Castlevania

[Sonic Doctor]

So Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is out and being the CV fan I am I bought it immediately (Limited edition, got a bitchin' t-shirt) and I was wondering how many people have also bought/rented/whatevered it, and what you think about it.

Basically here's my questions:

Have you gotten Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and if so what do you think of it
Are you a long time CV fan
If yes to second question how do you think this new one holds up compared to previous titles

And another thing, I fucking love it. Though if you aren't a previous fan you might not like it or think it's a god of war rip off, but if you weren't a fan before why did you get it now? Anyway I love it and recommend anyone interested to at least rent it.

I haven't played every Castlevania game that has come out. I did have the first one on the NES back in the day, could never get far since the thing didn't have a save system, I myself can't be expected to beat the whole castle and its bosses with just one life. Though I did play it a lot, though the goal my brother and I set for each other was how far can you get after beating Medusa.

All I know about Castlevania, is that everyone that I have played, I really loved, engrossed until I was done. Other than the NES one, I beat one of them I had for the Gameboy Advanced, I don't remember which one it was, I'm mad because I lost the cartridge. Several months ago I got Symphony of the Night off the XBox Live Marketplace, I really loved it.

I don't go hunting for Castlevania games to play, I usually just come across one in a store or when I am online, and get it because it is there. That is how I came to pre-order the limited edition Lords of Shadow off of Amazon. I was looking for something to tide me over until I get my limited edition of Fable 3 and I had a $20 credit I got from pre-ordering Halo Reach, so I stumbled upon Lords of Shadow and pre-ordered it with the credit. I was surprised, because I didn't even know the thing was coming out or existed. The 3 minute trailer video is what got me to order it, because as soon as I heard Patrick Stewart's voice, I said buy, buy, buy. I ordered it only 4 days before it released.

-----

I finally got to play it today, even though it was delivered yesterday, couldn't get to my university's mail office in time.

I am hooked. The whole thing with people saying it is like God of War, I couldn't care less, because I have never played any of the God of War games. I don't like people comparing other games to other games, because it doesn't make sense. What they base it on is game mechanics/weaponry (the combat cross whip chain). That is just stupid, because there are really only so many types of game control and attack styles, there is bound to be similarities from one game to the next. Heck, Castlevania beat God of War to the use of chain weaponry back on the NES.

I don't want to spoil anything for people getting it, but if you like Castlevania games, you will like this one as well. It is in a three dimensional world now, but I still feel like I am playing Castlevania. I welcome it into the franchise, it is Castlevania.

Also, I think it has the best graphics out of the games I have played on my Xbox 360.

FlyAway: What system did you get it for? Where did you pre-order it from, wondering because of the T-Shirt thing. I got my limited edition from Amazon, what I got was the the hardback book binding type case with the alternate cover look, a CD with the 20 music tracks from the game, and the 40 pages of concept art attached to the inside of the front inside of the book case. I really love the case it is just awesome, this might be strange, but I can't stop smelling it. It smells like new trading cards, Yu-gi-oh cards to be exact, which is funny because Konami are the ones that do the Yu-gi-oh cards and games as well. I just love that smell, it must be the epic smell of Konami.

I need to practice writing articles, so when I finish the game, I will try my hand at my first user review to post here. It will most likely be a must buy review of the game, unless something goes wrong, I am about as far into the game as FlyAway.

 

[Sonic Doctor]

Oh shit that comes out this month too doesn't it? Crap between CV and Fable 3, I guess I'm just going to have to try and rent it. But I already know how that's most likely to turn out

Hold on, you mean rent New Vegas? No way. I wouldn't rent any of those games. They're all way too long. Apparently Castlevania is massive and New Vegas... I mean, come on. That's a game you just need to buy because you'll never be able to explore it all. Fable 3, I don't know, I never played Fable but from what I've heard it's long as well. I hate how they release all these huge games at the same time and during the summer nothing comes out.

I grant you that, Lords of Shadow is massive. I've spent 4 hours today on the easiest setting and out of the 12 chapters, I've only got through the first chapter and one-fifth of the second chapter. The big long trailer that they made to introduce the game, said up to 20 hours of gameplay. The person they got to play it to test the time, must have been a speed demon player who didn't admire the game while playing.

