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[MadOdorMachine]

Allright, I know there's some Castlevania fans around here and I'm just wondering why this game is being overlooked. I was at a buddies house the other day who is the typical casual gamer. Being a Castlevania fan, he picked it up for PS2. After hearing him praise it and taking turns playing it for awhile, I figured what the heck, I'll rent it since I had a four day weekend. Turns out my friend was right.

The game kicks all kinds of butt and the reviews it's received shamelessly under rate it. Some how or another IGN and Gamespot seem to have overlooked the fact that this game addresses nearly everything that was wrong with Lament of Innocence and corrects it. In fact, this is the best 3D Castlevania to date imo and almost perfectly translates Synphony of the Night into 3D.

There is so much depth in this game with weapon creation and managing your familiars. Level design is far better than LoI and the gameplay is just as addicting as it's 2D conterparts. Somehow Konami took the addictive "level up" gameplay of the 2D games and transfered it to 3D. Everything that was great about SotN (minus 2D) has been translated to 3D in CoD. It's easy enough for casuals to go through and beat the game pretty easily, but if you want to unlock everything, it's quite challenging. This is a great Castlevania game and fans of the series should have no fears about purchasing this game. It's truely being overlooked.

Spoilers below:

I haven't completed the game yet but, things that make this a great addition to the series so far...

Spoiler

1. Warp points!

Spoiler

2. Trevor Belmont! YEAH BABY!

Spoiler

3. Need I say more? Check this game out!

 

[Error]

no one love pieces of shit

 

[drohne]

is it $20 yet? it doesn't look too promising, but as a castlevania fanboy i have to play it.

 

[Oblivion]

Funny, there was a thread with nearly the exact same title, I think.

But from what I hear, Konami didn't learn anything, and it just seemed as dull as LoI.

 

[Andy787]

Three dimensional Castlevanias deserve no love.

Spoiler

GIVE ME HIGH RES 60FPS 2D CASTLEVANIA FOR PS3, IGA, YOU FUCK

 

[MadOdorMachine]

no one love pieces of shit

Yeah, I know. The reviews make this game seem like it's a piece, but I couldn't disagree more. It's Castlevania! How this game got such low scores baffles me. I just don't get how a game that corrects all the faults of it's predecessor's be given a lower score. For shame.

 

[SantaC]

I game is sadly as mediocre or maybe even worse than Castlevania: Loi.

As much as I love Castlevania, iga and his team still struggles to make a top notch 3D game.

Let's hope it will come one next gen.

 

[Y2Kev]

Three dimensional Castlevanias deserve no love.

Spoiler

GIVE ME HIGH RES 60FPS 2D CASTLEVANIA FOR PS3, IGA, YOU FUCK

GIVE IGA 5 MILLION DOLLARS.

 

[meltpotato]

Spoiler

GIVE ME HIGH RES 60FPS 2D CASTLEVANIA FOR PS3, IGA, YOU FUCK

well i think that might be the best thing that will never happen EVER.

Konami to Sony: "You must release Castlevania 2d or no MGS4"

2d is the key to winning the console war! make it happen Konami!! :lol

 

[MadOdorMachine]

is it $20 yet? it doesn't look too promising, but as a castlevania fanboy i have to play it.

If you're a fan of the series, don't listen to the reviews. Rent it and try it out at the very least. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Funny, there was a thread with nearly the exact same title, I think.

But from what I hear, Konami didn't learn anything, and it just seemed as dull as LoI.

I searched and found nothing. The thing is, I think Konami did listen! CoD is far better than LoI.

Three dimensional Castlevanias deserve no love.

Spoiler

GIVE ME HIGH RES 60FPS 2D CASTLEVANIA FOR PS3, IGA, YOU FUCK

This game deserves some love. Like I said earlier. I really think they nailed transferring the 2D gameplay into 3D.

 

[Andy787]

GIVE IGA 5 MILLION DOLLARS.

KONAMI HAS 5 MILLION DOLLARS

Either do that, or go with Kojima's suggestion, and get Jaffe and SCE Santa Monica to do CV justice in 3D.

