Castlevania - Lament of Innocence

[Takumaji]

I'm a big C fan and always wanted to give it a try, but when it was new, I had no PS2 and none of my friends bought it, now that I have one of those ugly consoles I'm thinking of buying it - any thoughts?

I take it's more RPG-ish than action-oriented?

 

[Ely13]

No, it's much more action orientated than RPG. It plays like a Castlevania-themed Devil May Cry, but it's much easier than the DMC series. It isn't anywhere near as RPG orientated as SotN or the GBA Castlevanias. Combos come out very easily and they're visually satisfying. Though the graphics aren't hugely detailed, they fit Castlevania to a t, and the soundtrack is quite good. This is the big tip-off to its action-roots--you can choose to complete the first five stages in any order you want.

Anyway, I liked it, and I generally don't like 3D games.

You might want to check some video captures over on IGN before you buy. You can probably pick up a used copy very cheaply at this point, though.

 

[SouthtownKid]

It was probably my biggest video game disappointment of the last 5 years. If they had called it something else, I probably would have liked it some, but it just didn't feel like Castlevania at all to me. I'd much rather play either of the N64 games, if I felt like a 3D CV. No skill involved, no timing needed, no consequences if you miss a jump... just a lot of leveling up.

But it's so cheap, you really ought to get it anyway and decide for yourself. Might as well. Just don't get your hopes up that it's going to be a 3D rendition of Bloodlines or something.

 

[hermegildo]

You'll enjoy it if you go in with low expectations, but I'd rather play any of the GBA games or SOTN if I need a Castlevania fix.

You should give it a try and see for yourself though. It's not a bad game, it's just not a good Castlevania game if that makes any sense.

 

[Seijuro Hiko]

LoI is the worst Castlevania game with the N64 versions IMO.

 

[KaedesDisciple]

Like I've said many a time before; LoI isn't a BAD game, but it's certainly not Castlevania's finest hour. I played it through once and that was about all I had the patience for. A lot of leveling up, some pretty repetitive stages, but the boss battles were cool, as were the combos. A good pick-up for its current price, but I felt a little short-changed since I paid full price for it.

 

[k'_127]

No, it's much more action orientated than RPG. It plays like a Castlevania-themed Devil May Cry, but it's much easier than the DMC series. It isn't anywhere near as RPG orientated as SotN or the GBA Castlevanias. Combos come out very easily and they're visually satisfying. Though the graphics aren't hugely detailed, they fit Castlevania to a t, and the soundtrack is quite good. This is the big tip-off to its action-roots--you can choose to complete the first five stages in any order you want.

Anyway, I liked it, and I generally don't like 3D games.

You might want to check some video captures over on IGN before you buy. You can probably pick up a used copy very cheaply at this point, though.

I fully agree with this. I would give LoI a 7.5/10. I can't explain how it's compared to the other Castlevanias.

the atmosphere is there, details are also there, but not so many of them.

the places get repetitve a lot here. you will often need to check the maps.

no leveling up or money. killing monsters is fun, but pointless.



I also recommend DMC1. it's exactly what you would expect from a 3D castlvania in terms of style and depth (avoid the later games though. they are not even half as good as the first).

 

[Rassilon]

I think its garbage.
Its not castlevania, and its not a good game.
Course, i think DMC is a shit game as well. But LoI is definately not castlevania material.

 

[Magnaflux]

One word: Repetitive.

One travels through the castle yet again throught corridors upon corridors that are exactly the same as the previous one .

Save points are too frequent to be of any challenge.

The game is mindlessly dull.


I would type up a well written review, but I was so disappointed that I won't bother.

 

[Korigama]

I also recommend DMC1. it's exactly what you would expect from a 3D castlvania in terms of style and depth (avoid the later games though. they are not even half as good as the first).

Although I'll vouch for that in the case of DMC2, you're full of it in regards to DMC3, which is far better than DMC1 already was (setting preference is a matter of opinion in this case, but in terms of gameplay and story, it's a fact that DMC3 is better than DMC1).

 

[jro]

Although I'll vouch for that in the case of DMC2, you're full of it in regards to DMC3, which is far better than DMC1 already was (setting preference is a matter of opinion in this case, but in terms of gameplay and story, it's a fact that DMC3 is better than DMC1).

Agreed. DMC 2 was a slap in the face, but DMC 3 is very, very good. I think it is a little more balanced than the original and I like the different grooves or whatever they're called (trickster, gunslinger, quicksilver, royal guard, etc). DMC 1 and 3 are both far superior to C:LoI.

LoI is okay. I really liked it at first, but then after about an hour or so it just got boring and repetitive, like a few other posts mentioned. It plays very similarly to Nanobreaker (same developer), so if you've played that, you know basically what to expect.

The price has dropped so far on it that it's a solid buy, but just don't expect a revolutionary game.

 

[Kiel]

Wow you guys are pretty harsh. I personally really liked the game.

I've been using this statement every time this kind of discussion comes up and I'll use it again: There was never a time when I was playing the game that I did not feel like I was playing a Castlevania game.

