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Post by Avaril on May 11, 2012 10:02:15 GMT -8
What I like about Symphony of the Night's music is that it both uses "real" instruments and still is recognizable. Developers seem to have quite a bit of trouble with pulling that off, usually it's either heavily synthesized (in various degrees of recognizability) or bland, generic orchestra. I'd dsay the only composers that do non-synthesized music well nowadays are Jeremy Soule (Twice!), Michiel van den Bosch, Russel Shaw, the WoW chaps when they're having a good day (Too bad those in charge of putting the music into the game NEVER have a good day), and... that's pretty much all I can think of, and blimey, I've gone off on a rant again. What I really like about CoD though, is the chair room. It's a perfect example of collectibles done right. It has some real effort put into it and gives you an actual reward (a meadow filled with chairs), unlike collectibles in GTA (fuckin' pigeons!) and Saints Row where it just increases a counter and gives you an achievement for getting 'em all. It enriches the game, and doesn't pad it. However, I think Aria of Sorrow's collectible system is still better though; The soul system is both an element of the gameplay and the story, AND it serves as an optional collectible mechanic. It fulfils three purposes at once, what more could you ask for?
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Gemsteam
Krazier
Overlord of Earth
Posts: 244
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Post by Gemsteam on May 11, 2012 12:10:37 GMT -8
That It actually felt necessary. Oh don't get me wrong, the necessary souls were fun, but I felt no incentive to collect them, or even use them, because your sword was almost always stronger then the soul attack, and it didn't cost you to use it. Also, though Aria of Sorrow was fun, it had the Mother of all Game-Breakers: Ascalon. By the time it was available (This was with no grinding, mind you) I had enough money for it, and when you have it, its game over man. It also ruined the funnest part for me in these kind of Castlevania games, exploring, finding a new weapon, and becoming stronger.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2012 4:28:07 GMT -8
Wait, Ascalon, of all weapons, was the mother of all game-breakers? Good god no. You clearly never found Claimh Solais in Aria of Sorrow, did you? =P It was a bit OP when you first got it but generally got another one not long afterwards, likely Balmung, Claimh Solais, Roginus's Spear, or Dainslef. It's a mid-late'ish game weapon, so it works.
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Gemsteam
Krazier
Overlord of Earth
Posts: 244
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Post by Gemsteam on May 12, 2012 6:19:47 GMT -8
I call it the big game breaker because you don't have to go searching for it like Claimh Solais, you can buy it around the halfway point, and after that, I didn't have to use any other weapon because it was so OP. I only used Roginus Spear once or twice for Dark enemies, and for any other enemy, it had basically the same attack power as Ascalon. Claimh Solais is OP because it's a secret weapon that you have to work hard to get to, and yes, I have found it. Another problem I have with Aria Of Sorrow was that it was short, I beat it the first time in around 5 hours. Oh well, better to play a great game thats short then play a bad game thats long (I'm looking at you FF13)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2012 5:58:20 GMT -8
That's why I play Hard Mode. Problem solved. =P
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Post by baka_tyranno on May 17, 2012 16:00:12 GMT -8
I am about to say something that will blow everypony's minds.
I find Aria of Sorrow on Hard Mode easier than Symphony of the Night. No, I'm not even joking. I have to make an effort to die in Aria. Symphony, I had genuine tough moments and deaths. (That frakking bonus boss in the reverse castle whose name I can't even remember. You know the one. Tough as nails. Nails covered in concrete.) IMO, Aria's the easiest game in the series.
My favorite in the series? Hard to say. Tie between Aria and Symphony, I guess. Tie 1 and 4 for second.
I actually like Harmony of Despair a lot. Everything about it. Yes, even the soundtrack. I thought the music was just kickass. Sure, the instrumentation was completely different from every other game in the series, but so? Dawn's was, too, and that game's music is awesome.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2012 4:59:51 GMT -8
I am about to say something that will blow everypony's minds. I find Aria of Sorrow on Hard Mode easier than Symphony of the Night. No, I'm not even joking. I have to make an effort to die in Aria. Symphony, I had genuine tough moments and deaths. (That frakking bonus boss in the reverse castle whose name I can't even remember. You know the one. Tough as nails. Nails covered in concrete.) IMO, Aria's the easiest game in the series. My favorite in the series? Hard to say. Tie between Aria and Symphony, I guess. Tie 1 and 4 for second. I actually like Harmony of Despair a lot. Everything about it. Yes, even the soundtrack. I thought the music was just kickass. Sure, the instrumentation was completely different from every other game in the series, but so? Dawn's was, too, and that game's music is awesome. My only real question is this- How many times have you played Aria of Sorrow? =P That could have an impact. I won't argue much though, it is one of the easiest. I tend to avoid the oversized / overpowered weapons though. As far as the hardest Metroidvanias go, Circle of the Moon is arguably the hardest of them all. Being OP in CotM is... not an easy task, if at all possible. I can be high level and still get my ass beaten by a Devil or Dracula. Order of Ecclesia follows close behind, primarily because the first run-through is absurdly painful. And I always give up on Hard Mode.
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Post by Avaril on May 18, 2012 5:15:21 GMT -8
Order of Ecclesia hard? I thought it wasn't too difficult. I must say it wasn't one of my favourites though. Although the artstyle was an improvement compared to the previous two DS games, it lacked that true Metroidvania feeling. It was much too linear. I rushed through most of the non-Castlevania stages, and they didn't quite leave a lasting impact on me. Also, I'd like to punch the guy who designed Argila Swamp in the face. And I still don't like how formulaic some things in CotM were. Other than that it was quite a good (and hard) game.
