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[SantaC]

I replayed SotN recently again, and even though it's the first "Metroidvania" (though I hate that term) game in the series, it's still the best. (just edging AoS and SC4) The design, the atmosphere, the many different items, and the fabulous MUSIC are all ace. This is the complete package indeed.

That said, I have very very high hopes for Dawn of Sorrow with it's 2D capablities which should come close to SotN quality.

 

[Madame M]

Aria of Sorrow

 

[AtomicShroom]

Indeed.

But I still want my full-fledged SOTN-like Castlevania for PSP.

 

[SantaC]

Indeed.

But I still want my full-fledged SOTN-like Castlevania for PSP.

Dont count on it soon. IGA has stated that making a 2D hi-res CV for PSP would be expensive.

Aria of Sorrow

one of the best

 

[Shompola]

I am not a fan of metroidvania, played too many of them recently!!! But SOTN really is a masterpiece.. definitely one of the best, easily top three for me atleast. Castlevania for nostalgic reasons is also up there, and CastleVania IV was just awesome. CastleVania III was a bit lame IMO, but you can see that CastleVania IV has stolen some ideas/designs from it though.. Never played the PC Engine version but I will in a month when I get my DUO-R. The DS version seems to be very very good.

 

[Ronin]

Aria of Sorrow

Not the best, but better than SOTN.

 

[Parallax Scroll]

Did you mean the best Castlevania game, or the best videogame in the history of the planet? Cause either way, you're fucking RIGHT.

 

[Baron Aloha]

Castlevanias III & IV are still the best games in the series IMO.

 

[SantaC]

Did you mean the best Castlevania game, or the best videogame in the history of the planet? Cause either way, you're fucking RIGHT.

Best castlevania game, but it's definitley up there as the best game ever with OoT, SMB3, a FF game etc.

edit: i am definitley not discrediting the earlier Castlevania games, I loved em too.

 

[Spectral Glider]

Give me I, III, or IV any day of the week over the RPG wannabe stuff. After the 16-bit era, the Cvania series lost me.

 

[Red Scarlet]

Castlevanias III & IV are still the best games in the series IMO.

*high five*

NitM/SotN pisses me off when I don't get a weapon later on. And filling out the map is annoying in some parts. Aside from that, I agree that it's the best post-SNES Castlevania (haven't played Rondo).

 

[HCgamer]

1. Aria of Sorrow
2. Symphony of the Night
3. Castlevania 4
4. Castlevania
5. Bloodlines

I have not played part 3 or Rondo of Blood.

 

[Matlock]

Aria of Sorrow is a far better Castlevania game.

 

[Reilly]

DIE MONSTER! YOU DON'T BELONG IN THIS WORLD!

 

[SantaC]

DIE MONSTER! YOU DON'T BELONG IN THIS WORLD!

:lol :lol

 

[Hellraizah]

Aria of Sorrow is a far better Castlevania game.

I fully support this statement.

 

[Idioteque]

Still the best game ever for me.

 

[Drinky Crow]

How could AoS be a better Castlevania? It's literally half the game SotN is, with worse music, secrets, levels, graphics, and bosses.

Circle of the Moon is so underrated, too.

 

[Red Scarlet]

It's too damn hard to see!

 

[Idioteque]

How could AoS be a better Castlevania? It's literally half the game SotN is, with worse music, secrets, levels, graphics, and bosses.

Circle of the Moon is so underrated, too.

Yeah, COTM is the best of the GBA Castlevanias

 

[Kiriku]

People always tend to forget Bloodlines in Castlevania discussions. It saddens me.
I consider it one of the best Castlevanias (at least among the action focused). The spear guy rocks!

But I still hold SOTN as the best Castlevania game.

 

[GDJustin]

How could AoS be a better Castlevania? It's literally half the game SotN is, with worse music, secrets, levels, graphics, and bosses.

Me agreeing with Drinky? What is this world coming to?

Seriously though, SotN smokes all other modern Castlevanias.

 

[Idioteque]

It's too damn hard to see!

Not if you play it on the DS.

 

[Matlock]

How could AoS be a better Castlevania? It's literally half the game SotN is, with worse music, secrets, levels, graphics, and bosses.

Circle of the Moon is so underrated, too.

I'll disagree on everyting but graphics here--AoS' music, even though it's not the same playback quality--is much better orchestrated.

Gameplay is a bit deeper and more fun in AoS, with the souls making it all good.

 

[Cathcart]

Aria of Sorrow is a far better Castlevania game.

Yup, the souls are way more better than any other Castlevania magic system. Easily my favorite CV game.

I think CotM gets the short shrift because the graphics are kind of dark and it came out back before we had the SP. That game was hard to play in all but the best lighting situations. You pretty much had to play it in a bathroom or with a flashlight in your mouth. I played it for the second time on the Gameboy Player and it was a lot more fun. CotM is definitely underrated, but it's not better than Aria.

 

[Forgotten Ancient]

While Aria of Sorrow was one of the best Castlevania games ever, I strongly support the notion that SOTN is one of the best games ever, period.

SOTN was longer, the graphics were better, the enemies were generally cooler (with a few generic ones here and there), and the music was absolutely some of the best composed and highest quality of music ever to grace a game.

