Topic: Games you're not allowed to like or hate

[Fofa]

As far as many fanbases are concerned, there are certain games you're not allowed to like or hate, and the Castlevania fanbase is no exception. In my findings this is the general consensus of which games are which.

You're not allowed to hate:
Symphony of the Night
Castlevania 1 and 3
Rondo of Blood
Aria of Sorrow (and by extension Dawn of Sorrow)
Super Castlevania IV
Order of Ecclesia

You're not allowed to like:
Portrait of Ruin
Haunted Castle
Castlevania 64
Castlevania Adventure
Judgment
Dracula X (SNES)

No middle ground/flame war ignition:
Castlevania Legends
Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest
Circle of the Moon
Harmony of Despair
Harmony of Dissonance

Any thoughts? Counter arguments?

[beingthehero]

I've seen all those games praised and criticized equally. Some fans take 'loyalty' to specific video games to childish extremes, though, but for the most part I think most  members of the CV fanbase do not hold any games on a certain pedestal of untouchable criticism or dislike. I don't care for Dawn of Sorrow and like Portrait of Ruin, but I really can't take anybody who jumps down my throat about it seriously.

[DarkPrinceAlucard]

I hope this topic doesn't start a flamewar.....

On a personal level, I think its obvious your allowed to like or hate anything you want. Its your opinion and your life.

But for the sake of the topic I'm going to participate.

You're not allowed to hate:

Castlevania Symphony of the Night
Super Castlevania 4
Castlevania Dracula X Rondo of Blood
Castlevania 3 Dracula's Curse
Castlevania Circle of the Moon
Castlevania Aria of Sorrow
Castlevania Bloodlines
Castlevania Order of Ecclesia


Your not allowed to like

Castlevania Adventure
Castlevania Legends
Castlevania Judgment
Castlevania Lords of Shadow
Castlevania Portrait of Ruin


Middle Ground:

Castlevania 64
Castlevania Legacy of Darkness
Castlevania Curse of Darkness
Castlevania Lament of Innocence
Castlevania Harmony of Despair
Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance
Castlevania 2 Simon's Quest
Castlevania (original)
Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow

[Fofa]

I hope this topic doesn't start a flamewar.....

That was never my intention with this thread, I'm just curious what other people think and make averages from there.

[VampirehunterB]

I agree with darkprincealucard on most of it above...there are some reflections I could add but..

[DarkPrinceAlucard]

That was never my intention with this thread, I'm just curious what other people think and make averages from there.

I don't ever think it is anybody's intention to start a flame war when they make a topic (though there are a few).

I'm just saying, Doesn't matter if its your intention or not, it just happens sometimes.

[Reinhart77]

Fofa's list seems to describe the "generally loved" and "generally hated" games pretty well.  I wouldn't group Aria and Dawn of Sorrow together though.  Aria's placed on a pedestal, and Dawn, not so much.  Part of it is due to it's anime style, which landed Portrait in the second list.

[VladCT]

Like D.P. Al said, there's a huge flame war risk in this thread. Not to mention the provocative thread title...

[Fofa]

Fofa's list seems to describe the "generally loved" and "generally hated" games pretty well.  I wouldn't group Aria and Dawn of Sorrow together though.  Aria's placed on a pedestal, and Dawn, not so much.  Part of it is due to it's anime style, which landed Portrait in the second list.

Gameplay was more on the mind when I wrote it.

Like D.P. Al said, there's a huge flame war risk in this thread. Not to mention the provocative thread title...

Well, if there ends up being a flame war I'll try to get it locked before it escalates too high.

[crisis]

Funny how Lords of Shadow is listed in the games you're not allowed to like.


Because that game is NOT Castlevania.

[Ahasverus]

I don't like Super Castlevania IV and love Lords of Shadow

[Reinhart77]

Gameplay was more on the mind when I wrote it.

Oh I see.  Did people really not like the gameplay of Portrait of Ruin?  I thought it was the art style and story telling that some people hated.  Oh, and I guess there was the copy-paste thing in the last portraits that a lot of people hated too.  I felt like I was the only person who appreciated those "bonus" portraits as an improvement over the bonus levels what we had in previous games, such as an upside down castle or Castle A/B thing.

[Fofa]

Oh I see.  Did people really not like the gameplay of Portrait of Ruin?  I thought it was the art style and story telling that some people hated.  Oh, and I guess there was the copy-paste thing in the last portraits that a lot of people hated too.  I felt like I was the only person who appreciated those "bonus" portraits as an improvement over the bonus levels what we had in previous games, such as an upside down castle or Castle A/B thing.

To me the copy pasted stuff, no matter its application, is either a symbol of laziness or a rushed schedule (I'm guessing the latter). That and the dual character system wasn't as utilized as it could have been. And I've seen criticisms to the easy difficulty as well, even though SotN, from what I understand is pretty easy too.

[Tanatra]

DarkPrinceAlucard's list is better.

Also, I hated the Inverted Castle in SotN, to the point that whenever I replay that game I just stop after beating Richter. No matter how the fanboys spin it, it was nothing more than a cheap attempt to increase the gameplay time.

*Keeps quiet about LoS*

[Ridureyu]

Symphony of the Night has an AWFUL difficulty curve, anyway. it can't decide if it wants to be remotely challenging or not.

But yeah, this list is sadly pretty accurate. And will start a flame war.