Topic: Is this the twist in Aria of Sorrow?

[hoebolord]

Hey guys, finished my first Castlevania, SotN, and I'm hooked, and looking for the next best game, I picked up Aria of Sorrow. And good god I can't get past the graphics. I know you're supposed to play Aria before Dawn because there's a plot twist, and is it that black haired guy is Alucard and that Soma is the grandson of Count Dracula? Cuz I know that already...

Also, anyone else have any suggestions for good Castlevania games that aren't SotN? Thanks beforehand!

[crisis]

that Soma is the grandson of Count Dracula? Cuz I know that already...

he could be, keep playing to find out the truth

Also, anyone else have any suggestions for good Castlevania games that aren't SotN?

just play all of them & draw your own conclusions, dont listen to what anyone else suggests is "good," seriously

what someone here thinks is "good" could be terrible to somebody else, its all subjective

[hoebolord]

Arr the only GBA game I put up with was Metroid Fusion, but that was only because I loved the Metroid series. Seriously isn't the GBA supposed to be more powerful than the SNES?

[beingthehero]

Same as SNES.

[uzo]

Seriously isn't the GBA supposed to be more powerful than the SNES?

It's more powerful in some ways, but not in others.

The main issue with the GBA and the graphics is because the screen size is smaller. Some developers struggle to get everything on the screen to look great at that smaller resolution.

[theplottwist]

Hey guys, finished my first Castlevania, SotN, and I'm hooked, and looking for the next best game, I picked up Aria of Sorrow. And good god I can't get past the graphics.

Well dude, be happy you're not playing Harmony of Dissonance then xD
Seriously, though, if you will lock yourself on "graphics" you will not enjoy anything. You should really consider playing the game to the very end.

I know you're supposed to play Aria before Dawn because there's a plot twist, and is it that black haired guy is Alucard and that Soma is the grandson of Count Dracula? Cuz I know that already...

Well, it seems you do not know anything, and this should be nice fuel for you to finish the game. Refer to crisis' answer above.

Also, anyone else have any suggestions for good Castlevania games that aren't SotN? Thanks beforehand!

I'd say that the best classicvania I ever played (classic controls, stage-to-stage progression, tough-as-nails bosses, NO RPG ELEMENTS) is Adventure Rebirth.
The best metroidvania (SotN like) is Order of Ecclesia.

Of course, it's subjective.

[RichterB]

Castlevania is traditionally split into two camps when it comes to 2D Castlevania games, though there is some overlap. Classicvania and Metroidvania. If you like SotN because it's like Metroid with lots of exploration and RPG elements, then you will lean toward the games made post-2000. From my experience, SotN is probably the best of the Metroidvanias overall.

Meanwhile, Classicvania's equivalent of SotN is arguably Super Castlevania IV.

There's not a lot of games Castlevania fans can all agree on, but I'd say somewhere around 90% would say that SotN, Super Castlevania IV, and Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse are must-plays. (While I have mixed feelings about it, a lot of fans like Rondo of Blood a lot, too, which is the prequel to SotN, and marks a transition between gameplay styles).

Here's a quick, messy rundown of the series to give you an idea of where to start. (For kicks, I'll end each with my personal general gut reaction rating of 1-4 stars in terms of enjoyment, AND I'll UNDERLINE the ones that fans tend to like the most. PLUS, since you like graphics, I'll highlight in red the ones that people like to look at the most in terms of 2D).

NES:

Castlevania - Classic linear action-platforming game. ***

Simon's Quest - A proto-SotN that features explorable mansions and towns, and collectable items. ***

Dracula's Curse - One of the most ambitious Castlevania games, combining classic linear action-platforming with 4 playable characters (swap between two on-the-fly at any time after a certain stage) and tons of branching paths between levels throughout the game. ****

GameBoy:

The Adventure - Classic linear action-platforming game with really challenging controls and game design. ***

Belmont's Revenge - Classic linear action-platforming game that smooths out the wrinkles of The Adventure and adds a Megaman-type stage select that allows you to choose your path through the game. ****

Legends - Classic linear action-platforming game that's rather bland and clunky; though it stars one of the series' few female heroes. *

SNES:

Super Castlevania IV - Classic linear action-platforming game with a lot of dynamic gameplay and visuals. ****

Dracula X - Classic linear action-platforming game with a few branching paths and side missions of saving prisoners. (It is a reimagining of Rondo of Blood, but a unique game in its own right). ****

PC Engine/Wii Virtual Console/PSP:

Rondo of Blood - Classic linear action-platforming game with a lot of in-level branching paths. (There is a 2.5D remake for PSP). ***

Sega Genesis:

Castlevania Bloodlines - Classic linear action-platforming game with two characters and some interesting quirks reminiscent of Castlevania IV. ****

Wii Ware:
The Adventure Rebirth - Classic linear action-platforming game with some branching paths restricted to each level. ****

Sharp X68000/PS1:

Castlevania Chronicles - Classic linear action-platforming game. ** (PS1 version has a update remake).

