Topic: Project for a complete Castlevania guide

[Intersection]

Hello all,
This is Intersection.
If you haven’t heard of me, it’s probably because this marks my first post on this forum. But what better opportunity than this to inaugurate a great ambition?

After a considerable amount of time spent revisiting every piece of Castlevania media I could find, a considerable amount of energy brooding over the series’ essence and its continuity, and a considerable amount of effort pinning down my ideas into some recognizable shape, I’ve decided to take part in the daunting task of writing a comprehensive guide detailing and criticizing every piece of ludic, visual, auditive, or written art blessed with the great name of Castlevania.

But enough with the theatrics. Alas, I am not the first person to write this, nor will I be last. So treat my enterprise not with scorn, but rather with interest, for yet another fan such as you willing to share his angle on what is conceivably one of the greatest entertainment franchises in history.

Here’s, realistically, what I hope this guide will eventually include:
- A full review and a ranking of every Castlevania game across all platforms, taking into account the franchise’s continuity. This will NOT include: unrelated or spin-off games using Castlevania elements (e.g. Parodius); fan-made games; canceled games.
- A review and appreciation of professional, non-ludic Castlevania media (TV series, radio plays, literature (?),  music albums, etc.) Again, fan-made media won’t do.
- A commented compilation of some of the best music Castlevania has to offer. This will only include music from actual games. I won’t be mentioning fan music or separate music titles (e.g. Perfect Selection) in this section. The music will be listed in no particular order; as a musician myself, I’ve given up on ranking music long ago.
- Various commentaries on trends or interesting points in the series, and a brief dissertation on Castlevania’s future (the latter which will probably change with time).

To clear up any misunderstandings, the guide isn’t written yet. As of now I am only announcing a project, and the method with which I will submit it onto this forum. Here’s how it will be done:
I would first like to submit, one by one and in reverse chronological order, my reviews for every main Castlevania game which will figure in my ranking. This will exclude the games which cannot coherently be included on it, including the Pachislot titles,  the SoTN puzzle title, the mobile Order of Shadows, Castlevania: the Arcade, the Kid Dracula games, and the various ports of the original Castlevania which would otherwise clutter the ranking. These games will all be reviewed later, albeit separately.

If I’m submitting my reviews on this forum, it’s because I need your feedback. Although it inevitably represents my point of view, I still would like the completed guide to be somewhat of a reference, something I cannot achieve without hearing from a wider audience. So after every review, you’re welcome (even expected) to react. If I make any mistakes, correct me. If I write anything about a title that you feel goes a bit too far, I need to know it.
However, if you fundamentally disagree with the review, you can write so, but don’t expect me to change anything. It is my guide, after all.

The rest of the content will come later. For the moment it’s quite enough to review 37 different games.

So for now, let me know if you like the project. I will soon start with my Mirror of Fate review. I will write a list of all the games which will figure in my guide. Tell me if I’ve forgotten anything, or conversely if there are titles which shouldn’t figure on the list. They are listed chronologically, in the order in which I will be reviewing them. I have actually played all these games, unless I specify the contrary.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate (3DS)
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (PS3, X360)
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair (XBLA, PSN)
Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth (Wii)
Castlevania Judgment (Wii)
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (NDS)
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (PSP)
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (NDS)
Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (PS2)
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (NDS)
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence (PS2)
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (GBA)
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (GBA)
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (GBA)
Castlevania Legacy of Darkness (N64)
Castlevania 64 (N64)
Castlevania: Legends
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PSX)
Castlevania: Dracula X (SNES)
Castlevania: Bloodlines (Genesis)
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (PC Engine)
Castlevania Chronicles (PSX)
Super Castlevania 4 (SNES)
Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge (GB)
Castlevania: The Adventure (GB)
Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse (NES)
Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest (NES)
Castlevania (NES)

Haunted Castle (Arcade)*
Vampire Killer (MSX2)*
Ports: Commodore Amiga*, Commodore 64*, DOS*
Boku Dracula-kun (Famicom)*
Kid Dracula (GB)*
Castlevania: Order of Shadows (Mobile)**
Castlevania: The Arcade (Arcade)*
Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night (Mobile)**
Castlevania Pachislot I, II, and III (Pachislot)**

