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[Instigator]

... which didn't star an aristocratic pansy as the hero?

This is a serious question. I know the game is Japanese, that it comes from a stylish, if effeminate, tradition dating back from the 80's, and a lot of Castlevania fans seem to worship that style, a bit like MGS fans do in their own way.

I guess I am wondering if style overrides gameplay in that series and if introducing a hero who actually looks like he could kick butt would be betraying the Castlevania name.

 

[Mallrat83]

You sure as hell know how to live up to your name.

 

[Razoric]

:O

 

[dark10x]

If the game was good, I wouldn't care, but I really love Kojima's artwork and would prefer the series to stay true to it (not that it always does or anything).

 

[belgurdo]

 

[Gattsu25]

dark: how about if Kojima actually drew a male lead character for the next game?

 

[SantaC]

picture for the truth

 

[jarrod]

I wouldn't mind playing as a Belmont again myself.

 

[demi]

BRING BACK THE BELMONTS

 

[sprsk]

I don't really care anymore who is the main character.

 

[Instigator]

picture for the truth

Unfortunately, catchphrases and images seem to represent half the posts on this forum.

 

[Shompola]

CastleVania used to have masculine heroes and after Richter they hired some retarded artist who more or less ruined it completely. Alucard anyone?

 

[ratcliffja]

I want another spear-toter like in Bloodlines, my favorite Castlevania.

 

[Gattsu25]

I want another spear-toter like in Bloodlines, my favorite Castlevania.

yes



Yes



YES

 

[Attack You]

... which didn't star an aristocratic pansy as the hero?

This is a serious question. I know the game is Japanese, that it comes from a stylish, if effeminate, tradition dating back from the 80's, and a lot of Castlevania fans seem to worship that style, a bit like MGS fans do in their own way.

I guess I am wondering if style overrides gameplay in that series and if introducing a hero who actually looks like he could kick butt would be betraying the Castlevania name.

See, I'm a huge Castlevania fan, and I've never once looked at the characters in that light. Maybe if I were a more superficial person, it would've started to bother me. If they were whiny and bitchy aristocratic pansies, then I might take issue. Otherwise, I don't care.

 

[Kiriku]

I want another spear-toter like in Bloodlines, my favorite Castlevania.

Fuck yeah.

 

[sirris]

BRING BACK THE BELMONTS

No. Do one better. Bring back a female Belmont. Sonya namely.

 

[BuddyC]

Cel-shading ruined Zelda.

 

[TheDiave]

Awesome, and true.

 

[demi]

No. Do one better. Bring back a female Belmont. Sonya namely.

Girls are yucky.

 

[dark10x]

CastleVania used to have masculine heroes and after Richter they hired some retarded artist who more or less ruined it completely. Alucard anyone?

I thought people liked Alucard, though. :\

 

[DonasaurusRex]

Alucard is a mans man

 

[Ranger X]

They should start by succeeding in making a great 3D Castlevania before anything else.
So far they failed miserably. I'll take pretty much any main character style if the game is gold.

 

[Daigoro]

dumb question if youve ever player CV 1-4.

 

[dark10x]

It just seems that Iga and crew are unable to think in 3D. It's as if they simply have no concept of how to design an actual, compelling 3D world.

 

[SantaC]

It just seems that Iga and crew are unable to think in 3D. It's as if they simply have no concept of how to design an actual, compelling 3D world.

it might come next-gen...

If they will make their next CV game to PSP, I hope it's hi-res 2D.

 

[Ranger X]

It just seems that Iga and crew are unable to think in 3D. It's as if they simply have no concept of how to design an actual, compelling 3D world.

They should go for what i call "linear 3D" like the Maximo games. It would fit alot for Castlevania.

 

[Straightballin]

Girls are yucky.

Fag

 

[dark10x]

They should go for what i call "linear 3D" like the Maximo games. It would fit alot for Castlevania.

There are many different approaches they could take. Their current design involves very simplistic, generally flat rooms that are created from and connected by existing pieces. They could go a linear, Maximo-like route...or they could attempt to create a full blown environment to explore (like the castle in ICO or something).

 

[Jeff-DSA]

Alucard is awesome, I don't know how you could hate on him.

I always thought that the series should have remained with the Belmonts though. It's a cool concept, an ancient family fighting an immortal enemy for eternity. Alucard fit well though, and it didn't bother me he wasn't a Belmont.

 

[jarrod]

CastleVania used to have masculine heroes and after Richter they hired some retarded artist who more or less ruined it completely. Alucard anyone?

Funny enough, Alucard predates Richter by a good 5 years iirc.

 

[Instigator]

Awesome, and true.

Just don't read my threads. No one is forcing you.

 

[Ranger X]

full blown environment to explore (like the castle in ICO or something).

Yeah the feeling of being in a Castle is EXTREMELY important.
Damned the super-market flat feel of LOI.

 

[genjiZERO]

It just seems that Iga and crew are unable to think in 3D. It's as if they simply have no concept of how to design an actual, compelling 3D world.

but who cares anyway? Their 2D worlds are so enthralling. Stick with what you do best I say. Becides there's already way to many 3D action/adventure games. The 2D experience is something Iga does better than anyone else.

And to answer the topic question... as long as they aren't mindless meatheads with jaws larger than their skulls I don't care. But this is a vampire story and aren't vampires supposed to be beautiful to the point of decadence?

 

[SolidSnakex]

CastleVania used to have masculine heroes and after Richter they hired some retarded artist who more or less ruined it completely. Alucard anyone?

