[NDS] Akumajo Dracula Sougetsu no Juujika

[Gaijin Punch]

Release date for Akumajo Dracula: Sougetsu no Juujika is set for 08.25 (in Japan of course). The character designs look awful. I hope the game is fun. IGA also states that the series will now go back to it's traditional name of Akumajo Dracula.

In 2003, we changed the title of Akumajo Dracula to Castlevania. It's traditionally been a very popular series overseas, and as such a lot of announcements have come from there. Feeling it would make things easier for fans, we decided to go with one world-wide name. However, this made conversely made it harder [for Japanese fans], and thus the series will now carry it's original name of Akumajo Dracula.

[Recap]

Release date for Akumajo Dracula: Sougetsu no Juujika is set for 08.25 (in Japan of course). The character designs look awful. I hope the game is fun.

The character design was already awful since Byakuya no Concerto, it's the anime premise which is absolutely retarded, in my opinion. Is Konami going to produce a TV series based on this or something?

In 2003, we changed the title of Akumajo Dracula to Castlevania. It's traditionally been a very popular series overseas, and as such a lot of announcements have come from there. Feeling it would make things easier for fans, we decided to go with one world-wide name. However, this made conversely made it harder [for Japanese fans], and thus the series will now carry it's original name of Akumajo Dracula.

En fin...

[PCEngine_Hunter]

I watched a video of this game a few days ago, it looked really nice. At this time, the only reason I want to buy a DS for is for my GBA games (I sold my GBA in order to buy a SP but then I decided to wait for the DS) but I think this will be the first actual DS game I will purchase.

[Gaijin Punch]

The character design was already awful since Byakuya no Concerto

That was at least something remeniscint of Akumajo, albeit not that great (and the game itself dragged on if you ask me). This is just... kiddie.

[Ganelon]

I dunno. This game looks very interesting, esp. with the distinctly anime art both in-game and out, something that hasn't been seen since Legends. I predict the name change will help CV very little in Japan. It's already a hardcore niche series there and has been for a long time already, under the Akumajo Dracula name or otherwise.

[Gaijin Punch]

In which way? They're changing BACK to Akumajo. I reallywon't care about the character designs as long as the game is good... which it does look so far.

[PCEngine_Hunter]

I watched a video of this game a few days ago, it looked really nice. At this time, the only reason I want to buy a DS for is for my GBA games (I sold my GBA in order to buy a SP but then I decided to wait for the DS) but I think this will be the first actual DS game I will purchase.

I've changed my mind on this, the first game I will want for the DS is Lunar Genesis especially now that Ubi Soft are claiming it's from "the original makers of Lunar:The Silver Star". The first screens dont show awfully impressive graphics, but hell it's LUNAR! I always wished they would make a prequel to the original but I always hoped it would be about Dyne and the original 4 heroes from TSS. I just really hope it is indeed members of Studio Alex that are making it.....

[Recap]

I've changed my mind on this, the first game I will want for the DS is Lunar Genesis especially now that Ubi Soft are claiming it's from "the original makers of Lunar:The Silver Star". The first screens dont show awfully impressive graphics, but hell it's LUNAR! I always wished they would make a prequel to the original but I always hoped it would be about Dyne and the original 4 heroes from TSS. I just really hope it is indeed members of Studio Alex that are making it.....

Studio Alex was just the people behind the animation scenes in Lunar 1 and 2. The game was done by Game Arts themselves and I don't think they're actually working for Marvelous Interactive for this one. And honestly, Sougetsu no Juujika looks miles better, more solid than the new Lunar screenshots. Then again, what's Lunar without an Iwadare CD-quality BGM?

[Gaijin Punch]

The game was done by Game Arts themselves and I don't think they're actually working for Marvelous Interactive for this one.

Right... Electronic Arts is a small shop. They've stated they don't mind making one game at a time. I don't see how they could do this AND Grandia III. In other words... I don't think they are. For shame... US developing a Japanese RPG is not good. I've not seen any pics yet though.

[Recap]

I've not seen any pics yet though.

That's because you don't visit Postback's forum at all, then: http://www.videogamerx.net/bbs/view.php?id=usernews&no=3669 The game's not being developed out of Japan, thoe. It's just that Ubi soft bought the rights to make a simultaneous English version. I think. And this mistake was funny, by the way:

Right... Electronic Arts is a small shop.

[Gaijin Punch]

That's because you don't visit Postback's forum at all, then:

I actually popped in not long ago. Tried to wade my way through some Spanish posts. The few hundred Spanish words I learned in high school are now long g one from my head.

The game's not being developed out of Japan, thoe. It's just that Ubi soft bought the rights to make a simultaneous English version. I think.

Who's developing it then? I'll admit I've not been keeping up w/ JPN news but I've only heard anything about it from the western side of the world. Bad asssumption on my part.

And this mistake was funny, by the way:

Right... Electronic Arts is a small shop.

Shoot me!

[Recap]

Who's developing it then?

No clue. Until somebody says the opposite, Marvelous Interactive.

[PCEngine_Hunter]

I've changed my mind on this, the first game I will want for the DS is Lunar Genesis especially now that Ubi Soft are claiming it's from "the original makers of Lunar:The Silver Star". The first screens dont show awfully impressive graphics, but hell it's LUNAR! I always wished they would make a prequel to the original but I always hoped it would be about Dyne and the original 4 heroes from TSS. I just really hope it is indeed members of Studio Alex that are making it.....