 

[pixeljunkie]

Wow you guys are pretty harsh. I personally really liked the game.

I've been using this statement every time this kind of discussion comes up and I'll use it again: There was never a time when I was playing the game that I did not feel like I was playing a Castlevania game.

ditto! I've played this through a couple times...and I RARELY do that.

 

[Takumaji]

Ah well, I've found a used copy for 12 Euros, guess I will order it then.

Man, it's beyond me why Konami never made a sequel of SotN. I wasn't a huge fan of the original game, but I felt it had great potential for a completely new and exciting branch of the C saga.

Still, Bloodlines/The New Generation on Mega Drive is my fave Castlevania game ever, followed by the original 16bit micro computer version.

I wish they'd release some sort of compilation disc with Bloodlines, the first one and perhaps the remake, PCE Dracula X, the NES C games and C4 SNES... I mean, other companies make quite a dime with all those retro collections, so what works for Capcom should work for Konami as well, eh.

 

[SouthtownKid]

Wow you guys are pretty harsh. I personally really liked the game.

I've been using this statement every time this kind of discussion comes up and I'll use it again: There was never a time when I was playing the game that I did not feel like I was playing a Castlevania game.

Geez, I don't get that at all -- I'd say the exact opposite. There was never a fraction of a second where I felt I WAS playing a Castlevania game.

One word: Repetitive.

One travels through the castle yet again throught corridors upon corridors that are exactly the same as the previous one .

You know, I heard that complaint so many times before I tried the game, but somehow I still was not prepared for how true it was.

The game is mindlessly dull.

Yeah, I had to force myself to finish the last third of the game, because I knew I'd never come back to it.

 

[k'_127]

off topic

Although I'll vouch for that in the case of DMC2, you're full of it in regards to DMC3, which is far better than DMC1 already was (setting preference is a matter of opinion in this case, but in terms of gameplay and story, it's a fact that DMC3 is better than DMC1).

well, I'm playing DMC3 now and I'm on mission 12. the only thing that keeps me playing is the fighting/gameplay engine. here are the things that turn me off:

- cocky, rediculas, moronic cut-scenes
- the environments are dull (EDIT: I would say they are mono-colored and un-varied rather than dull)
- unintresting story
- the music during fights
- menus and such are un-organized
- Dante seems cool only for 12-year olds

the game gets a bit better in the later stages, However. and I agree that the bosses/monsters are good (still, not as good as the first), but I just hate it when Dante starts taunting them and they start talking. that just destroys their personalities. when I see all this and think back of the first, I can't help but feel sorry for the series. I would be happier if it retained the serious-look and "solidness" of DMC1.

anyway, this is just my opinion. some people don't mind all these things I mentioned, and I respect that.

 

[Buro Destruct]

Mini-review:

Graphics - 8 (clean, lack of detail)
Sound - 8.5 (good solid tracks, few memorable tunes you might find yourself whistling a week later, lack of diversity)
Gameplay - 7 (too easy, camera gets in the way sometimes, fighting enemies you can't see)
Replay - 5 (pretty easy to get all the secrets first time through, so much so that I can't even remember what major secrets there are, no real reason to play again right away)

For the price you can obtain LoI, there's absolutely no reason not to track down a copy of it, especially if you're a Castlevania fan.

 

[iamyagami22]

the game was an all around dissapointment, even though i thought leon was pretty cool.

 

[Jedah Doma]

Don't listen to these folks, it's a great game. It's worth the $40 I paid for it day of and it's worth the $20 you can get it for new now. It's no SOTN, but it's a great 3-D action adventure game with great gameplay, graphics, framerate, and enemies. It's much better then the crap we got on 64. The 64 Castlevania games should be erased from our collective gaming knowledge.

 

[SouthtownKid]

Don't listen to these folks, it's a great game. It's worth the $40 I paid for it day of and it's worth the $20 you can get it for new now. It's no SOTN, but it's a great 3-D action adventure game with great gameplay, graphics, framerate, and enemies. It's much better then the crap we got on 64. The 64 Castlevania games should be erased from our collective gaming knowledge.

Here's a challenge for you. Go play one of the N64 Castlevanias beginning to end, replay LoI beginning to end, and see if you can came back and honestly repeat what you just said. Personally, I think you're out of your mind.

The N64 CVs aren't perfect, but they contain many elements from classic Castlevania (like some friggin challenge, for example...you can die if you miss a jump), while LoI contains NO elements from classic Castlevania, except a whip. Then repeat the same 2 combos for 5 hours (saving whenever you lose a slight sliver of health), and you're done! You can litterally play most of that game with your eyes shut. Just thinking about that game makes me feel like kicking something. And I'm not even wearing shoes.

But Tak has already ordered it, so he can decide for himself. Maybe the people who hate the game have lowered his expectations enough that he'll be pleasantly surprised. Honestly, the upcoming PS2 game looks like even less fun to me.

 

[hermegildo]

The gameplay is kinda shitty in the N64 games and there's a lot of unused potential, but they have more of a Castlevania feel to it than LoI. It's just the repetitiveness that ruins the PS2 game.