* Will be reviewed separately
** Couldn’t yet find, will be appreciated based on video playthrough

As for the other media:
I’ve had a very difficult time finding the books and graphic novels concerning Castlevania: depending on whether I manage to get my hands on (and read) all of the literature listed on the Wikipedia list, the “written media” section might or might not make it into the actual guide.
For the rest, here’s what I know exists:
- Three radio plays: Akumajō Dracula: Radio Chronicle, Akumajō Dracula X: Tsuioku no Yasōkyoku (Nocturne of Recollection, after SoTN), Akumajo Dracula: Kabuchi no Tsuisoukyoku (Ricordanza of the God Abyss, after DoS).
- A TV series: Castlevania: Hymn of Blood (yes, it’s technically fan-made, but it’s done professionally and backed by IGN Start).
- Several music albums (non-OST), including: the Perfect Selection series, a recent SoTN hip-hop opera (?).

Please fill me in if I’m missing anything else. But above all, I need to know if you, the fans, approve of this. Thanks for your feedback.

[Lelygax]

Welcome

Hello all,
...or conversely if there are titles which shouldn’t figure on the list.

These:

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate (3DS)
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (PS3, X360)

Haha just kidding, I approve this project. You forgot Symphony of the Night for Sega Saturn (new areas, enemies and 2 new bosses, also a playable Maria) and Castlevania - Dracula X Chronicles for PSP (that comes with a Rondo of Blood remake in 3D and a SOTN version with a playable Maria different from Sega Saturn).

You also contradicted yourself first saying that would not review Perfect Selection and after saying at the end of your post that plan to do it. You need help finding it or you really dont want to review it?

- Three radio plays: Akumajō Dracula: Radio Chronicle, Akumajō Dracula X: Tsuioku no Yasōkyoku (Nocturne of Recollection, after SoTN), Akumajo Dracula: Kabuchi no Tsuisoukyoku (Ricordanza of the God Abyss, after DoS).

Akumajō Dracula: Radio Chronicle is Akumajō Dracula X: Tsuioku no Yasōkyoku (Nocturne of Recollection) and its the only radio novel, Akumajo Dracula: Kabuchi no Tsuisoukyoku (Ricordanza of the God Abyss) is a light novel, with readable material like a magazine. Shiroi Koumori translated it and its available on the forum, you can find Nocturne of Recollection with English subtitles in Youtube. I'll let you know if I find it again.

Ricordanza: http://castlevaniadungeon.net/forums/index.php/topic,6118.0.html
Akumajou Dracula - Akuma no Chi Chi no Akumu (a novel that doesnt have a end, because they cancelled it after some volumes):
http://castlevaniadungeon.net/forums/index.php/topic,5929.0.html

[Shiroi Koumori]

I would like to make a correction to what Lely said.
Akumajō Dracula: Radio Chronicle is not Nocturne of Recollection.
The Radio Chronicle is a series of radio talk shows hosted by the voice actor (Shinichiro Miki) of Richter in the Nocturne drama. The talk show's mp3s were released in a cd sometime ago. I am looking for them. Anyone has a copy??

From what I understood from the scans of the cd booklet, it is more of a free talk with Castlevania stuff in between, and most of the time the host and guests talk about other things. I am really interested in Mamoru Miyano and Junichi Suwabe (for fangirling reasons), and IGA guesting portions. hehehe. 

As for Akumajou Dracula - Akuma no Chi Chi no Akumu, I just translated 2 chapters so far, there are more but I don't have time yet.

-----

@Intersection:
Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night (Mobile) is on the itunes store.
And please put all your reviews in one thread.

[Intersection]

Thanks for your replies.

Lelygax:
The Lords of Shadow series might not bear much resemblance to its heritage, but it does have the name "Castlevania" plastered on its title... as such, I'll need to review it. Though my reviews might not be too kind in that regard...
As for Dracula X, I must have forgotten to include it in the list. Yes, I've played it, and I'll review it.
For the Sega Saturn version of SoTN, it's a finished port of the incomplete PSX game, but it's essentially the same game. I'm not sure if I should write an entirely separate review... I also haven't played that version yet, but that can easily be done.
I will be criticizing the "Perfect Selection" series, but just not in the "Castlevania Music" section, which deals with only OST, but in the "Musical media" section, which deals with separate albums and arrangements of Castlevania music.
I was convinced there was a post-DoS radio drama, but apparently I was wrong. I even checked the wiki page, but apparently didn't look very far... Thanks for your correction.

