Topic: Do you like IGA?

[Alexc2808]

In Reply To #105
Oh yes... 85% following an 88 and a 90 is sure so show Iga his short commings.  And since when does 2 games constitute for "in a long time"?

[Azmodan]

http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/938141.asp

Man, it deserves better than THAT. Basically 3 GAMES on this little UMD, and so much reaply value. I cite the system's much smaller userbase as the result of that score.

That game's reception was terrible. Individual opinions aside, I don't understand how many reviewers gushed over Contra 4 for its old-school style, but baaaaawwwwwwed when they found out DXC was an old-school game. I think IGN rated it the same as CoD.

HoD was well received when it was released. Konami said it outdid their expectations.

This is nothing new and not specific just to Castlevania. Gamefaqs' boards are full of the whiniest and youngest (well they act like it) posters on the net, where game talk is concerened. Unless you throw 4chan into the mix.

Thing is, that's the crowd DoS and PoR was targeting. That's why they had Kojima and that "Medieval" feel to the PS2 games and why they chose DXC for a PSP release, to off-set the kiddiness of the DS games so they won't lose the vets.

[A n t r a x x]

In Reply To #106

Dude, WHEN did HOD come out? 2002.

That constitutes a long enough time in the industry, to make a progress report on how a team is doing.

Numbers mean what they mean. POR's score represents a shift in the reception of the series, due to the general bored, or perhaps overworked, CV crew. Is a 10/10 not different than a 9.5/10? Is a 7.5 not largely differnt than a 6.9?

5 points on the current scale is enough to cahnge the letter grade up or down. Don't tell me it doesn't matter.

It might not be enough to change how IGA operates, but it should raise someone's brow at Konami if this trend continues. But of course, the sales numbers come first.

Hmm... mayhap we shall look at those too? I think verily.

UPDATE: Nevermind... it seems the numbers at VGchartz aren't updated or accurate at all for the recent games.

[warfreak]

I was saddened at the reception of DXC. It was a great package, but it got such a low score as compared to other Castlevanias. I guess it's because it's for the PSP?

People don't pay enough attention to the PSP as opposed to the DS, since the DS is way more popular. 

[Long John Silver]

probably because of the old school factor. contra 4 didn't fail because as far as i know it didn't turn into piece of cake stroll through the game while powerleveling to the point where nothing can touch you anymore, like all of the kcet 2d games.

so its userbase remained the same, while cv is becoming more and more kid and casual gamer friendly, and those can't appreciate challenge.

[warfreak]

I guess they should have placed varying difficulty modes, then? Like there's a "normal" difficulty, and an "easy" mode with more meat hanging around, and weaker enemies and bosses. Personally, it really was a challenge for me, and while I like it, I STILL haven't finished the game. I'm stuck at stage 6  My friend who loves SotN gave up on DXC without finishing stage 2. I also remember GameSpot giving it a "punishing difficulty" tag.

I suppose that's part of what makes metroidvanias more popular, the fact that it's possible to level grind and make things easier if you're having a tough time.

I still like the path that IGA led Castlevania. And the 2.5D DXC was pretty. 

[The Last Belmont]

I guess they should have placed varying difficulty modes, then? Like there's a "normal" difficulty, and an "easy" mode with more meat hanging around, and weaker enemies and bosses.

Nah I think that would just kill the thrill of beating it if you can just go through on uber easy and get the same ending.

the difficuly is fine the way it is.I personally didn't think it was that hard. Kids these days just need to learn patience, hell the game saves your progress so you can start on the level you died at, what more could you ask for?

[Ciel]

 I play through Castlevania games without saving, and if I get hit I reset. To the beginning. How's that for difficulty? So far I've beaten Aria of Sorrow and Portrait of Ruin like this. Aside from a couple problematic rooms and the Death boss, it was very easy for PoR. Of course for AoS I had to practice individual areas beforehand using savestates on emulators.

 Oh, but I beat them normally first. I'm not that hardcore.

[A n t r a x x]

In Reply To #113

That's impressive effort. I wouldn't have the patience for it.

[Long John Silver]

In Reply To #112

what is in cv right now considered normal should become easy, and the hard mode should be the standard normal. then a real hard mode should be added, that's more than just dying from 2 hits and taking 10 minutes od repetitive button mashing to beat one boss (like pork's hard modes were)

[warfreak]

In Reply To #112

what is in cv right now considered normal should become easy, and the hard mode should be the standard normal. then a real hard mode should be added, that's more than just dying from 2 hits and taking 10 minutes od repetitive button mashing to beat one boss (like pork's hard modes were)

I agree. That way, everyone [even us kiddies who suck at gaming    ] can play at the difficulty they wish.

The thing is, Castlevania's userbase right now is divided between the old Castlevania fans who have been with the series since the beginning and the new fans who only started past SotN. I'm quite sure there are a lot of newer fans too, including children. With that method, the children [and not-so-young-yet-not-so-good-at-gaming people] can have Castlevania accessible to them, but the hardcore fans will be pleased too. 

EDIT:

Nah I think that would just kill the thrill of beating it if you can just go through on uber easy and get the same ending.

the difficuly is fine the way it is.I personally didn't think it was that hard. Kids these days just need to learn patience, hell the game saves your progress so you can start on the level you died at, what more could you ask for?

Maybe a different ending if you play on easy mode and a different one if you play on hard mode, then.

A checkpoint in the middle of the level or on the pre-boss room, perhaps available on the suggested "easy mode"? It's not just the patience, it's the skills. While after trying the level about a dozen times I've gotten MUCH better and can get MUCH farther, it still takes a long time for me to actually be able to beat the boss at the end. I'm not that young, but I never got the opportunity to play games during the NES era, so I admit I'm not used to such difficulty. That doesn't stop me from loving it, but a lot of people get turned off by it.

[Ahasverus]

Yes I do. he hadthe power to transfom a little vamp

[A n t r a x x]

In Reply To #112

what is in cv right now considered normal should become easy, and the hard mode should be the standard normal. then a real hard mode should be added, that's more than just dying from 2 hits and taking 10 minutes od repetitive button mashing to beat one boss (like pork's hard modes were)

Oh you mean CRAZY mode?

To his credit, IGA's CRAZY modes form the recent 3D games were actually challenging. The thing is, they consist of just giving every enemy unholy armor points or health, and so it becomes a button masher.

I'm all for CRAZY mode still, I just think it should be executed more thoughtfully than just raising the health of the enemy. You know, add more traps and think of more interesting ways to raise the difficulty. Balance and flesh the idea out more.

[Long John Silver]

no that's just stupid. it's exactly what portrait did with its hard mode from your description, and that was just tedious and boring instead of challenging.

i mean a real hard mode, where new types of enemies and bosses appear, they become much smarter, their attacks are altered to be harder to dodge and come out much more frequently, the environments are way more hazardous with more traps like spikes, and so on.

[A n t r a x x]

i mean a real hard mode, where new types of enemies and bosses appear, they become much smarter, their attacks are altered to be harder to dodge and come out much more frequently, the environments are way more hazardous with more traps like spikes, and so on.

Ok... yeah. IGA's never going to do that.