-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow |OT| The MercurySteam has Vanquished the Horrible Night
- Thread starter brandonh83
- Start date
I'm personally not terribly impressed with this game yet. I'm in Chapter 2 in the Argatha Waterfall (or whatever) and the game is already repetitive. It's basically move from one mini-arena to another, fighting a group of smaller enemies teamed up with one of the larger creatures, and all of the larger creatures pretty much do the same attacks.
The fights are pretty difficult, imo, because they put you in such small areas rather than the enemies themselves being difficult or needing any kind of certain strategy. For instance, I just swung up to a plateau where there was a short cutscene with some clumsy creature and then the big momma version comes up behind me. After a sequence where I have to mash a button to get free I have to fight the bigger one with the smaller ones all around that keep respawning. The big version is basically a greater Lycanthrope, but isn't, and the area is so small it's difficult to dodge or block properly (since the cues for attacks are so hard to see at the distance the camera is situated it's just frustrating).
I'm not really feeling this, and I'd rather not play it at all than play it on easy. It's a shame the actual combat itself isn't anymore engaging to keep me interested.
The fights are pretty difficult, imo, because they put you in such small areas rather than the enemies themselves being difficult or needing any kind of certain strategy. For instance, I just swung up to a plateau where there was a short cutscene with some clumsy creature and then the big momma version comes up behind me. After a sequence where I have to mash a button to get free I have to fight the bigger one with the smaller ones all around that keep respawning. The big version is basically a greater Lycanthrope, but isn't, and the area is so small it's difficult to dodge or block properly (since the cues for attacks are so hard to see at the distance the camera is situated it's just frustrating).
I'm not really feeling this, and I'd rather not play it at all than play it on easy. It's a shame the actual combat itself isn't anymore engaging to keep me interested.
I love the combat. There are a ton of different combos and upgrades and ive found that different ones actually work well for certain enemies. Like the large werewolf dude blocks a lot and so using combos with powerful repetitive attacks isnt great. You have to resort to dodging and knives to take em out. Whereas something like the cave troll is a lot slower and so using certain attacks makes more sense.teiresias said:
The whole experience and unlock system is fairly addicting. The light and shadow system at this point seem like a bonus.
MadOdorMachine
No additional functions
I just picked the game up and so far it's really good. The story telling and graphics are top notch. I've only been playing it for an hour or two, but it seems there's more variety to the levels and gameplay than there has been in a 3D attempt since the N64 games. It's a completely new revision of Castlevania. I do have a few complaints so far. One is the constant shaky camera. Is there anyway to turn this off? Next is the framerate which I knew would be low and inconstant in the game, but there's a lot jitteriness I'm noticing. I don't think it would bother me as bad if it weren't for the shaky camera. Last is that there does seem to be a slight delay in the time it takes for you to press a button and the action be completed on screen. I can already tell I'm going to like the game and hope they make a sequel while fixing all of these technical hiccups. Despite the fact that there are issues, this is one of the best multiplatform games I've seen in a while. Konami spared no expense getting this right. You can tell a lot of effort has been put into this. I really do think this will be a chance to reach the series out to a broader audience.
teiresias said:
Don't dodge, counter. Once you can consistently counter any attack and keep your focus meter up the combat really clicks. The first troll fight in the bog I beat without even having to move. A couple counters and constant pressure made him go down in less than a minute.
Also at any time you can adjust the difficultly which is a great addition to the game and MercurySteam should get props for that.brandonh83
Banned
Okay well, so it's obvious that I pay a lot of attention to the music considering how much I post about it, so I wanted to add this: the first three notes of the victory theme when you beat a level is the first three notes of Vampire Killer, and there's also a rendition of it when you get a game over. If you think I'm crazy, keep Vampire Killer in mind when you hear what I just pointed out and it will click.
brandonh83
Banned
george_us said:
. :lol
Hawk269
Member
Let's say you gaf...
I am interested in this game, but have not had time to read alot of reviews about it. I played the demo and I think it kind of sucked a bit. It just seemed so fucking linear. The whole part of riding the horse, falling off the horse, getting back on the horse, falling off the horse, back on the horse..I mean, how fucking more linear can you get?
Well that was the demo and it was really limited..so for those that have the game, can you please supply with some inside if the game opens up at all or is it an on-rails/linear game throughout? Any exploration etc???
Thanks
I am interested in this game, but have not had time to read alot of reviews about it. I played the demo and I think it kind of sucked a bit. It just seemed so fucking linear. The whole part of riding the horse, falling off the horse, getting back on the horse, falling off the horse, back on the horse..I mean, how fucking more linear can you get?
