Monday 27 September, 2004

It is interesting to note the parallels between this game and Metroid:Fusion. So far, the action elements are relatively similar in terms of control as well as "feel". You run, jump, attack. Also, the levels seem to be structured similarly. There are places where you jump up a lot, places where you go down a lot, etc. In fact, even the map is similar!

On the other hand, Castlevania has a lot of RPG elements to it, while Metroid had very few. In Metroid you got new weapon-modes, more health bars and stuff like that. Here you get experience points and level up! You can also change your equipped items and so on. I'm not sure how much of Castlevanias RPG flavour is really RPG or whether it is simply "more options and configurability' dressed up as an RPG. In other words, if Metroid allowed me to go to a screen where I could swap out the different weapons and so on, would I be calling it an RPG?

Anyways...the game is fun though the save system was not very intuitive. (you have to press "up" in a special room. I got it to work the first time, but I'm not sure if it was automatic or just a fluke. Anyways, I had no idea what to do in the second save spot I reached...so I fumbled around like an idiot and then hit Gamefaqs (since I had the game manual at home). Oh well.

"In other words, if Metroid allowed me to go to a screen where I could swap out the different weapons and so on, would I be calling it an RPG?"

Funny you should say that... the old version of Metroid for the SNES actually had such a screen where you could do exactly that.

Cool. I had no idea!
I would agree with the fact that it was a good idea that it be taken out in any case. (if this Metroid game is like Metroid:Fusion)