Castlevania

Solar Knight

Well well, I thought it would be nice to talk about the series, so… yeah.

I've only really played four games (the first three and Dawn of Sorrow), but I'd like to track down some of the other ones. I recieved DoS for Christmas, and it's quite addictive, but I'm stuck in Subterranian Hell. The use of the touch screen isn't much, but it's still nice (I sometimes practice Magic Seals to see how fast I can go). Favorite boss so far would have to be the Puppet Master.

As for the old ones... I like the first one best (not too fond of Simon's Adventure). I'm pretty sure I've never completed any of the games, which I'm intending on finishing DoS. That gap of the many other ones isn't something I'm looking to fill at the moment. I've heard many good things though about Symphony of the Night, which I shoulda bought a few years back when I saw it for sale at a Winn Dixie (no joke).

KatanaJon1.1

I've heard many good things though about Symphony of the Night, which I shoulda bought a few years back when I saw it for sale at a Winn Dixie

It is a very good game. It shouldn't be TOO hard to find. I think I'll go play it. Thanks!

Zio

Symphony of the Night IS good. Then again, it kind of has to be since almost every handheld Castlevania game uses the same design.

I just gotten all three endings for Dawn of Sorrows and I HATE drawing Magic Seal 3. I keep screwing it up, yet I can easily do 4 and 5. Julius mode is badass and I just scored Nunchakus in Boss Rush mode so I have those equipped for Soma in attempt to make him go Bruce Lee on those monsters.

Favorite bosses are Dario and Diimitri. Diimitri is fun to fight against since he will copy the level 1 version of any bullet soul you hit him with and even copy Julius's attacks like his Holy Water. And Dario is just cool.

Solar Knight

EDIT:
I know what you mean on the 3rd seal, which is why I practice it. I remember when I fought Dmitri, I made the dumbass mistake on not using a magic skill, until I used a bomb on him. I felt like an idiot after that…

Can't wait to beat the game and play as Julius. Old people can kick ass too!

@KatanaJon1.1:

It is a very good game. It shouldn't be TOO hard to find. I think I'll go play it. Thanks!

You're welcome? I could probably find it somewhere used (like EB games or something. worked on finding the greatness of Breath of Fire III). Maybe I should go to that Winn Dixie sometime and see if there's a chance of it still being there (doubtful =/ ).

wolfwood

Im one of those new age Castlevania whos experiences with castlevania maninly revolve around the GBA and DS games and havent played much or even really liked any of the oldies that had no RPG elements in them(though i did kinda enjoy simons quests) and i have played and own Circle of the moon, Aria of sorrow,and Dawn of sorrow.

and right now im mad about DoS and im playing my little fingers of in an effort to complete everything in the game,
thus far i have gotten all the boss rush items explored 98% of the map,gotten all three endings and finished Julius Mode(which by the way was waay too easy me thinks) and And made every weapon in the game =D

Greg

I've heard many good things though about Symphony of the Night

This is the understatement of the century (and I'm well aware that we're 6 years in). I have been playing the game since it was originally released and I'm still finding new things.

NeoShweaty

its a greatest hits title now, SotN, that is so it is very cheap used now. That is one hell of a game. I am in the inverse castle now. The other ones are cut from the same cloth but dont quite make it for me like SotN but then again the comparison is to one of the greats

Cap'n Carter

I've never been able to find a copy. Well, there was one at Gamestop, but by the time I had the money to buy it, it was gone. :(

Solar Knight

@omae:

This is the understatement of the century (and I'm well aware that we're 6 years in).

Let's see if anything beats that in the next 94 years.

Well I'll keep a look out for a copy (I really don't wanna order it online). I've seen used PS games for $20+, which is kinda crappy (but hey, I've heard of one SNES game selling for $50. I think it was called Secret of Mana or something).

Buccaneer

I played the NES games waaay back and liked them. But I really feel SotN is overrated. It's why I can't get into the series now.

Greg

SotN is a masterpiece. Nothing has touched it since. If I can play a game almost a decade later and still find stuff, it's worth the praise it gets.

Hobo-Ou

I have been playing the game since it was originally released and I'm still finding new things.

