Wrong.
That's what comes to mind when I look at the art style for the now confirmed Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin. The title seems awfully appropriate now, what with the series' stunning gothic art heritage being ruined in the wake of something more along the lines of "Yu-Gi-Oh" and "garbage". Is this some sort of reverse Prince of Persia phenomenon, where a beloved franchise is actually lightened up in order to appeal to a broader group of gamers?
I'm sure it'll still play wonderfully, but I have trouble believing that an androgynous, saucer-eyed blondie wielding half a jump rope will be able to convey the atmosphere of melancholy that permeates the rest of the series. Poor Dracula - imagine getting bested by someone like that.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-20-2006 @ 9:05PM
Supersonic said...
1st comment. Now that's dedication. I don't know if that's the real art style they're gonna use. It could be just a cartoon nintendo power made. who knows.
Supersonic out.
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4-20-2006 @ 10:16PM
Nik said...
the cover does look very Nintendo Power esque, but if it's the real deal and someone at Konami is reading this, PLEASE! I BEG YOU TO LOSE THE SATURDAY MORNING CARTOON ARTSYLE! *sniff*
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4-20-2006 @ 10:18PM
Conn said...
Pfft, who really cares? Sure, the anime-esque art doesn't exactly fit with Castlevania, but I bet it'll be the same as in Dawn of Sorrow; only used for mugshots and official art. As in, the actual GRAPHICS will be proportional.
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4-20-2006 @ 10:20PM
bob said...
Oh no, next it will be pokemon styled..
Gotta whip 'em all Castlevaniamon..
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4-20-2006 @ 10:27PM
Artimus said...
Could we see some screenshots before going insane, mmmm?
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4-20-2006 @ 10:34PM
Freezair said...
Hey, look on the dark side. I got two words for ya: "Captain N." No interpretation of Castlevania could ever be more embarassing than Simon Belmont's portrayal in the Captain N TV show, and I stick by that. Besides, these are just character designs. Soma Cruz was very "bishonen" looking in the previous DS game if you just look at him by himself, but put him in a dark tower of doom filled with menacing spirits, and he blends right in. You never know.
Put any classic series and its Captain N counterpart together and you will almost always walk away with a feeling of deep shame. And that's just the TV show. I don't want to get into the comic book here, since it... it's too painful.
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4-20-2006 @ 10:39PM
Jason C. said...
I won't get it unless it looks like DoS or something similar
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4-20-2006 @ 11:13PM
Righto said...
...huh? You're kidding about this, right? You speak as though Soma Cruz never existed.
http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/cv-dos/officialart/offart17.jpg
The art of the past two handheld Castlevanias have both been in this similar, anime-ish style. It's not like this is some sort of new phenomenon. What rock did you just step out from under, seriously?
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4-20-2006 @ 11:53PM
Nmaster said...
How 'bout you shove the insults up your ass until you see some in-game screenshots and learn more about the gameplay?
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4-20-2006 @ 11:58PM
Cyryl said...
How about you all calm the FUCK down PERIOD?
Yes. This is terrible. VERY terrible art. I've been playing the series since the old-school and this is VERY disappointing. But in the end it's not the art that made the game. It's the GAME that made the game. Wait for it to come out and if it's all gay THEN...then string up those fags at Konami and watch'em swing.
For now... SHUT UP.
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4-21-2006 @ 12:05AM
Conn said...
Also, why are you busy bitching about the art? GIVE US THE INFORMATION, DAMNIT!
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4-21-2006 @ 12:55AM
designerwhite said...
I'm fine with it. The animation sequences in DoS were beautiful. the characters have to be designed FOR animation.
and if you spent all day looking at the concept art, I'd agree with you... give me giger, brom, etc. but the sprites will be great no matter the concept style - so settle that business down.
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4-21-2006 @ 3:25AM
Smart said...
No, try late May. I expect it to be in the July issue, but the Nintendo Power staff will have to work their ASSES off to get an E3 issue out in ~10 days after E3. Poor guys (and girls)...
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4-21-2006 @ 4:16AM
Ludwig Kietzmann said...
"The art of the past two handheld Castlevanias have both been in this similar, anime-ish style. It's not like this is some sort of new phenomenon. What rock did you just step out from under, seriously."
Aria of Sorrow didn't have this art style. I also don't see the part of my post where I said this was a new trend - I'm commenting on its continuation. The fact is, this is a new Castlevania game and I have an opinion about its art style. Whether the previous game used it or not doesn't matter, not unless you have your tastes dulled by constant exposure.
"How 'bout you shove the insults up your ass until you see some in-game screenshots and learn more about the gameplay?"
How 'bout you read the contents of the post before flipping out? The gameplay and screenshots don't change what the characters and art style look like now - that part of the game (not the gameplay) is open to critique.
"Yes. This is terrible. VERY terrible art. I've been playing the series since the old-school and this is VERY disappointing. But in the end it's not the art that made the game. It's the GAME that made the game."
The art style is the only thing I'm criticizing - The only thing I say about gameplay is that it'll likely be great. It's possible to like some aspects of a game over others, and right now, the art is the only thing we can evaluate right now.
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4-21-2006 @ 9:04AM
the_grey_pilgrim said...
The cut scene at the beginning of Dawn of Sorrow was cool.
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4-21-2006 @ 11:30AM
THL said...
Well, in defense of the saturday-morning anime art-style, at least they have the proportions correct. Is it just me, or does the "guy" in the picture on the right have a very small head compared to the rest of his body? Shrunken-head of sorrow?
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4-21-2006 @ 1:22PM
pixelator said...
I don't know what you all expect, this game was far darker in atmosphere than most Nintendo games, especially Gameboy/DS product. Stands to reason they'd make it more kiddiefied, sadly. Even Resident Evil defaults to GREEN blood (user selectable, at least).
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4-21-2006 @ 2:49PM
toofydoo said...
http://l.nintendo-news.com/a/h?m=AAB3WUDK0Mx_3JdwcbIqQAk&
Maybe everyone can breath a little more easily now.
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4-21-2006 @ 3:24PM
Mina said...
So Castlevani is their cover story, not Revolution? I think EGM is having a huge cover story on the Rev, odd that Nintendo Power won't be first.
Love Castlevania, weird art or not.
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4-21-2006 @ 4:36PM
Artimus said...
Interesting no one has commented on the game's story line, which tells of lost souls walking the earth during the second world war.
Yeah, sounds real kiddy. Real real kiddy.
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