Well that was the demo and it was really limited..so for those that have the game, can you please supply with some inside if the game opens up at all or is it an on-rails/linear game throughout? Any exploration etc???
Thanks
Community Forum
Member
That's it. I'm restarting on easy mode.
brandonh83
Banned
Hawk269 said:
I'm at the end of chapter 5 and that horse section has been the only one.
And the game is meant to be linear, its level-based but in 3D, think Uncharted. It's not an open-world title, not meant to be. But it's very beautiful and the game is very, very long. The demo doesn't even begin to do the game justice.
The demo was very on rails. Game opens up to the point where each level literally has about 3 potential branches you can take. Meaning you'll encounter a point where you can go left or right, and taking one or the other may or may not have to meet up in the same spot down the line. Most of the time they act as alternate routes through the level, but sometimes they take you to specific secret areas to collect unlockables. Also as the world map expands the game encourages leveling up on past levels and also adds additional mini-challenges to complete. I mean, yes the game is still a linear game, it isnt zelda, but compared to the horse sequence it is much more open.Hawk269 said:
Community Forum
Member
Teknoman said:
sweet
brandonh83
Banned
Zeal said:
Interested to see what I think about it. Some people love it and it downright seemed to kill the endgame for some. I have no idea what happens and I intend to keep it that way.
burgerdog said:
I didn't like it at all. :lol
Then again, nearly everything that occurred during the final level put a sour taste in my mouth. It came off a bit hammy to me.
Just me though. I probably have 15 years of bias perceptions for this series, and it seems new players really dig it.
Picked up the PS3 version and played through 2-2. Game has it's ups and downs but ultimately I am enjoying it so far.
The music: I love it and I hate it. It's fantastic stuff, but not the fantastic stuff I wanted for the game (so far at least, it's way early). Mostly love though.
The music: I love it and I hate it. It's fantastic stuff, but not the fantastic stuff I wanted for the game (so far at least, it's way early). Mostly love though.
paperheart
Banned
I'm in Chapter 3 right now, and I'm pretty much in love with this game.
brandonh83
Banned
LaneDS said:
Question, do you think Yamane's music would fit this game? I really don't. Her music is better suited for the faster-paced, 2D style gameplay and Araujo's score is perfect for this game's visual themes and environments.
I mean, it's your opinion and I used to think similarly when watching videos and stuff, but after actually playing the game I've changed my mind.
brandonh83 said:
Well, it's still really early on and when I say I hate it... that's the wrong word. The music is really, really incredible, and yes it fits very well. I just wish there were more familiar musical cues, and there might be later. Your comment about hearing Prologue redone in 4-2 (I think) was literally the straw that broke the camel's back for me and I ran to Best Buy and scooped it up.
Definitely enjoying it despite a few gripes, but I'm going to try to get much farther in before leveling any real praise or complaints on the game.
brandonh83
Banned
LaneDS said:
It really sneaks up on you. Maybe I shouldn't have spoiled it. It really took me by surprise. It's a new version of it, it sounds "prettier," but it's the same exact theme. And like I said, there are flourishes of Vampire Killer all over the place, but it's ingeniously hidden.
It's almost like they did it for the hardcore fans, knowing they'll be the only ones who really notice at some point.
ezekial45 said:
so far, as I pointed out in a post above (maybe you missed it, it's all good), Vampire Killer is extremely disguised as the music when you finish a stage, and I'm PRETTY SURE that the music when you get a game over is a super-glorified version of it but it's a lot less easier to notice it.
Just keep Vampire Killer in mind when you beat a stage and you'll be like "holy shit there it is." Some people may think I'm full of shit, because you do have to have an ear for this sort of thing. I used to play saxophone in orchestra so maybe it's easier for me to notice these things, I dunno.
when you beat a stage, listen to the first four notes VERY carefully.
paperheart
Banned
Wow, I'm going super slow then if you are in Chapter 6 already. Oh well, I'm savoring every moment, since it will be a while until another game I like comes out.NeoUltima said:
Barakov
Member
I played up to a little bit into 4-1. The chapter 3 boss was all kinds of crazy. And the good kind to boot. After playing some more, the combat is good just not great. With a little bit more polish it could of been a whole lot better. It was already obvious but this framerate isn't helping matters.
I already had my doubts about Zobek and I know I'm just having as many about Marie.
Similar threads
- Poll