SNESdrunk reviews

[Ack]

Nah, Circle of the Moon isn't that bad, and with some of the alternate stat sets to play through, it gets even easier...or harder in one case. That one that got a ton of hearts for special weapons was pretty brutal I recall.

[Gunstar Green]

I have a love/hate relationship with Circle of the Moon. I will say it's probably the only Metroidvania game in the series to approach the difficulty of the classic games (some people will argue Order of Ecclesia but I didn't think it was that bad). I've been meaning to play it again sometime. It's got a unique feel to it.

In regards to the Valis series the third game on the Genesis is the only one I ever got into but even that is kind of bland. If you're into the old-school magical girl anime genre though it might be more appealing.

[Exhuminator]

I have a love/hate relationship with Circle of the Moon. I will say it's probably the only Metroidvania game in the series to approach the difficulty of the classic games (some people will argue Order of Ecclesia but I didn't think it was that bad). I've been meaning to play it again sometime. It's got a unique feel to it.

The only part of Circle of the Moon that I found truly hard was the last boss. I loved Ecclesia, but it did have multiple difficult bosses. None of which I found as crazy hard as Circle's final though. My favorite thing about Circle is its unique atmosphere... for me it feels the closest to Castlevana 1 & 3 in mood. Compared to the other metroidvanias which all ape Symphony in their own atmospheres.

[Xeogred]

Circle of the Moon and Ecclesia are my favorites of the handheld Metroidvania's by a fair bit.

My favorite thing about Circle is its unique atmosphere... for me it feels the closest to Castlevana 1 & 3 in mood. Compared to the other metroidvanias which all ape Symphony in their own atmospheres.

Yup. Even after replaying it this year on the VC I felt the same about it. It's almost like what an SNES Metroidvania CV would have been before SoTN hit. It has a much more distinct look and design, I like how small you feel compared to the giant areas. From then on the rest of the series pretty much pulled from SoTN for influences and even a lot of direct assets. It's cool but whereas they all look like they could take place in the same world, CoTM feels like its own unique world. The soundtrack is also a nice transitional phase between the melodic tunes of the old and the more slower atmospheric approach that SoTN took, it's a nice balance between the two styles.. and I hardly like the GBA soundchip, but the series thankfully got by! (I guess Harmony's music quality is debatable though haha)

[Gunstar Green]

Ecclesia is probably my favorite. I just really dig the character and atmosphere of that one for some reason.

[Ack]

Circle of the Moon and Ecclesia are my favorites of the handheld Metroidvania's by a fair bit.

My favorite thing about Circle is its unique atmosphere... for me it feels the closest to Castlevana 1 & 3 in mood. Compared to the other metroidvanias which all ape Symphony in their own atmospheres.

Yup. Even after replaying it this year on the VC I felt the same about it. It's almost like what an SNES Metroidvania CV would have been before SoTN hit. It has a much more distinct look and design, I like how small you feel compared to the giant areas. From then on the rest of the series pretty much pulled from SoTN for influences and even a lot of direct assets. It's cool but whereas they all look like they could take place in the same world, CoTM feels like its own unique world. The soundtrack is also a nice transitional phase between the melodic tunes of the old and the more slower atmospheric approach that SoTN took, it's a nice balance between the two styles.. and I hardly like the GBA soundchip, but the series thankfully got by! (I guess Harmony's music quality is debatable though haha)

I think it's because Circle of the Moon feels less pretty. Let's face it, Alucard was drawn with a certain effete style, and the series took that for many of its following protagonists and ran with it. Games like Lament of Innocence, Aria of Sorrow, Harmony of Dissonance, Curse of Darkness, and so on all pulled from that same kind of style. CotM cribbed more from the older series in its character design.



Just looking at the cover art, Nathan Graves appears like he could be the type to whoop the shit out of some monsters with his whip. And hell, if that didn't work, he'd go to his bare hands. He's already making a fist to deck some minotaur or something.

Now compare that to the cover for Harmony of Dissonance:


Do you really feel like this guy could take a punch to the jaw, much less slaughter a horde of pissed off monsters? I sure don't.

[Ziggy]

^ That kinda reminds me of how a lot of cover art for Japan releases were altered for American releases so the characters looked tougher or meaner, more manly, ect.

Take Bloodlines for example, the character Eric in the intro was altered.

USA:


JPN:

[Exhuminator]

I like where Ack went with that. For an even greater dichotomy...

Belmont's Revenge

"DIE PUSSY! I WILL WHIP THE UNDEAD SHIT OUT EVERY SPOOK BASTARD IN THIS WHOLE BITCH ASS CASTLE!"

Dawn of Sorrow

"It's okay. Hold my hand if you're scared. We'll go to the salon together."

[Gunstar Green]

Hey, leave

Teen Dracula

out of this. He's a growing boy!

I love the Sorrow games but yeah, Dawn's character art-style is the pits.

I really liked Order of Ecclesia's art. It had the gothic feel without being effeminate. Even Shanoa is manlier than a lot of Ayami Kojima's men.



Not to knock Ayami. She's an absolutely incredible artist and her work is beautiful. It was part of what made gave Symphony a unique look and feel at the time.

[Exhuminator]

Ecclesia's art is great. It's also my most favorite metroidvania. It only just barely nudges Circle out for top spot IMO.