I like the soul system in AoS better...but, that really is about all I can say that AoS has over SOTN.

 

[Fatghost]

Rondo of Blood is still the absolute best Castlevania game.

 

[SantaC]

How could AoS be a better Castlevania? It's literally half the game SotN is, with worse music, secrets, levels, graphics, and bosses.

Circle of the Moon is so underrated, too.

Circle of the Moon has a "grittier" atmosphere than AoS, and it's more difficult, so in some way it's better than AoS yes. They're about equal.

I'd say:

1. SotN
2. AoS & CotM
3. SC4

that said...less than 2 months to go!

 

[Fatghost]

Best. Castlevania. Ever.

 

[Troidal]

SOTN (PS1), III (NES), and IV (SNES).
The best three in my book.

 

[mosaic]

Castlevania Chronicle for PSOne was fun stuff. I actually managed to beat both the original and the upgrade too. And I didn't end up breaking windows.

 

[Docpan]

WOOO HOOO another CV thread by SantaCruzer!!
hee haaa

 

[Red Scarlet]

Not if you play it on the DS.

Game Boy Player > DS.

But it's a moot point, I was looking for my CotM and it's vanished. R.I.P. :'(

 

[Kiriku]

Concerning Chi no Rondo/Circle of Blood...it has the best Castlevania soundtrack ever, but the controls are stale and limited.

 

[evil ways]

SotN is my most replayed game ever. I must have like 4 different save files for it including the Richter playthrough and they all have different weapons, items, and stats. One of these days I'll get every single item in a save file.

Give me I, III, or IV any day of the week over the RPG wannabe stuff. After the 16-bit era, the Cvania series lost me.

YOUR WORDS ARE AS EMPTY AS YOUR SOUL!!!

 

[Red Scarlet]

Castlevania Chronicle for PSOne was fun stuff. I actually managed to beat both the original and the upgrade too. And I didn't end up breaking windows.

That was a fun game, but it wasn't too hard (beat it in like 4 hrs). Can't get past level 2 or 3 now, the scrolling upward one. Bloody Tears and Simon Belmont's theme from that sounded really good though.

 

[SantaC]

WOOO HOOO another CV thread by SantaCruzer!!
hee haaa

I know, I am such a cv fanboy

don't let it stop you

 

[Spectral Glider]

YOUR WORDS ARE AS EMPTY AS YOUR SOUL!!!

But yet still not as empty as the weird gameplay that Konami keeps trying to pass off as Castlevania these days.

 

[Error]

SOTN is the King of Castlevania games Aria comes second. Dawn of Sorrow has the potential to be the new King because the game looks fucking awesome bring it on I'm ready for it

 

[Seth C]

But yet still not as empty as the weird gameplay that Konami keeps trying to pass off as Castlevania these days.

You mean the new and impoved gameplay?

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

CotM was unjustly pooped on because of Nintendo's shitty hardware.

Thanks a fucking lot you stingy bastards!

 

[evil ways]

But yet still not as empty as the weird gameplay that Konami keeps trying to pass off as Castlevania these days.

You mean empty gameplay as in jumping around the same blocks only colored different for each level, using the same single whip attack against every enemy, and climbing stairs?

Shit, at least Metroidvania has aged excellently both in the gameplay and looks department. Different weapons, armor, shields, items, abilities, rooms that are actually different and interesting to walk around in. The only flaw SotN has is that there are too many save points and you can power yourself up to insane levels, making the game easy.

 

[Sanjuro]

The dialog in SOTN was just too funny/rememberable to ignore. The unique "Metroid" style that is new to the franchise was also another feature to never be forgotten.

Aria of Sorrow is amazingly good as well, but never gives you the feeling of somthing new as that incredible feeling booting up the first Castlevania game of the 32-Bit era.

 

[bjork]

The fact that I last replayed this game in 2003 and still found new things out about it just amazed me. I thought I had totally picked this game apart before that, but didn't know about the items underneath the librarian (after you get the lifemax).

Though, I've still never been able to trigger the bonus rooms when the game starts.

 

[The Faceless Master]

i find the lack of CastleVania II love in this thread disturbing...

 

[Lemurnator]

What happened to the guy who did the character art in all the other Castlevanias?

Castlevania always did have the best box art, and character art for a few games in the series.

 

[Ranger X]

Aria's gameplay is better but not the sound quality and graphic quality. My love goes for Aria of Sorrow but i think SOTN is a better game in overall counting the graphics and sound.

 

[Companion Cube]

What happened to the guy who did the character art in all the other Castlevanias?

Castlevania always did have the best box art, and character art for a few games in the series.

She(?) is concentrating on the other Castlevania, Curse of Darkness, I believe.

 

[TheJollyCorner]

sad that the Castlevania guy (can't think of his name) is far more interested in making sub-par 3D Castlevania games now. Shit I'd love to see a 2D Castlevania on 360 of PS3... never happen, though. *crys pee*

 

[Gattsu25]

regarding the GBA CVs, I would put AoS on the same level as CotM and forget that other one...I prefer SotN over all of the newer CVs, though...
CV 2, Bloodlines, and CV IV are all great games as well...