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Castlevania: Old style or Metroidvania?

Error2k4 said:
you didn't have to level up a lot in DoS, game was pretty easy.
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I agree, with the right weapon (or even without) the game was pretty easy. I automatically levelled way too much thanks to certain souls... Argh.
 
Jefklak said:
I agree, with the right weapon (or even without) the game was pretty easy. I automatically levelled way too much thanks to certain souls... Argh.
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exp. system is one of the main reasons for which I prefer old style to Metroidvania.

the exp. system is bullshit and needs to go.
 
The Metroidvania games have really run their course.
Since SotN they have just gotten easier and easier with each subsequent release and the collecting you have to do has increased with each subsequent release.

I borrowed DoS from a friend and beat it in 3 days and then got half way through the game with Julius on the 4th day when I gave it back due to lack of interest.

The Metroidvania games have technically been good but also quite boring because of low difficulty and emphasis on collecting.

Bring back old style Castlevania and SOON.
 
Old style definitely.

Castlevania III > all other Castlevanias. It was an amazing combination of challenging platforming, branching paths, great music, different characters. On the Metroidvania side, I still think SoTN is the best by far, partially because it's the only console game of the group.
 
I prefer the old style Castlevanias. More than likely because they're what I grew up playing back in the day. As much as I like the Metroidvanias, they really need to vary them up in terms of locations and level design. I can only explore Dracula's castle so many times. Curse of Darkness was a nice step in the right direction in that regard.
 
Xiaoki said:
The Metroidvania games have technically been good but also quite boring because of low difficulty and emphasis on collecting.

Bring back old style Castlevania and SOON.
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Like Error2k4 says, metroidvania need to get ride of the leveling system but not other elements like equipable items. That will make the game a little harder, or not, but you won't need to keep grinding to beat a boss, you will only need your own ability.
 
I have never played a Castlevania game

*runs*

Do plan to get the GBA double pack at some point <_< >_>
 
Old school, but Simon's Quest does indeed rock. The Metroidvanias are just too easy and the level design is typically blander than Metroid. I'd like to see leveling taken out and more focus on tightening up level and enemy design so that we can have another challenging CV if they keep going the Metroidvania route.

I feel like with the rapid drop of difficulty, Castlevania has lost it's way. :(
 
IPGlider said:
I don't know if it wil have exp gain and other metroidvania elements, but PoR is supposed to be more old school and not castle centric.
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Nah, that's not really the case. First, you will gain EXP and level up. It's not old school and non-castle centric... you still have one big castle, like in the previous games; one map that will unfold as you explore the castle. The main difference is that instead of just having different "themed" areas within the castle you have the portraits that will allow you to explore more distinctly styled areas other than what you'd find in a castle.

Error2k4 said:
exp. system is one of the main reasons for which I prefer old style to Metroidvania.

the exp. system is bullshit and needs to go.
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The exp system's not bullshit. They're action RPGs instead of just standard platformers or action games (like the actual Metroids). There's nothing wrong with that.
 
ethelred said:
The exp system's not bullshit. They're action RPGs instead of just standard platformers or action games (like the actual Metroids). There's nothing wrong with that.
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the exp. system makes the Metroidvanias too damn easy.
 
Error2k4 said:
the exp. system makes the Metroidvanias too damn easy.
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No it doesn't, the actual design within the games is what makes them easy. If Igarashi's team designed an old school Castlevania, it would be easy, too.
 
I'll take both, but I sure wouldn't mind seeing a linear branching one, like CV3. Linear keeps things focused, and you can certainly design levels that encourage exploration within them.

That being said, it has to remain 2D or 2.5D. 3D Castlevanias need to go away... forever.
 
ethelred said:
No it doesn't, the actual design within the games is what makes them easy. If Igarashi's team designed an old school Castlevania, it would be easy, too.
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not really, they need make something like Julius Mode. now that was challenging sure it still had the levelling system but they didn't let you use potions and stuff like that. I want something similar to that mode in terms of difficulty.
 
I'm kinda growing tired of Metroidvania too and would love for a return to the ultra-challenging, linear structure of early CV games (specifically Rondo of Blood).
 
Rondo of Blood and SotN are my two favorite Castlevania games, so both. Metroidvania are already starting to seem tiresome though. It's like teasing.
 
Error2k4 said:
not really, they need make something like Julius Mode. now that was challenging sure it still had the levelling system but they didn't let you use potions and stuff like that. I want something similar to that mode in terms of difficulty.
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So you want items to go away, not exp! :P

That'd be fine.

ghibli99 said:
I'll take both, but I sure wouldn't mind seeing a linear branching one, like CV3. Linear keeps things focused, and you can certainly design levels that encourage exploration within them.

That being said, it has to remain 2D or 2.5D. 3D Castlevanias need to go away... forever.
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I think everyone can agree with that last part.
 
ethelred said:
So you want items to go away, not exp! :P

That'd be fine.
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I just meant they need to balance shit out, so that you don't become uber powerful in the middle of the game
 
I love the old style but if you look at the map of old Castlevanias and also the design style of Castlevania Simon's Quest, this series was crying for Metroidvania design.
I always felt Metroidvania style was the direct evolution of the old design and felt perfectly right with Castlevania.

Metroidvania FTW.
 
ethelred said:
Nah, that's not really the case. First, you will gain EXP and level up. It's not old school and non-castle centric... you still have one big castle, like in the previous games; one map that will unfold as you explore the castle. The main difference is that instead of just having different "themed" areas within the castle you have the portraits that will allow you to explore more distinctly styled areas other than what you'd find in a castle.
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Thanks for the info.

