Kragg
08-06-2010, 10:36 AM
Title: Castlevania: Harmony of Despair
Platform: Xbox Live Arcade
Platform Reviewed: Xbox Live Arcade
Developer: Konami (http://www.konami.com/)
Publisher: Konami (http://www.konami.com/)
MSRP: 1200 MSP ($15)
Writer: Ben 'kragg' Daniels
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair Review
...and Yoko decided to take things in a weird new direction.
As Microsoft’s “Summer of Arcade 2010” begins to wind down, we’ve been delivered Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, or “CHD”, or “questionable” as I will refer to it for the rest of this review.
So lets look at this vampire slaying action-platformer and see if it really has fangs, or if it’s all sparkle and no substance. You see what I did there?
Right away I can tell you that this game is niche, and for only two types of people. The first type is diehard Castlevania fans such as myself. The second is diehard score junkies and loot whores, such as myself. The concept of this game is basically a glorified version of the time attack “boss rush mode” that is unlocked in previous installments of the Castlevania series. So already, if you’re saying “what the hell is boss rush mode?” this game is probably not for you.
You can select any of five characters from previous titles - Alucard, Soma, Shanoa, Johnathan, and Charlotte-and then run through streamlined versions of six “castle” maps attempting to kill a boss before a timer expires. All the characters retain trademark powers from their original games, but CHD doesn’t do a good job explaining what those are to the uninitiated. If you see pegs scattered around a map you might say “what are those for?”, but the seasoned Order of Ecclesia player will know that Shanoa can use her magnet powers to spring off them and boost to a higher platform. Again, this game is for Castlevania junkies. It’s almost feels like Konami just assumed that if you were purchasing it that you are a longtime fan of the franchise.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/CHD1.jpg
The graphics look like they were directly lifted from the Nintendo DS installments and cleaned up for HD. There is also a very odd 3x “zoom” system that basically let’s you look at the entire map/castle, a maneuverable area view, and then a full zoom focused on your character. The game action does not stop while zoomed out, so it can be frustrating being attacked while your hunter is literally the size of a pinhead on your TV. The sound is the most comfortable and familiar aspect of this game, with all effects being lifted from previous games, and a score of digitized goth-rock pieces that will be instantly recognizable to fans. One cool feature is the ability to set exactly which piece of music will play during each level and its respective boss battle once you’ve unlocked it.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/CHD2.jpg
The strongest aspect of CHD is the multiplayer. It’s online only, and presents a highly streamlined version of Castlevania that is basically a mash-up of the first game combined with Symphony of The Night’s most basic inventory mechanics. You and up to five other players choose your loadouts, enter the level, and try to beat the boss while opening as many chests to obtain new loot as time allows. You either defeat the boss and succeed to loot a fairly powerful random item, or you all die/time expires and you fail. That’s it. There is no leveling system to speak of, but you can power up each characters individual skills/spells through repeated usage.
While death is prohibitive in single player, it’s a mere annoyance in co-op as other players can resurrect you from a playable “skeleton” state using “water of life” which is scattered in chests throughout the levels. Single player tends to be frustrating, since these maps were clearly designed with multiple players in mind. Similar to Little Big Planet, there are certain paths and rewards only accessible using teamwork. There are also strategies to fighting certain bosses that may only be executed with more than one vampire hunter present.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/CHD3.jpg
A very strange feature is that aside from your initially chosen loadout on the main screen, you can only equip items at special pedestals within a level. This means that while you’re on your Winona Ryder looting spree, you have to run back to a specific area to actually equip and utilize your new weapon or armor, or wait until your next run to try it. This may have been implemented to add a challenge, but when you’re trying to navigate the clunky inventory system while under a strict time limit it simply becomes frustrating.
With only six maps to choose from the game feels a bit limited in scope. You can easily tear through them in 10 minutes a piece with a group of experienced players or possibly even less in the last-man-standing style “survival mode”. That being said, this falls into the Left4Dead category of multiplayer where you must play with friends. Without a solid group of people who you can communicate with and know exactly what the plan is, things quickly devolve into random, controller throwing chaos. There is replay value here, but only in the idea that you will want to collect as many items as possible, or rack up achievement points. I also have to applaud Konami for implementing a very cool replay system on the leaderboards, which allows you and your team to view other teams time runs and strategies, almost creating a meta-game based on the competitive nature of timed runs.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/CHD4.jpg
The bottom line is that this game is truly an arcade experience. It’s Castlevania; not “Metroidvania”. Do not expect the depth of titles such as Symphony of The Night or Portrait of Ruin. If you’re hankering for a loot grind fix and love the franchise, there will probably be enough familiarity here to satiate. However, if you’re not a longtime fan or even someone who appreciates a game based on hardcore mechanics such as time attacks, you’ll be decrying it as “Castlevania: Lament of Lost Wealth”.
Score: 2.5 out of 5
http://evavhost.com/public/25.gif
The Good Action is hard boiled, fast-paced, and classic Castlevania Konami should be applauded for taking a chance with an established franchise.
The Bad There is only replay value for the OCD sufferers among us. Konami’s experiment didn’t completely work out so well.
