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→Castlevania games: deeper analysis of game genres
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After 2010, the Castlevania series was rebooted. The games are then titled {{c|Castlevania: Lords of Shadow}} (plus number or subtitle) in both the original and localized versions. | After 2010, the Castlevania series was rebooted. The games are then titled {{c|Castlevania: Lords of Shadow}} (plus number or subtitle) in both the original and localized versions. | ||
=== Linear action games === | |||
Action games are based on quick reflexes, adventure games require some deep thought. | |||
==== Action platformers ==== | |||
The core of the ''Castlevania'' series. | |||
In these games, the player has to navigate through a fixed number of stages. Some titles allow forks in the path, but the total number of areas is usually constant, or it varies by one at most. | |||
The player controls one member of the Belmont family (the Morris are related), armed with the whip called "Vampire Killer". The characters are very similar to each other from game to game: they can jump, swing the whip, and use some other skills. The number and characteristics of said skills depend mostly on the capabilities of the platform (e.g. the Belmont in the [[Castlevania: The Adventure|first ''Castlevania'' for GameBoy]] has just one sub-weapon, whereas the Belmont in the [[Castlevania: Dracula X|last SNES title]] can use ten different special attacks). | |||
{|{{prettytable|sortable=1}} | {|{{prettytable|sortable=1}} | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| ドラキュラ伝説 ReBirth <br>''Dracula Legend: ReBirth ''|| [[Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth]] || 2009 || {{icon|globe}} [[Wii]] || 1576 - Dracula Legend | | ドラキュラ伝説 ReBirth <br>''Dracula Legend: ReBirth ''|| [[Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth]] || 2009 || {{icon|globe}} [[Wii]] || 1576 - Dracula Legend | ||
| | |} | ||
==== Three-dimensional action ==== | |||
With the advent of 64-bit consolles, the ''Castlevania'' series upgraded its gameplay. These titles feature three-dimensional environment and a third person point of view (i.e. the player sees the game world as if he or she was just behind the character). | |||
Apart from the change in graphics, everything said for the [[#Action platformers]] still applies to these games. | |||
{|{{prettytable|sortable=1}} | |||
! Original title !! Localized title !! Year !!width=80| Systems !! Setting & hero | |||
|- | |- | ||
| 悪魔城ドラキュラ 黙示録 <br>''Devil Castle Dracula Apocalypse ''|| [[Castlevania 64]] || 1998|| {{icon|globe}} [[N64]] || Alternate universe | | 悪魔城ドラキュラ 黙示録 <br>''Devil Castle Dracula Apocalypse ''|| [[Castlevania 64]] || 1998|| {{icon|globe}} [[N64]] || Alternate universe | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| 悪魔城ドラキュラ 闇の呪印 <br>''Devil Castle Dracula: Curse of Darkness ''|| [[Castlevania: Curse of Darkness]] || 2005 || {{icon|globe}} PS2, [[Xbox]] || 1479 - Trevor Belmont | | 悪魔城ドラキュラ 闇の呪印 <br>''Devil Castle Dracula: Curse of Darkness ''|| [[Castlevania: Curse of Darkness]] || 2005 || {{icon|globe}} PS2, [[Xbox]] || 1479 - Trevor Belmont | ||
|} | |||
==== Fighting ==== | |||
Technically, fighting games are a sub-set of action games. | |||
{|{{prettytable|sortable=1}} | |||
! Original title !! Localized title !! Year !!width=80| Systems !! Setting & hero | |||
|- | |- | ||
| 悪魔城ドラキュラ ジャッジメント <br>'' Devil Castle Dracula: Judgement ''|| [[Castlevania Judgment]] || 2008 || {{icon|globe}} [[Wii]] || Fighting | |||
|} | |||
=== Labyrinth games === | |||
==== Early non-linear games ==== | |||