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Post by baka_tyranno on May 18, 2012 12:27:52 GMT -8
I am about to say something that will blow everypony's minds. I find Aria of Sorrow on Hard Mode easier than Symphony of the Night. No, I'm not even joking. I have to make an effort to die in Aria. Symphony, I had genuine tough moments and deaths. (That frakking bonus boss in the reverse castle whose name I can't even remember. You know the one. Tough as nails. Nails covered in concrete.) IMO, Aria's the easiest game in the series. My favorite in the series? Hard to say. Tie between Aria and Symphony, I guess. Tie 1 and 4 for second. I actually like Harmony of Despair a lot. Everything about it. Yes, even the soundtrack. I thought the music was just kickass. Sure, the instrumentation was completely different from every other game in the series, but so? Dawn's was, too, and that game's music is awesome. My only real question is this- How many times have you played Aria of Sorrow? =P That could have an impact. I won't argue much though, it is one of the easiest. I tend to avoid the oversized / overpowered weapons though. As far as the hardest Metroidvanias go, Circle of the Moon is arguably the hardest of them all. Being OP in CotM is... not an easy task, if at all possible. I can be high level and still get my ass beaten by a Devil or Dracula. Order of Ecclesia follows close behind, primarily because the first run-through is absurdly painful. And I always give up on Hard Mode. I've played Aria many times. First time I played it, I didn't die once. Same with Hard Mode. I died the first time I played SotN. Many times. I agree - CotM is the hardest Metroidvania. I never found OoE to be very hard, though. The hardest Castlevania I've ever played is III. That's the only Castlevania game I own that I can't beat.
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Gemsteam
Krazier
Overlord of Earth
Posts: 244
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Post by Gemsteam on May 18, 2012 12:30:06 GMT -8
Then I must be a gaming god because I managed to beat 3 pretty quick ;D
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Ironmaiden
The Coffee Man's Child
SO FWEAKING ADOWABLE
Posts: 7
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Post by Ironmaiden on May 18, 2012 12:59:09 GMT -8
(That frakking bonus boss in the reverse castle whose name I can't even remember. You know the one. Tough as nails. Nails covered in concrete.) Galamoth? Oh **** him. First time playing the game, I didn't have the Alucard Shield and when I did get it, I didn't know the shield trick. Basically just went ahead and finished the story not fighting him. Arguably one of the hardest bosses in the series.... AoS was pretty easy in comparison to SotN, although I kinda blame it on the soul mechanic. I never really died to any of the bosses except for Julius while in SotN, I died at least ONCE to the bosses. *sees the words "Demon Castle War"* FFFFFFF- Konami, please make a game based off this! Seriously. Just for once, I'd like to play as Julius with revelance T~T
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Post by Avaril on May 18, 2012 13:07:10 GMT -8
You know what I think is the worst thing ever in a Castlevania game? The seals from DoS. One moment you're happily wailing away on a boss, and before you know it you have to scratch a few lines on the screen. It's like having to switch gears in a car going downhill with a hundred miles per hour and a missing gear lever.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2012 13:38:40 GMT -8
Order of Ecclesia hard? I thought it wasn't too difficult. I must say it wasn't one of my favourites though. Although the artstyle was an improvement compared to the previous two DS games, it lacked that true Metroidvania feeling. It was much too linear. I rushed through most of the non-Castlevania stages, and they didn't quite leave a lasting impact on me. Also, I'd like to punch the guy who designed Argila Swamp in the face. And I still don't like how formulaic some things in CotM were. Other than that it was quite a good (and hard) game. Most of the regular enemies weren't too difficult, though some of the bosses were just pure nutstompers. Blackmore being one of them. LET ME AWAY FROM THE WALL YOU PRICK!
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Post by baka_tyranno on May 18, 2012 13:51:14 GMT -8
Order of Ecclesia hard? I thought it wasn't too difficult. I must say it wasn't one of my favourites though. Although the artstyle was an improvement compared to the previous two DS games, it lacked that true Metroidvania feeling. It was much too linear. I rushed through most of the non-Castlevania stages, and they didn't quite leave a lasting impact on me. Also, I'd like to punch the guy who designed Argila Swamp in the face. And I still don't like how formulaic some things in CotM were. Other than that it was quite a good (and hard) game. Most of the regular enemies weren't too difficult, though some of the bosses were just pure nutstompers. Blackmore being one of them. LET ME AWAY FROM THE WALL YOU PRICK! I WILL TAKE YOUR SHADOW.He was probably the second hardest boss for me to get the medal for. Behind Drac. DARK INFERNO! FATAL RAY! DESTRUCTION RAY! DEMONIC MEGGIDO!
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Post by Akuma Kristian on May 19, 2012 7:59:39 GMT -8
I realised reading this that I don't really remember much of the Metroidvanias I've played (which admittedly isn't many) and I haven't played SotN since I didn't play Castlevania as a kid. I remember Order of Ecclesia and I have vague memories of Aria of Sorrow but that's about it.
Also I have to say my main problem with Ecclesia is the same problem I have with the Megaman ZX series. It tries to combine free roaming with the more linear style of older games. One or the other would be fine but when you put them together it feels wrong somehow. Probably because going back through semi-linear levels to complete sidequests or find items you missed IS NOT FUN!
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