Castlevania: Lament of Innocence

[Despair]

Nice impressions UndeadKing. Thank you.

Great to hear that its like DMC, which means I will love it Good to hear that Whip mechanics work well. If Tecmo could do it well in Rygar, I am sure that Konami can do it in CV.

As for Knife power up, wasnt one charge being Homing stream of knifes that follows the targets? It worked like that in the video we seen.

[Kidnemo]

I'm not too fond of the sub weapons. In the demo I found the dagger, the cross and a crystal. You can use standard versions of the subweapons or modify them with orbs. In the demo you get two orbs, red and blue. I am unaware of any lock on button so aiming the dagger can be tedious, especially due to the fixed camera angles. For some reason, the cross is no longer a boomerang, it is now a shield, similar to Wood Man's weapon from Mega Man 2. Three crosses cricle around your body causing damage to anything that touches you. I would've rather them kept the boomerang style cross, though I imagine that would be hard to aim as well. The crystal leaves a crystal where you were standing that blows up after a few seconds. If you have an orb equipped the sub weapon will be modified. For example, with the blue orb equipped, using the Cross will perform the classic magic attack.

That sounds like the cross, not the boomerang.

In past games the cross would go around you shield style too.

[UndeadKing]

Despair,
No problem. Yes, one of the powered up versions of the dagger is homing. It's just a pain in the ass to aim the standard dagger.

Kidnemo,
Really? Damn, my memory must be shot. I could've sworn you always threw the cross, I don't recall it ever being used as a shield. I think they changed the name to boomerang in the Us versions but I'm pretty sure you threw the cross. I feel like a fool now.

EDIT - Did some research. As I thought, the cross was renamed boomerang in the Us version in early games. You can find info here. http://www.classicgaming.com/castlev...inarsenal1.htm

However, I am unsure that the subweapon in LOI is indeed the same as the cross. I'll have to fire the demo up again and check to be sure. I knew I wasn't remembering wrong.

EDIT #2 - Just finished playing the demo a couple more times. Aiming the dagger isn't as bad as I thought. As long as you are pointing in the general direction, the dagger will hit a target. Sorry about the misunderstanding. Not sure if I mentioned this, but there are pools of blood. I was wondering why this got an M rating, but after seeing the enemies turn into rivers of blood when they are killed I can understand. As far as the cross goes, I was wrong. It isn't actually the classic cross but another sub weapon altogether. A crucifix. Attached is a very blurry pic.

[Kidnemo]

So in SotN when you play as Ricther, you get the boomerang (you throw it and it comes back), and the cross (lots of hearts, woodman type effect), it's also like that in a few of the GBA 'vania games too (CotM I believe).

Weird.

[Darkweaver]

Does the demo allow you to access the map or monster encyclopedias? Also, I take it the X button is to jump then. Double tap it and you double jump perhaps?

I like the idea that you use the buttons to whip rather than the analog stick. If I recall, in the new Rygar you had to use the analog stick to control his diskarmor thing and I prefer my weapons with the touch of a button.

I think either the demo is shortened or the Golem is just a sub-boss of that level. It's cool that there were two different routes to him though which means a less linear castle and the less linear, the more I like.

[MechDeus]

If I recall, in the new Rygar you had to use the analog stick to control his diskarmor thing and I prefer my weapons with the touch of a button.

That was just to twirl enemies, you still attacked with the buttons.

[UndeadKing]

Attacking is strictly with the buttons. You cannot alter your whip with the analog stick. Though, there may be a skill in the final game that allows you to. As Mechdeus said, the only time you used the analog stick in Rygar was to twirl enemies.

Jump is indeed performed with the X button and a double tap performs a double jump. Just noticed I forgot to mention that they added a block button. I'm not sure if I like this addition, but we'll see. Holding R1 makes Leon go into a blocking pose. You can block some attacks this way, but it obviously won't help you against big attacks, such as the golem's swinging fist. If you press jump while holding in block Leon will Kick Step. The Kick Step makes Leon perform a short dash/scoot in the direction you are holding. This skill works wonders for avoiding some attacks and is pretty much required during the only "puzzle" present in this demo unless you want to take damage.

The "puzzle" I am referring to isn't really a puzzle. It is a room with three statues. Large boulders drop from the ceiling and hit the ground wherever you stand. So, what you do is stand in front of a statue and when the boulders nears you, just hold guard and press jump. Leon will scoot out of the boulders way. The boulder will then smash the statue. Smash all of the statues to unlock the door and continue.

Another skill present is the Perfect Guard. I'm not sure how to do it, nor what it does. I think it is dependent on your timing and it may sap some MP.

You cannot access the Encylopedia or the map in the demo. At least, I have not found a way to access the map. The start button brings up the main menu and select brings up a quit screen. I'd assume it's just not present. I really hope the Golem was only a sub boss, or maybe that this is a training level. Time will tell.

[Darkweaver]

After explaining the control setup, I can see it's going to be quick with no time to getting used to. Thus, the simple controls already make it seem to me as if this will be a fast, smooth game and I'm really happy about it. I simply cannot wait any longer for this game!

[Captain Vegetable]

I'm really looking forward to this. Thanks for the info, UndeadKing.

[Giga Power]

Some people might hate me for saying this. But I loved (and I mean loved) the 64 Castlevania games, so I've been waiting for this for a long time.
In fact I was really upset when they canceled the Dreamcast game.