When did Castlevania turn in to Tran(svestite)sylvania?

[Hobie-wan]

I still don't get all the eyeliner-ridden male characters, but hopefully it's just a phase.

Considering JRPGs did this first and do it often I don't see it going away anytime soon.

[Dylan]

I still don't get all the eyeliner-ridden male characters, but hopefully it's just a phase.

Considering JRPGs did this first and do it often I don't see it going away anytime soon.

It's interesting, this has actually been around for a while. Just look at Eric Lecard in the original Japanese version of Bloodlines vs. his appropriately toughened up appearance in the American version:

[Ivo]

Soma Cruz is a guy, and he looks like one in Dawn of Sorrow (one of the few "direct sequels" of the series, Dawn of Sorrow follows Aria of Sorrow) as the whole game had a different art style -although the Belmont in AoS doesn't look feminine, it still has that weird style. That was a particular art style Konami used on some games (I think the first GBA Castlevania, Circle of the Moon, didn't have that style). I think the person you can blame is this lady:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayami_Kojima

Check if the Castlevania games where she doesn't take care of the art aren't different. Personally it doesn't bother me as it shows up in plenty of manga / anime etc. and there are guys like that outside japan as well.

I really enjoy the RPG elements. I haven't played much of the older games in the series though, but regardless I think I (will continue to) prefer the SoN "clones".

BTW, Soma means the mathematical operation of adding (+) and Cruz means Cross (+) in latin languages so probably they named the character like that because of those meanings (the actual interpretation I don't know, maybe because he can add more and more abilities as he captures souls?).

Ivo.

[MrHealthy]

I still don't get all the eyeliner-ridden male characters, but hopefully it's just a phase.

It looks to be just a phase. Order of Ecclesia, the best of the DS games as MrPopo said, takes a more traditional art direction. Though it still is a but anime-ish.

[blackmagepwns]

I loved playing Castlevania and Castlevania III but haven't really touched any of the others - not sure why. BUT I do have a DS now and still haven't touched the series. Could you guys recommend which of the DS titles would be a great way to get back into the series?

I'm open to the Action/RPG approach but I understand it's drawbacks from the traditional style. It's too bad the new look is very concerned with that somewhat androgynous theme but it's just part of the evolution... I would hope someday we could embrace the super masculine vampire hunter image of years gone by. Looking cool and sexy has trumped looking badass and grizzled.

All of the DS installments are terrific games, The newest being Order of Ecclesia, which kind of feels like kirby as you have to absorb your enemies attacks to use as your own.

[jmanx81]

All of the ds titles were good. Portrait of ruin however is my personal favorite on ds. Castlevania 4 for SNES is my alltime favorite. I choose that one over any Castlevania because of great gameplay, music and control. I wish Konami would stick to that formula, however the ds proves to be pretty good since they kept making the SoTN style gameplay.

[BAD PIXEL]

Lots of great information and insight here.

That change in the Bloodlines graphic that Dylan posted is dramatic. I never realized that changes such as those were made for American releases. I mean, I've known about graphic changes to games like Final Fight for SNES, etc., but not something like making a character look more "manly" to appease an American audience.

I just tried out the DS titles and it does seem like the style has gone more to a cartoon/anime which I like, even if it's not as dark and eerie as some of the earlier Castlevania games.

[Ziggy]

Again, you should check out this website...

http://castlevaniadungeon.net/dungeon.html

On the left, click on "video games" and that will give you a list of all Castlevania games (including the canceled Dreamcast game, parody games, etc). The list also gives you the English and Japanese title.

What's more, there's tons of info on each game. After you click on a game, it'll give you a basic rundown but toward the top there's a list of other info sections for that particular game, "foreign" being one of them. If you click on foreign, it'll give you all the changes made from the Japanese version to the American and PAL versions. I've learned LOTS of interesting stuff about Castlevania games from this website.

[Dylan]

^ I especially like the "weirdness" articles on that site.