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[kremiso]

This lovely serie has changed quite a lot, passing through a couple of console generations and trying different gameplay approaches.
Do you have a favorite gameplay mechanic between all the different that Konami tried until now?
Pure 2d arcade/platform, arcade/rpg, 3D platform, God of War like ?
Is it the Symphony of the Night the perfect formula or did you like something else much more?

 

[Ozzie666]

Really difficult, but I think SOTN and Rondo represent the best of two different styles.

 

[keefged4]

Symphony of the Night is the best one overall after playing the whole series, but I have to admit my favourite and the most nostalgia I have is for 64 and legacy of darkness.

 

[Zannegan]

Loved what soul capturing did for the Metroidvania games, so the Soma Cruz entries are my favorite, with SotN coming in a close second.

Hated Lords of Shadow when it was new, though maybe I'll give it another chance someday. I loved DMC III, so in theory that kind of linear action game should be right up my alley, but it just felt so braindead and boring that I checked out after a few hours. NOT what I was hoping for in a 3D Castlevania revival... then again, neither was LoI or CoD. *shrug*

Someday someone will make a "Castlevania Prime" and all will be right with the world.

 

[Red Crayon Aristocrat]

Tough choice if I can only pick two, but if I had it'd have to be SOTN and Aria of Sorrow.

 

[Naked Lunch]

The classic formula of the NES Castlevanias thru Rondo are the best the series has to offer.
Castlevania III and Rondo to be exact.

Ultimately, the Metroidvania games, while high quality, are just too easy. Cakewalks.

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

Nes Castlevania 2 and 3.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Castlevania 64 and Lords Of Shadow are my two favorite. They are also the two with the best stories, which isn't a coincidence.

 

[Kacho]

Doesn't get better than Rondo + SOTN

 

[Holammer]

The poll could have been SotN + "other".

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

SoTN

Super Castlevania IV

Portrait of Ruin

Order of Ecclesia

Curse of Darkness is pretty Good too

 

[BossLackey]

Really difficult, but I think SOTN and Rondo represent the best of two different styles.

This is the correct answer.

 

[Reizo Ryuu]

Harmony of Despair was like crack

 

[Icymanipulator]

Symphony of the Night
And for me it's not even close.

 

[March Climber]

Symphony of the Night is the best one overall after playing the whole series, but I have to admit my favourite and the most nostalgia I have is for 64 and legacy of darkness.

With some refinement, 64 could have been a fantastic precursor to what Demon's Souls ended up doing.

It had the following great ideas with poor execution:

-Good setpieces
-Good lore-based storytelling
-Good Puzzle/level design ideas
-Some 'gimmick' bosses

All things that DS took to a much needed next level.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

Sotn + gba + ds
I like all Castlevania, but the top are my gotos.

 

[Werewolf Jones]

Rondo and Nocturne in the Moonlight.

 

[TerribleAtThisGame]

Symphony and CIII are my favorites. I need to revisit some of these. Rondo is awesome too.

 

[BossLackey]

Castlevania 64 and Lords Of Shadow are my two favorite. They are also the two with the best stories, which isn't a coincidence.

 

[alf717]

Gambamania!! Hit the lever!! Best era!!

Seriously though I would say NES/SNES era, they are the only ones I really played to be honest.

 

[diffusionx]

The GBA games are ok but the DS ones are much better imo.

But I really like the original.

 

[amigastar]

My first real contact with Castlevania was Dawn of Sorrow for the NDS but i've played SotN and loved it.

 

[TheDarkPhantom]

SoTN is one of the greatest videogames ever made, period. How is Super Castlevania IV not on the list? Mode 7, if you know you know

 

[NeverYouMind]

Difficult question. Objectively speaking Symphony of the Night and Portrait of Ruin knock it out of the park but lately I have been more fixated on the dual stage paths with unique bosses in Rondo and RNG drop farming in Harmony of Despair. Given only two choices I would probably side with:

Symphony of the Night & Harmony of Despair 3/10 times.
Rondo of Blood & Harmony of Despair 3/10 times. <- Today I chose this...
Rondo of Blood & Symphony of the Night 2/10 times.
Portrait of Ruin & Harmony of Despair 2/10 times.
*I would never pair Portrait of Ruin with Rondo since playing as Richter and Maria is possible in both.

