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 2 of 2)
4-21-2006 @ 4:48PM
Artimus said...
http://gonintendo.com/?p=2172
There we go. Looks as mature to me, but the characters are easier to see.
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4-21-2006 @ 5:44PM
df0notfound said...
they mentioned when working on Dawn of Sorrow they were going for a more anime orientated art style to broaden the audience.
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4-22-2006 @ 9:51PM
Nmaster said...
"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."
That's my problem, the way you worded your post, to me it sounds like your putting a direct link between the graphics/art and the gameplay.
"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."
I take that as saying: "Well, it'll have good gameplay, but not NEARLY as good because of the atmosphere set by the graphics." In other words, I see you making a direct corrolation between graphics and gameplay, which in my opinion is bull, not only because we have not yet experienced the gameplay, but mainly because I see practically no difference between AoS and DoS.
See:
Aria of Sorrow
http://pocketmedia.ign.com/pocket/image/castlevaniaaria_011603_15.jpg
Dawn of Sorrow
http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/article/642/642438/castlevania-dawn-of-sorrow-20050816025700810.jpg
Are you gonna honestly tell me that those two have enough difference between them that it affects the entire atmosphere of the game? Or is it that anime opening and "cutscenes" throughout the game that kill it for you? I just cannot fathom the art style having little if any effect on the gameplay in this case, and the idea that the gameplay is worstened by it quite frankly offends me, and that is the orgin of my comments.
I personally would take the old style over the new as well if I had the choice, but I also recognize it's not my call to make, and since the gameplay MORE than makes up for it, I'm content. Now, if the new art style were truly "garbage" as you claim, I would be up in arms right along side you, but I find the new art style to be just fine. The old one may be a touch better given the game's story and atmosphere, but the new style is something different that I can appreciate and draws little from my gaming experience. Therefore, I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt.
You have every right to voice your opinion, but ranting about something so insignificant, and all but ignoring the good side of this news is wrong for a journalist. We should be rejoicing in there being another, almost certainly wonderful, sequel to this amazing series. Every 2D sequel has proven to be a masterpiece of gaming, and there is no evidence to say this next one won't continue that tradition. The art style, if you so disapprove, should be but a minor footnote compared to the simple fact they are making the game.
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4-22-2006 @ 10:11PM
Pata Hikari said...
Wow....
I really don't see what's so bad about the new art.
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4-22-2006 @ 10:14PM
Nmaster said...
By the way, for those looking for the reason WHY the Castlevania series moved away from the old look, here's your answer...
Reason 1 is Ayami Kojima. Ayami was responsible for the old cool artwork everyone cherishes so much back in Aria of Sorrow. She afterwards however was placed on work for the 3D series. Since Kojima's not working on Portrait of Ruin and Curse of Darkness has been finished for a good while now, it is quite possible there may be another 3D Castlevania in the works, or maybe she's on a different project or even simply taking a break, there's really no way to know for sure.
The second reason, the one so many have guessed, is marketing. For this, I'll quote Dawn of Sorrow's producer:
"...we had [Ayami's] design for the GBA game, [but] we weren't able to make it sell successfully, although the game itself scored high with reviewers and fans. We asked Sales for their thoughts - our conclusion was that GBA hardware demographics did not match the Castlevania target age group. As a developer, I was confident that the game was not only for mature audiences, so we made a bid decision to go with an anime style, to appeal to the younger audience."
To be honest, I think their strategy worked. While many of us may not like it, I certainly can't blame Konami for running a company. If the choice was between anime Castlevania or no Castlevania, I'm certainly content with the result. I would think however, given the DS's ever increasing demographic range as more and more non-games release, that it would be safe for them to return to the old style at some point soon, maybe with a sequel to Portrait of Ruin. As long as the series continues at all however, I know I'll be happy. We can only sit back and pray for the return of Ayami to the 2D realm (I think we can all agree that Curse of Darkness, despite it's great art, didn't hold a candle to Dawn of Sorrow overall).
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4-23-2006 @ 8:17AM
Ludwig Kietzmann said...
