Castlevania: Harmony of Despair Review.

[Unleaded Logic]

Any other Castlevania fans picking this game up? It seems that there haven’t been too many favorable reviews of this game so far, but I really enjoyed it. Video review link is below:

[Dakinggamer87]

Nice review!! I downloaded the demo and still need to check it out but it definitely looks good.

[CAv]

Great review. I love a review that gets to the point.

[Veno]

I love the Castlevania series, but my lack of a 360 will prevent me from getting this game. I can only hope it sells well on XBLA so they'll bring it over to PSN. Counting on you guys.

[msimplay]

I love Castlevania but I hope this isn't the direction new Castlevania's take I would have preferred the usual exploration and level up system instead of what we get here.
The time limit aspect really puts me off this game and for a game that's coming out on the and I'm mostly a single player and that experience is probably going to be a lot tougher

[Ziggy]

I love the Castlevania series, but my lack of a 360 will prevent me from getting this game. I can only hope it sells well on XBLA so they'll bring it over to PSN. Counting on you guys.

Same here.

[Rurouni_Fencer]

I'm a huge Castlevania fan, so naturally I downloaded the demo last night and will be buying it tonight. From the hour I gave it last night, it's definitely not a favorable direction for most fans of the series.
Many Castlevaniacs have been crying for a brand new 2-D game that leans more towards Super Castlevania IV or the NES trilogy, and less of the after school anime style IGA has grown so accustomed to. While this game misses that demand by a wide margin, it does offer some interesting things. Multi-player in a Castlevania title hasn't really been done, (with the exception of Judgment,) and this adds a really nice dynamic to the series. Also, the panning out of the castle map, watching two or three friends battle in seperate rooms while at the same time fending off your own horde of attacking baddies adds a really cool new spin on platforming multiplayer games.
But are these new elements enough to make it a fantastic Castlevania game, or warrant the 1200 Microsoft Points/15 US dollars?

Not really, ....and hell no!

It all boils down to - Are you a huge enough fan of the series to continue supporting IGA and his anime-Metroidvania vision of Castlevania?

[Unleaded Logic]

I'm a huge Castlevania fan, so naturally I downloaded the demo last night and will be buying it tonight. From the hour I gave it last night, it's definitely not a favorable direction for most fans of the series.
Many Castlevaniacs have been crying for a brand new 2-D game that leans more towards Super Castlevania IV or the NES trilogy, and less of the after school anime style IGA has grown so accustomed to. While this game misses that demand by a wide margin, it does offer some interesting things. Multi-player in a Castlevania title hasn't really been done, (with the exception of Judgment,) and this adds a really nice dynamic to the series. Also, the panning out of the castle map, watching two or three friends battle in seperate rooms while at the same time fending off your own horde of attacking baddies adds a really cool new spin on platforming multiplayer games.
But are these new elements enough to make it a fantastic Castlevania game, or warrant the 1200 Microsoft Points/15 US dollars?

Not really, ....and hell no!

It all boils down to - Are you a huge enough fan of the series to continue supporting IGA and his anime-Metroidvania vision of Castlevania?

Just curious, did you enjoy the Dracula X Chronicles on PSP or Castlevania Adventure Rebirth on the Wii?

DXC on PSP was fantastic in my opinion and with all the extra games packed in it gave it a bunch of variety. Rebirth was alright but didn't touch anywhere near the quality of previous old school Castlevania games.

For me, it doesn't matter if its an anime-Metroidvania, straight side scroller or 3D game, it just has to be fun. For me...Harmony is tons of it.

[Rurouni_Fencer]

Just curious, did you enjoy the Dracula X Chronicles on PSP or Castlevania Adventure Rebirth on the Wii?

DXC on PSP was fantastic in my opinion and with all the extra games packed in it gave it a bunch of variety. Rebirth was alright but didn't touch anywhere near the quality of previous old school Castlevania games.

For me, it doesn't matter if its an anime-Metroidvania, straight side scroller or 3D game, it just has to be fun. For me...Harmony is tons of it.

Yea, I ran out a bought both titles when they were available.. Dracula C Chronicles - while not a perfect conversion, per se - still did a great job for what it was: a disc of Drac X with an updated remake, and Symphony as gravy on top - all on the go for an affordable price! Sold!

Rebirth I enjoyed, but I had mixed feelings. For one thing, it didn't play close to the source material, at all, and that kind of dissappointed me. It was being touted as a remake of the first Gameboy game, Castlevania Adventure, so I expected to replay the same levels I remembered playing and screaming at as a kid, and hearing brand new remixes of the same old nostalgic Adventure tunes (was looking forward to stage 1's remix - a under-appreciated track, if you ask me.) Instead, it was a 're-imagining' complete with new sprite models, (a plus!,) and remixed versions of some of the series' best tunes, (a double plus!!) But the game was defintely fun, if not short, and was the 2D Castlevania we've been wanting to see - but it all felt like a bit of a tease.

Personally, I have a soft spot for IGA and the anime-Metroidvania games. I loved Portrait and Harmony, but Soma is kind of pushing it in the "Emo-anime kid" department. I can't wait for Lords of Shadow, as I've actually enjoyed last generations Lament of Innocence, and Curse of Darkness, even if they weren't received very well by other fans.

But what I'm really holding out for is a brand new, HD Castlevania V. Konami needs to take note with Donkey Kong Country Returns and how they are treating these 2.5D games. Keep it simple with 2D platforming, but beautiful, 2 & 3D effects in the background.

[Unleaded Logic]

Yea, I ran out a bought both titles when they were available.. Dracula C Chronicles - while not a perfect conversion, per se - still did a great job for what it was: a disc of Drac X with an updated remake, and Symphony as gravy on top - all on the go for an affordable price! Sold!

Rebirth I enjoyed, but I had mixed feelings. For one thing, it didn't play close to the source material, at all, and that kind of dissappointed me. It was being touted as a remake of the first Gameboy game, Castlevania Adventure, so I expected to replay the same levels I remembered playing and screaming at as a kid, and hearing brand new remixes of the same old nostalgic Adventure tunes (was looking forward to stage 1's remix - a under-appreciated track, if you ask me.) Instead, it was a 're-imagining' complete with new sprite models, (a plus!,) and remixed versions of some of the series' best tunes, (a double plus!!) But the game was defintely fun, if not short, and was the 2D Castlevania we've been wanting to see - but it all felt like a bit of a tease.

Personally, I have a soft spot for IGA and the anime-Metroidvania games. I loved Portrait and Harmony, but Soma is kind of pushing it in the "Emo-anime kid" department. I can't wait for Lords of Shadow, as I've actually enjoyed last generations Lament of Innocence, and Curse of Darkness, even if they weren't received very well by other fans.

But what I'm really holding out for is a brand new, HD Castlevania V. Konami needs to take note with Donkey Kong Country Returns and how they are treating these 2.5D games. Keep it simple with 2D platforming, but beautiful, 2 & 3D effects in the background.

I'm glad to hear that I wasn't the only one was sad that they decided not to remix track 1 from Adventure. It truly was awesome. As far as the Metroidvania games go, I love SOTN and Harmony, but passed on the Soma games. I still need to try out Portrait of Ruin and finish OOE.


What game do you consider 5? I've always thought of Bloodlines as 5 for some reason. That would be great to bring back in HD.