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As a fan of Castlevania...
15 years ago
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Current Feature Artist!
sgtklark has apparently been around the block, despite my never seeing his work before. He's got a style that has fun with itself, and I really dig the vibe of his work overall- he has an aggregate effect that's really enjoyable, whether it be funny, dirty, or just fun. So even though I'm sure he'll have plenty of people watching him from previous encounters, I want you to make sure you take a look as well!
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... I'm really digging Lords of Shadow. Is it Old Castlevania? No. But I've played Old Castlevania. I've been playing Old Castlevania since it was available, which turned out to be my birth. I've played Old Castlevania in a myriad of forms up and down and sideways, good, bad and 64. I don't have to play it again.
Ever since Lament of Innocence, I was left jonesing for a different approach done well. And I personally think Lords of Shadow does that. Is it Belmont vs. Dracula? Not clearly, no. Mind you, I'm 2/3rds through, but even if it turns out not to be, I won't care (don't you spoil anything, though, or I'll beat you). Because the ultimate triumph of the game is making me think, "You know, this feels like Castlevania, if Castlevania wasn't really fuckin' goofy." Which, sure, the goof is part of the charm, I don't begrudge that at all! But it's refreshing, is the point. All the familiar parts are there, in numbers that I didn't expect, and in a package that makes me respect it as a serious story. Supernatural? Check. Meatpunch protagonist? Check. Nietzschean battle against one's own self? Got it.
I'll still hold judgement for when I finish the game, but so far it's done me no wrong. Fun stuff.
In short? More struggle against the forces of the supernatural, less this:
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Commissions:
Done!
Current Feature Artist!
sgtklark has apparently been around the block, despite my never seeing his work before. He's got a style that has fun with itself, and I really dig the vibe of his work overall- he has an aggregate effect that's really enjoyable, whether it be funny, dirty, or just fun. So even though I'm sure he'll have plenty of people watching him from previous encounters, I want you to make sure you take a look as well!__Body__
... I'm really digging Lords of Shadow. Is it Old Castlevania? No. But I've played Old Castlevania. I've been playing Old Castlevania since it was available, which turned out to be my birth. I've played Old Castlevania in a myriad of forms up and down and sideways, good, bad and 64. I don't have to play it again.
Ever since Lament of Innocence, I was left jonesing for a different approach done well. And I personally think Lords of Shadow does that. Is it Belmont vs. Dracula? Not clearly, no. Mind you, I'm 2/3rds through, but even if it turns out not to be, I won't care (don't you spoil anything, though, or I'll beat you). Because the ultimate triumph of the game is making me think, "You know, this feels like Castlevania, if Castlevania wasn't really fuckin' goofy." Which, sure, the goof is part of the charm, I don't begrudge that at all! But it's refreshing, is the point. All the familiar parts are there, in numbers that I didn't expect, and in a package that makes me respect it as a serious story. Supernatural? Check. Meatpunch protagonist? Check. Nietzschean battle against one's own self? Got it.
I'll still hold judgement for when I finish the game, but so far it's done me no wrong. Fun stuff.
In short? More struggle against the forces of the supernatural, less this:
__Footer__
Commissions:
Done!
huh?
Mind you, the first Castlevania I played was 64(shoot me if you want), and the oldest i've played(outside of the GBA remake of the original) is Symphony of the Night, but Lament of Innocence and onward never seemed goofy to me o.O
Unless you were referring to those older games being goofy. In that case, ignore me and move on =P
Just one of the better examples of just how silly the Castlevania games can be.
I played through the demo, and other than Patrick Stewart's voice getting on my fucking nerves, it played like a piss poor DMC knock-off. Are there actual platform elements later in the game?
Yes, there are platforming elements. As a matter of fact, I've been through quite a few stages where I saw nary an enemy save for maybe at the end. The puzzles are pretty challenging, too. And when you get right down to it, there really aren't that many enemies in any given stage. Each battle is challenging because it forces you to come up with new tactics to defeat them.
It's not an idiot's game. You will never hack and slash your way through it save for maybe Easy Mode.
I played through the demo, and other than Patrick Stewart's voice getting on my fucking nerves, it played like a piss poor DMC knock-off. Are there actual platform elements later in the game?
I'll have to look into it then. ^_^
Simon's Quest is the oldest Castlevania game I've played...
Wow, I'm sold if Captain Picard is there!
I've never played a Castlevania game before. Heard what the AVGN had to say, but I guess you're never too old, plus Bloody Tears is too damn catchy!
i suppose it's a possibility that we'll be seeing some Castlevania-styled art from you, Nori?
Short and sweet - this game was worth every freaking once of the wait. And one of the few games I've felt recently that I've gotten my full $60's worth.
In the end though for me, I'll still pick it up. Because it's Castlevania. So long as it's environments are as distinct and enjoyable to look at as the 2D games I will be satisfied. I admittedly haven't gotten a chance to play Curse of Darkness yet, but Lament of Innocence was just terrible in terms of level design. They were all bland and samey looking and it was sometimes hard to figure out what was what at a glance. Even Legacy of Darkness did a better job of getting the point across graphically. Still Come hell or high water it's pretty much a guarantee that it'll be better than Judgment. Bleh.
Playing Castlevania 4 on the
wii at the moment
... does it still have still have some rendition of Vampire Killer and/or Tears of Blood?
I was worried, like other have stated above, that it would be a God of War rip off and we would be doomed to see nothing but hammy incarnations of the series till it faded away entirely. However, I was pleased to find that the combat felt more akin to Lament of Innocence than God of War, and that exploration/platforming was still one of the largest factors in the game. While the idea of the combat may seem simplistic on the surface, it is rather deep and multi-layered, providing a real challenge almost all the time, rather than mindless button mashing.
Story wise, I felt it was very strong without relying on cliche or over-the-top dramatics that some games do these days. The scrolls from dead Brotherhood members, the narrative at the beginning of each level, the cut scenes.. all played an important role in painting the picture of Gabriel's quest to its fullest.
And yes, Patrick Stewart was a treat to listen to as well :P