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A 3D Castlevania worth playing?

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: July 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Well, when we look at this game, we are faced with the origin story of Leon, first and most vile (apparently) Belmont, and how he began his struggle against all monsters. He enters a castle in an attempt to rescue his beloved Sara.
This game sports killer graphics, nice animations and awesome renditions of some classic Castlevania enemies.
But it's not for Castlevania fans like me. Let me tell you why.
First, the sound. I have precious few problems here. The music wasn't up to the level of Symphony of the Night, but it was pretty good. The voices, in turn, were actually done quite well considering what they were asked to say (see story presentation.)
Secondly the graphics, from a technical standpoint, were really quite good, and the characters and monsters well-represented in appearance, but I had a few problems. First off, the cutscenes. When the cutscenes in the game were in effect, the characters would frequently sway back and forth or jerk around as if they were bored, and many of those body motions were quite uncalled-for. Secondly, the whip. In mid-game, you use a whip to "swing" from place to place and to attack monsters, but unlike a real whip, no skill is required to twirl it around or aim it at your enemies. You just thrust it forward like a sword. As for the whip-swinging, all you do is smack the whip against a pole and watch yourself get vaulted over it, like you're using an iron pole instead of a whip. Whip-swinging should look like web-swinging. The whip was handled better in "Circle of the Moon." Third, the environments. I'm sorry, folks, I really am, but the environments were ugly and confined. When one plays a game like Symphony of the Night, one finds oneself in vast, glorious halls dressed in a fancy style, and well-lit for the most part. This game just had a bunch of dark hallways no more than a dozen feel in any direction, and the few large rooms you do visit don't feel glorious at all.
My last problem with the graphics was that this game uses a static and rigid camera and although it's often a cooperative one, sometimes you'll get to an area and say "Gee, I wish I could see above me, or below me, or off to the side." That got truly annoying after a while.
Now, Story Concept. Well, it's a fairly interesting story about Leon Belmont, the first of the Belmont Clan to fight monsters. The story was, even in concept, destined to be a poor one, however, since the series' central draw (for me,) Count Vlad Tepes Dracula is missing from the game entirely.
Story Presentation, however, REALLY drags it down. The scriptwriting (or was it the translating?) was truly bad and just felt lame, cheesy and depressing. Leon uses a whip made from Alchemy, and no distinction is ever drawn between that alchemy and the one used by the vampires. Leon does not even strike me as being that good of a person, except in his description in the game intro before you meet him. In all the other games, a Belmont or someone else would enter the castle of Dracula (known as Castlevania) and slay him. In this one, Leon enters a Castle that is plainly NOT Castlevania, and slays several creatures that are plainly NOT Dracula, with weapons that are NOT plainly good. In past games, the Belmonts are always drawn up as good and holy men who always try to do what is best. Leon seems like more of a grief-crazed fanatic.
The gameplay itself doesn't even compensate. Gone is the experience engine of the past several games that made them more fun than most RPGs. Gone are the vast numbers of common and rare items that made SOTN and the GBA games such a hoot, and what has been added in their place is a bunch of switch-pushing puzzles, and maze-exploring.
I don't know why Konami thought this would be good. Instead of a righteous warrior, fighting evil beasts for the good of all, we are given a depressed, revenge-driven person who crawls through dark tunnels after the next big treasure like a mole or packrat, without the star-talent of the series' main villain as backup. I only rented this game, but I have already beaten it with all secrets (except the playthroughs in different modes.)
Is this 3D Castlevania game worth playing? Yes it is. But not more than once, and I wouldn't say it's worth buying. Frankly, I thought Circle of the Moon was better. I do think Konami could make a truly good 3D Castlevania, but this whole game felt like it shrunk in the wash. Considering how much this game lost in the 3D translation, I'd just as soon they stay 2D in the future, unless they can manage to do it right next time.

Just as good as the old one

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: February 18, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I rented this game because i can remember playing castlevania on the old system i have. Castlevania was a challenging game. I found myself wonding how i get out of situations. I did get lost a couple of times, which is why i think they should of given you a map in the begining i guess not having the map is another part of the challenge. I enjoyed playing this game the scenes were beatifuly done. The only problem i had was some of the room were too dark for me. I didn't like the fact that i couldn't move to get different angles.

