Demo Review

[cozy]

Bad Points:
Music, movement, action, lite-RPG elements (downgrade from RPG-laden Iga games), english voice acting (japanese is better), boring 1-dimensional combat/boss battle, gameplay borrows too heavily from modern 2d action platformers rather than metroidvanias (health flask), no true exploration, typical modern grumpy girl protagonist that cannot get along with father trope, tarot cards being used as a power up (makes no sense from a lore and logical perspective, feels uninspired), art direction, frame-stuttering despite changing settings, not enough detail in models, slowdown when loading cutscene, script/writing style

Good Points:
Hard to find any legit ones

TBD:
Story (could be good or bad)


Overall thoughts:
Disappointed that what I and many others expected this game to turn out to be is spot on, if not a bit worse than expected.

Far departure from metroidvania exploration and RPG formula and gameplay, and leans 99% into the modern 2d action platformer genre.

Game feels like they didn't spend money in the right areas/project was not managed correctly. Feels cheap for a lack of better word, and not polished. Not sure if waiting 6 months for the final update would really change much from what the demo is presenting. Performance wise, it is a letdown, but that is the least of the issues the demo presents.

The title will be a major setback for the franchise, and the worst part is that it seems like the game/developers is not even fully embracing itself and going as hard as it could be (in the wrong direction). No real clear direction, and it feels like a mishmash of messy ideas without one person creating a clear vision for the game altogether.

At the least, from the perspective as someone who did not like or want this departure from the previous games, it would have been best for this title to have unabashedly go the other direction and create it's own identity. However, it doesn't seem like they were able to really do that.

Game just feels bad, and it feels bad to see the game be bad.

I was holding out for the demo to win me over, despite the aforementioned qualms, but this is not it.

[cozy]

The script/writing/characterization of Rose is probably worse than what people would reasonably expect.

It fit's all the stereotypes driven from modern politics, and breaks the immersion from the world and story.

Compared to the other characters, she is out of place.

The remaining characters dialogue is not particularly good either. Despite listening to it all, nothing felt compelling.

[Daerian]

We all know you wrote game down long before demo from your posts here, no need to pretend otherwise now.

[attackmuffin]

its a 20 minute demo and you couldnt even make it to the first dialog

[Icy Wind]

Play any Igavania and tell me how much exploration there is between the start of the game and the first save room after the first boss.

[attackmuffin]

Originally posted by Daerian:

We all know you wrote game down long before demo from your posts here, no need to pretend otherwise now.

op and the cozy never even played the demo. the first bit proves everything they said was wrong

[cozy]

When you have all the points listed in OP, but cannot bring yourself to address any of the valid points due to knowing full-well there is nothing to defend in this game, and that you do not have the ability to refute anything.

Only ever see personal attacks, and also nobody pointing to any legit positives of the game. Just general statements in the vein of, "I like it".

[Daerian]

I wrote my own post and speak in real feedback topics, don't care to engage your bad faith complaints.

[cozy]

Originally posted by Daerian:

I wrote my own post and speak in real feedback topics, don't care to engage your bad faith complaints.

"I won't engage in your topic, yet I am compelled to comment multiple times on your topic I deem as bad faith".

How childish are you.

[Narrowmind]

It was a good demo, and it served it's purpose. Yeah, I'm certain now it's not for me.

I found the music uninspiring and Rose was even less than a woman than I'd anticipated. I wish I could agree that a bad reception would have any meaningful impact on the series going forward, but I doubt it. They seem to really like this modernist approach for Castlevania. Perhaps I have my regrets, but I've been playing for 40 years. I had a good run, and this is where I get off.

I wish those that enjoy it to make the best of it.

[Daerian]

Yawn...

[Daerian]

Originally posted by Narrowmind:

It was a good demo, and it served it's purpose. Yeah, I'm certain now it's not for me.

I found the music uninspiring and Rose was even less than a woman than I'd anticipated. I wish I could agree that a bad reception would have any meaningful impact on the series going forward, but I doubt it. They seem to really like this modernist approach for Castlevania. Perhaps I have my regrets, but I've been playing for 40 years. I had a good run, and this is where I get off.

I wish those that enjoy it to make the best of it.

I think this is good way to look at it. Hopefully next game will be more traditional igavania and you will like it. I personally hope for Jonathan Morris and Charlotte Aulin return.

[Sylvie]

Demo was good. I enjoyed a lot in Japanese voice acting. It still retains metroidvania style game.

[Icy Wind]

Originally posted by cozy:

When you have all the points listed in OP, but cannot bring yourself to address any of the valid points due to knowing full-well there is nothing to defend in this game, and that you do not have the ability to refute anything.

Only ever see personal attacks, and also nobody pointing to any legit positives of the game. Just general statements in the vein of, "I like it".

Where did you get the impression that Rose doesn't get along with her father? That's probably the big thing that might have people thinking you didn't even play past the first dialogue box. You didn't even get a basic element of her characterization right.

[Necrophag1st]

I'm glad I'm not such a pathetic miserable whiner.

Day 1 buy for me.

[Du Pereira]

The frame rate on this game is awful...