The Gamer's Quarter

[Karii]

I played through most of LOI and while it is fairly straightforward and not too exciting, I enjoyed playing it. Many people commented that it was not a 'real' Castlevania game, but they never gave any valid reasons for saying that.

Some of the stranger answers I got were: There is no clock tower (ok...?)
and there is no backtracking. (well, if you want any of the orbs there is)

Clearly, I don't have any knowledge of Castlevania history, thus the reason I am asking - so. I am curious, please let me know why this specific game 'doesn't count'

[friedchicken]

I think people feel like LOI (and the N64 CV's) didn't really capture the 'feel' of Castlevania, whatever that is. The backtracking comment is pretty funny-- the series didn't have any backtracking at all until-- what, Symphony of the Night? As to why it 'doesn't count', I dunno. Maybe they mean storyline-wise.

My only significant complaint about it is how so much of it within the levels looks identical, which made it less interesting and made backtracking tough for me at times. But I didn't hate it, particularly. I was pleasantly surprised by how well it controlled, and I just had more interesting things in line to play, so I didn't spend much time with it.

Personally, I think LOI is a good move in the right direction for a 3D Castlevania, but it's like it wants to have the character designs and art of the post-Symphony of the Night games with gameplay from... oh, let's say Super Castlevania 4 (now that should get some arguments going!), which makes it seem less inspired.

[dhex]

it counts. it just sucks, is all.

[Persona-sama]

The people were given bread when they were too used to cake, you see.

[Mister Toups]

I think it is a true Castlevania game. Moreso than the N64 titles at any rate. Although those games had Castelvania-y moments.
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where were you when nana komatsu got a wii?

[SuperWes]

I agree that it's a true Castlevania game. After you get good at the fighting, the feeling of running through the corridors of the castle fighting your way through bad guys is very similar to that of Symphony of the Night. What's obviously missing is the platforming and exploration, but the fighting was good enough that it's a step in the right direction. I personally hope that step isn't totally disregarded in the upcoming Castlevania. I'd really like to play the game that Lament of the Innocence is on its way to becoming.

-Wes
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[Mister Toups]

[dhex]

it's like nanobreaker plied toups with alcohol and nudie magazines at nanobreaker ranch or something.

is it that bad? it has a dumb name and all, but that's a vg curse in general.

[calintz]

I know it's very superficial, but I didn't really like it since it wasn't 2D...

...LoI didn't make the jump from 2D to 3D as well as Metroid/Mario did. It had the Igarashi/Yamane/Kojima trio, but the game just didn't "feel" right.
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...九龍で会いましょう...（*☼＿☉*）

[ajutla]

Lament is a real Castlevania game. It's just a real bad Castlevania game.

(they call the above sparkling wit. JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE.)

[Persona-sama]

[ajutla]

[dhex]

it counts but sucks - 4 words, 4 syllables, all kickass
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[Szczepaniak]

It counts in that it's officially canon.

But yeah, it sucks ass.

I don't know why they felt the need to go 3D with it. I would have preffered a 2D game.

The only game that made the jump from 2D to 3D well was Goemon. And maybe MGS....

[calintz]

[Szczepaniak]

Oops, I meant specifically Konami games.

Though in truth not many of theirs went 3D to begin with, and there are few other games that can claim to have made the jump whilst still retaining the old feel.

Mario 64 is a classic example, it feels like Mario.

Ninja Gaiden just didn't feel like the old games. (the truth being, they only made it Ninja Gaiden at the last moment at the request of senior staff in the company. It was actually just a regular action game before that.)

I thought the 3D CV games were dire though.

[aderack]

That's a little hard to believe, in that Ninja Gaiden was announced several years before it was released. Back around when DoA2 was finishing development, actually. I remember waiting and expecting it to come out on the Dreamcast. It was vaporware for a long time, always as "Ninja Gaiden". Then of course, Ryu Hayabusa was a character in all of Itagaki's previous games for Tecmo.

So.

That's one hell of an extended last minute, if that's what it is.

[ajutla]

Shit, guys. It's Aderack. The party's over now.

And I don't think Metal Gear Solid properly made the jump until the third game. The first two are still 2D, really.

[aderack]

Why does my signature not appear?!

There we go.
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[ajutla]

THIS IS ME MAKING A POST.
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[aderack]

TIME TO CHANGE THE DONUTS
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[Persona-sama]

That's a good banner.
I should bring my Opa Opa banner in here so that we'll match!

Well, then again your's is a cutscene from Super Fantasy Zone whereas mine is just an ingame shot.

[aderack]

It's also stealing bandwith from someone else. I'll fix that when I get around to it. And maybe add some text or something.

OR MAYBE I'LL DO THAT NOW?
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[Shapermc]

[aderack]

I wrote a good deal on Lament of Innocence in my writing about Curse of Darkness for Next Generation. And yeah, that's pretty much it. LoI was supposed to be a straightforward action game, and it worked on that level. That's not the level we were presented with in the end.
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[IceTyger]

Suddenly, it looks like everyone's talking about LoL instead of LoI.

[dessgeega]