When you hear "Castlevania...

[brunoafh]

Also, is it me, or is Shonoa, while feminine enough, one of the(if not THE) least effeminate Castlevania protagonists since Igarashi took over?

She's just not feminine in that "anime" way (you know, little girls with high pitched voices that act like aliens or something). I think she's an awesome character, one of my favorite Castlevania protagonists.

[Luke]

Super Castlevania IV

[Rurouni_Fencer]

As this is fast becoming one of my favorite threads on the website, I just re-read something I posted earlier to a different thread regarding Castlevania 64, and my defense of it. I felt it could find a nice home here as well, since there are so many gamers that may miss out on this game due to it's reputation..


I understand the compaints about the game. As far as the series go, this was a time-warp step backwards. But when they made the game, they were going for one main thing - They wanted to add an element of atmosphere to the game, (being that the big games at the time were Resident Evil and Metal Gear Solid.) The devs felt Castlevania deserved to celebrate the gothic atmosphere and mood of the series, and therefore they created a 3D adventure game that traded the series' familiar soundtrack for a more moody, surreal backdrop. They succeeded, I feel, in that aspect, but unfortunately, as is often the case with a lot of experimental games, the gameplay suffered and that's what gamers and fans remember today.

I've said it probably too much already on this board, but Castlevania is my #1 series, and that will never change. I remember renting the original as a young kid on the NES when it came out and was instantly hooked on the original's gothic atmosphere and movie-monster aesthetic. Simon's Quest only served to increase that feeling, (again, some would argue the gameplay suffered a bit - which I would disagree! Metroidvania started with Simon's Quest and original Metroid, not Super Metroid and SotN!) The third game expanded upon this setting, but returned to the original's more linear gameplay, while incorporating branching paths, (which returned in Dracula X.) Super Castlevania IV on the SNES, came into the 16-bit era showing us that Castlevania was all about spooky and haunting atmosphere with it's various decrepit swamps and castles, detailed monsters, and haunting soundtrack.

My point is this - Konami always tried to push atmosphere onto the Castlevania player up until CV64 tanked. Sure, the newer games on GBA and DS have a certain gothic atmosphere, but nothing revolutionary. Only until Lords of Shadow did we see a real return to atmospheric change, (although this time, the story was the main focus, unlike CV64 where the mood and setting was.)

In closing, I wouldn't say I'm a masochist - I don't enjoy the games like I do the originals or SotN. But I do respect and recognize what it tried to do, and I appreciate it for that. It still evokes memories of being in high school and playing my favorite game series' debut into 3D and the hours I poured into it. I enjoyed it. But I wouldn't recommend it to newcomers, or those unfamiliar with the series as a starting point..

[JohnBaxterly]

They succeeded, I feel, in that aspect, but unfortunately, as is often the case with a lot of experimental games, the gameplay suffered and that's what gamers and fans remember today.

THIS

[Rurouni_Fencer]

They succeeded, I feel, in that aspect, but unfortunately, as is often the case with a lot of experimental games, the gameplay suffered and that's what gamers and fans remember today.

THIS

It's a shame, but I really wish more game developers would take notice of this particular criticism and devote more time to the gameplay aspects of an experimental title. It's fine if you're trying something different, but don't forget that if a gamer isn't having fun, they're not going to grasp and experience what you're trying to establish because the majority of gamers will just give up and play something else.

[JohnBaxterly]

but don't forget that if a gamer isn't having fun, they're not going to grasp and experience what you're trying to establish because the majority of gamers will just give up and play something else.

It's true. This simple concept separates the act of playing a game from the act of "experiencing" a game. Some developers just don't understand that it's possible for these two notions to coexist in peace, which is why we have games like CV64

[Rurouni_Fencer]

but don't forget that if a gamer isn't having fun, they're not going to grasp and experience what you're trying to establish because the majority of gamers will just give up and play something else.

It's true. This simple concept separates the act of playing a game from the act of "experiencing" a game. Some developers just don't understand that it's possible for these two notions to coexist in peace, which is why we have games like CV64

But on the other side of the spectrum, I was able to look past it's flaws and enjoy CV64 for what it was. It took patience and diligence to find that there was something interesting there that many missed out on.
As much as I think devs need to pay more critical attention to their product's gameplay mechanics and playability, I also believe that gamers need to have a little more patience with a game and have a more open mind going in, rather than playing something for 5-10 minutes and giving up on it and labeling it a bad game because it wasn't comfortable to play at first and they didn't get it right away.

[Gamerforlife]

Apparently Koji Igarashi also hates Circle of the Moon and had it removed from the official storyline. Which is too bad, as it was THE game I bought a GBA for at launch time. I still have it and feel it's a good game and impressive considering it was a launch title.

That sucks. Even the story in that one was a tad better than a handful of the others, I still like that one a lot.

@MidnightRider: I agree with you on that one. She's simply one of the best.

There was actually a Castlevania game where they told the origin of the Belmonts with a female character, but it got stricken from canon too. Shame

[Gamerforlife]

http://castlevania.wikia.com/wiki/Sonia_Belmont

[Gamerforlife]

Probably got mentioned in this thread already