Castlevania: old-school style vs. sotn style

k'_127 · Feb 10, 2004

well, most of us love both kinds, but what if you had to choose only one of them?

SOTN is not only my favorite CV, but it's also on top of my "best games of all time" list !!!!

but, I really can't ignore all good stuff which can only be found in the other style. there are so many things to consider here. I'm just gonna list all the pluses for each style:

old school (stages) :

+ simplicity: they're just easy to get into, what increases their replay value

+ challenging

+ short: this also rises the replay value

SOTN style (castle areas) :

+ leaves much bigger space for details and creativety

+ has the exploring element (along with some RPG elements, like items, money, equipments .... etc.). this adds depth to the game

+ focus more on story

+ ammm ... longer playing time.

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I vote for the sotn style. if made properly, these kinds of games can be just ...... increadible. (refers to sotn and aos)

BarfHappy · Feb 10, 2004

Definitly SOTN, that kind of level setup is just great, you can explore, come back and go on...
That with RPG elements such as experience and equipment items, it makes great games.

But don t get me wrong, i love Castlevania 1&3, Castlevania IV, akumajou dracula X (SCD)... it s just that playing SOTN is much more interesting.

And with cheats, it s a pleasure to replay it just to see again the whole thing without getting gray hair.

Syxx573 · Feb 10, 2004

I too prefer the 'metriod' style castlevanias.

td741 · Feb 10, 2004

I prefer the old school...

I especially like it when you discover a hidden stage (like in Dracula X.) I feel that I can just pick it up and play it.

I liked SOTN, but after I played it through the first time, I just didn't want to bother to go through it again with Richter. There were times when I had to stop playing it (didn't have enough free time for a month or so), it took me way too long to get back into it and remember some of the stuff that I had to do.

Liquid Snake · Feb 10, 2004

Old school is the best
I hate SOTN kinda stage setup as it makes you running back and forth .........that's stupid

Give me old school stage setup or give me death

ClassicMode1985 · Feb 10, 2004

Old School for me, SOTN felt shorter, yet you had the upper advantage of winning with gaining levels with the RPG elements added.

Old School....I dare anyone to get back into CastleVania 3...get to stage 7-1 to see how fast you can finish the "Trio" bosses, one damn level, yet you had to face three pain in the ass bosses one at a time.

Then if you feel brave enough, face the real Death on CastleVania 1 and CV3.

SOTN's verison of death was no challenge what so ever, he might have been a lil tougher on COTM, yet nothing comes as close as Super CastleVania 4 or CV1 or CV3 verison of Death himself.

As for the Genny's Bloodlines, that was most impressive challenge to face all the bosses once again, then have to tackle Death? Very nice

CastleVania Chronicles (aka Sharp X68K verison) was the most enjoyable challenge, Even Medusa was a bitch! Finally got some respect for the old hag! Death was badass, very excellent remake of CV1

CastleVania 2, whole different story, the only fun challenge was those weird "invisible gaps" in the blocks in most of the castles. Yet I would get seriously lost if I didnt know where I was going to begin with. "If I got the nail..found the rib...now where the hell did I leave the heart..." Using "hearts" to buy items was a time consumer. No real bosses at time sadly, sure the face mask with a tear of blood shows up, one cameo of Death, yet you could just walk right pass them

AnechoicJinx · Feb 10, 2004

SOTN would be me all time favorite game hands down no questions asked IF it were a very challenging game. I mean, there's only one or two areas of that game that are truly diffucult. Well, maybe mildly difficult...

Old school was so good because every time you jumped over a pit you feared for your life

I can't decide. I guess old school by a tiny bit

:buttrock:

@M · Feb 10, 2004

Definitely SOTN style, the gameplay experience is so much more rich and rewarding than the more basic old-school game mechanics. SOTN is the best Castelvania game ever made IMO.

soopafamicom · Feb 10, 2004

Gotta be the original and proper CV games for me.

Levelling up and running around aimlessley just bored the living shit out of me.

I hate RPG's anyway,they suck bigstyle.

Mushiki · Feb 10, 2004

Gekka no Yasoukyoku.

Syxx573 · Feb 10, 2004

Basicly the new style of Castlevania was created to make it easier for most people to play. If you get stuck you can always find a way to regain your health, or go back to a save point to try again. In the old style castlevanias, if you loose a lot of health you are screwed and have to start the section or the stage again. The newer style castlevania is just better for the more casual gamer while the older style is much more difficult and hardcore.

