be replacing the Castlevania legacy we know and love...First, we believe Konami should finish the original continuity by reinstating Koji Igarashi"

Forgive me for sounding snarky, and I don't mean to troll folks, but I think this is a legitimate question: Isn't the first part of the quoted statement incompatible with the second? IGA was, in large part, a reason Lords of Shadow was made in the first place. He was known for cheap productions (reused sprites, reused sprites everywhere) and his consistent failures in 3D were, I assume, encouragement for Konami to hand things over to the LoS guys. Do we really want IGA back? And I say this as a Gunlordaboo who really loves IGA. Prunyuu~

IGA is only needed for the Demon Castle War.  After that, we have a clean slate for new blood.  :-)

This. I'd like to help, but I really hate Facebook. Isn't there any other way to show my support to the Operation?

See above.

And why does it look like he has a Mickey Mouse glove on one hand?

this may help...  http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30851473/ns/today-entertainment/t/longtime-voice-mickey-mouse-dies/#.Tl6kNL-8e08

Ok that's a joke...  :-p  the original OoE sprite had larger hands --I thought that was weird too...

[Successor The Cruel]

Just to give an example, I think AoS had the potential to dethrone SotN, but it failed because of the limitations of vastly inferior GBA hardware.

Dethrone it in what sense? Being a game that is more fun to play? I like it better than Symphony of the Night despite the hardware. It is simply more fun to play to me, and a heck of a lot more focused. Or dethrone it in the cultural impact sense of Symphony of the Night being the oft praised Castlevania game over its predecessors? I don't think that's so much a matter of hardware as it is Symphony of the Night being there first (and also being really good).

What do people more often fondly look back to, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers or Power Rangers in Space? The former, but it isn't necessarily better. It was on the scene first with its new and flashy ideas, whereas the other was a later derivative of it that arrived after everyone was already familiar with the formula. 

That episode--to me--feels like the most significant CastleVania event since Symphony of the Night and JUST the testosterone shot the franchise needed after all these years of wussy, whiteface heroism...

I will take stylish, beautiful men over Belmonts who are Dracula any day of the week.

Also, I think you (OP) would do well to make this more general and not so focused on what you want. You're making your demographic smaller and smaller.

Otherwise, I'd help you out.

[uzo]

The whole attitude of this thing is really jumpy, hyper, and in your face. Feels like some whiny teenage lash out. That's no way to win favors from someone.

[Ahasverus]

The whole attitude of this thing is really jumpy, hyper, and in your face. Feels like some whiny teenage lash out. That's no way to win favors from someone.

This. You sound like demanding something, like if you were the owners of CV. You are like 100 guys or so, do you think it's your demands what it's really the best for the series? Humility guys!

[The Silverlord]

That episode (Lords)--to me--feels like the most significant CastleVania event since Symphony of the Night and JUST the testosterone shot the franchise needed after all these years of wussy, whiteface heroism

Hear hear.

[Nagumo]

Hector and Juste are pretty manly. And more realistic then Gabriel bubble chest "my shoulders are 50 inch wide" Belmont. 

Then again, Hector has a peahead. : (

[KaZudra]

LoS is a vital game, It shows that (Metroidvania) Castlevania games are pretty much dead since they really do not offer any new or refined experiences, in fact it has become a downgrade from the classics since the adventure and journey feel isn't in the metroidvanias as the classics do. The metroidvania games eventually become an annoying grind-fest until you get the game-breaker equipment, and the rest is map filling.

Going back to linear in Los gave me nostalgia as I felt like I was on a quest again.
Plus its fresh seeing a Manly non-designer clothing Belmont again.

[The Silverlord]

Hector and Juste are pretty manly. And more realistic then Gabriel bubble chest "my shoulders are 50 inch wide" Belmont. 

Then again, Hector has a peahead. : (

Well, Gabe felt like a back-to-basics no-nonsense hero with a whip, who even looked like old Simon.  The story was a bit drab though.  We got too many moments of melancholy, self-reflection and anguish.  Powerful emotions though.

But overall Lords is a more raw, brutal, and bloody experience than the likes of Lament of Innocence.  Castlevania felt like it had grown up a bit.  Some of the enemy designs were downright crude, same for a lot of the environments (almost washed-out autumnal, brownish tones / winter and vivid landscapes).

It's not a bad game at all, many flaws, but hopeful the sequel will address a lot of fans' complaints.

[C Belmont]

Well, Gabe felt like a back-to-basics no-nonsense hero with a whip, who even looked like old Simon

Yeah and by the games conclusion all that has been conveniently stripped away...
   
LOS sequel will probably feel even less familar than the first game, Mercury Steam has already won over as many old fans as they are going to get & they've got plenty of new ones so why would they bother making any changes just to satisfy fan complaints.

[crisis]

LoS is a vital game, It shows that (Metroidvania) Castlevania games are pretty much dead since they really do not offer any new or refined experiences,

I find your lack of faith disturbing.

The metroidvania games eventually become an annoying grind-fest until you get the game-breaker equipment, and the rest is map filling.

..and yet you think Harmony of Despair is "fun as shit" and us haters dunno what we're talking about.

Going back to linear in Los gave me nostalgia as I felt like I was on a quest again.
Plus its fresh seeing a Manly non-designer clothing Belmont again.

So it's come down to this now? Clothing? Really?

[The Silverlord]

Yeah and by the games conclusion all that has been conveniently stripped away...
   
LOS sequel will probably feel even less familar than the first game, Mercury Steam has already won over as many old fans as they are going to get & they've got plenty of new ones so why would they bother making any changes just to satisfy fan complaints.

Well, it clearly looks like they’re not going to be influenced by us here, if that’s what you mean.  Cox has proven he’s bold/brash enough to go his own way, come what may (although I suspect there’s been a bit of late pampering and shoe-horning going on).  He made that clear enough in his Chapel interview.

What I mean is that they may fix a lot of our complaints, but not necessarily by listening to us! ; )  Cox will know what could be improved upon, such as the framerate, and the pacing/length of the game.  He’s no fo ... ahem.

[Nagumo]

Cox's answer to fan complaints:

Set the sequel in a modern-day metropolis.   

[The Silverlord]

Well, you know he's a proper scallywag.

[Kingshango]

Cox's answer to fan complaints:

Set the sequel in a modern-day metropolis.

As un Castlevania like as it sounds, the idea of playing as Dracula going around in a modern setting regaining his lost powers and raising a army of the undead to wage war against Satan sounds pretty cool.

Plus, him being a vampire will means the sequel will take place entirely at night so they're wont be anymore bright areas.