The Ugly The callouses on this guys fingers. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MnsK5Fe6ds&feature=related%94)
Platform: Xbox Live Arcade
Platform Reviewed: Xbox Live Arcade
Developer: Konami (http://www.konami.com/)
Publisher: Konami (http://www.konami.com/)
MSRP: 1200 MSP ($15)
Writer: Ben 'kragg' Daniels
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair Review
...and Yoko decided to take things in a weird new direction.
As Microsoft’s “Summer of Arcade 2010” begins to wind down, we’ve been delivered Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, or “CHD”, or “questionable” as I will refer to it for the rest of this review.
So lets look at this vampire slaying action-platformer and see if it really has fangs, or if it’s all sparkle and no substance. You see what I did there?
Right away I can tell you that this game is niche, and for only two types of people. The first type is diehard Castlevania fans such as myself. The second is diehard score junkies and loot whores, such as myself. The concept of this game is basically a glorified version of the time attack “boss rush mode” that is unlocked in previous installments of the Castlevania series. So already, if you’re saying “what the hell is boss rush mode?” this game is probably not for you.
You can select any of five characters from previous titles - Alucard, Soma, Shanoa, Johnathan, and Charlotte-and then run through streamlined versions of six “castle” maps attempting to kill a boss before a timer expires. All the characters retain trademark powers from their original games, but CHD doesn’t do a good job explaining what those are to the uninitiated. If you see pegs scattered around a map you might say “what are those for?”, but the seasoned Order of Ecclesia player will know that Shanoa can use her magnet powers to spring off them and boost to a higher platform. Again, this game is for Castlevania junkies. It’s almost feels like Konami just assumed that if you were purchasing it that you are a longtime fan of the franchise.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/CHD1.jpg
The graphics look like they were directly lifted from the Nintendo DS installments and cleaned up for HD. There is also a very odd 3x “zoom” system that basically let’s you look at the entire map/castle, a maneuverable area view, and then a full zoom focused on your character. The game action does not stop while zoomed out, so it can be frustrating being attacked while your hunter is literally the size of a pinhead on your TV. The sound is the most comfortable and familiar aspect of this game, with all effects being lifted from previous games, and a score of digitized goth-rock pieces that will be instantly recognizable to fans. One cool feature is the ability to set exactly which piece of music will play during each level and its respective boss battle once you’ve unlocked it.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/CHD2.jpg
The strongest aspect of CHD is the multiplayer. It’s online only, and presents a highly streamlined version of Castlevania that is basically a mash-up of the first game combined with Symphony of The Night’s most basic inventory mechanics. You and up to five other players choose your loadouts, enter the level, and try to beat the boss while opening as many chests to obtain new loot as time allows. You either defeat the boss and succeed to loot a fairly powerful random item, or you all die/time expires and you fail. That’s it. There is no leveling system to speak of, but you can power up each characters individual skills/spells through repeated usage.
While death is prohibitive in single player, it’s a mere annoyance in co-op as other players can resurrect you from a playable “skeleton” state using “water of life” which is scattered in chests throughout the levels. Single player tends to be frustrating, since these maps were clearly designed with multiple players in mind. Similar to Little Big Planet, there are certain paths and rewards only accessible using teamwork. There are also strategies to fighting certain bosses that may only be executed with more than one vampire hunter present.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/CHD3.jpg
A very strange feature is that aside from your initially chosen loadout on the main screen, you can only equip items at special pedestals within a level. This means that while you’re on your Winona Ryder looting spree, you have to run back to a specific area to actually equip and utilize your new weapon or armor, or wait until your next run to try it. This may have been implemented to add a challenge, but when you’re trying to navigate the clunky inventory system while under a strict time limit it simply becomes frustrating.
With only six maps to choose from the game feels a bit limited in scope. You can easily tear through them in 10 minutes a piece with a group of experienced players or possibly even less in the last-man-standing style “survival mode”. That being said, this falls into the Left4Dead category of multiplayer where you must play with friends. Without a solid group of people who you can communicate with and know exactly what the plan is, things quickly devolve into random, controller throwing chaos. There is replay value here, but only in the idea that you will want to collect as many items as possible, or rack up achievement points. I also have to applaud Konami for implementing a very cool replay system on the leaderboards, which allows you and your team to view other teams time runs and strategies, almost creating a meta-game based on the competitive nature of timed runs.
http://evavhost.com/i/reviews/CHD4.jpg
The bottom line is that this game is truly an arcade experience. It’s Castlevania; not “Metroidvania”. Do not expect the depth of titles such as Symphony of The Night or Portrait of Ruin. If you’re hankering for a loot grind fix and love the franchise, there will probably be enough familiarity here to satiate. However, if you’re not a longtime fan or even someone who appreciates a game based on hardcore mechanics such as time attacks, you’ll be decrying it as “Castlevania: Lament of Lost Wealth”.
Score: 2.5 out of 5
http://evavhost.com/public/25.gif
The Good Action is hard boiled, fast-paced, and classic Castlevania Konami should be applauded for taking a chance with an established franchise.
The Bad There is only replay value for the OCD sufferers among us. Konami’s experiment didn’t completely work out so well.
The Ugly The callouses on this guys fingers. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MnsK5Fe6ds&feature=related%94)