Topic: Do you wish Ayami Kojima was back?

[Ridureyu]

Hey...

Hey Guys...

Hey Guys...

A Castlevania game- with- get ready for this-

With Yamane and Arujo on music,

And Kojima and Vaello on art,

and Cox and IGA as directors/writers

with LoS' budget and scale.

...And with the play control of Order of Shadows!

[Ahasverus]

Hey...

Hey Guys...

Hey Guys...

A Castlevania game- with- get ready for this-

With Yamane and Arujo on music,

And Kojima and Vaello on art,

and Cox and IGA as directors/writers

with LoS' budget and scale.

Perfect recipe.

Without IGA.

[Nagumo]

That seems like a weird thing to say coming from someone who really liked Curse of Darkness. 

[X]

I wouldn't mind seeing her art-style in CV again, but only so long as she makes the guys look like...well, guys. I don't think CV needs anymore pretty-boy Belmonts or villains *cough*Issac*cough* I have no problems with how she draws her women. They are very beautiful and have an almost otherworldly charm. But that is as far as it should go. It should not bleed out onto the dudes who're supposed to be dudes.

[Sumac]

I'd prefer if there were two games - one in style of "metrodvania" to quench fans of that particular style (just to shut up them for quite a time) and LOS-like - more action oriented and keeping up with the technology and trends. Kojima obviously would be welcome to join "metroidvania" game. But that's a fantasy.

In reality, I am not opposed to her style, but after a while it really become a bit repetitive and samey. While her style is certainly exquisite it tend to become boring after a while. I believe long running series need to shake things up sometimes. And changing the art style is one of those things.
That said, if, by chance, she become a guest artist, giving her own version of established characters, that would not have effect on their actual in game appearance, I'll like this. But having her as a main character designer...no. Been there, done that, time to move on.

Castlevania did exist before Kojima came along and I think you would be hard pressed to convince someone that has had no exposure to the games released after SOTN that her art defines castlevania. Her work may embody aspects of Castlevania and a particular direction Castlevania took in it's history but not the whole darn thing that’s over exaggerating things more than a little, in some regards her work was the complete opposite of Castlevania’s early identity.

Exactly.
I having the same feelings when somebody says that IGA or Yamane defines the Castlevania. While both of them contributed to the series, Castlevania existed and was successful before them and many things that defined series was made, also, before them. They changed and redefined some things, but I don't think that there is a need to make such statements.
It would be akin to saying that "IGA's Castleanias were the only true Castlevanias" or "without Yamane or Kojima the game is not Castlevania". Sentiments like this certainly will find their supporters, but there are also a lot of people, I believe, that have a much wider view of what Castlevania is, not necessarily being connected with certain people or certain styles.

[DragonSlayr81]

haha, yeah i see what you mean there, though Kojima's art is more detailed while Amano's is a bit more sketchy

Amano's preferred medium is watercolor, which gives his work an airy, whispy effect. Kojima's art is more defined because her bolder methods in painting. It's not not airy like Amano's, and she focuses on intricate details. That being said, I think Kojima's work can be represented in CG quite well. I recall people saying Amano's characters don't work well without a mediator to "clean" the designs up and make them more render-friendly. That's not the case with Ayami's work. Her work, IMO, is just as render friendly as Tetsuya Nomura and is probably more render-friendly than Yoji Shinkawa.

[crisis]

You guys that keep saying "her boys look like girls" obviously never looked through any of her many artbooks, so that's kind of a baseless point when there's plenty of evidence that proves otherwise.

You may be able to get away with saying Juste has girly features or Simon, but that's pretty much it.

[Flame]

Perfect recipe.

Without IGA.

IGA is GREAT at original stories, when he isnt doing direct sequels. Aria was great. And considering LoS went with the "you play as Dracula" thing... Plus, Cox could balance out IGA's more worser bad sequel story habits.

You guys that keep saying "her boys look like girls" obviously never looked through any of her many artbooks, so that's kind of a baseless point when there's plenty of evidence that proves otherwise.

You may be able to get away with saying Juste has girly features or Simon, but that's pretty much it.

Then she should bring some of that to the CV series. Almost all of her Castlevania men are very effeminate.

[VampirehunterB]

I have never been so disappointed as when I noticed that she didn't illustrate the art for the DS. I mean, if I never would have heard of castlevania I would never have had the eye notice to the game on the sale shelves. "just another low budget anime game" I would have thought.

She is a fantastic painter who makes castlevania aesthetically unique and exclusive . one can only pray that she will be back.

 for me, her art DOES define castlevania, as it is the best substitute one can imagine for the cool 80's-early 90's vintage art. That was cool, but things needed to be updated, and Ayami Kojima made that art reform perfect. 

[crisis]

Then she should bring some of that to the CV series.

She has.

Almost all of her Castlevania men are very effeminate.

well thats just your opinion

[Flame]

You have a pretty interesting idea of what characterizes being effeminate.

[beingthehero]

YOU are effeminate.

I'd actually like to see castle areas based entirely on her illustrations.

[Dark Nemesis]

She still illustrates novels, if Amazon Japan is anything to go by.

I really love this one and yes, like beingthehero said, i would love to see a game with enviroments, like this one on the picture.

[Flame]

YOU are effeminate.

I'd actually like to see castle areas based entirely on her illustrations.

Why yes, yes I am. How nice of you to notice.

[VampirehunterB]

that picture, its vampire hunter D isnt it?