Castlevania

[EndsShadow]

So hey guys...Nothing much to say, Castlevania is one of the best game series ever, and the music is just epic.
Personally my favorite is still Symphony of the Night/Dracula X Chronicles.

So I just beat Castlevania: Lords of Shadow...In the beginning, I thought this game was simply a rip-off from God of Wars and its relatives, but then as I progress I found out that Lords of Shadow do have some really unique elements built into it that can pretty much counter the "rip-off parts".
But then, as Gabriel's crusade continues, I wonder why this belongs to Castlevania series, and began to even get angry that this game talks about all the Crusade stuff and messing with Christian concepts as well as all the myths, which indeed don't really fit into Castlevania stories...until I beat the game and went like "Konami's designers are genius".

So may I present to you, for whom that are interested, the ending
[spoiler=WARNING: EPIC SPOILER, IF YOU ARE PLAYING THE GAME I WARN YOU TO NOT OPEN IT][spoiler=I MEAN IT...DO NOT OPEN THE SPOILER][spoiler=THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO BACK OFF]So...we all know how in the beginning, it is a Belmont whipping Dracula and put him back in his coffin, and got revived so and so years later, rinse and repeat...Well, as the ending reveals, [b]Gabriel became Dracula[/b].
As in Konami's final "Modern Day" artwork section, Gabriel was labeled as "Dracula".
Theoretically, like rest of Lords of Shadow, Gabriel's pure spirit was taken from his body as it went to heaven, leaving his shadow part behind which somehow became Immortal, and he still retained the dark powers he gathered in his quest.
This had also explained how did Death (Lord of Death/Zobek) and Dracula (Gabriel) became "best friends".
Interestingly, the fact that Gabriel became Dracula and all of the informations we've known from this far largely fit into rest of Castlevania canons, so it is presumed to be canonical...[b]However, it has been announced that it is not and things above are purely speculations[/b][/spoiler][/spoiler][/spoiler]
Konami really add a interesting branch to Castlevania storyline.

[Saturn of Elemia]

I LOVE the Castlevania series. I pretty much like them all, but one of my absolute favorites is Rondo of Blood. (RICHTER RULES!)

Anyone here actually play Judgment?

[Larxene]

Lords of Shadow takes place in its own timeline, so it has nothing to do with the other games.

It wouldn't make sense anyway, because Lament of Innocence already explained the origin of Dracula, and how he came to be associates with Death.

As for Castlevania and the Christian concepts, of course they go together. God is constantly referenced throughout many of the games, and there are a lot of Christian themes in many games. Besides, LoS took place almost a thousand years ago, when the Church was in charge of pretty much everything. It wouldn't make sense for the game not to include it.

[EndsShadow]

Yes I did realize how somewhere they officially stated that it is a different timeline...but I am pointing out that they share a lot of similarities and possibly common events...
Rondos of blood is awesome...good thing it is included in Dracula X Chronicles

I heard Judgement got a really low ratings?

[Blamonchesix]

Judgement wasn't really a game.

Lords of Shadow may not be perfect, but it is Epic!

I loved the boss battles.

[Clair]

RONDO OF BLOOOOOD~

Well, it's my favorite anyways. Simon's Quest was just annoying, and Judgment was a bit of a letdown.

Rondo got everything right. <3

[Catterjune]

[quote name='EndsShadow' timestamp='1289005911' post='4764612']
[...] all of the informations we've known from this far largely fit into rest of Castlevania canons, so it is presumed to be canonical.
[/quote]
The head fuhrer in charge of Castlevania already came out and said it wasn't canon.

Edit: Ah, some one already said this. Well then, I guess I should inform you that in Lament of Innocence...