Old Richter

New Richter

Yah Ayami really ruined that didn't she?

 

[demi]

Fag

neener neener neeeeener~

 

[Jeff-DSA]

Simon Belmont

 

[Instigator]

Old Richter

New Richter

Yah Ayami really ruined that didn't she?

So... which one is supposed to be masculine?

 

[Ranger X]

I don't know what's feminine about those. They look hot.
It's just the change of art you don't like.

What is not cool is the new hero of Curse of Darkness...

 

[Daigoro]

Konami should hire Treasure to do a Gradius V on the Castlevania series.

im just saying.

 

[Kai Dracon]

Problem is, I don't consider most of Kojima's Castlevania character designs to be truly "effeminate" in the way that most people who hate them seemt to me = i.e. 'homosexual'. First, WTF is up with considering Alucard that way? He's a dampier. He's half-vampire - he comes from being RAISED as a vampire, by Dracula himself, and is bred in the gothic world of vampires, which in much traditional imagery is victorian. It's 'pale faced pretty boy' (and it ain't just due to Anne Rice folks). Or rather, striking, seductive figures. So Alucard fits in perfectly well. In fact, he's probably one of the best vamp-ish designs ever.

As for the rest of the characters... err, take a look around. The 'girly man' Belmont designs all reflect the gothic tradition of their setting and time periods. In Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (and in the new DS sequel to it), the new Belmont shown there is a bit midieval but also from a modern time, and doesn't look like the other 'pretty boys' from the past.

I'll admit Soma Cruz is a bit of a, well, WEIRD design. Not extremely pretty or elegant, yet having an affection for overly plush fur coats. Okay.

Bleh. I just think the hand-wringing over Castlevania character designs is overblown at this point. And besides - for god's sake, go back and look at some of the really old Belmont men. There's more homeoerotic Conan-esque Man Panty shots of old-school Simon in the illustrations than anything Alucard could summon up.

 

[jarrod]

Bleh. I just think the hand-wringing over Castlevania character designs is overblown at this point. And besides - for god's sake, go back and look at some of the really old Belmont men. There's more homeoerotic Conan-esque Man Panty shots of old-school Simon in the illustrations than anything Alucard could summon up.

Agreed. Bring back the Belmonts!

 

[Idioteque]

No, I would not like that.

The art design is one of the reasons why I love Castlevania so much.

 

[Pimpbaa]

I don't mind most of the effeminate designs in Castlevania, mainly cause they fit the gothicness. But some are just bad (like the Belmont in the first ps2 castlevania) or that bad guy in the the new PS2 Castlevania (just way too over the top with the homosexuality).

 

[genjiZERO]

Problem is, I don't consider most of Kojima's Castlevania character designs to be truly "effeminate" in the way that most people who hate them seemt to me = i.e. 'homosexual'. First, WTF is up with considering Alucard that way? He's a dampier. He's half-vampire - he comes from being RAISED as a vampire, by Dracula himself, and is bred in the gothic world of vampires, which in much traditional imagery is victorian. It's 'pale faced pretty boy' (and it ain't just due to Anne Rice folks). Or rather, striking, seductive figures. So Alucard fits in perfectly well. In fact, he's probably one of the best vamp-ish designs ever.

As for the rest of the characters... err, take a look around. The 'girly man' Belmont designs all reflect the gothic tradition of their setting and time periods. In Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (and in the new DS sequel to it), the new Belmont shown there is a bit midieval but also from a modern time, and doesn't look like the other 'pretty boys' from the past.

I'll admit Soma Cruz is a bit of a, well, WEIRD design. Not extremely pretty or elegant, yet having an affection for overly plush fur coats. Okay.

Bleh. I just think the hand-wringing over Castlevania character designs is overblown at this point. And besides - for god's sake, go back and look at some of the really old Belmont men. There's more homeoerotic Conan-esque Man Panty shots of old-school Simon in the illustrations than anything Alucard could summon up.

Precisely. I wouldn’t really call the Victorian era the height of masculinity anyway

 

[sammy]

... which didn't star an aristocratic pansy as the hero?

This is a serious question. I know the game is Japanese, that it comes from a stylish, if effeminate, tradition dating back from the 80's, and a lot of Castlevania fans seem to worship that style, a bit like MGS fans do in their own way.

I guess I am wondering if style overrides gameplay in that series and if introducing a hero who actually looks like he could kick butt would be betraying the Castlevania name.

So, you're saying the industry needs more....

 

[Shaheed79]

Agreed. Bring back the Belmonts!

Umm......

yeah

:lol

 

[Zaptruder]

Soma Cruz is acceptable. But any more sexually ambiguous than that, and I too will have to join the chorus of voices decrying girly men in the series.

But really... it'd be good if they brought in a hot chick as a co-lead... because I'm such a desperate perv and all that.

 

[Instigator]

So, you're saying the industry needs more....

Deformed, veiny beefcakes are not the epitome of masculinity. They're freaks.

It's a combination of having a respectable frame and the right outfit.

These are some examples. I don't think those could be transplanted in a (Castlevania) game directly, without some retouching and adjusting their clothes to the timeline, but to me, these people mean business because they look the part and don't seem to care more about their manicure and perm.

I also wouldn't underestimate Japanese drawing style as a contributing factor to this pansy problem.

 

[Shompola]

I am just dead tired of the so called aristrocatic look as someone said they are. Super bleached skin etc. is just tiresome. Bring something new or OLD as the 2D Belmonts.