Topic: Hearts as ammo. MoF and future installments.

[Vrakanox]

I noticed that in MoF they brought back hearts as ammo. More or less a shout out to the old games. But for the first time I realized that to me, hearts as ammo, seems kind of stupid. For me it's kind of like how in Star Ocean they never let you change your main character model on the field or don't allow co-op just because the games have always been that way. Well it's pretty different than that, but anyway, what do you think? How do you feel about it?

[Ahasverus]

Hearts have always been amunnition (sans Simon's Quest) I don't get the problem?

[RichterB]

Castlevania is a "video game," so hearts are fine. However, red crystals in Bloodlines and the N64 games have been an acceptable alternative. One of these two choices are fundamental to the brand's identity, like coins are for Mario. Having them doesn't automatically make it Castlevania, but when so much is changing away from Castlevania's core identity, it allows for a quarter of a baby step into more comfortable territory. (Personally, there's so much that has come to bother me about the LoS saga to this point, that the hearts aren't that big of a deal in the grand scheme. If you had fixed the camera, the level designs, and the combat system ahead of the hearts, I could have lived without the hearts again. But if you're trying to make "Castlevania," it does help to have hearts and/or red crystals).

[Vrakanox]

Hearts have always been amunnition (sans Simon's Quest) I don't get the problem?

Well it certainly is not a problem just wanted to see what peoples preferences were.

[Chernabogue]

Hearts are okay, as they have always been ammo in CV.

Crystals like in Bloodlines would also work nicely.

[A-Yty]

What RichterB said.

[Vrakanox]

Castlevania is a "video game," so hearts are fine. However, red crystals in Bloodlines and the N64 games have been an acceptable alternative. One of these two choices are fundamental to the brand's identity, like coins are for Mario. Having them doesn't automatically make it Castlevania, but when so much is changing away from Castlevania's core identity, it allows for a quarter of a baby step into more comfortable territory. (Personally, there's so much that has come to bother me about the LoS saga to this point, that the hearts aren't that big of a deal in the grand scheme. If you had fixed the camera, the level designs, and the combat system ahead of the hearts, I could have lived without the hearts again. But if you're trying to make "Castlevania," it does help to have hearts and/or red crystals).

This does make a lot of sense. There were definitely things I disliked about LoS but for some reason I liked the way they handled ammo in the game. I like that feeling of having all your different little gadgets and things but I guess that type of thing is just better suited for other games, there is a certain tradition that should be maintained for the old school fans.

[Sumac]

It's one of the many traditions that could be upholded.
Personally I don't see much need in that, but since fans will be outraged, if they absent from the game (as usually some fans do over petty traditions), I don't see much harm, if they stay.

[Starman DX]

In my opinion, hearts are like the mushrooms in Mario. An iconic item that should always stay, even if the concept is silly.

[Neobelmont]

In my opinion, hearts are like the mushrooms in Mario. An iconic item that should always stay, even if the concept is silly.

This without the silly 

[symphonyofthorns]

While I do understand the appeal of hearts as a staple of Castlevania, I did like the way LoS did sub-weapons. Just out of curiosity, does anyone know the story behind the use of hearts?

[Vrakanox]

While I do understand the appeal of hearts as a staple of Castlevania, I did like the way LoS did sub-weapons. Just out of curiosity, does anyone know the story behind the use of hearts?

It probably has something to do with The Legend of Zelda using hearts as HP. Maybe they thought they would just have a different use for it.

[Reinhart77]

hearts are great.  however, i think of them as a metaphor for something, rather than "actual hearts".  having "literal" hearts in a game is a little silly.  if we have something literal and physical, i'd rather it be crystals.

i really prefer that hearts or crystals be used as ammo though, rather than individual items.  i like to keep track of one number rather than many numbers.

[Munchy]

i like to keep track of one number rather than many numbers.

This. Also glad that (at least so far) blue and red magic share the same meter.

[Vrakanox]

Another factor I didn't really mention. Its probably different depending on the type of game. I think of it more in the 3d castlevania sense. Where you throw one dagger and kill one werewolf. There were only four item types to switch through in LoS. In SCIV and SotN though I see the benefit in having just one value to keep track of. Especially in SotN since there was so much else to keep track of as well.