Castlevania Demo Impressions Thread of EU PSN+ Exclusivity

I'm completely burnt out on God of War combat so that did nothing for me, but the mood and overall style really got to me. And Patrick Stewart. <3
 
How do you get burned out on God of War combat when only a few games even use such a thing? Just seems like someone saying they get tired of first person shooters, but then again... the market is FLOODED with those. :lol

As for Castlevani. I have my limited edition paid off. Only limited edition I'm getting this year for the simple fact that I haven't been this excited for a Castlevania game in FOREVERRRRR!!!
 
I really don't get why people get up in arms about it being this God of War clone. There aren't that many games out there that use God of War's formula. I bet if we saw a Indiana Jones game that used the same sort of whip mechanic in terms of graphic, people will be calling it the same thing. A God of War clone. :lol

Day 0 people! Buy and support this masterpiece!
 
CcrooK said:
I really don't get why people get up in arms about it being this God of War clone. There aren't that many games out there that use God of War's formula. I bet if we saw a Indiana Jones game that used the same sort of whip mechanic in terms of graphic, people will be calling it the same thing. A God of War clone. :lol

No, it would be a Lords of Shadow clone.
 
slasher_thrasher21 said:
How do you get burned out on God of War combat when only a few games even use such a thing? Just seems like someone saying they get tired of first person shooters, but then again... the market is FLOODED with those. :lol

As for Castlevani. I have my limited edition paid off. Only limited edition I'm getting this year for the simple fact that I haven't been this excited for a Castlevania game in FOREVERRRRR!!!

God of War combat is on the shallow side. It's exactly the kind of combat people would easily get tired of. (And I say this as a big fan of the series.) Your point about FPS games makes similarly little sense. The market is flooded and many people are tired of them. This is not contradictory. There are enough people to support a flooded market (for now) and also a group who is tired of the genre's prevalence.
 
hey_it's_that_dog said:
God of War combat is on the shallow side. It's exactly the kind of combat people would easily get tired of. (And I say this as a big fan of the series.) Your point about FPS games makes similarly little sense. The market is flooded and many people are tired of them. This is not contradictory. There are enough people to support a flooded market (for now) and also a group who is tired of the genre's prevalence.

Except no one calls FPSs "clones" of anything anymore. It's almost like if there were fifty more God Of War-type games out, it would be called a genre and Castlevania wouldn't get dinged for it.
 
Joe Shlabotnik said:
Except no one calls FPSs "clones" of anything anymore. It's almost like if there were fifty more God Of War-type games out, it would be called a genre and Castlevania wouldn't get dinged for it.

Badda bing!
 
If what dark said is true and this game doesn't stream new locations and resorts to constant loading screens, I think I'll buy the 360 version and cut the load times short by installing.
 
hey_it's_that_dog said:
God of War combat is on the shallow side. It's exactly the kind of combat people would easily get tired of. (And I say this as a big fan of the series.) Your point about FPS games makes similarly little sense. The market is flooded and many people are tired of them. This is not contradictory. There are enough people to support a flooded market (for now) and also a group who is tired of the genre's prevalence.

Well personally for me God of War isn't even all about the combat. Its the settings, the epic set peices, the puzzles, and the platforming. Regardless of the combat being shallow or not, its not all there is to the game in my eyes. Also just like others said, FPS are not even considered clones. People don't say Halo plays just like Call of Duty, vice versa, or etc.
 
spats said:
I'm completely burnt out on God of War combat so that did nothing for me, but the mood and overall style really got to me. And Patrick Stewart. <3

Yeah the production values are what the game really has going for it, for what you can gather from the demo (which granted isn't much) it does feel like god of war combat (nothing wrong with that) but I do hope it gets much more depth later on.
 
slasher_thrasher21 said:
Also just like others said, FPS are not even considered clones. People don't say Halo plays just like Call of Duty, vice versa, or etc.

Because FPS games are a genre to themselves. It would be more like if every FPS game used bullet time. Or if every online FPS game played like Quake, which they don't. Some people don't like the mechanics of the God of War fighting and don't want it used in other games.
 
depths20XX said:
Because FPS games are a genre to themselves. It would be more like if every FPS game used bullet time. Or if every online FPS game played like Quake, which they don't. Some people don't like the mechanics of the God of War fighting and don't want it used in other games.