[spoiler=Lol, Lament of Innocence spoilers]a feller by the name of Mathias Cronqvist becomes Dracula.[/spoiler]

[Saturn of Elemia]

Honestly, I didn't think Judgment was THAT bad. It wasn't the best game in the world, but it was a good idea; they just did it all wrong. What I hated the MOST about Judgment was the roster. It was too small and they left out a LOT of characters - namely:

- Richter Belmont
- Soma Cruz
- Leon Belmont
- Sonia Belmont
- Jonathan Morris
- Charlotte Aulin
- Carrie Fernandez
- Christopher Belmont

...you get the general idea of how many characters they left out, right? Also, the designs of some of the characters were god awful. Seriously, look at Death's design in Judgment and tell me that looks right...I dare you.

@Clair - Yeah, Simon's Quest was annoying - for the sheer fact that the villagers in the game gave you practically NO help in telling you what to do or where to go. I cannot tell you how many hours I wasted trying to find the second and fourth dungeons. Kneeling down at the lake and standing at the base of the mountain? How were we supposed to know that without someone outright telling us?

And Rondo was the best. I hate that it took so long for Rondo to come out. (We got that variation called Castlevania: Dracula X for the SNES that takes place in some kind of alternate timeline and doesn't set up for SotN at all - just take a look at the last stage. Seriously, fighting Dracula with an instant death pit in the room is just cheap)

[JadenxAtemYAOI]

I still have the original Castlevania on the 64. great game and it was my first action game other than Ocarina of time and Goldeneye. I for one love Reinhart Snyder and his sword and whip. I remember literally whipping the giant 30 foot skeleton in the ass with Reinhart's whip. I remember facing Dracula's demon form in a dimensional plane as well. Very fun. Of course the blue-haired girl who's name I cannot remember was fun to use as well because of her energy balls and tracing energy balls. It is the only Castlevania game I have played.

[Saturn of Elemia]

The blue haired girl you're thinking of is Carrie Fernandez. (I think it might have been a mistranslation of Belnades, but don't quote me on that)

Yeah, I remember the fun in whipping the crap outta the skeletons as Reinhardt.

I don't care what people say, I actually LIKED the Nintendo 64 Castlevania games.

[JadenxAtemYAOI]

[quote name='SaTuRnPaLaDiN' timestamp='1289107526' post='4767852']
The blue haired girl you're thinking of is Carrie Fernandez. (I think it might have been a mistranslation of Belnades, but don't quote me on that)

Yeah, I remember the fun in whipping the crap outta the skeletons as Reinhardt.

I don't care what people say, I actually LIKED the Nintendo 64 Castlevania games.
[/quote]
do you remember the bad ending for Carrie? I was thinking "oh that's so sweet" then I was like "oh great, villain version of twilight. Super-powered girl and teenage vampire"

[Saturn of Elemia]

[quote name='JadenxAtemYAOI' timestamp='1289109615' post='4767897']
do you remember the bad ending for Carrie? I was thinking "oh that's so sweet" then I was like "oh great, villain version of twilight. Super-powered girl and teenage vampire"
[/quote]

Yeah, I remember that - Boy, was she in for a surprise later. Honestly, I liked her bad ending more than her good ending.

[Clair]

[quote name='SaTuRnPaLaDiN' timestamp='1289101474' post='4767661']
@Clair - Yeah, Simon's Quest was annoying - for the sheer fact that the villagers in the game gave you practically NO help in telling you what to do or where to go. I cannot tell you how many hours I wasted trying to find the second and fourth dungeons. Kneeling down at the lake and standing at the base of the mountain? How were we supposed to know that without someone outright telling us?

And Rondo was the best. I hate that it took so long for Rondo to come out. (We got that variation called Castlevania: Dracula X for the SNES that takes place in some kind of alternate timeline and doesn't set up for SotN at all - just take a look at the last stage. Seriously, fighting Dracula with an instant death pit in the room is just cheap)
[/quote]

WHAT A TERRIBLE NIGHT FOR A CURSE.

Final boos rooms should not have any other obstacles. The final boss should be a challenge enough. xD

[Saturn of Elemia]

@Clair - the final boss of Simon's Quest was a FREAKING JOKE (if you had an laurels left). Seriously, you can beat the crap out of Dracula using ONE laurel if you do it right. He will NEVER touch you - EVER.

