Castlevania

[goldendriger]

Sooo recently started Playing Castlevania, started out whipping out my old NES and "Borrowing" a game from a friend, then i moved onto the other titles. Namely Castlevania 3/4 then Jumped to Dawn Of Sorrow for the DS (I couldnt find Symphony of the night)

So i ask, which do you prefer? The older sidescroller style of the newer "Metroidvania" style with map, weapons and levels?

Also which is your most favorite Castlevania?

 

[Mj Kort]

castlevania IV, shit is so cash. I like the linear ones much more, but the metroidvania ones are good too. I just prefer the feeling of accomplishment you get from the linear ones, they were hard as fuck

 

[Llil]

Order of Ecclesia is kind of a mix between the two styles, and it's probably my favourite game of the series. It has pretty linear levels like the old Castlevanias, but there's also some exploration, especially in the last level. Another thing I like is that it's a lot harder than the other DS Castlevanias.

 

[Ulquiorra4sama]

I've never taken much liking to Castlevania to be perfectly honest. I played some of the older ones a few years ago, but it just didn't do it for me.

Then i made the mistake of playing Lords of Shadow and now my interest for the franchise is pretty much dead.

Oh, and if someone could please explain that title to me "Lords of Shadow" i'd be very happy.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

I like both. I think Symphony of the Night is my favorite, followed by Super Castlevania IV and Aria of Sorrows(I think, I mix up the GBA ones).

 

[Ruwrak]

Metroidvania hands down.
It just works the best (And I am also counting the 3d types...) for me when it comes to navigating etc.
Also a big fan of metroid so that might explain it x3

 

[Rainbowloid]

Aria of Sorrow is my favorite; none of the others I've played have even come close for me.

I don't really prefer either style over the other, as I take it on a game by game basis.

Also, can we talk about our least favorites? Because I really hate Circle of the Moon with a fierce passion. Seriously.

 

[Ultress]

I tend to prefer the metroidvania style but I did adore Super castlevania 4.As for favorites my top 3 would have to be Aria of Sorrow,Portrait of Ruin and SOTN/Super Castlevania 4

 

[York_Beckett]

I have played most of the Castlevania games, both linear and Metroidvania, as well as the 3D ones.
While I did enjoy them all, I was actually very surprised to find that I loved Curse of Darkness the most. It just seemed packed with so much to do, as well as several locations to explore, that I started taking a very strong liking to it. I enjoyed the story, the grotesque monsters and gloomy, gothic setpieces, all helping in making the experience worth it for me. So yeah, I guess I like the more non-linear games the most.

 

[2xDouble]

I have to say Super Castlevania IV was probably the best, breaking the mold and all, but I had a lot of fun with all of them since Symphony of the Night.

 

[Technicolor]

Personally I like the ClassicVania style more the the MetroidVania, it is a more rewarding play style in my opinion.
Here is a video that pretty much summarizes the difference between Linear & non-linear game design. Noting the fact the Castlevania 2 was the first non-linear Castlevania

 

[PhoenixKing]

I dunno. I have a really odd relationship with Castelevania. Like, I adore the exploration part of the game. I'll just spend hours finding everything I can. But after the 10 or 15 hour mark in any Castelvania game, I just stop playing. I don't know why. I have a blast with the games until then, but I just can't get myself to finish them. Happened to me with portrait of ruin. Happened to me with Ecclesia. Happened to me with SotN.

 

[dogenzakaminion]

I prefer the Metroidvania style, and my favorites are Aria/Dawn of Sorrow. I like the characters and the design. Having several weapons and weapon skills that do different things makes it more fun to run around the same places multiple times.

 

[Gralian]

Eh... i'm one of those weird people who actually LIKED Castlevania 64, so i'm kind of the wrong person to ask.

But then again i also enjoyed Lords of Shadow despite people calling it God of Colossus / Danté's Shadow.

I suppose i should say though that the N64 was my first ever console and Castlevania 64 was my first ever Castlevania game. I loved it for the horror tropes it tries so hard to portray - the lizardmen, the blood sucking wall crawling vampires, the demon merchant, Count Dracula and a dude who uses holy water and a whip to kick some unholy arse. I loved all that and it was a real joy to explore the creepy castle. The appeal of Castlevania as a mythos and vehicle for exploring these tropes has always appealed to me much more than the whole "get lost in a castle while exploring for various upgrades to help you progress" routine which seems to be what fans claim castlevania is really about, rather than the reasons i stated for liking it.

I later played a 2d sidescrolling metroidvania old style castlevania game and i just didn't enjoy it, nowhere near as much as my beloved 3d Castlevania games anyway.

I guess i'm just a heretic that way. Many people swear by the 2d sidescrollers but i think it depends on what you grew up with, like anything else.

 

[The-Epicly-Named-Man]

Surprised at the Lord of Shadows hate, I really liked that game.

OT: I dunno, I haven't played much of any them, but I prefer Metroidvania style games anyway.

 

[BlastedTheWorm]

I can't stand Metroidvania games. I like Metroid, but the Castlevania ones just...drive me mad. They don't even seem like they're in the same series.

Classicvania all the way for me.

 

[Project_Xii]

Castlevania 64 and Frankenstein with a Chainsaw chasing you through a maze... that was pretty freakin epic. Otherwise the game wasn't so great.

I personally loved Lords of Shadow. One of the few games I paid full price for and then kept. High quality graphics, voice acting, gameplay and length. And that twist ending... holy shit, brilliant.

Surprisingly ignored by the gaming community, despite being better then 80% of the other brawlers out there, and getting high scores from reviewers. Wierd. Shame cause you're not doing yourself any favours by NOT playing it, that's for sure.