Can you imagin seeing Gabriel bending over skeletons, spanking them into submission till they break apart? Oh Godhand. How I miss thee.
 
Joe Shlabotnik said:
Except no one calls FPSs "clones" of anything anymore. It's almost like if there were fifty more God Of War-type games out, it would be called a genre and Castlevania wouldn't get dinged for it.

Nobody calls Fps's clones these days? Really? It is the most pravelent critique of most fringe fps's (that aren't as frequent as hivemind Gaf would think).

God of War clone is not a genre. It never will be. That's not the definition of genre. And I hate to break this to you, but even if it was, that wouldn't protect an uninspiring unoriginal game from being mocked for being uninspiring and unoriginal. What does protect a game like that from being properly critiqued is -

1. Being a well known popular IP (nostalgia)
2. High production values (money)
3. Extreme amount of hype and marketing (money)
4. Being made by a well respected publisher/developer (nostalgia)
 
Mr. B Natural said:
Nobody calls Fps's clones these days? Really? It is the most pravelent critique of most fringe fps's (that aren't as frequent as hivemind Gaf would think).

God of War clone is not a genre. It never will be. That's not the definition of genre. And I hate to break this to you, but even if it was, that wouldn't protect an uninspiring unoriginal game from being mocked for being uninspiring and unoriginal. What does protect a game like that from being properly critiqued is -

1. Being a well known popular IP (nostalgia)
2. High production values (money)
3. Extreme amount of hype and marketing (money)
4. Being made by a well respected publisher/developer (nostalgia)

I find this discussion really interesting - was God of War a Rygar (ps2) clone? Or is it not because Rygar (ps2) wasn't popular? Is every third person shooter with a parrot camera (over the shoulder) on left trigger a clone of RE4? What about all the third person shooters with cover systems, are they clones of Gears?

I'm curious, what specifically makes this new Castlevania a GoW clone, and not just another game with light-heavy attack based combat?
 
slasher_thrasher21 said:
How do you get burned out on God of War combat when only a few games even use such a thing? Just seems like someone saying they get tired of first person shooters, but then again... the market is FLOODED with those. :lol

As for Castlevani. I have my limited edition paid off. Only limited edition I'm getting this year for the simple fact that I haven't been this excited for a Castlevania game in FOREVERRRRR!!!


I've always wondered about the logic there as well: as far as I'm concerned the world needs more Zelda, GOW clones and fighters but FPS and sports gamers always seem to always cry loudest about genres they they don't understand.

Conan was probably the first next-gen example of a blatant GOW clone and I actually liked it.
 
MrMephistoX said:
I've always wondered about the logic there as well: as far as I'm concerned the world needs more Zelda, GOW clones and fighters but FPS and sports gamers always seem to always cry loudest about genres they they don't understand.

Conan was probably the first next-gen example of a blatant GOW clone and I actually liked it.


Let's not forget those who say "doesn't feel/look like Castlevania".
 
The water/rain effects and the lightning were just incredible. As for the game it self... loved it! Skyrocketed from maybe a latter buy to an instant pre-order. The combat was rather simple but the upgrade system hinted to a more deep experience further in the game. I would love to play a puzzle part in the demo, but this little taste was enough for me. The art of the book and Patrick Stewart voice work were just the cherry on top!

Congratulaciones MercurySteam!
 
RedStormSublime said:
I'm curious, what specifically makes this new Castlevania a GoW clone, and not just another game with light-heavy attack based combat?

I don't think people are being unfair by calling it a God of War clone. I think they're being unfair by using it as a negative, and I think they're being unfair in that there is more to the game than the combat. The combat is similar to God of War. That's about it. It's not some horrible thing.
 
RedStormSublime said:
I find this discussion really interesting - was God of War a Rygar (ps2) clone? Or is it not because Rygar (ps2) wasn't popular? Is every third person shooter with a parrot camera (over the shoulder) on left trigger a clone of RE4? What about all the third person shooters with cover systems, are they clones of Gears?

I'm curious, what specifically makes this new Castlevania a GoW clone, and not just another game with light-heavy attack based combat?