PS1:

SotN - Classic Metroidvania that changed the series. ***

N64:

Castlevania (64) - 3D Castlevania game mixing action and exploration elements from across the series along with elements of Resident Evil and Tomb Raider. ****

Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness - Expansion of Castlevania 64 with new characters (up to 4) and altered/new levels. ****

PS2:

Lament of Innocence - Devil May Cry meets Castlevania. **

Curse of Darkness - Devil May Cry meets Castlevania with a few more nods to SotN and Pokemon. (also on XBox). *

Wii:

Castlevania Judgment - Castlevania meets Power Stone (fighting game). *

Gameboy Advance:

Circle of the Moon - A blending of SotN and the original Castlevania in terms of gameplay. In terms of a pure gameplay experience, it rivals SotN. ***

Harmony of Dissonance - A SotN-style game that has a confusing dark world/light world mechanic. **

Aria of Sorrow - A SotN-style game closest in tone/gameplay to SotN, though it mixes in Megaman's gameplay element of stealing the enemies' powers. ***

DS:

Dawn of Sorrow - A SotN-style game that plays just like Aria of Sorrow, but with better graphics, a worse storyline, and some interesting unlockables. I recall the castle design being not as good, either. **

Portrait of Ruin - A game that tries to mix the multiple character-swapping of Dracula's Curse with SotN, and adds stand-alone (but ultimately repetitive) level designs. **

Order of Ecclesia - A mix of SotN and Simon's Quest. (-skipped it)

PS3/XBOX360:

Castlevania Lords of Shadow - Complete reboot of the series, mixing together elements of God of War, Uncharted, and Shadow of the Colossus. **

3DS:

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate - A mix of Lords of Shadow with some SotN elements. (-skipped it)

[GuyStarwind]

Graphic don't make the game.

Unless April Fools?

[hoebolord]

Graphic don't make the game.

Unless April Fools?

Graphics are important for atmosphere and scope, and imo you need a minimum of SNES graphics to pull it off. Even gameplay wise, the GBA just seems like a downgrade from SotN, you can't aim diagonal, you can't wield a second weapon, etc.

As an aside, atmosphere is the reason I still place Super Metroid over SotN, even though the latter is a more expanded and deeper game. Also because SotN got laughably easy w/ the increasing number of tools and combos at your disposal, wheras Super Metroid was well paced, and had difficulty spiking higher at each boss fight, though petering out a bit near the end.

[K.K. Drunkinski]

If you're a big Super Metroid fan, and the graphics are a big selling point to you, I would suggest Super Castlevania IV. It may not be a "Metroidvania," but it's overflowing with atmospheric graphical touches.

[Shiroi Koumori]

Graphics are important for atmosphere and scope, and imo you need a minimum of SNES graphics to pull it off. Even gameplay wise, the GBA just seems like a downgrade from SotN, you can't aim diagonal, you can't wield a second weapon, etc.

As an aside, atmosphere is the reason I still place Super Metroid over SotN, even though the latter is a more expanded and deeper game. Also because SotN got laughably easy w/ the increasing number of tools and combos at your disposal, wheras Super Metroid was well paced, and had difficulty spiking higher at each boss fight, though petering out a bit near the end.

Well, the available storage space in a ROM Cartridge, like the one used by GBA games, are smaller than an optical disc, like the CD-ROM of PS1 games.
The gimmick of Aria is not the dual wield, but the soul system, so the developers would force players to play with the soul system rather than the weapons.
Oh and not to mention SotN took more years to develop than Aria which took less than a year.

Players of SotN can make the game more difficult if they please by creating restrictions on the usage of certain items, power ups, etc. But the goal of SotN was really to make Castlevania easier for people who were put off by the series' notorious difficulty level of the NES era, and also to lure in more players to Castlevania as noted by the numerous changes made compared to the older games.

[Inccubus]

Graphics are important for atmosphere and scope, and imo you need a minimum of SNES graphics to pull it off. Even gameplay wise, the GBA just seems like a downgrade from SotN, you can't aim diagonal, you can't wield a second weapon, etc.

I would argue imagination is even more important. Also, you're depriving yourself of one of the best plots in the series over something that imo is secondary to the experience of actually playing the game and rather a bit shallow.

Would you decline playing Bloodlines? It does not match up to the graphic quality of SCV4, but rivals it in pretty much every other way.

[Nail_Bombed]

TBH IMO the graphics for Aria are some of the best on the GBA system - and usually can be improved by playing the GBA titles on a DS Lite.

[zangetsu468]

Aria was only ever meant to be played on a GBA screen. It's got some of the nicest graphics and music on the GBA. Aside from being a GBA game, if DoS didn't have Julius mode then AoS>DoS.

The twist is everyone is Dracula. There, I said it.

[Intersection]

Aria of Sorrow's visuals are actually more than impressive once you learn to appreciate them. I remember being genuinely awed by the tempestuous, warping backgrounds of the Castle's roof, and chilled by the cold, stoic marble designs of the underground cemetery. Put this into context: it's almost a miracle for Aria of Sorrow to have packed such detail into a screen that's barely the size of a camera display.
Besides, there's so much to appreciate in 2D art, even in today's next-genicized industry; so to be honest, I'm far more interested in a game's artistry and quality of craftmanship than in its resolution alone.

Regardless -- if you're playing Aria of Sorrow and complaining about ugly graphics, then you're not playing it correctly. 
Spend a few more hours playing, and then tell us what you think. I can guarantee that it'll be worthwhile.