Man, I just went like 36 hours without even opening up my computer. It was surprisingly painless. Does this mean I am ready to evolve to my next form, the Neo-Luddite? Not likely, no. I’m still a few thousand experience points short.
I’ve been using my keee-razy vacation time to get reacquainted with older DS games through the beautiful medium known as “The Lite.” It has been 100% smashing so far. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow in particular — there’s even more detail in the game than I realized, although I am also noticing flaws that had previously eluded my attention (like the odd flickering in the rearmost background layer in the opening section). Since I’m no longer straining my eyes to experience the joys of pretty-boy goth horror, I’m taking a more leisurely pace through the game and grinding as much as necessary to forge every weapon I can… and then using those weapons rather than just blasting my way through with the near-invincible Tomahawk/Skelerang combo, which in turn reveals even more details. Like how if you uppercut a zombie (the alternate ability of a knuckle-class weapon) its bloody zombie giblets fly upward in a dramatic arc rather than simply crumbling to the ground. It’s a nice touch, and also a completely useless minor features that serves as a reminder that anyone who doesn’t totally love this game is some kind of mouth-breathing ninny who doesn’t deserve to play videogames in the first place.
Well, back to the Land of Relaxation (But No Internet) for me. Try not to break anything while I’m away, eh?
P.S. if all goes well the text for Issue Six will be complete by the time I touch down again at SFO.
14 thoughts on “How the Internet Got Its Groove Back”
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“It’s a nice touch, and also a completely useless minor features that serves as a reminder that anyone who doesn’t totally love this game is some kind of mouth-breathing ninny who doesn’t deserve to play videogames in the first place.”
I’d like the game if the monsters weren’t proprotionally tougher than you, even when you buy new armor and weapons. It’s like Legend of Legaia all over again…
Yeah, I kind of felt like a hack when I discovered how killer the Tomahawk / Skelerang combo is. Very addictive.
Not as addictive as the Alucard Shield / Shield Rod combo in SOTN, but not quite as cheap, either.
Hahaha, I hope that jim guy’s noticed your recent title trend.
“…mouth breathing….”??!
I have asthma you lout!
While refraining from the use of your computer may qualify as a valid test of discipline and self-control, these attempts to temporarily satiate your need for self-improvement have come at the expense of your capacity to properly communicate with the modern world. In my humble opinion, this is not a venture worthy of your time and energy, and only leads to a false sense of accomplishment that distracts you from tasks more deserving of your attention.
Translation: Check your E-Mail, dude.
It is annoying that I own neither a DS nor a Castlevania cart DS to play on it.
Edit: “Castlevania DS cart”. You get the idea.
…the enemies got proportionally stronger? I played through three times, two on Hard, and I never noticed that. You sure you’re discussing the right Castlevania?
(DS Card. Card. See? I can be all uppity, too).
(Just giving you a hard time. Relax. It really is Card, though.)
But I LIKE my skelerang/tomahawk combo! It makes me feel like I’m playing Metroid (or Ghosts&Goblins) instead of just another IGA game. Before you flog me, I love me some Dawn of Sorrow, don’t get me wrong. However, I can’t be the ONLY guy who misses actual levels instead of “an immense free-roaming RPG-style castle.” …Can I?
Card? More like a postage stamp! You want cards, buy a turbografx.
The skelerang/tomahawk combo is the greatest thing ever in Castlevania DS. I wouldn’t have been able to beat the game without it. If there’s anything in that game deserving of a “PROTIP:” it would be the skelerang/tomahawk setup.
Before you flog me, I love me some Dawn of Sorrow, don’t get me wrong. However, I can’t be the ONLY guy who misses actual levels instead of “an immense free-roaming RPG-style castle.” …Can I?
All I know is that after Rondo of Blood I was pretty sick of level-based castles and the constant sameness that brought. I think pople are just forgetting how repetitive the old CVs got in favour of whining about the new. But that might just be me.
What’s a DS Card? I actually prefer Metroidvania style; those are the only Castlevania games that I can actually finish. Super Castlevania IV? I think I beat Death and that was it. Simon’s Quest? I was probably 7 and didn’t know a single word in English. I was a big-time Castlevania loser back in the 8 and 16 bit eras, and I’m not afraid to admit it. SOTN and the like made me love the series all over again.
I remember the repetetiveness, and welcome it. We don’t have Ninja Gaiden anymore–so we need Castlevania back! “Card” is the official name of them. Look in your manuals. Also, Simon’s Quest was hardly level based (most people list it as the forerunner of SotN when they don’t want to bring up how IGA ripped off Metroid)
Um… I don’t own a DS. As you might recall, I have previously stated that (look above). So, I wouldn’t know about those manuals. Also, Simon’s Quest was introduced to me at a very young (read: not-English-speaking) age, so I didn’t understand it. I was referring to the spirit of Castlevania games from the late 80’s and early 90’s. SQ might not have been level based, but it sure felt like that when I first played it.