[Larxene]

[quote name='SaTuRnPaLaDiN' timestamp='1289101474' post='4767661']
- Richter Belmont
- Soma Cruz
- Leon Belmont
- Sonia Belmont
- Jonathan Morris
- Charlotte Aulin
- Carrie Fernandez
- Christopher Belmont
[/quote]

For Richter, Leon, and Jonathan, they already had two Belmonts, and you can only add so many of them to a fighting game before they all start seeming the same. Plus I personally think Jonathan is kind of annoying.

I really wanted Soma to be in the game, and he probably would've been the most fun to play as, but he wouldn't have been able to fit in the story. It was mainly revolved around Galamoth trying to change history so that he could become the Dark Lord earlier, by destroying Dracula. Since Dracula was destroyed in 1999, and Soma was from 2035/2036, he had no purpose in the plot.

Sonia was retconned.

Charlotte and Carrie (especially Carrie) would've been awesome to include, but they already had Cornell from the N64 games, so Carrie was unlikely. I'm not sure why they didn't include Charlotte, maybe because she would've been too much like Sypha.

Christopher Belmont's games sucked.

[Saturn of Elemia]

[quote name='Larxene' timestamp='1289519402' post='4777775']
For Richter, Leon, and Jonathan, they already had two Belmonts, and you can only add so many of them to a fighting game before they all start seeming the same. Plus I personally think Jonathan is kind of annoying.

I really wanted Soma to be in the game, and he probably would've been the most fun to play as, but he wouldn't have been able to fit in the story. It was mainly revolved around Galamoth trying to change history so that he could become the Dark Lord earlier, by destroying Dracula. Since Dracula was destroyed in 1999, and Soma was from 2035/2036, he had no purpose in the plot.

Sonia was retconned.

Charlotte and Carrie (especially Carrie) would've been awesome to include, but they already had Cornell from the N64 games, so Carrie was unlikely. I'm not sure why they didn't include Charlotte, maybe because she would've been too much like Sypha.

Christopher Belmont's games sucked.
[/quote]

Richter was the best Belmont IMO - and you could imagine what his super would be with the Item Crash. Leon would've been nice since he's TECHNICALLY the first one (over Trevor, I believe). Jonathan WAS a bit annoying.

I wanted Soma also.

That pissed me off about Sonia.

Overall, I was just disappointed at the lack of characters.

[.:Shaymin:.]

Castlevania is a really good series

I got Lords of Shadows two weeks ago and its really good

[Catterjune]

I'm willing to overlook Soma's whole "foreign exchange student yet somehow childhood friend of Mina McJapaneseLastName" thing for right now, but what bothers me the most is the years involved.

Dark Lord candidates are kids who were born when Dracula died in 1999. However the games takes place in 2035 (and 2036), and Soma is clearly still a highschooler (Or if not, around the same age as one.) Was this ever explained by anyone, either as an interview or... am I wrong about candidates having to be born at the same time?

[Larxene]

[quote name='PikaPerson01' timestamp='1289624190' post='4780756']
I'm willing to overlook Soma's whole "foreign exchange student yet somehow childhood friend of Mina McJapaneseLastName" thing for right now, but what bothers me the most is the years involved.

Dark Lord candidates are kids who were born when Dracula died in 1999. However the games takes place in 2035 (and 2036), and Soma is clearly still a highschooler (Or if not, around the same age as one.) Was this ever explained by anyone, either as an interview or... am I wrong about candidates having to be born at the same time?
[/quote]
Soma is not a Dark Lord candidate, he is the actual reincarnation of Dracula. I really don't get the whole being childhood friends with Mina though, unless maybe Mina was born in Japan, and lived in Europe near Soma most of her life. (At least I assume they're from Europe.)

[Catterjune]

[quote name='Larxene' timestamp='1289625754' post='4780796']
Soma is not a Dark Lord candidate, he is the actual reincarnation of Dracula.
[/quote]
Being Dracula's reincarnation makes him a Dark Lord candidate, does it not?

