AdmiralViscen said:
I played this for 90 minutes back in December before putting it down in disinterest.
I started a new game yesterday, and I'm around 3 hours already, having a ball. I love that level
I'd be interested in hearing your complaints about the game. If not retyped, then how about links to your past posts on the subject?
I could just summarize them here briefly. I did beat it back in December, just for point of reference.
My biggest complaint was that the fusion of the two stage types-- progression from level to level and exploration-focused levels-- was poorly done due to A) level design and B) game philosophy. Basically, I thought bought segments of the game were hampered: the linear parts because the difficulty was significantly compromised (imagine playing Bloodlines or Rondo with no challenge) and the exploration parts because they were kind of shortened somewhat. I also feel the level design of some of the levels is poor. Rarely do they take advantage of the two-character mechanic, for example. If you want to have individual levels, you should make them interesting by making them more challenging. The levels still feel fundamentally like traditional Metroidvania playing grounds...restoring your health when you save, for example, takes a lot of the intrigue away. Also, there is little meaningful platforming again, which is a hallmark of the old-school style and I felt should have been included. Symphony has more meaningful platforming.
Geeze, I did a poor job of summarizing there. Kind of all over the place. :\ Charlequin has better posts on like page 11.
You like Nation of Fools, but I was on the other side of the debate when I played in December. I thought it was unnecessarily cumbersome to traverse. Sandy Grave is my other "oh wow" point because the level is primarily a completely uninteresting straight line.
Others claimed that the game was more action oriented and had a lot of the RPG elements removed or pared down, but I think ethelred did a fairly good job of dismantling the latter claim way back in this thread.
But I don't know, I seem to be enjoying it considerably more right now. Maybe I just have more time to enjoy it or whatever. Last time I played I failed to save three times and lost a significant chunk of progress each time...that might have done it. Dunno.
My other complaints are story and presentation oriented. I wasn't crazy about the music, though I like it a bit more now. I do feel that
is a completely shit villain.
I hear the level 1 cap is rather interesting though. Last time I played I was so frustrated I just completely gave up, though, once I had finished it. I will try it this time.
I think I'd score it about an 8, and I'd give Symphony a 9.5 and Dawn of Sorrow a 9.3 or so. I really love the series, so even my gripes are like, "Well, it's great, but..." type gripes. Nothing game breaking, but I do feel it is a step backwards.
The review I am most in agreement with in the mainstream is Jeremy Parish's 1up review.
The soundtrack is pretty cool...the story is ok. I dont like the system of having to use your subweapons like knives and axes a million times before you get them powered up. The extra quests add some playability. The backgrounds are very nice for a Castlevania game, and its nice to see nome new environments like the desert and other outdoor areas - yet...the design is kind of um... repetitive...holy crap, whats with the repetition with IGA's games - in level design?? I dont want the thing I hated in Lament of Innocence to start plaguing the portable outings too. But ill have faith in IGA and hope that he will truly deliver a portable and a 3D castlevania game weve been waiting for. 
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