 

[Virgin Wii]

There was a thread here about a month ago discussing this game. Everybody who played it chimed in and said it was WORSE than LoI.

Not good vibes.

 

[Community Forum]

Its not that this game is a giant turd, its just that there's like a million games that are better than it. Have you tried the DS Castlevania? I am interested to see how you compare the two.

 

[Oneself]

I found it worst than LOI and I'm a Castlevania fanboy. This game is an abomination, Castlevania 64 was better.

Oh and don't trust this guy, he didn't even mention that CoD has the worst Castlevania soundtrack EVER... by far.

 

[SpokkX]

yep it is actually quite a bit worse than LoI in many ways, an amazing achievment really

it´s even worse than the n64 castlevanias, yes.. even more amazing

and the soundtrack is the worst in any castlevania game..

so.. no.. don´t play this crap

 

[J-Rzez]

I'm still waiting for a Castlevania to have the magic of Simon's Quest... there needs to be a true 2d sequel to this... :*(

 

[EOGamer]

Its not that this game is a giant turd, its just that there's like a million games that are better than it. Have you tried the DS Castlevania? I am interested to see how you compare the two.

Exactly. Why even bother renting such an average title, least of all pay the outrageous 50 clams new? Greg Kasavin was actually one of the few who saw alot of potential for the series in 3-D after LoI, and he was pretty dissapointed with Curse. That goes for most of the people I know who were intrested in LoI and took the plunge. Besides, it's this game's fault that Dawn of Sorrow got stuck with some kind of lame dating sim art. >:O

 

[Musashi Wins!]

yep it is actually quite a bit worse than LoI in many ways

an amazing achievment really

My thoughts exactly. No love deserved.

 

[Mejilan]

This game was fucking awful, and I wound up playing it quite a bit less than LoI before it. My tolerance for ass CV games hit critical after LoI. Redemption, CoD was not.

 

[Sagitario]

... and the soundtrack is the worst in any castlevania game..

No, it isn't... the OST is great, and HoD has [by far] the worst OST of any CV...

 

[Mejilan]

Actually, I thought CoD had one of Yamane's greatest soundtracks.

 

[MadOdorMachine]

I guess I'm in the minority then. Oh well to each his own. I even thought the music was better than LoI. The classic remixes are great. And yes, I've tried the one on DS. From what I've seen, it's pretty much Aria of Sorrow with prettier graphics. I didn't really like any of the games Iga made on GBA or DS, I preferred CotM. LoI was good, but CoD is way better imo. I should probably say that I don't like RPG's but I love Zelda, SotN and CotM. CoD seems to be Zelda with "level ups" and familiars.

I'd really like to know why people feel this way about CoD though. People say it's worse than LoI or even the N64 games, but why? I've played every Castlevania game and I don't see why people feel this sequel is so lackluster. How can anyone say CoD isn't better than LoI or the N64 games? It ranks in the top five Castlevania games imo.

 

[Kiriku]

Ironically though, I think this game has by far the best cutscenes of all Castlevania games (not that there's much competition :lol). Especially the animation (but also the script, I like their polite, medival style of talking, fits with the style) is excellent. I would go as far as saying it has some of the best animation ever, at least in terms of body language and emotion. And the music is perhaps slightly better than in LoI.

Didn't think the game was bad though...I mean, if you removed the word "Castlevania" from the title, it's far more tolerable IMO. It's a lot more dungeon crawler than previous Castlevanias, void of anything resembling puzzles, variation concerning environments and platforming. I definitely had more fun with the battles in CoD than I ever did in LoI at least.

 

[Community Forum]

It took everything I had to stop laughing and post this.. :lol

CoD seems to be Zelda with "level ups"

Come on, man!

 

[EOGamer]

How can anyone say CoD isn't better than LoI or the N64 games?

I think you answered your own question in the first paragraph of the reply I am snipping this from. "To each his own", that's why.

 

[Mejilan]

Hey MadOdor, if you really want to know, dig up the huge CoD thread from around the game's launch. The game's not worth rehashing why it's bad, IMHO.