I too still play it, but I think I discovered every nook and craney, but I love the game so much that I just can't help playing it.

But I really feel SotN is overrated.

I honestly don't see how you can see that.

I love the Castlevania series (with the exception of the CV 64) and I'm right now replaying Belmont's Revenge for the GB.

Solar Knight

People who disagree with Buccaneer now know what Halo, Gran Turismo, Madden, Grand Theft Auto, ect. fans feel. It's referred to as a different opinion.

Myoti

I love Castlevania. :D

I have yet to play SotN, though, being that I do not own a PS…

Oh, and the Julius Mode Final Boss on DoS = Awesomeness...

Yoska

@Solar:

People who disagree with Buccaneer now know what Halo, Gran Turismo, Madden, Grand Theft Auto, ect. fans feel. It's referred to as a different opinion.

All opinions aren't created equal. If I'm ill, I'll go ask a doctor's opinion for a good reason.

I feel stupid for not buying SotN when I could had. Well, Dawn of Sorrow shall pardon my silly mistake.

Solar Knight

Doctors lie, they are the root of all evil. Or so I'm told by The Ghost that Never Lies. =3

I really found out about how good SotN was a few days ago, so meh. You snooze you lose (especially in a gunfight).

Captain Kuro

I finished Aria of Sorrow awhile back (including the Boss Rush mode and all that). I've been playing Dawn of Sorrow now for awhile. Dawn of Sorrow and Phoenix Wright were my first DS games.

It's fun to find the JoJo references in Aria of Sorrow and Dawn of Sorrow too. I've found a few…in Aria there's a soul that comes out from behind your character, says "Ora Ora Ora!" and then starts punching really fast. In Dawn of Sorrow, there's a boss that can stop time and throws knives and stuff. I think there were some more too, but I'll have to remember.

I'm still wanting to play the PC Engine Dracula X though (everyone says it's one of the best - some say the best)...but no luck so far. It's really expensive to buy...and I can't get the rom to work.

I'm also trying to find the Saturn version of SotN because it's supposed to have some neat extra stuff.

KatanaJon1.1

@Captain:

It's fun to find the JoJo references in Aria of Sorrow and Dawn of Sorrow too. I've found quite a few.

Sweet.

I think I know about the Stone Mask one, but what are the others?

Captain Kuro

@KatanaJon1.1:

Sweet.

I think I know about the Stone Mask one, but what are the others?

Well, I edited my earlier post to include these, but here's some I can remember:

In Aria of Sorrow for GBA, there's an enemy soul you can get called "Cagnazzo". The enemy you get it from seems to have no relation to any JoJo character…but here's what his soul's ability does when you use it: A stand-like thing comes out from behind your character and shouts "ora ora ora!" and then begins punching repeatedly. You can leave him out and he keeps punching at enemies. By the way, I know the fast punching thing isn't only in JoJo...but the fact that he comes out from behind you like a stand makes it likely.

In Dawn of Sorrow for DS...there's a boss that can stop time like Dio. You fight him in front of a Clock Tower and he also throws knives when he stops time. This one is probably the most obvious.

And this one (also in DoS)...I don't know if it's a reference, or just similar, but when you unlock Yoko, she can do a move called "Blue Splash", which kind of looks like Emerald Splash. Nobody else has said this to be one (it's probably just me), but they both shoot crystal-like projectiles (except Blue Splash is blue).

Cap'n Carter

Zephyr (time stopping boss) even shouts "Tokiyo Tomare!" like Dio. I liked using his soul to pretend to be Dio.

Greg

People who disagree with Buccaneer now know what Halo, Gran Turismo, Madden, Grand Theft Auto, ect. fans feel.

Actually, although I've seen praise bestowed on MANY games, I've never flat-out disagreed with it.

If you're a FPS fan I can see exactly why you'd like Halo.

If you're a GT fan I can also see exactly why you'd love it to death.

Same with GTA and the rest. I can see precisely why they're so good but the style just isn't my cup of tea. I think they deserve the praise they get because they are amazing, even though I wouldn't consider adding them to my collection.