 

[RowdyRodimus]

I love it, Kojimas input was limited from what I heard but he did give suggestions with some being taken and some not taken. Also, my understanding is the console games will follow this new direction and mythos (which even if it was just a prequel would've made all the games make a lot of sense. You'll understand at the end of the game) while the handheld games will follow the original mythos.

Really though, it feels like this is the game the original Castlevania games (pre-Symphony) wanted to be. If you remember, before then the Castlevania series was a hack and slash platformer which is what this feels like. It still has platforming, although they feel (and look) natural unlike say a Mario game where they just happen to have a brick in a spot to give you a way to get away from an enemy.

I've always been more of a fan of the pre-symphony games, so this Lords of Shadow is awesome for me. I didn't care for the other 3D games, but they seem to have figured out how to make it work with this one. If I had to find fault in it it would be in the "Press X to not die" type bosses. They aren't QTE but they feel like it with the "attack, hold trigger, attack, hold trigger, move, hold trigger, move, hold trigger, attack..." gameplay. Other than the boss fights, I can't find anything wrong with it.

You might not like it if you just like the Symphony and up games, but if you were a fan of the originals and don't care if it has RPG elements or not, you'll probably like it so at least give it a rental.

 

[RowdyRodimus]

So Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is out and being the CV fan I am I bought it immediately (Limited edition, got a bitchin' t-shirt) and I was wondering how many people have also bought/rented/whatevered it, and what you think about it.

Basically here's my questions:

Have you gotten Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and if so what do you think of it
Are you a long time CV fan
If yes to second question how do you think this new one holds up compared to previous titles

And another thing, I fucking love it. Though if you aren't a previous fan you might not like it or think it's a god of war rip off, but if you weren't a fan before why did you get it now? Anyway I love it and recommend anyone interested to at least rent it.

I haven't played every Castlevania game that has come out. I did have the first one on the NES back in the day, could never get far since the thing didn't have a save system, I myself can't be expected to beat the whole castle and its bosses with just one life. Though I did play it a lot, though the goal my brother and I set for each other was how far can you get after beating Medusa.

All I know about Castlevania, is that everyone that I have played, I really loved, engrossed until I was done. Other than the NES one, I beat one of them I had for the Gameboy Advanced, I don't remember which one it was, I'm mad because I lost the cartridge. Several months ago I got Symphony of the Night off the XBox Live Marketplace, I really loved it.

I don't go hunting for Castlevania games to play, I usually just come across one in a store or when I am online, and get it because it is there. That is how I came to pre-order the limited edition Lords of Shadow off of Amazon. I was looking for something to tide me over until I get my limited edition of Fable 3 and I had a $20 credit I got from pre-ordering Halo Reach, so I stumbled upon Lords of Shadow and pre-ordered it with the credit. I was surprised, because I didn't even know the thing was coming out or existed. The 3 minute trailer video is what got me to order it, because as soon as I heard Patrick Stewart's voice, I said buy, buy, buy. I ordered it only 4 days before it released.

-----

I finally got to play it today, even though it was delivered yesterday, couldn't get to my university's mail office in time.

I am hooked. The whole thing with people saying it is like God of War, I couldn't care less, because I have never played any of the God of War games. I don't like people comparing other games to other games, because it doesn't make sense. What they base it on is game mechanics/weaponry (the combat cross whip chain). That is just stupid, because there are really only so many types of game control and attack styles, there is bound to be similarities from one game to the next. Heck, Castlevania beat God of War to the use of chain weaponry back on the NES.

I don't want to spoil anything for people getting it, but if you like Castlevania games, you will like this one as well. It is in a three dimensional world now, but I still feel like I am playing Castlevania. I welcome it into the franchise, it is Castlevania.

Also, I think it has the best graphics out of the games I have played on my Xbox 360.