''[[Vampire Killer]]'' is a different version of the [[Castlevania|first ''Castlevania'']]. Each stage is a labyrinth where the player has to find the necessary items to progress to the next one. | |||
''[[Castlevania II: Simon's Quest]]'' is the only <u>true</u> role-playing game in the series. In fact, it features all three main characteristics of the genre: text-rich, freedom of exploration, permanent character upgrades | |||
Put together the maze-like stages of ''[[Vampire Killer]]'' with the freedom of exploration and the level-up system of ''[[Castlevania II: Simon's Quest]]'', and you get a good approximation of a Metroidvania. | |||
{|{{prettytable|sortable=1}} | |||
! Original title !! Localized title !! Year !!width=80| Systems !! Setting & hero | |||
|- | |- | ||
| 悪魔城ドラキュラ <br>''Devil Castle Dracula ''|| [[Vampire Killer]] || 1986 || {{icon|globe}} [[MSX2]] || 1691 - Simon Belmont | | 悪魔城ドラキュラ <br>''Devil Castle Dracula ''|| [[Vampire Killer]] || 1986 || {{icon|globe}} [[MSX2]] || 1691 - Simon Belmont | ||
|- | |- | ||
| ドラキュラII 呪いの封印 <br>''Dracula II: The Seal of the Curse ''|| [[Castlevania II|Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest]] || 1987 || {{icon|globe}} NES || 1698 - Simon Belmont | | ドラキュラII 呪いの封印 <br>''Dracula II: The Seal of the Curse ''|| [[Castlevania II|Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest]] || 1987 || {{icon|globe}} NES || 1698 - Simon Belmont | ||
|- | |} | ||
! | |||
==== Metroidvanias ==== | |||
When it was released, ''[[Castlevania: Symphony of the Night]]'' was a revolution in the series. | |||
A Metroidvania game consists of a huge two-dimensional, platform labyrinth, where certain areas can only be accessed after the character found specific items or abilities. | |||
Still, it would be a stretch to include them in the definition of "role-playing game". They do include freedom of exploration and permanent character upgrades, but they are completely lacking when it comes to active dialogue and plot development. | |||
{|{{prettytable|sortable=1}} | |||
! Original title !! Localized title !! Year !!width=80| Systems !! Setting & hero | |||
|- | |- | ||
| 悪魔城ドラキュラX 月下の夜想曲 <br>'' Devil Castle Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight ''|| [[Castlevania: Symphony of the Night]] || 1997 || {{icon|jp}} [[Saturn]] <br>{{icon|globe}} [[PS1]], PSP || 1797 - Dracula X | | 悪魔城ドラキュラX 月下の夜想曲 <br>'' Devil Castle Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight ''|| [[Castlevania: Symphony of the Night]] || 1997 || {{icon|jp}} [[Saturn]] <br>{{icon|globe}} [[PS1]], PSP || 1797 - Dracula X | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| 悪魔城ドラキュラ 奪われた刻印 <br>'' Devil Castle Dracula: The Stolen Seal ''|| [[Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia]] || 2008 || {{icon|globe}} NDS || 1830's - Shanoa | | 悪魔城ドラキュラ 奪われた刻印 <br>'' Devil Castle Dracula: The Stolen Seal ''|| [[Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia]] || 2008 || {{icon|globe}} NDS || 1830's - Shanoa | ||
| | |} | ||
==== Multiplayer ==== | |||
A multiplayer game requires each player to have a different approach than in a single-player game. | |||
{|{{prettytable|sortable=1}} | |||
! Original title !! Localized title !! Year !!width=80| Systems !! Setting & hero | |||
|- | |- | ||
| 悪魔城ドラキュラ ハーモニー オブ ディスペアー <br>'' Devil Castle Dracula: Harmony of Despair ''|| [[Castlevania: Harmony of Despair]] || 2010 || {{icon|globe}} [[PS3]], [[Xbox 360|X360]] || Multiplayer | | 悪魔城ドラキュラ ハーモニー オブ ディスペアー <br>'' Devil Castle Dracula: Harmony of Despair ''|| [[Castlevania: Harmony of Despair]] || 2010 || {{icon|globe}} [[PS3]], [[Xbox 360|X360]] || Multiplayer | ||