The story line is simple. Boy loses girl to vampire. Boy gives up title to get girl. Boy rescuses girl but it was too late. Boy goes to get revenge.

For all the fans of Castlevania!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: November 14, 2003
Author: Amazon User

In my opinion this game is one of those that gives you a good impresion of the series just like Symphony of The Night did in 1997.
I have been playing the Castlevania series since the NES and honestly, this game has impressed me just like Simon's Quest in the NES. Is because it is the type of game that gives you a nostalgic feeling of the music, gameplay,etc.
And since I knew that this game was going to exist, i have been looking forward to play it and i have been very happy to play it.
In a word this is a game that takes you to a real part of the game and you'll never been so happy to own it!!
Finishing I'd like to thanks Konami for doing the thing they can do and for all the people that shares my opinion that this is a great game.

Is everyone insane?

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 5
Date: October 26, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Anyone who says that this game is better than symphony of the night is just a liar. This game looks pretty, it has great music, and it bears the name Castlevania. However, it is far too shallow, and lacks the depth that SOTN or any of the other game boy advance Castlevanias had.

Gone are the RPG elements that re-invented the series with SOTN. Also gone are the sheer number of items you can pick up, as well as the rich atmosphere that made SOTN so incredible.
All the rooms are big empty spaces with a group of enemies... kill them, and move onto the next. Oversimplified gameplay.

This game is essentially a 3D beat 'em up with shallow elements of puzzle solving. The combat system is amusing, but generally ends up to be a button masher.

I stress, if you REALLY like Castlevania along the lines of Symphony of the Night, this game will absolutely dissapoint.
If you haven't played SOTN on the other hand, this game can stand on its own as a mediocre 3D hack and slash, its only
real claim to fame is its popular name.

CASTLEVANIA: LAMENT OF INNOCENCE

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 6
Date: October 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User

***Rating system***

1 Star = disaster of a game, Nintendo GameCube
2 Stars = average game
3 Stars = good game, above average
4 Stars = awesome game
5 Stars = best game ever, changes the way we look at the
gaming idustry, very few of, Grand Theft Auto 3

(Castlevania: Lament of Innocence)

Lament is an extremely plain and strait forward action game, it has really no plotline or character development. In today's market of games this kind of strait forward action no longer gets it done. Devil May Cry did much more in the way of graphics, interactive bosses, and environments, but even DMC isn't much better than an average game. Lament of Innocence just seems outdated and plain, once you've swung that whip at creatures for the first 2 or 3 levels you've already done it all. There isn't even the need to try to advance to harder levels as you can take on any of the 5 levels in any order you want. Not to mention you can enter and exit levels as you please so you get to see the concept of all levels from the start of the game. I was interested in seeing how much more this classic franchise had to offer and I found out it doesn't have much. Konami might think about retiring this franchise and really focusing on Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill.

The final verdict here is that swinging that whip provides some fun, you should rent this game a couple of times and finish it but it's definitely not worth buying. If for some crazy reason you haven't played the original Devil May Cry yet, I'd suggest you buy that for about $9.99. That's of course if this kind of game interests you.

Gets old pretty fast

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 6
Date: June 03, 2005
Author: Amazon User

It starts of pretty cool...the combos are a nice touch, but I swear it gets old very fast. I got to the last boss and did not even care to finish the game, I was bored by then...turned it off and walked away.

One of the most profound games......

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 26
Date: September 09, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Not many games have the global performance these Castlevania games have. Its superb on the music effects, the theme and story line, and not to mention the 2d effect, that even though its 2d it rocks my planet.. So the new Castlevania L.O.S. will be celestial . I definetely give 5 stars to the newborn....
Hail to the King mortals...

IT WILL BE THE BEST!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 33
Date: June 14, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This game is being developed by the same team that made Symphony of the Night, and of course the 2 last games for Gameboy Advance,
It features a lot of past Castlevania games and i'm sure that it will be "greates hits" for the PSX2. I could bet for it with my eyes shut!

castlevania

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 3
Date: October 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User

you can tell its a konami game because of all the camera angels.it is still very fun,but also very complicated thats why you need the stratagy guide.

Looks soo good!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 3
Date: November 01, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This game looks sooooo cool!! I think I'm gonna have to get a ps2.

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