FlyAway: What system did you get it for? Where did you pre-order it from, wondering because of the T-Shirt thing. I got my limited edition from Amazon, what I got was the the hardback book binding type case with the alternate cover look, a CD with the 20 music tracks from the game, and the 40 pages of concept art attached to the inside of the front inside of the book case. I really love the case it is just awesome, this might be strange, but I can't stop smelling it. It smells like new trading cards, Yu-gi-oh cards to be exact, which is funny because Konami are the ones that do the Yu-gi-oh cards and games as well. I just love that smell, it must be the epic smell of Konami.

I need to practice writing articles, so when I finish the game, I will try my hand at my first user review to post here. It will most likely be a must buy review of the game, unless something goes wrong, I am about as far into the game as FlyAway.

The T-shirt was a Gamestop thing. It's pretty awesome, too. On the back is the new whip and the logo and the front has what looks like a stylized demon face.

 

[child of lileth]

and needs to get back to Boktai, as it's the only worthwhile thing he's made.

SNATCHER was great for it's genre. Sure the ports were awful in most of the examples, but there's at least one good version between them all.

OT: I've been a huge fan of the Castlevania series since I was 3-years-old (I'm almost 23 now). I love Castlevania to death. This is no Castlevania. It's God of War, yet again. I'm so sick of God of War games. And why does the tutorial have to keep telling you "Press R2 to climb ledges", when you're already on stage 5? That's how little the game thinks of you.

 

[Sonic Doctor]

Surprisingly, Castlevania:lord of shadow would pleases more God of War fans than Castlevania fans.

After what happens to Metriod and now Castlevania,I think it's official that Hideo Kojima shouldn't direct anything not of his own creations. I'm not saying he did a bad job,it's more like he "changes" it into something else,though they're still great but they're not something the core fan of the series are looking forward to.

I have never played a God of War game.

I am a Castlevania fan, and I love Lords of Shadow greatly, from what I have played. I don't care about Kojima, though if this is how he directs games, I give him two thumbs up, because as far as I'm concerned, he hasn't ruined or changed Castlevania with this. It still has the atmosphere of a Castlevania.

I was really nervous about lords of shadows because he seems to lack the element of castlevania that I actually enjoyed, namely the RPG stuff, Portrait of ruin, Symphony of the night, those types. Level system, constant gear upgrades, all that good jazz, this one seems to just be a hacko slasho god of war clone with the standard "Souls" you get from killing stuff that you use to buy more useless combo's. Theres nothing wrong with those kind of games, but I always targetted castlevania as an RPG fix v.v..

With what I have played of it so far, I would already recommend you get Lords of Shadow. It is a refreshing change of pace for the series, since you aren't playing in the castle, at least not yet. Seriously how many more games could you play entirely in the castle. The castle changes yes, but I'm like man this castle again, someone just demolish it and pour concrete over it, if the place is so evil, get rid of it for good.

Yes, with LoS, you don't have the stats system like with other Castlevania games, but I just look at it as that it is working in the background and I can't see it. You still collect items to get a larger health bar, or magic bar. Instead of having to take time to switch out the latest new weapon, you collect upgrades to the combat cross. Even though it has fixed levels, you can still go back and get things you missed, just like in the past, going back to other parts of the castle when you have the right ability to get something.

The game even has completion challenges, like finish a puzzle in five moves, or the one I know will take me awhile to get, beat the first titan in one minute and 30 seconds. It is like classic Castlevania, with the whole beat more than 100% of the game thing.

I recommend the game to Castlevania fans, and even non-fans, since it is a reboot. I actually hope we start seeing more 3d Castlevania games.

 

[Sonic Doctor]

The T-shirt was a Gamestop thing. It's pretty awesome, too. On the back is the new whip and the logo and the front has what looks like a stylized demon face.

Awww, o well. I probably would have done that, if I had known about the game further in advance. I found out about it and pre-ordered it from Amazon on the 1st of October. I didn't know anything about the other deals from other places, and I live on campus at a university, and the nearest Gamestop I know about, is a 3 hour drive back home, I hate driving. Though I'm still happy I got a limited edition, I just love the case and the music CD. The music is fantastic.