Error2k4 said:
I just meant they need to balance shit out, so that you don't become uber powerful in the middle of the game
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If the game have exp system, the balance don't matter, you can grind and become powerful enough to make the game easy. The only way of balance is get ride of the lvl system. Right?
 
IPGlider said:
Thanks for the info.



If the game have exp system, the balance don't matter, you can grind and become powerful enough to make the game easy. The only way of balance is get ride of the lvl system. Right?
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Yeah, they should probably get rid of leveling in Fire Emblem and Dragon Quest, too.

Actually, I dunno why RPGs/SRPGs/ARPGs exist at all.
 
ethelred said:
Yeah, they should probably get rid of leveling in Fire Emblem and Dragon Quest, too.

Actually, I dunno why RPGs/SRPGs/ARPGs exist at all.
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Dragon Quest and Fire Emblem are RPGs, without leveling and character development they are nothing. Castlevania is supposed to be a plataform and action game. Metroidvanias are fun, I love them, but maybe the metroidvania formula without leveling will be even better.
 
Metroidvania sans experience points and leveling = FTW!

Or. Let the enemies gain level as you gain them making it tougher.
 
I don't think exp is completely unnecessary for the Metroidvanias. If you spend all your time grinding, then sure, I suppose you could make it easy on yourself, but who has the patience for that? I certainly don't, but then I'm not much of an RPGamer in the first place. If you progress at a more reasonable rate the games can be quite hard at times (especially boss battles). The main problem I have with exp. is that it can make things too tedious at times, but it's a good feature overall.
 
i like Symphony of the Night, but the sequels have all been overkill. Super CV4 rocks though. Give me a sequel to that. More importantly, just get that hack IGA off the series.
 
Cdammen said:
Metroidvania sans experience points and leveling = FTW!

Or. Let the enemies gain level as you gain them making it tougher.
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This is a compromise that I could definitely get behind.
 
IPGlider said:
If the game have exp system, the balance don't matter, you can grind and become powerful enough to make the game easy. The only way of balance is get ride of the lvl system. Right?
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yeah I agree.

Yeah, they should probably get rid of leveling in Fire Emblem and Dragon Quest, too.

Actually, I dunno why RPGs/SRPGs/ARPGs exist at all.
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what are you talking about? Metroidvanias are nothing like Fire Emblem or Dragon Quest.

at least in FE and DQ they balance things, like for example in FE (aside from FE SS which is the easiest FE yet btw) they don't let you go on a level grinding fest as almost every FEs are very linear games and also in FE you need to distribute exp points equally for party members unless you want to get your ass kicked later in the game

as for DQ levelling is a pain in the ass because the monsters doesn't give too much exp.
 
Both. Castlevania III owns, and all of the Metroidvanias minus Harmony of Dissonance own.
I would like to see some more old-style ones, though; haven't had those in quite a while.
 
I just want a more skill-based CV like the old style presented to us.

Try a new CV in Super Paper Mario style to see how it is like in 2.5/3D. LOI and COD are crap.
 
I love Symphony of the Night (in fact it's my favorite game ever), but I am getting quite tired of the Metroidvania style. I would love to see a return to the simple action/platforming roots of the series.
 
Old style for me. SotN was okay but I never felt the need to play the games beyond it. While back on the Nes/Snes I always liked the original and IV.
 
old style winning bitches that's what I wanted to see in my thread

OMG rondo of blood fucking rox.
 
The only old style I would like to see would be a Simon's Quest type game. But if it's just straightforward, fuck that, it would be over too soon. I like my games to last longer than a few hours. "Metroidvania" combines two of the best game series ever into one game, and I definitely approve of that.
 
Pimpbaa said:
The only old style I would like to see would be a Simon's Quest type game. But if it's just straightforward, fuck that, it would be over too soon. I like my games to last longer than a few hours. "Metroidvania" combines two of the best game series ever into one game, and I definitely approve of that.
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Wow, here I am agreeing with Pimpbaa. Shocking! But you're totally right.
 
Cdammen said:
Metroidvania sans experience points and leveling = FTW!

Or. Let the enemies gain level as you gain them making it tougher.
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Why bother with the leveling to begin with? It's just a false sense of progression.

LEVEL UP SYSTEM AND SKILL ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE FOLKS! Get these weaksauce gamers outta here.
 
Tsubaki said:
They forget that that Castlevania was an action game.

Old school all the way.
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Was. In 2D, it isn't any more. Deal with it.

Tsubaki said:
Why bother with the leveling to begin with? It's just a false sense of progression.

LEVEL UP SYSTEM AND SKILL ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE FOLKS! Get these weaksauce gamers outta here.
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Booooo hooooooo.
 
ethelred said:
Booooo hooooooo.
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I just went back through your posts, since you're a Metroidvania advocate.

You say that you

1. Like combat & abilities more
2. Like the exploration

That's fair. A modern Castlevania in the old school style could/would incorporate those new combat systems. And I generally enjoy the exploration & puzzles of Metroidvania. Even though it makes the "platforming" irrelevant, I can accept that new direction.

But I would love to hear your thoughts as to why the level up system is necessary, because none of those things above are tied to the RPG fusion. For me, the RPG fusion breaks the game on a number of levels. I would even argue that I would enjoy Metroidvania more if they removed all enemies & bosses entirely, since they don't really seem to matter anyway.
 
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