 

[Senretsu]

The best move in this game is when you use the knuckles, push punch four times (maybe 5) and then the finishing blow.

I was shocked when I saw that move, my friend and I couldn't stop laughing for around 5 minutes.

 

[Alucard]

I still need to pick this up eventually. I think it'll at least warrant a rental. And I actually enjoyed LoI. *shrugs* The voice acting was pretty crap but I thought the battle mechanics were really fun...I loved the whip combo stuff. Plus, the soundtrack wasn't too shabby either.

Spoiler

And the fight with that giant bleeding hanging guy was pretty damn creepy and scary

 

[C- Warrior]

The game kicks all kinds of butt...

Please visit the official COD thread to read all the gripes I had with this poor, horrible, and ever-so laughable attempt at what Konami calls an action game.

 

[jaundicejuice]

Sadly I bought both, mainly for the name on the boxart and was disappointed both times, although moreso with Curse of Darkness.

 

[Link316]

Allright, I know there's some Castlevania fans around here and I'm just wondering why this game is being overlooked.

that's the problem, most Castlevania fans became fans of the series based on the 2D games, not these 3D hack and slash games, so if Konami wants to appeal to Castlevania fans then they should've go back to 2D

 

[MadOdorMachine]

It took everything I had to stop laughing and post this.. :lol

CoD seems to be Zelda with "level ups"

Come on, man!

The controls of CoD borrow a lot from Zelda. Left shoulder moves/locks camera. Right shoulder blocks. Press your main button for your main attack (sword) and the other two for your subweapon (familiar/boomerang) and finishing move. CoD does have a jump button though.

I think the game is good though. As far as level design goes, there's way more variety than LoI. At least you're not in the castle the whole time. The action is great. I agree that there could be more puzzles and platforming, but there really isn't a whole lot of puzzle elements in the newer 2D Castlevania games anyway. Platforming is inherent to 2D games. It almost can't be helped. They could add some into the next sequel though.

Starting with SotN, all the 2D Castlevania games have been about leveling up and finding certain items to progress. CoD does that and it does it well imo. If Hector was named Alucard, I think people would be singing a different tune.

Spoiler

How cool is it to have Trevor Belmont unlockable!

 

[Mejilan]

Starting with SotN, all the 2D Castlevania games have been about leveling up and finding certain items to progress. CoD does that and it does it well imo. If Hector was named Alucard, I think people would be singing a different tune.

Spoiler

How cool is it to have Trevor Belmont unlockable!

You could call Hector Link and the game would still fucking suck.

 

[Parallax Scroll]

I rented it with a Hollywood Video free rental coupon. It sucked.

 

[Kai Dracon]

While I rather enjoyed the game in the end and recognize all the flaws it does have (chief amount them being that it desperately needed a new engine rather than the very limited LoI engine), I'm surprised at the soundtrack getting hate.

 

[belgurdo]

God of War makes this game irrelevant

 

[Kiriku]

This is a perfect time for me to ask a question about the game that's been bugging me ever since I finished it (a question only for those who actually finished it, I suppose):

Spoiler

WHO is Saint-Germain!? Is he supposed to be someone in particular, I mean? What is his significance, other than hinting at a possible sequel? I've never seen him in a Castlevania game before.
I actually looked the name up and realized he's based on a real person from France a few hundred years ago. He was said to have found a way to achieve eternal life. And apparently, he was also known, amongst other names, as the "Prince of Transylvania" (in an "earlier" life).

But anyway, what's the deal with Saint-Germain in Curse of Darkness?

 

[belgurdo]

This is a perfect time for me to ask a question about the game that's been bugging me ever since I finished it (a question only for those who actually finished it, I suppose):

Spoiler

WHO is Saint-Germain!? Is he supposed to be someone in particular, I mean? What is his significance, other than hinting at a possible sequel? I've never seen him in a Castlevania game before.
I actually looked the name up and realized he's based on a real person from France a few hundred years ago. He was said to have found a way to achieve eternal life. And apparently, he was also known, amongst other names, as the "Prince of Transylvania" (in an "earlier" life).

But anyway, what's the deal with Saint-Germain in Curse of Darkness?