 

[Sonic Doctor]

I love it, Kojimas input was limited from what I heard but he did give suggestions with some being taken and some not taken. Also, my understanding is the console games will follow this new direction and mythos (which even if it was just a prequel would've made all the games make a lot of sense. You'll understand at the end of the game) while the handheld games will follow the original mythos.

Really though, it feels like this is the game the original Castlevania games (pre-Symphony) wanted to be. If you remember, before then the Castlevania series was a hack and slash platformer which is what this feels like. It still has platforming, although they feel (and look) natural unlike say a Mario game where they just happen to have a brick in a spot to give you a way to get away from an enemy.

I've always been more of a fan of the pre-symphony games, so this Lords of Shadow is awesome for me. I didn't care for the other 3D games, but they seem to have figured out how to make it work with this one. If I had to find fault in it it would be in the "Press X to not die" type bosses. They aren't QTE but they feel like it with the "attack, hold trigger, attack, hold trigger, move, hold trigger, move, hold trigger, attack..." gameplay. Other than the boss fights, I can't find anything wrong with it.

You might not like it if you just like the Symphony and up games, but if you were a fan of the originals and don't care if it has RPG elements or not, you'll probably like it so at least give it a rental.

I would recommend a long rental, it will take some time to beat if you are the type of player that likes to try and beat everything in the game before beating the end of it.

As I have said before, I have played 4 hours on easiest mode(Squire), and I'm only a little bit more than one-twelfth of the way through it.

Yeah, I had the original on the NES. I need to get a rom of it so I can use save states, that game was way to hard for not having save points, but of course save points weren't a part of games back then.

I liked Symphony of the Night, and love Lords of Shadow.

There were other 3D Castlevania games? I never heard of them, hmmm there might be a reason for that.

The attack and hold trigger stuff, you are talking about the Titans aren't you? Yeah it is a bit annoying, but it is still epic and fun. It was only annoying though, because I was like, "I'm going to beat this Titan before I have to go to class!"

 

[sketch_zeppelin]

I haven't gotten it yet though i do intend to rent it (i don't buy games anymore without renting them first).

I am a long time Castlevania fan. I've play almost all of them with the exceptions of the ones on the DS and N64 (don't own those systems). The Castlevania franchise is one of the only portrails of Dracula that don't dissapoint me.

 

[Ashsaver]

I have never played a God of War game.

I am a Castlevania fan, and I love Lords of Shadow greatly, from what I have played. I don't care about Kojima, though if this is how he directs games, I give him two thumbs up, because as far as I'm concerned, he hasn't ruined or changed Castlevania with this. It still has the atmosphere of a Castlevania.

Kojima is a great directer,but he's wrong for the source material.

He's not ruining it(i never said he's ruining it) but he definitely changed it,just look at Super Castlevania,Dracular X,or Symphony of the Night,and now look at Lord of Shadow, yeah Kojima doesn't change anything doesn't he. (sarcasm,sorry)

Lord of Shadow,form my own 2 hours in perspective,is just another God of War clone,with story driven cut-scenes. It's still a fun game to play,but that's not something i want from a Castlevania game.

It's like going to BurgerKing and they sells pasta instead,I want a Burger! darnit!

Kojima is great, i like his works(In fact, the only games of his i didn't play are some of his early and rare to find titles) but having him works on Castlevania is not for me,combining 2 tasty cakes doesn't produce an even tastier cake,it's still might be a decent cake though,but still, That cake is a lie.

 

[Instant K4rma]

I haven't really played any CV games, but I saw the demo for this one on Xbox live, and decided to give it a try. I liked it. I might give it a rent.

 

[SpireOfFire]

yes im an old CV fan.
yes i have it.
what do i think of it? frustrating, confusing (the puzzles), and very very long. but entirely fun.

sidenote: i have often said that castlevania games frequently have the best soundtracks. this one... eh, not so much. its good, but its nowhere near exemplary as is expected from castlevania.

 

[Sonic Doctor]

I have never played a God of War game.