[Mugen Kagemaru (Back-Up)]

[quote name='PikaPerson01' timestamp='1289692073' post='4782428']
Being Dracula's reincarnation makes him a Dark Lord candidate, does it not?
[/quote]

Yes, it does. The other Candidates were nominated because they, like Graham Jones, were all born on the same day that Julius put Drac down for good. Soma was nominated because he was the previous one reborn. Soma simply decided to be an Anti-hero instead of the Lord Of Darkness.

[quote name='SaTuRnPaLaDiN' timestamp='1289101474' post='4767661']
@Clair - Yeah, Simon's Quest was annoying - for the sheer fact that the villagers in the game gave you practically NO help in telling you what to do or where to go. I cannot tell you how many hours I wasted trying to find the second and fourth dungeons. Kneeling down at the lake and standing at the base of the mountain? How were we supposed to know that without someone outright telling us?
[/quote]

Butchered in translation. They sucked big time in the old days.

[quote name='Larxene' timestamp='1289519402' post='4777775']
I really wanted Soma to be in the game, and he probably would've been the most fun to play as, but he wouldn't have been able to fit in the story. It was mainly revolved around Galamoth trying to change history so that he could become the Dark Lord earlier, by destroying Dracula. Since Dracula was destroyed in 1999, and Soma was from 2035/2036, he had no purpose in the plot.
[/quote]

Keep Soma from either stealing his throne or putting him down? Erasing him would mean no one could compete with him.

[quote name='Larxene' timestamp='1289519402' post='4777775']
Sonia was retconned.
[/quote]

They could make her story AU, like Square did that old "Radical Dreamers" game that they retconned with "Chrono Cross"

[quote name='Larxene' timestamp='1289519402' post='4777775']
Christopher Belmont's games sucked.
[/quote]

Clearly you never played "Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth" for WiiWare. I've only watched vids of it, and it is awesome.

[/replies]

Judgment was good, nothing worth truly griping over concerning the art (could've been better, but at least they weren't sh*t, IMO).

CV64 was awesome for its time, and I wish I could have had the chance to get LoD.

[Larxene]

[quote name='Mugen Kagemaru' timestamp='1289796735' post='4786340']
Keep Soma from either stealing his throne or putting him down? Erasing him would mean no one could compete with him.

[b]Since Galamoth was from 10,000 years in the future, he would already know what happened to Soma in the past. Since Soma never became the Dark Lord, Galamoth had no reason to erase him.[/b]

Clearly you never played "Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth" for WiiWare. I've only watched vids of it, and it is awesome.

[b]Judgment was released before that, so it doesn't matter either way. I HAVE however, played the original GBA Castlevania games. Castlevania Legends is the only one of them that I liked.[/b]

CV64 was awesome for its time, and I wish I could have had the chance to get LoD.

[b]FINALLY. Someone else who liked the N64 games! Also LoD was much better than CV64. It fixed some of the camera issues, added new levels and characters, and the game was just more fun overall.[/b]
[/quote]

[Yasu]

[quote name='PikaPerson01' timestamp='1289624190' post='4780756']
I'm willing to overlook Soma's whole "foreign exchange student yet somehow childhood friend of Mina McJapaneseLastName" thing for right now, but what bothers me the most is the years involved.
[/quote]

He's only a transfer student in the English localization of the game.

[Saturn of Elemia]

I kinda liked what they did to the Tower of Science in Legacy of Darkness. The original in Cv64 got annoying with those jumps above the bottomless pit.

I kinda liked the design of the original Tower of Execution (that revolved around that center tower), but the LoD version wasn't bad. (Just hated the lava ring parts)

Tower of Sorcery was more annoying in LoD.

The Duel Towers in LoD were MUCH better. I SERIOUSLY hated that you had to take a lower route in the original - or risk dying when you got to that tower and found out that you got trapped. (If you managed to get out of there, you suck lol).

Who else enjoyed the additions they did to the Clock Tower? It was too short in the original...