So, I guess I would choose Harmony of Despair most of the time and agonize deciding between Symphony of the Night and Rondo of Blood.

P.S. I would really like a Harmony of Despair sequel to build on the original minus the NES content.

 

[EverydayBeast]

I remember n64 castlevaina being unique

 

[AJUMP23]

I played the first and second like them both. Played symphony of night.

Still enjoy the original.

 

[Fermbiz]

Everyone is going to say SotN, but Castlevania IV is my favorite of the series. Followed by original NES game, then SotN

 

[Azelover]

Symphony of the Night was pretty fucking awesome..

Dawn of Sorrow for the DS was pretty tight aswell. It was the first time I played a Castlevania on a handheld, with a nice progressive screen. I only had a CRT up to that point.

 

[HYDE]

Really difficult, but I think SOTN and Rondo represent the best of two different styles.

I think Order of Ecclesia tops it personally.
But Rondo is incredible with great tunes.

 

[Generic]

Classic = Castlevania IV

Metroidvania = Aria of Sorrow

3Dvania = Legacy of Darkness (the one with the werewolf)

 

[CGNoire]

3 and Lords of Shadow are my favs.

Definitly Lords of Shadow for the story.

 

[Come On Tars]

Thought I was crazy picking 64. Turns out I'm not alone. That's just something about it. I'll never forget the vampire mirror scene. Also people forget this absolute banger song

 

[Rran]

Super Castlevania IV is still my favorite. Dripping in atmosphere and variety and it's a tight 90 minutes that's always fun to revisit. The Igavanias just don't hit the same way for me as they do everyone else.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Thought I was crazy picking 64. Turns out I'm not alone. That's just something about it. I'll never forget the vampire mirror scene. Also people forget this absolute banger song

 

[Pasta la Vista]

All except the N64 and Mercuryshit games

 

[Enzo88]

Castlevania 3 underrated or too old?

 

[Magic Carpet]

The only ones I know are the Gameboy versions.
I remember playing those on a dark hard to see gameboy advance screen. I think I might still have the first game in a box with an original gameboy somewhere. The screen had missing lines.

 

[Sunraku]

Rondo of Blood and Aria of Sorrow are my two favorites from each Style, with Rondo being the best game in the franchise overall for me

 

[StreetsofBeige]

I only played the 2D oldies + SOTN.

SOTN hands down the best. I liked Simon's Quest too. Had cool take as a mini-RPG like it's Zelda II. But an oddly hard game esp when it turned night time. Or perhaps, it wasnt as hard as it seemed but my gaming skills back then just stunk.

C4 and Bloodlines were good too. C4 > Bloodlines based on much better music.

 

[Hawk The Slayer]

Lords of Shadows.

 

[existensmaximum]

Am I stupid and blind or where is Super Castlevania IV in the poll? That's rhe best game for me and it's not even close. Definitely the most refined Castlevania game and the most Castlevania.

 

[Boss Mog]

I really enjoyed the Soma Cruz games. Gaining the enemy powers worked well.

 

[Kamina]

I've played through SotN more often than any other game, and i own multiple copies.

 

[Paltheos]

SOTN and OOE are my picks. Most of the Igavanias are pretty fun though. I tried the classicvanias too (relatively) recently and was... thoroughly unimpressed. I don't think I liked a single one.

 

[kremiso]

added Super Castlevania IV to the poll;
let me know if you want also some other adds thanks

i see some love for Harmony of Despair, i think it is the lone variant that i haven't tried yet

 

[Soodanim]

My second vote went to Dawn, but I forget which I like more out of Aria and Dawn. Could be either.

If Aria wasn't limited by the GBA and Dawn wasn't bogged down by forced DS mechanics we would have a consistent SotN trilogy

 

[SpiceRacz]

You're fucking high or retarded if Symphony isn't your first choice. I could go either way between Super Castlevania IV and Rondo of Blood.

 

[LavitzSlambert]

Symphony of the Night and Dawn of Sorrow are far and away the best Castlevanias ever made.

 

[kunonabi]

Only two options is madness. Went with 3 and CV64 with the latter being my 3rd favorite game of all time. CV1 would be third.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

The DS Era is my favorite so far