I am a Castlevania fan, and I love Lords of Shadow greatly, from what I have played. I don't care about Kojima, though if this is how he directs games, I give him two thumbs up, because as far as I'm concerned, he hasn't ruined or changed Castlevania with this. It still has the atmosphere of a Castlevania.

Kojima is a great directer,but he's wrong for the source material.

He's not ruining it(i never said he's ruining it) but he definitely changed it,just look at Super Castlevania,Dracular X,or Symphony of the Night,and now look at Lord of Shadow, yeah Kojima doesn't change anything doesn't he. (sarcasm,sorry)

Lord of Shadow,form my own 2 hours in perspective,is just another God of War clone,with story driven cut-scenes. It's still a fun game to play,but that's not something i want from a Castlevania game.

It's like going to BurgerKing and they sells pasta instead,I want a Burger! darnit!

Kojima is great, i like his works(In fact, the only games of his i didn't play are some of his early and rare to find titles) but having him works on Castlevania is not for me,combining 2 tasty cakes doesn't produce an even tastier cake,it's still might be a decent cake though,but still, That cake is a lie.

Just to let you know, I have Symphony of the Night on my Xbox 360, beat it too, was only a few % points away from exploring everything, but I accidentally deleted my save file, I was so pissed. I liked the game, but I don't want to have to do all that over again.

So comparing the games together thing has already happened for me. When I look at it, take SotN, subtract the items inventory, make it 3D, and you've got Lords of Shadow. The extra damage items that you would use in SotN to help with bosses, are just replaced with extra power from new combo attacks. SotN had story driven cut-scenes, well still-scenes with text and voice, it is just that most of them you could still run around while they happened(i.e. voiceless boss showing up).

I guess I like LoS, because I like cut-scenes in my games, especially storytelling ones. I like having a small break after having epic fun. It gives my fingers and brain time to regroup. One of my favorite parts of LoS, is the loading screens. First time I have ever said that about a game, but loading screens are epic when you have Patrick Stewart narrating before each level. I'm actually disappointed that when you go back to a level to find stuff you missed, the loading screen narration doesn't play a second time, unless there is a button I can press to get him to speak again.

I consider games that don't have cut-scenes to be lacking in the story department. Most likely because if the game is trying to tell the story while I am in the middle of playing it, I miss half of it because I'm paying too close attention to actually trying to get through the game.

But, I guess this will just turn out to be a, can we just agree to disagree moments. It is really just opinions butting together with no give.

It is just my opinion that, LoS still has that good old Castlevania atmosphere that I have experienced. Really, if the atmosphere and story were still there, I wouldn't care what style of gameplay there was RPG(In the true beginning, Castlevania didn't have any RPG elements), Action slasher(Which has been pointed out by others, is its roots of how it all started).

 

[Sonic Doctor]

yes im an old CV fan.
yes i have it.
what do i think of it? frustrating, confusing (the puzzles), and very very long. but entirely fun.

sidenote: i have often said that castlevania games frequently have the best soundtracks. this one... eh, not so much. its good, but its nowhere near exemplary as is expected from castlevania.

It is another moment of comparing of differing tastes. Out of all the Castlevania games, I like the music from this one the most. This coming from a person who found Symphony of the Night to have fantastic music.

 

[Ashsaver]

snip

I understand where you're coming from,and i respect that and I might have like the game more too,but my problem with Lord of Shadow was,It's Castlevania.

I didn't grow up with Symphony of the night,but older Castlvanias,and to me Castlevania is always be 2d(or it can be 2.5d consider how good Shadow Complex was) action side-scroller filled with horror cliches Greek mythologies (some people forget that Castlevania started as a horror game. Yes,Castlevania was suppose to be scary.)

RPG elements?,that's fine, Cut scenes? that okay too,but 3rd person action adventure....Is not something i looking forward to in a Castlevania, I already played lament of innocence and the other one that i didn't remember its subtitle on the PS2 made me wish for another Symphony of the night or Super Castlevania(I say these names a lot didn't I?,xD)


So to sum it up,I like Lord of Shadow because the combat was bloody and brutal like in God of War,but i would LOVE,Worship,and BUY instead of renting it if it was 2d side-scroller like good old Castlevania.


