What games are you currently playing?

[Feba]

Re: What games are you currently playing?

People... people still play Castlevania?

[Armando]

Re: What games are you currently playing?

I've heard good things about Order of Ecclesia and Portrait of Ruin. But seriously, going from this to this? Fucking hell.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: What games are you currently playing?

Yeah, we don't see Castlevania going back to that crap. Thankfully I think they've started to accept the real fans want the 2D games. That reminds me, I need to get around to Order of Eccelcia or w/e its called. The Sorrow games and SotN remain my favorites.

[Feba]

Re: What games are you currently playing?

1- The only thing that's even got me remotely interested in the DS Castlevanias is the possibility of finding them on clearance for $4.
2- You forgot Judgement. That alone is enough for me to treat this series with the likes of Sonic-- Great origins, the crowning achievement around the turn of the century, and downhill in the 'off a cliff' sense since.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: What games are you currently playing?

Judgment is a fighting game, I'm not really counting the toward the main series any more than I'm looking to Soul Calibur Legends to be a legit part of its series. They're spin-offs in every sense of the word. I'm not looking to blame Bioware for the state of platform Sonic games just because they made a Sonic RPG for Sega.

Also, you'll never find a DS Castlevania for $4 unless its an Amazon/Gamestop special (i.e. no box, no instructions). I've never seen Dawn of Sorrow for less than $24 and its hard to come by as it is.

[Feba]

Re: What games are you currently playing?

Portrait of Ruin is apparently on clearance for $4 at some Sears. Unfortunately, the two near here were in the process of closing down (and therefore had most of their game section gutted, and no updated prices on anything), and simply not clearancing anything.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: What games are you currently playing?

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha Vs. The Soulless Army = BEATED! o.o/

Bring on Devil Summoner 2!!!

[Malacite]

Re: What games are you currently playing?

Order of Ecclesia was great. I picked mine up for only $20.00 and loved it (Shanoa is smexy =3 I gotta find out who her voice actor is)

I dunno BBQ, I really loved Episode 2's art. Shion was downright sexy O.o as opposed to the baby face she had in episode 1. Episode 3 seemed to try a cross between the two styles and it looked OK.

[Tickmeoff]

Re: What games are you currently playing?

People... people still play Castlevania?

Was there some reason to ever stop?

Aside from Judgment (which I have not played yet but heard is abysmal) I can't think of a bad Castlevania game since Castlevania Adventure and Castlevania Legends on the GB.

Yeah, the art in Dawn of Sorrow was shit compared to the fucking epic art style of previous games, but they're slowly moving away from the anime style.

large image

It's not Aria of Sorrow, but it's still a fuckton better than the shit from Dawn of Sorrow.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: What games are you currently playing?

People do realize that the main game's art has still been done by the same person since SOTN, right? I'm talking about like the stuff they base the sprites on. The environments, enemies, characters - that person never went away.

I think they went for the anime-style characters initially because they lent better to an animated intro than the original style. It didn't do much for me, but also didn't take away from the enjoyment of the games themselves. Dawn of Sorrow took Aria's combat system and kicked it up a notch. Its still my favorite combat system of the series because it was just so versatile.

And while the story is full of holes, I do like the concept of Soma's character. He's fated to become Dracula, but fights that fate and remains dominant over Dracula's spirit, for now anyway. I makes me wonder why the focus of the series is still jumping around when they could do a little more with that character. A also just enjoyed the versatile weapon options, rather than depend on one whip you had swords, flails, maces, clubs, guns and knives. Ok, and you had whips.

Also just like the inclusion of Arikado. Very Hellsing of him to take on the job he did.

[Armando]

Re: What games are you currently playing?

I think they went for the anime-style characters initially because they lent better to an animated intro than the original style.

Nope.

The change from the traditional dark, gothic character design of many previous Castlevania games to a new anime style was a choice made by Igarashi, who wished to market the game to a younger audience.[6] Igarashi believed that the Nintendo DS inherently attracted a younger audience, and he was working to court them with the anime style.[42] Furthermore, Igarashi considered the anime style a litmus test for whether future Castlevania games would incorporate it.[43]

I'm sure they could've animated an intro without making it look like some generic anime crap. I mean, really, it looks like something out of a kid's show. I can't take those bad guys seriously. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN3-umeSCg4"]YouTube - Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow Intro[/ame] That's rather awful by Castlevania standards.

I haven't played it because I only barely started Aria of Sorrow before I got distracted by real life and other things (lolCastlevaniaPlot, I know, but still.) I wouldn't be surprised if the game itself is still good but the change in presentation is still jarring and and that art just doesn't fit. I know they don't have anywhere near the same degree of following so such a move would be completely unnecessary, but imagine if Konami pulled the same stunt to market Metal Gear to a younger audience.

I do like Ecclesia's art though.

[Yellow Mage]

Re: What games are you currently playing?

Igarashi believed that the Nintendo DS inherently attracted a younger audience, and he was working to court them with the anime style.

Wow, fail . . .

Somebody should really go [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higurashi_no_Naku_Koro_ni"]Higurashi[/ame] on him for doing that.

[Sekighara]

Re: What games are you currently playing?

Well still playing street fighter 4, and tinkering way at 100% armored core for answers. I going to get Mirror's edge now that the price dropped.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: What games are you currently playing?

but imagine if Konami pulled the same stunt to market Metal Gear to a younger audience.

Already did.

Metal Gear Ac!d.

Even if the anime style was there to hook in younger players, if it succeeded in doing that, then I don't really see much of a problem. Niche titles can't thrive on their small core group forever and you have to find ways to expand the appeal.

There's nothing really that dark, sinister or serious about Castlevania to not try to skew to the pre-teen crowd at least. I was playing Castlevania before that age. Back then there wasn't even a story and the art was bad, you just had a guy named Simon Belmont that couldn't jump worth a shit.

Once the series got as agile as Ninja Gaiden and Super Metroid, it got way better. I think OoE's art style bridges the gap better than DoS or PoR, but I don't try to get too worked up about the art so much as I concern myself with the gameplay.

Lament of Innosence had the art, but none of the gameplay that made Castlevania good. It was a pale shadow of DMC trying to incoporate some the feel of Castlevania before SOTN. As Metroid-y has the SOTN style is - that's kinda what makes it so appealing. Not many games go for that style of exploration and action, the RPGs elementsmake it even more compelling.

[Feba]

Re: What games are you currently playing?

To be fair, Metal Gear has always had a anime/manga styling, it was just covered with a realistic coat of paint. But walk around Big Shell and it's not really much less colorful than Ac!d.