"That's my problem, the way you worded your post, to me it sounds like your putting a direct link between the graphics/art and the gameplay.
...
I take that as saying: "Well, it'll have good gameplay, but not NEARLY as good because of the atmosphere set by the graphics." In other words, I see you making a direct corrolation between graphics and gameplay, which in my opinion is bull, not only because we have not yet experienced the gameplay, but mainly because I see practically no difference between AoS and DoS."
No, I'm making a direct link between ATMOSPHERE and graphics. This is surely up for debate, but I view atmosphere and gameplay as two very seperate things. It really only affects the story and general feel of a game - you can have great atmosphere and terrible gameplay (see: Doom 3), or vice versa. The thing is, I've felt that Castlevania has always both in spades, but I didn't feel that way about Dawn of Sorrow. I loved it, don't get me wrong, but it didn't give me that feeling of melancholy that the past games have.
"Are you gonna honestly tell me that those two have enough difference between them that it affects the entire atmosphere of the game? Or is it that anime opening and "cutscenes" throughout the game that kill it for you? I just cannot fathom the art style having little if any effect on the gameplay in this case, and the idea that the gameplay is worstened by it quite frankly offends me, and that is the orgin of my comments."
Referring to what I said above, it only affected the atmosphere for me. Whenever a giant, generic character portrait pops up, I was taken out of the Castlevania experience. It doesn't affect gameplay at all (which isn't something I've ever said to the opposite), but it does effect the way I think of the characters and how they fit in to the Castlevania universe. I just can't see Soma and say, Leon Belmont, occupying the same space. :)
"Now, if the new art style were truly "garbage" as you claim, I would be up in arms right along side you, but I find the new art style to be just fine."
That's what the comments section is for. It's a difference of opinion, and I encourage you to post about when you disagree with me. 'Tis the power of blogs. :)
"You have every right to voice your opinion, but ranting about something so insignificant, and all but ignoring the good side of this news is wrong for a journalist."
But I'm not ignoring the "good side" at all! Did I not include in the post that the game has been confirmed for the DS? It's in the headline.
"We should be rejoicing in there being another, almost certainly wonderful, sequel to this amazing series."
See, the fact that you say "almost certainly wonderful" is why I didn't post much about whether the game would be good or not. I said I was sure that it would still play very well, but saying any more about a game I haven't played yet ("It's going to be the best game ever!") would be wrong for a journalist.
"Every 2D sequel has proven to be a masterpiece of gaming, and there is no evidence to say this next one won't continue that tradition. The art style, if you so disapprove, should be but a minor footnote compared to the simple fact they are making the game."
That's a bridge we'll cross after I play the game at E3 and post my thoughts on it then. :)
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4-24-2006 @ 10:48AM
Thomas Averin said...
that is Why all anime SUCKS HORSE DICK
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4-27-2006 @ 7:44PM
Mo Salam said...
The old games and Curse Of Darkness for which you used your picutre for were set in medievil times and it would make sense from to look like that, Aria of Sorrow and Dawn of Sorrow are set in the mid 21st century and Potrait of Ruin in the World War Two to have the games in a medievil or victorian gothic espeically during World War 2 would be rather stupid
just my 50 cents.
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6-06-2006 @ 3:15AM
The ZeroCorpse said...
I could do without every game being in anime style. I personally find it to be the lamest, cheapest, least talented style of artwork in the world at this point.
Someone was cool and original when the style was invented, and now that it's been copied a bazillion times, it's no longer talented, cool, or original. It's time for anime to die. Even the Japanese are making fun of Americans who are total anime geeks, now. It's old, tired, and I'd love to see stuff like Castlevania and Advance Wars come out with a whole new style of artwork.
Hell, if they're going to copy a style, why not copy a different animator, like Ralph Bakshi, Genndy Tartkovsky, John K., Mike Judge, Walter Lantz, Chuck Jones, or any of the thousands of skilled European animators?
Seriously. All Anime Looks Alike. I'd love to have my games show some individuality in the art department.
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