*This is off-topic but,here goes:

I disagree with you saying:

"I consider games that don't have cut-scenes to be lacking in the story department."

That's not entirely true,some games tell its story through action of the player or in game characters tiny weeny bits of NPCs conversations,one of the games that did really well in telling a story without any cutscenes or have certain NPC narrates it for you would be Portal(GlaDos just telling you jokes).

*EDIT you should watch Jame Rolfe(angry video game nerd)'s Castlevania review, he said it better than i am.

 

[RowdyRodimus]

yes im an old CV fan.
yes i have it.
what do i think of it? frustrating, confusing (the puzzles), and very very long. but entirely fun.

sidenote: i have often said that castlevania games frequently have the best soundtracks. this one... eh, not so much. its good, but its nowhere near exemplary as is expected from castlevania.

Yeah the soundtrack on this one is pretty...I would say "meh" but completely and awfully horrendous works better for it. I'm glad I didn't order the collectors edition and pay an extra 20 bucks for an art book (that I would never look at) and the soundtrack to the game. The only music I liked from it was the first notes of music on it where it plays a snippet of the original theme and then goes into its generic music it has the rest of the way through it.

Also, I kind of wish they gave us camera control, especially on the frost titan.

 

[zombiesinc]

Good to know it's out! Between having just moved and the fact that we've only recently been introduced through the XBLA releases, I doubt I'll get around to playing it anytime soon.

Especially considering some of the upcoming releases this holiday season. Though, a bonus to having finally moved is that I can take my game rental subscription off hold, and start renting games again! I s'pose I should be adding it to my queue!

 

[RowdyRodimus]

HOLY CRAP! It's out already?! I thought it was delayed!

Came out yesterday in fact.

I was the same way. I knew one was coming out, but I thought it was sometime next year. I didn't even know it was fixing to come out until I went to IGN Thursday (I think) and saw a review for it, even though his review was shitty and amounted to "Wahhhh, it's not a clone of Symphony of the Night, Wahhh!". I got paid Friday and went and paid for it as soon as Gamestop opened that morning and picked it up as soon as I saw the Fed Ex truck drive into the parking lot Tuesday (I was at the Dollar Tree a few stores down lol).

 

[RowdyRodimus]

Good to know it's out! Between having just moved and the fact that we've only recently been introduced through the XBLA releases, I doubt I'll get around to playing it anytime soon.

Especially considering some of the upcoming releases this holiday season. Though, a bonus to having finally moved is that I can take my game rental subscription off hold, and start renting games again! I s'pose I should be adding it to my queue!

If you have a Wii, there's a good WiiWare Castlevania called Castlevania The Adventure: Rebirth. It's a remake of the original gameboy Castlevania and it's pretty good for a $10 WiiWare download. It plays like the old games (1-4 and Bloodlines) and they also have Rondo of Blood for $10 also (but you can get it on the PSP too). So in essence, if you have 2 of the 3 systems this gen (with the Wii being one of them) you can have all of the Castlevania console release with the exception of the Sega Genesis Bloodlines game ready to play at a moments notice.

 

[zombiesinc]

If you have a Wii, there's a good WiiWare Castlevania called Castlevania The Adventure: Rebirth. It's a remake of the original gameboy Castlevania and it's pretty good for a $10 WiiWare download. It plays like the old games (1-4 and Bloodlines) and they also have Rondo of Blood for $10 also (but you can get it on the PSP too). So in essence, if you have 2 of the 3 systems this gen (with the Wii being one of them) you can have all of the Castlevania console release with the exception of the Sega Genesis Bloodlines game ready to play at a moments notice.

I do, in fact, have a Wii. I rarely ever use it, but for $10, I think I'd really enjoy that. Just the opportunity to experience the originals, which would at the very least, give me a better understanding of the games, and help me give a more informed opinion on the new one. Now I have a reason to hook up my Wii! I so rarely use it I didn't realize you could download older games onto the Wii. >.> Oh, and depending on how that goes, I may be torn between the Wii and PSP for the last one. I do love a good handheld game before going to sleep.

Thanks!