Studio Alex was just the people behind the animation scenes in Lunar 1 and 2. The game was done by Game Arts themselves and I don't think they're actually working for Marvelous Interactive for this one. And honestly, Sougetsu no Juujika looks miles better, more solid than the new Lunar screenshots. Then again, what's Lunar without an Iwadare CD-quality BGM?

Hmmm, I am pretty sure the scenario for Lunar 1&2 (i'm talking originals of course, they had nothing to do with the crappy remakes although they did do Magic School Lunar!) was from Studio Alex and in the Saturn version of Lunar SSS, it says "original scenario" by Studio Alex and then says the scenario writer for the remake. In the back of the M-CD Lunar TSS manual, all the Studio Alex staff are listed in the staff section along with the Game Arts staff. If I am wrong though, I appoligize.

[Recap]

Hmmm, I am pretty sure the scenario for Lunar 1&2 (i'm talking originals of course, they had nothing to do with the crappy remakes although they did do Magic School Lunar!) was from Studio Alex and in the Saturn version of Lunar SSS, it says "original scenario" by Studio Alex and then says the scenario writer for the remake. In the back of the M-CD Lunar TSS manual, all the Studio Alex staff are listed in the staff section along with the Game Arts staff. If I am wrong though, I appoligize.

Studio Alex was just a GA's subsidiary group to handle the animation scenes. No clue why they are credited as "scenario" creators, probably another example of bad transliteration/Engrish. Mahou Gakuen Lunar! was developed by Jam, like the other 32-bit Lunar games. Some are saying that GA is indeed behind Lunar: Genesis' development, by the way.

[aerithhime]

I can't believe they're going to make a Castlevania anime. The drawings don't look like the characters in the game. The style doesn't even convey Castlvania either just another anime. Anyway I'm looking forward to this Castlevania DS game. I've beaten all of the previous GBA games. But I don't have a DS yet and this is the only game I really want to play on it. So I'll probably buy the game then wait till I can get a DS for a good price.

[Ganelon]

Well, Chi no Rondo could've been seen apprehensively in the same way when it was released (though it wasn't) and it's still widely praised as among the best CV games despite it featuring anime cutscenes and a slew of anime style art. I'd still say to see how it turns out. The Metroivania games haven't produced a bad game yet IMO.

[Gaijin Punch]

The Metroivania games haven't produced a bad game yet IMO.

I thought Byakuya no Concierto was mediocre at best.

[Ganelon]

I'd agree, at least for a CV game. It's not at all innovative and it features what sounds like NES music. But I sure had more fun with HOD than many 8-bit and 16-bit sidescrollers and found the tunes themselves quite nice.

[Turrican]

I thought Byakuya no Concierto was mediocre at best.

Let speak the minority: I found Byakuya excellent. What I found mediocre was CotM. Nathan had stiff controls, the backgrounds were dull and uninteresting, the music had like, two or three new pieces in all. And I did not find a remix that I liked better than the original, see "aquarius" for example, waay better as heard in Akumajou Densetsu. I really liked HoD's composition, it is one of the most original heard leately in Dracula games. Much more interesting than AoS sound, for example. Yes, the music was heavily compressed and the audio suffered, but overall I enjoyed the game a lot more. And Ayami Kojima produced some of her best illustrations for HoD.

[Gaijin Punch]

Game music is lost on me from the getgo (999 times out of 1000) so that almost never sways my opinion of a game. CotN was a launch game, so that would hopefully make people give them some slack.

[Turrican]

CotN was a launch game, so that would hopefully make people give them some slack.

CotM was a GBA launch title, but you coudn't actually see what you were playing until the SP launch

[Dais]

Game music is lost on me from the getgo (999 times out of 1000) so that almost never sways my opinion of a game. CotN was a launch game, so that would hopefully make people give them some slack.

You're deaf? Also, how was the Harmony of Dissonance music original? Most of it felt like knockoffs from CV3 and SOTN.

[Gaijin Punch]

You're deaf?

No, I just think it's almost all crap. I own the following Game OST's. Jet Set Radio (not bad) De La Jet Set Radio (missing some of the better tracks -- only listened to it a couple of times) Progear no Arashi (haven't listened to it yet -- bought it for the soul purpose of the translation project) DOJ/ESPGaluda Arrange (not too bad... I love ESPGaluda though, so it's more for collection purposes) PSO DC version, b/c I was a PSO nut... music is pretty boring other than one track. Panzer Dragoon RPG --- great soundtrack. I really like the music.

[Turrican]

Also, how was the Harmony of Dissonance music original? Most of it felt like knockoffs from CV3 and SOTN.

Don't know what you mean with knockoff, but continuing in the SotN vein, HoD had almost entirely new soundtrack. I recall just one remix, at the select save screen. The rest is original, in the sense of composed from scratch. Maybe not all of the tracks are "original", that is, they are inspired by previous Castlevania sounds, but that can't be helped in a long running series. However, yes, I felt it was creative enough for me.

[Dais]

You're deaf?

No, I just think it's almost all crap. I own the following Game OST's.

you do realize you've just written off what is most likely thousands of hours of music spanning all genres? Turrican - Don't forget Vampire Killer 2K2 and the awesome game over theme. Anyway, while I enjoy the Harmony soundtrack more than a lot of people seem to, I will always see the Aria music as the best of the GBA titles. While the boss themes could use some work (Castlevania boss themes are usually weak), most of the other themes are excellent.