Topic: Kid friendly Castlevanias?

[VladCT]

>Swearing in PoR
Forgot about that. I don't suppose a text hack to make it more kid-friendly would be a viable option?
>CVII
Don't forget to point out who's lying and who's not.

[Vampire Killer]

Darn, I'd forgotten about the swearing in PoR.

See, that's the problem. Some Cv's would be ok, but for a few small things or really creepy bosses.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I haven't played Cv: Chronicles in quite some time, how is that as far as scariness goes?

[Nagumo]

Well, little children can be scared quite easily. Even if you would let your kid play one of the less scaries ones there still is lots of accidental nightmare fuel. It might be something you don't consider to be scary at all, so it's really hard to tell if a Castlevania is scary for a child or not. For example, when I was little I was already terrified by Medusa Heads, or just the game over screen of CV64. Little things that are not that scary for adults at all. Therefore I would say a kid friendly Castlevania game does not exist.       

[Ratty]

Well, little children can be scared quite easily. Even if you would let your kid play one of the less scaries ones there still is lots of accidental nightmare fuel. It might be something you don't consider to be scary at all, so it's really hard to tell if a Castlevania is scary for a child or not. For example, when I was little I was already terrified by Medusa Heads, or just the game over screen of CV64. Little things that are not that scary for adults at all. Therefore I would say a kid friendly Castlevania game does not exist.     

Well I'd say that's a little bit of a harsh assessment. Many if not most of us first started playing the series when we were kids, yourself included. It's more a matter of taste for the individual child. And there's the thing, you can't really shape what your kid is going to like, or what scares them for that matter. You can make suggestions but if it doesn't click with them it's just not going to work. 
I mean it's not like Castlevania is Silent Hill, as egoraptor put it "Goofy skeletons throwing bones - When are you gonna run out and fall apart!?!" but if the kid gets scared just let them play something else. 4 or 5 is a little young to be sitting in front of a screen that long anyway, should be running around building up a healthy metabolism and muscle.

[Ahasverus]

Yep, Portrait is absolutely kid friendly

Still, my little brother has been playing Castlevania since he was 3 (He's 9 now) and he began with the Classicvanias and Curse of Darkness if I'm not wrong (Thanks, gamegenie in xbox emulator). He beated LoS like a boss, faster than me I think hahah.

I think violence in CV is very tasteful and you won't have major problems with any of them (Except, perhaps, Dawn's last boss)

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I haven't played Cv: Chronicles in quite some time, how is that as far as scariness goes?

Actually is the most cartoon-ish of classicvanias. Not bad idea at all

[Abnormal Freak]

How young would you be getting her started? I was rocking Super Castlevania IV when I was 5, so I think that's a good model to follow.

[Vampire Killer]

I'm thinking around 4 or 5. Depends on when she has enough dexterity to properly work a controller.

[Reinhart77]

actually, Harmony of Despair might not be a bad choice for an intro game.  it doesn't have any cut-scenes that might be questionable.  some levels are more scary or not-kid friendly than others, but you can always skip them if you want.  there's a wide variety of characters to choose from, she can pick her favorite.  if you have the PS3 version, you can play the game with her to help get past any of the parts she might get frustrated at and you could bond over it.

[DragonSlayr81]

Now that I think about it, too bad they never brought back the Kid Dracula series. Done right, that could be a pretty nice little "entry level" kid friendly series to gear tikes for later CV fandom. 

[Neobelmont]

Well, little children can be scared quite easily. Even if you would let your kid play one of the less scaries ones there still is lots of accidental nightmare fuel. It might be something you don't consider to be scary at all, so it's really hard to tell if a Castlevania is scary for a child or not. For example, when I was little I was already terrified by Medusa Heads, or just the game over screen of CV64. Little things that are not that scary for adults at all. Therefore I would say a kid friendly Castlevania game does not exist.     

The chainsaw man in LoD. I did not get over it for years till PoR came out.

And as for the most kid friendly Akumajyo Dracula X Peke 

[xscientist5000]

Congrats! I'm thinking CV1 or CV3, because the older games leave more to the imagination.

About the fear, I heard in psych 101 humans are only born with one fear: Loud noises. All others come from watching people, or when you associate things like blood with injury. Nobody's born afraid of skeletons throwing bones.

[uzo]

Have you forgotten your roots, Vampire Killer?! Do as you have done. Start with the NES classics, 1 or 2. Spare the rod, spoil the gamer!

Let not another pansy gamer come to exist, if you can help it.

[e105beta]

I agree with uzo. Start with the NES games. They're really only as scary as you make them.

[uzo]

Yes. Realistically they're the most intuitive. They were easy to pick up, easy to learn, and engaging with ample challenge. It worked well for us when we were young, so it should serve equally as well here. I recommend this approach with all classic games.

Also it's a good idea to get them started off on the classics first, so that the imagery and tech level are introduced early on. Starting them off on something like Lords of Shadow may breed a spoiled attitude where graphics are concerned. Step them through the ages in order, and you'll find out why games worked so well back then. It's a good chance to observe what worked and what doesn't from an adult perspective. Note their favorites, and common similarities between them.

Or maybe games just won't be her thing. Don't force it if it isn't.

[Ratty]

Or maybe games just won't be her thing. Don't force it if it isn't.

Agreed. She'll only resent you and gaming in general if you try to force it too much. Though if you remain a gamer into her teen years she'll probably say she hates it then to rebel anyway. I only became a gamer when I was an adult myself. Played some games as a kid but was more an avid film-buff most of my early life.