I think the primary reasons that people see this as a GOW clone are that the primary weapon is a ranged melee attack, and GOW is a mainstream touchstone that comes easily to people's minds.

That said, I don't think this game is as close to GOW as some are claiming. The attacks look as much like Lament of Innocence as they do GOW. The way the orbs hover in the air until they are actively absorbed and can be used for offensive purposes is more like Ninja Gaiden than GOW. The movement speed is not the same as GOW (whereas in Dante's Inferno it was) nor is the basic combo (whereas in Dante's Inferno it was a near identical sequence of horizontal and vertical slashes).

Some things that stand out to me as being inspired directly by GOW are the horseback riding sequence and the boss QTEs. Also the health fountains.

In sum, while there are similarities, I think people are selectively ignoring some key differences.
 
Game Analyst said:
Awesome. I am really looking forward to playing this demo. :D

Me too, but it does sound like it won't really represent the full game that well, considering that it's just a combat demo more or less. Still excited to see how the combat handles.
 
Game Analyst said:
Awesome. I am really looking forward to playing this demo. :D
I'm also looking forward to it, although most of the people posting in the thread haven't been completely positive. It seems the demo was poorly chosen or is an old build and the final game is a lot better. So keep that in mind in case you're looking forward to the game as well.
 
FunkyPajamas said:
I'm also looking forward to it, although most of the people posting in the thread haven't been completely positive. It seems the demo was poorly chosen or is an old build and the final game is a lot better. So keep that in mind in case you're looking forward to the game as well.


It's the E3 demo by the sounds of it. You can go and watch it now.
 
'Castlevania: Lords of Shadow' Getting Medusa Head Equivalent

Old school fans of the series that may be a bit distressed as to whether or not the count will make an appearance in "Lords of Shadow" can take solace in knowing that Cox confirmed that there will be "something similar" to the flying Medusa heads in his game. So that's something.

He also went on to mention that "LoS" takes elements from a lot of the other "Castlevania" games, so much so that every stage in the game has appeared in a previous title, albeit that these areas (as well as enemies) have been redesigned by his team, so everything should feel familiar, yet new at the same time. Cox later added that, "If you're a 'Castlevania' fan, and you're not getting chills while playing this game, we've failed."
 
Tears For Fears said:
The demo is like getting a really good BJ, only with a surprise twist. (She swallows)

That's what you call a twist?

Getting a BJ and then suddenly another man drops in and whispers sensually in your ear that the girl was an Adam one year ago ... that would be a twist.
 
MacBosse said:
That's what you call a twist?

Getting a BJ and then suddenly another man drops in and whispers sensually in your ear that the girl was an Adam one year ago ... that would be a twist.

..Is that a good or a bad twist? :lol
 
MacBosse said:
That's what you call a twist?

Getting a BJ and then suddenly another man drops in and whispers sensually in your ear that the girl was an Adam one year ago ... that would be a twist.

Yeah, now that's a twis....wait, WTF?!
 
Raging Spaniard said:
Its not like GoW isnt a Castlevania clone in 3D ...
It's really not, though. Castlevania, as in Actionvania, is not a concept that anyone has figured out in 3D yet. It's like Sonic the Hedgehog or Mega Man. The best you can really do is to try to take some of the beats of the old games and make something new that works with it.

God of War has virtually no difficult platforming, the combat is focused on managing attacks between multi-hit opponents who try to overwhelm your health (as opposed to Castlevania's opponents who are largely there to knock you into a goddam pit), and the bosses are ridiculously simplistic affairs compared to Castlevania's challenging battles. People always said God of War was like a 3D Castlevania and to me the only reason why is because the main character fights monsters using a whip-like weapon and that's pretty much it.

God of War's old-school ancestor is Double Dragon, not Castlevania. :P

Which doesn't mean it's not okay for a 3D Castlevania to take after the 3D brawlemups like God of War and Ninja Gaiden, before anyone jumps down my throat. In the absence of figuring out how to bring the gameplay of the old stuff to 3D, I'm more than happy to take a good game with different gameplay and similar artistic style.
 
Segata Sanshiro said:
God of War's old-school ancestor is Double Dragon, not Castlevania. :P

This reminds me of how much I dearly miss the double dragon franchise. I'd love to see Mikami or Kamiya make a new double dragon title.
 
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