Even though I'd love to see at least one more level-based Castlevania, I know that'll never happen, so we're stuck with MetroidVania games. They're called that because the new-wave of Castlevania's play a lot like Metroid. Instead of a whole planet to explore, you're given Castlevania to conqure which is surprisingly the same size of Zebe's or SR-181...
Though the formula is wareing a little thin, and it's starting to get a tad annoying how each progressive 2D Castlevania tries to match up with the boner inspiring Symphony of the Night, each game is still top quality.
Except Harmony of Disonnance. Outside of the graphics and the music composition (the actual sound quality sucks because they used so much space for graphics, they had to revert to making NES sounding tunes again, though those drums sound damn nice), it's a giant mess.
This whole thing may have started with Symphony of the Night, but if you go back in time ot the NES-era, you'll discover Castlevania II: Simon's Quest.
This game is the first ever Metroidvania, though many probably will argue in faver for SotN since that is a vastly superior game, this one is still fun.
It's free-exploration, probably more so than the last wave of games since those ones seem to be getting more stricter as time goes on. One thing I liked is that once you collect a sub-weapon, it stays with you for the rest of the game, and you only use hearts to buy things, not for the weapons. The only REAL bad thing about this game is that it's too easy. Way to easy. Which it seems like this syndrome carried over to the newer games.
By damn hard, I mean get ready to spend months on the Dragon Zombies, Adramelech and lets not forget Dracula's second form.?
All of Iga's (which by the way, this guy seems to hate the company that made the N64 CV's+CotM because he got rid of those games from the storyline saying they don't fit his perfect circle) are waaaay to easy for the most part.
I think the final boss in Dawn of Sorrow was the first ever thing I had to put some time into. Oh yeah, that reminds me of Galamoth in Symphony of the Night, so okay, two bosses, but still...
Oh well, these games are just too too too good to bash anymore.
Heres one element that's good all around. The music. The music has always been good in Castlevania and with the introduction of Michiru Yamane in the series starting with Bloodlines, it's been pushing the bar ever since. If theres one reason to play the MetroidVania's go play for her music at least.
So there you go, Metroidvania. Theres a new one coming out called Portrait of Ruin, which is a sequal to Castlevania: Bloodlines which happens to be my favorite Castlevania and I'm damn excited.?
Now then, if Iga can perfect the 3D Castlevania's, I can forgive him for getting rid of the N64 games and CotM from the timeline since those are excellent titles (and the N64 games eat Lament of Innocence and Curse of Darkness).
And also stop being a wuss and actully make a Wii Castlevania. He's not very smart when it comes to the Wii...
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