SML · Feb 10, 2004

Voted old style. If the boss fights were more intense in the SOTN games they would have won, but there's just nothing like winning an old school Castlevania game.

Takumaji · Feb 10, 2004

Since my fave Castlevania games are the older ones and specially the Genesis version Castlevania - The New Generation (Bloodlines in the US and Vampire Killer in Japan), I voted old-school.

SOTN is a good game, tho.

Btw, did you guys know that for once the US and Euro versions of the Genny Castlevania are harder than the Japanese one? It contains enemies on spots where the JPN one doesn't and some enemies can hit you where they can't in the Japanese version.

Mike Shagohod · Feb 10, 2004

old-school style castlvanias (stages)

*While the NITML/SOTN way of doing things indeed added some
"difference" to the series entries... I just never felt it. To me the
Vampire Killer games are about progressing through stages
and utilizing in real-time your skills and whatever weapons you
have with the life bar given to you, and whether or not you have
the skill to make it to the next rack of lamb hidden in a piece of
a wall somwhere. The RPGish elements IMO, detracted waaaay
too much for me quite honestly. But my main complaint on the
NITML/SOTN style is simply there's too much damn roaming all
over the place, back tracking and what not. That's why the older
set up makes more sense. I'm sure there's probably more out
there however, that like the new stuff better.

MERCENARY X99

Syxx573 · Feb 10, 2004

Takumaji said:
Btw, did you guys know that for once the US and Euro versions of the Genny Castlevania are harder than the Japanese one? It contains enemies on spots where the JPN one doesn't and some enemies can hit you where they can't in the Japanese version.

Probably not, most people are too busy complaining about how the Japanese always get the best version of.... everthing. :rolleyes:

gmw · Feb 10, 2004

Definitely old-school style. As much as I love SoTN, it's way way too easy. I love the more "technical" kind of gameplay that the older games had, especially Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo (PCE SCD), Akumajou Dracula on SFC, Vampire Killer on Mega Drive, etc.

ClassicMode1985 · Feb 10, 2004

Takumaji said:
Btw, did you guys know that for once the US and Euro versions of the Genny Castlevania are harder than the Japanese one? It contains enemies on spots where the JPN one doesn't and some enemies can hit you where they can't in the Japanese version.

He's right gents, Vampire Killer did seem a tad on the easy side..while playing the Euro and American, you see the difference.

I got to check again, I think it's the fact the characters take more damage versus the JPN verison.

*edit* Yup, in the first stage, walk down to where the mermen are, you'll see a ghost appear in the Euro and US verison, which was not included in the JPN version, lord knows what else we can find..

TheDjinn · Feb 10, 2004

I would take both before the 3D versions.

Baseley09 · Feb 10, 2004

The X68k & PCEngine games are my favourites, i can just whack em on have fun playing while rocking out to the soundtrack.....my kind o games

AnechoicJinx · Feb 10, 2004

TheDjinn said:
I would take both before the 3D versions.

Goddamnit I TOTALLY forgot about the 3D Castlevania games before you said this.......NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo :crying:

xRealNinjuzx · Feb 10, 2004

I like Castlevania 2: Simons Quest

It has a side scrolling format, but it isnt necessarily divided into levels as much as it is just split into individual screens.

I like that the best

Castlevania done Devil May Cry style is the shit too.

-Kris

Buro Destruct · Feb 10, 2004

I voted the 'SOTN' style.

Castlevania II: Simon's Quest and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night are my absolute favorites of the series.

SonGohan · Feb 10, 2004

Man, I love them both. I can't choose a preference over two styles I dig so much. This is one of the reasons I love Konami. They're my favorite developer, hands down.

Loopz · Feb 10, 2004

Tough ass question. I have my faves in both styles, and SOTN is such a fucking treasure, truly the last game of it's kind. I highly doubt we'll ever see either type of game on a home console ever again. Me and Kunai dream of them busting out with a real SOTN sequel on the PSP. Probably not likely.

I tried, tried, TRIED to enjoy Lament Of Innocence, but it just doesn't compare to the other top-flight games in the series.
Please go back to 2D for this series Konami. Or at least try it 2.5D like Viewtiful Joe.

Crovax · Feb 10, 2004

Old School all the way. I like it when my games have difficulty.

Castlevania: old-school style vs. sotn style

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