Castlevania Appreciation Thread

[Stark]

@noise All I know is you need to play it.

[Rurouni_Fencer]

While we still need to wait for pricing information on Mirror of Fate HD and the Lords of Shadow Collection, we can tell you that the Collection includes the following:

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (Physical Disc)
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow ‘Reverie’ DLC (via Download Voucher)
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow ‘Resurrection’ DLC (via Download Voucher)
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate HD (via Download Voucher)
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 Early Access Demo (via Download Voucher)
Along with this announcement, a few more details for Mirror of Fate HD include the addition of online leaderboards, trophies (though not a Platinum), a Boss Rush mode, HD cutscenes, and a “new engine with lots of gameplay improvements.” Perhaps the best improvement of all (anyone who played the 3DS version will be very happy about this) is that the game will actually be lip-synced, instead of the characters talking without moving their mouths.

Dave Cox, Producer on the Lords of Shadow series, had this to say:

We are delighted to be able to bring Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate HD to an all-new audience. The game acts as the perfect accompaniment to the forthcoming Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 and will deliver a stunning slice of action and exploration, while unpeeling more layers regarding the lineage and true destiny of the Belmont family.

Also as part of the same press release announcing the Collection, Konami also confirmed that Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is scheduled for release this winter. Since February is still part of winter, this may be another hint that we won’t see it until next year.

- source: playstationlifestyle.net



Looks like a single disc with vouchers for DLC, Mirror of Fate HD, and LoS2 demo. I'm kind of bummed they can't at least squeeze Reverie/Resurrection and MoF:HD onto one disc. Combined they really can't be that big. I'd like my DLC to be backed up on disc form so I can come back to it in 10-15 years, once the servers no longer allow the download of the files, and not have to worry about a corrupt HD losing my DLC.

[Rurouni_Fencer]

Looks like it's February 25th for Lords of Shadow 2..
source - Konami

I never mind when games get pushed back for two reasons:

1) it's Quality Control - they are investing more manpower into making sure the game is released with as few bugs/regrets as possible.

2) it means more time for me to play catch up with the previous entries..

[noiseredux]

thanks for all the info RF. I think I'll stick with my original plan to play Mirror of Fate on 3DS then. And as for LOS1, I'll have to now decide if I seek out the original LE (leaning towards this option since it had that nice bonus soundtrack) or wait for the re-release so I can get the extra DLC stuff free.

So yeah obviously I'm with you - don't mind LOS2 pushed back a bit since I still need to get through these (and so much more).

[Rurouni_Fencer]

Picked up the LoS Collection Tuesday afternoon and just finished the demo to LoS2.

First impressions upon finishing the demo for the first time:
- Combat is familiar, but very polished-up.
- *spoiler*

Now that Gabe is Drac, I was skeptical about how his combat would play out w/out the Vampire Killer, but it works and remains familiar for fans of the Trilogy.

- Critics will continue to cry "GoW clone!", but trust me when I say it is a more refined homage, than rip-off.
- More than a couple SotN nods. Not sure how I feel about them, just yet.
- Skeptical 'Vania fans will recognize a "more of the same" feel here, but they would be ignorant to the fact that this is the first time in the series that you can play as Dracula, (not counting Judgment.) And that, in and of itself, is a nice selling-point!
- The demo itself is a tease, which means it serves it's purpose. I played long enough to get a nice feel for the improvements to the gameplay, experience the new installment's atmosphere, and look forward to not just playing the full title, but also to finishing the chapter the demo represented.

As for the package as a whole, if you have yet to try Mercury Steam's Lords of Shadow saga, or maybe have completed it but have yet to check out it's supplemental chapters Resurrection and Reverie - take the plunge. Just like Borderlands and GTA's eventual "Game of the Year" editions, there is a whole lot of bang for a small amount of buck here, with both DLC chapters and the second entry in the trilogy, Mirror of Fate, included. (Granted, all but the original LoS are available via a single download code - so physical media purists beware!)
And hey, if nothing else, maybe if Konami sells enough of this Castlevania Collection, they'll release a GBA/DS collection one day, complete with DLC-only games Harmony of Despair and Adventure Rebirth included.

...a fan can dream, can't he?

[Stark]

Hey Rurouni, you may want to spoiler your second point for those that haven't beaten 1 yet. Thanks for the update on the demo!! Can't wait to play 2.

[Rurouni_Fencer]

Hey Rurouni, you may want to spoiler your second point for those that haven't beaten 1 yet. Thanks for the update on the demo!! Can't wait to play 2.

Done! I thought about it went I wrote it up, but I figured it might not be necessary at this point because I read the spoilers in multiple popular magazines and even Gamestop promo videos in-store all the time when they mention this game. It's seriously like Konami is treating the ending to LoS1 like LucasFilms treated the ending to Empire Strikes Back - like, "well, cat's out of the bag now and everybody must have seen it by now. Let's us it to push numbers for the sequel!"

[noiseredux]

woah, I'm glad you spoilered then. I have not played LOS (besides the demo) yet. And the cat's still in the bag on the ending for me.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I have little Castlevania experience. Don't even own any of the NES games. Shameful, I know.

I've been thinking about starting Circle of the Moon sometime soon. Good game?

[Stark]

I have little Castlevania experience. Don't even own any of the NES games. Shameful, I know.

I've been thinking about starting Circle of the Moon sometime soon. Good game?

Yes, it is one of the best handheld Castlevania games IMO. Not the most memorable OST, which is one of the strengths of the series as a whole, but it's still good.