Solar Knight

Yeah… maybe I should stop blurting snotty comments. Sorry folks! ^^;

Quick question though (on topic too!): when did Castlevania become all RPG-esque anyway? Y'know, with all of the leveling up and such. Like I said before, there was a long gap between Castlevania III and DoS, so I was kinda surprised. Maybe I'm just so old fashioned... or something like that.

NeoShweaty

wasnt it in sotn that that happened? i know the metroid like gameplay was introduced here (according to the creator) but i dont know much about the predecesors of the series

Hobo-Ou

Yeah, SoTN is the first to have the RPG-esqe elements.

Greg

Quick question though (on topic too!): when did Castlevania become all RPG-esque anyway?

The transition started with X did it not? I'm still looking for a way to play the turbo duo version. What with it's multiple pathes and whatnot. It should be noted that SotN is a total Metroid rip but there's a big difference between ripping off a title and totally overhauling it into something new and wonderful.

Buccaneer

Well, I don't think SotN is bad at all. But definitely not what I'd consider for best PS game, or one of the top ten of all time. I'll give it credit for being deep, but it felt so dry and plain that I can't bring myself to give it higher than an 8. Which is really good anyway.

Yoska

I can understand Halo, perhaps Madden and maybe even, a very big even, GT but the high appreciation of GTA has been and is something I can't understand (although, yes, I understand why it's popular). While driving sequances are okey, on foot it's terrible. Just clumsy - gameplay went to a coffee-break. SA is about gang wars, you would expect gunfight to be well done. I had to get that out of my chest.

KatanaJon1.1

@Yoska:

I can understand Halo, perhaps Madden and maybe even, a very big even, GT but the high appreciation of GTA has been and is something I can't understand (although, yes, I understand why it's popular). While driving sequances are okey, on foot it's terrible. Just clumsy - gameplay went to a coffee-break. SA is about gang wars, you would expect gunfight to be well done. I had to get that out of my chest.

Screw the gunfight. I just jump on the train and ride around the state.

Yoska

I got the game from mail. Thank you, Play-Asia, you saved me from getting ripped off too badly (my normal, friendly neighbourhood video game store had it with a price tag of 55 euros - I shaved off 15 euros, that's 20 bucks!). It came along with Ouendan and a screen protector. I'm very pleased.

Dawn is Sorrow is so far, so splendid. It's nothing surprising but, aside of the let-down artwork, it's just really well done. I won't get too much into "yada yada" but it's seems like a four out of five stars game. We will see. Ouendan is another topic, and I think I'll go play it now.

KatanaJon1.1

@Cap'n:

Zephyr (time stopping boss) even shouts "Tokiyo Tomare!" like Dio.

What version is that? I heard that the English version has some of the voices removed.

I finally beat SOTN tonight. Shield Rod + Alucard Shield = Drac is defeated in SECONDS.

Perhaps I'll go through with Richter now.

Cap'n Carter

Mine was the English version.

Man, speakinf of DS that was a fastball. I never thought Arikado's name had any significance…

Hobo-Ou

I finally beat SOTN tonight. Shield Rod + Alucard Shield = Drac is defeated in SECONDS.

Shield Rod + Alucart Shield = Instant amusement

Solar Knight

Haha, I unlocked Julius mode today (I figured out what I was supposed to do. yay for exploring other areas). The first time I beat Anugi, the fire wave attack he sent out beforehand hit me and I died! I'm gonna try and beat the game with the best ending today.

I need practice on the 5th seal though. I always screw up on the same part near the end of it.

@Cap'n:

Man, speakinf of DS that was a fastball. I never thought Arikado's name had any significance…

What's the significance? Isn't it the japanese pronunciation for Alucard or something (just a guess. no idea if it is)?

Onigumo

Ha! I just beat the boss rush in DS castlevania in 3 minutes 32 seconds. And If I beat that time, I'll change this post to reflect it, but I don't think It can be done much faster than that.

Hobo-Ou

What's the significance? Isn't it the japanese pronunciation for Alucard or something (just a guess. no idea if it is)?

I thought his name was written like A-ka-do(アーカード) or something to that effect.