Shiroi:
Thank you so much for the translations! I'm learning, but have yet to become fully literate in Japanese. For Nocturne of Recollection, I've already found it and listened to it on youtube. The radio chronicles pose more of a problem... If anyone has a copy, I'd be extremely grateful if I could hear it...
As for putting all my reviews in one thread: would you prefer I create a new thread for each section of the guide, e.g. "Game reviews", "Music criticisms", "Other media", etc, or simply post everything on this one? I would like to reach something of a wide audience... And since there might be several days in between different reviews, would I be breaking rules by reviving an "old thread"?

Thanks again for your support

[X]

The Lords of Shadow series might not bear much resemblance to its heritage, but it does have the name "Castlevania" plastered on its title... as such, I'll need to review it. Though my reviews might not be too kind in that regard...

Perfectly understandable about these two titles. I, myself would not spare the headsman's Axe either.

For the Sega Saturn version of SoTN, it's a finished port of the incomplete PSX game, but it's essentially the same game. I'm not sure if I should write an entirely separate review... I also haven't played that version yet, but that can easily be done.

You shouldn't have to review the whole game if you've already done so with one. Just review the differences such as the extra stages, added music, playable Maria and anything else that was not given to the PSX title.

[Ahasverus]

I did something like this, I made a popular "full story" pdf guide of Castlevania (the old series) for the spanish talking community, people seem to like it, it includes a short review of every game and all the official story for them, release platforms, dates, a very complete art gallery ait even includes the radio drama. Good stuff, I'm pretty proud of it. It's like 200 pages long haha.

Lelygax:
The Lords of Shadow series might not bear much resemblance to its heritage, but it does have the name "Castlevania" plastered on its title... as such, I'll need to review it. Though my reviews might not be too kind in that regard...

ffs

[Lelygax]

As for putting all my reviews in one thread: would you prefer I create a new thread for each section of the guide, e.g. "Game reviews", "Music criticisms", "Other media", etc, or simply post everything on this one? I would like to reach something of a wide audience... And since there might be several days in between different reviews, would I be breaking rules by reviving an "old thread"?

IMO it would be best if you did all in one thread, updating the first post with direct links for the corresponding posts of your reviews.

[Intersection]

OK, so I've finished writing my MoF review, and am already starting on the LoS one. This is taking longer than I thought. I should be posting the first review sometime later today.
Lelygax: If it's just a matter of opinion, I'd rather start a new thread for each review. I think more people would read a thread to the effect of: "XXX review" than just a "project for a castlevania guide" thread that keeps coming back up. What I'd do is update the first post of this thread as a table of contents, and include links for each of the review threads. I'd also put a link to this thread before every review. Unless, of course, this is breaking the forum rules?

[jestercolony]

This is neat! I'm actually getting ready to start my huge Castlevania walkthrough project (ya know, the one I've been talking about doing for years.) The only thing that is missing is, is finding me a memory stick for my PSP, so that I can play Dracula X: Chronicles.

[Shiroi Koumori]

OK, so I've finished writing my MoF review, and am already starting on the LoS one. This is taking longer than I thought. I should be posting the first review sometime later today.
Lelygax: If it's just a matter of opinion, I'd rather start a new thread for each review. I think more people would read a thread to the effect of: "XXX review" than just a "project for a castlevania guide" thread that keeps coming back up. What I'd do is update the first post of this thread as a table of contents, and include links for each of the review threads. I'd also put a link to this thread before every review. Unless, of course, this is breaking the forum rules?

We are avoiding another thread reviewer forum spam bonanza where everything on the first page is just that one person's review. (see the Library Archives)
You may create a new thread showcasing all your reviews in one place.
You can always change the subject line of your topic before posting a new review. (see what I did for this post)
You can also link each individual review post on the top post, so that people can easily jump to the game review they are interested in reading.

[Lelygax]

See, I was not that wrong.

[X]

Just read your review of MoF. And just like I thought, your review confirmed the worst that I had known about this title even without playing it. Good job and it was an interesting read