That's exactly it-he's just a cute reference to the real-life "phenomenon." (Many people claim to be St. G, reincarnated/altered due to excessive travelling.) He might also be featured in a later CV game, as in the ending

Spoiler

he hints that he witnessed Julius eliminate Dracula in 1999 during one of his time trips

 

[C- Warrior]

This is a perfect time for me to ask a question about the game that's been bugging me ever since I finished it (a question only for those who actually finished it, I suppose):

Spoiler

WHO is Saint-Germain!? Is he supposed to be someone in particular, I mean? What is his significance, other than hinting at a possible sequel? I've never seen him in a Castlevania game before.
I actually looked the name up and realized he's based on a real person from France a few hundred years ago. He was said to have found a way to achieve eternal life. And apparently, he was also known, amongst other names, as the "Prince of Transylvania" (in an "earlier" life).

But anyway, what's the deal with Saint-Germain in Curse of Darkness?

He's a person from the future that went back in past to observe a historical event. Either to make sure it happens, or maybe change it in some way, or prevent something from happening.

Ultimately I think it was IGA trying too hard thinking the Castlevania is the new-big-bad and went overboard with the whole "deep storyline shtick"

oh and uh...spoilers.

 

[Kiriku]

Ah OK, thanks for clearing that up. At first I thought he was a character I just didn't recognize from "future" Castlevanias acting under an alter-ego or something. Seeing as he can time-travel though, I guess that leaves Iga with the comfortable possibility to throw the character into any future Castlevania game he sees fit.

 

[firex]

I'm sorry, but this game sucks ass. Lame, empty, bland environments, repetitive rooms... the core combat isn't so bad, but this game is shit when you can play ninja gaiden or dmc.

 

[brandonh83]

It really is sad, the gameplay itself is alright but as everyone says, the repetitive environments alone kills it. I got to the final boss and just didn't care enough to beat it. Seemed pretty cheap.

 

[Pimpbaa]

2D art being too expensive is a very very poor excuse for there being no Castlevania on modern consoles with 2D gameplay. Games with 3D graphics and 2D gameplay can work out really well (as shown with some other games).

 

[Kiriku]

It really is sad, the gameplay itself is alright but as everyone says, the repetitive environments alone kills it. I got to the final boss and just didn't care enough to beat it. Seemed pretty cheap.

The bosses at the end aren't that hard really, especially not when you properly use and abuse the possibilites given within the game. First of all, you can stock up on potions. If that's not enough, you simply play with the fairie devil-type until it drops a devil shard, then you make another fairie (which doesn't take much time at all towards the end of the game) and just replace one devil (the mage, the bird, whatever) with one of the fairies and suddenly you got two healing machines. So what I'm basically trying to say is...the game is sadly not very hard at all.

There was only one fight where I really had trouble, against a certain boss. I thought I was doing something wrong since he barely lost any health...then I realized it was one of "those" boss fights. :lol

 

[C- Warrior]

2D art being too expensive is a very very poor excuse for there being no Castlevania on modern consoles with 2D gameplay. Games with 3D graphics and 2D gameplay can work out really well (as shown with some other games).

....huh what you were saying?"

 

[Kiriku]

2D art being too expensive is a very very poor excuse for there being no Castlevania on modern consoles with 2D gameplay. Games with 3D graphics and 2D gameplay can work out really well (as shown with some other games).

Yeah...actually I thought it was funny how you could, occasionally, enter a room with really cool design, with paintings on the walls (not to mention the save room). It's like they tried to make a Castlevania with great design like that, but they almost ran out of budget after finising 1 % of stage design and just filled out the remaining 99 % of the game with drab and repeating brown-textured corridors and caves. If Metroid Prime can have lots of unique and varied environments, so can Castlevania! If they give it the same kind of budget (and get some skilled devs/artists), at least.

 

[jj984jj]

2D art being too expensive is a very very poor excuse for there being no Castlevania on modern consoles with 2D gameplay. Games with 3D graphics and 2D gameplay can work out really well (as shown with some other games).

Tell that to Iga, not us.