Castlevania - Harmony of Despair

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As I mentioned in the tracker thread, I picked up Castlevania - Harmony of Despair for Xbox Live. 6 Player Co-Op Castlevania actions with 5 playable characters and some color skins for each.

 

Playable Characters:

• Alucard
  
• Soma Cruz
  
• Jonathan Morris
  
• Shanoa
  
• Charlotte Aulin

 

Here are some rundowns on each player, thanks to NeoGaf thread.

All character ability earning methods, in a nutshell:

• Soma: Gets souls from defeated enemies (even if others defeat them!), Gets weapons from shop and drops.
  
• Alucard: Gets scrolls from Chest and Bosses, Gets weapons from shops and drops.
  
• Shanoa: Weps from Bosses, Spells from absorbing glyphs (Hold Up when a blue glyph appears atop a monsters head.) Gets stronger from using spells.
  
• Johnathan: Gets sub weps from enemies and chest. Gets stronger by repeatedly using sub weapons. Gets new martial art skills from chest and (I believe) bosses.
  
• Charlotte: Gets Spells by absorbing blocked attack skills with RB. Also gets stronger by repeatedly absorbing the same/more skills.

 

I have played little over an hour so far and almost soloed the 1st map. The game is very designed for MP play, but at least the 1st level is fine for solo ability. One big change is going to be that you don't level up in this, but you collect loot from treasure chests. The Chest loot is shared with your party, so I do believe everyone will get the same drop.

 

Key to improving your killing skills, is equipment. Grinding in the traditional DSvania means will work just fine. You can equip your gear @ the waypoint stones on the map, or before staring your adventure. I'm going to give the Multi a run tonight via dual consoles.

 

The Right Stick click option for the map view change is handy as well. You may want to change the default view priority in your settings. Also in settings, you will have plenty of tweak options, even window color and transparency tweaking.

 

Also, there is a Help section. Highly advised to CV Nubs and Vets alike, as it explains the MP based additions to this title.

 

For me and my Charlotte :wub:, the below list will prove handy in obtaining skills.

Fireball: Default, dragon heads

Sickle Moon: the little imps that fly around and control you...

Demon Seed: the demon plant in chapter 2

Summon Skeleton: the skeltons that throw bones

Acedic Bubbles: the demon dog with wings in chapters 2 and 4

Energy Flow: from the witches on brooms

Heal: from the witches on brooms

Flame Shot: the red demons in chapters 2-4

Ice Needle: clear blue lady in chapter 2

Poison Spores: The mushroom poison guys in chapter 2

Raging Fire: Bone Dragon, Minotaurs, Wall-clinging skeletons

Thunderbolt: Lightning Demons in Chapter 6

Deathscythe: From Death himself, as he pesters you with Scythes.

 

So far, so good. CV with some Agarest be my weekending. :) I also won a copy of Castlevania HoD from Destructoid and used it on Kat's 360, so I can now dual-box some CV. :bunny:

 

Apparently, it's Single Player and Online Co-Op Only. Man that sucks.

Edited May 5, 2011 by Pic0o

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Man, this game hit obscurity and microtransaction rape fast. First thing that killed it for me, was coming off Symphony of the Night, and to see the sloooowww movement speed of characters. I also would rather not have the timer going during levels.

 

The core nail in the coffin? DLC Abuse:

Characters

• Julius Belmont Character Pack - 240 Points
  
• Yoko Belnades Character Pack- 240 Points
  
• Richter Belmont Character Pack- 240 Points
  
• Maria Rendard Character Pack- 240 Points
  Music Tracks
  
• Music Pack 1 - 160 Points
  
• Music Pack 2 - 160 Points
  Additional Map:
  
• Beauty, Desire, Situation Dire Map Pack - 400 Points
  

1360 MS Points for 4 Playable characters and an Extra Map to play. Add 320 for some more music tracks.

 

Considering the Full Game goes for 1200 Points and has 6 maps, the price for more characters and a map seems pretty excessive. A patch did come out, so perhaps I will give it some more effort to enjoy, while avoiding the face-ripping DLC attempts.

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Bump as there is a sale for the Map DLC with all 5 of them being half off. 760 points for all 5 now, so I

m gonna pull the trigger and have some mad Castlevania co-op action. :)

 

No sale on characters yet though.

 

Buffalo Co-Op Castlevania grind is on the radar now. :)

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Played this with my buddy over the weekend for about 12 hours easy. This shit is super fun Co-Op. It sucks about needing a separate screen and console per player, but it makes sense once you are playing, since split screen would be all sorts of weird for 2 people trying to read the map and hit some of the triggers.

 

Just gotta get a little better gear before beating Dracula. :) DLC levels are crazy fun too.

 

I grabbed the DLC maps and also played thru those over the weekend. I also was able to play off my buddies screen to control my character as there was no latency online. We were also playing locally, but since it's XBL, we still had to route through live.

 

All they need to do is leave those level prices at sale level and cut the extra character costs. After doing that, put this game on PSN and make some money. This is a great game, just sold short by the originally too high DLC prices and a lack of clarity on how the multi player portion runs.

 

If you are a Castlevania fan and know someone who can play with you, this game is the shit. I have enough gear to solo quite a few levels, so I'm likely to also be on grinding gear and weapons for characters. :viking:

Edited May 9, 2011 by Pic0o

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Just got my last alt Attack for Shanoah.

 

Grinded Death for Weapon drops. Got after a few Level 5 Boss kills. Haha spoiler Death, rite?

 

 

Next Objective is kill Final Boss, so I can play higher difficulty. Hope for ultra drops in that. :yar:

 

Post of an Item hunting dump:

 

Purple chests on normal also drop two DLC unique items, the Uraeus headgear and Kalasiris chest gear. Purple chests on hard drop the Minerva Mask/Greaves and Simon's Bandanna/Sandals. Astarte also drops Yasutsunas, but they're still much easier to get from Chapter 5 chests.

 

Normal:

Chapter 1: Hercules Ring, Daybreak (Alucard), Spiked Boots, Blue Knuckles (Alucard)

Chapter 2: Holbein Dagger (Alucard)

Chapter 3: Lapiste (Shanoa), Pneuma (Shanoa), Heaven Sword (Alucard), Slick Boots

Chapter 4: Lapiste (Shanoa), Pneuma (Shanoa), Olrox's Suit, Daybreak (Alucard), Gold Ring

Chapter 5: Lapiste (Shanoa), Pneuma (Shanoa), Holy Veil, Milican's Sword, Moonwalkers, Masamune

Chapter 6: Satan's Ring (Soma), Mercury Boots, Lapiste (Shanoa), Pneuma (Shanoa), Daybreak (Alucard), Vorpal Blade (Alucard)

Chapter 7:Mercury Boots

 

Hard:

Chapter 1: Tough Ring, Mjollnjr (Soma), Spiked Mail (Jonathan/Richter/Julius), Combo Boots

Chapter 2: Thief Ring, Muramasa, Healing Mail (Jonathan/Shanoa/Julius/Richter)

Chapter 3: Chaos Ring, Nebula (Soma), Lapiste (Shanoa), Pneuma (Shanoa)

Chapter 4: Alucard Sword (Alucard), Gungner (Soma), Feather Gear

Chapter 5: Death's Robe, Death's Scythe (Soma), Ancient Armor, Berserker Mail, Lapiste (Shanoa), Pneuma (Shanoa)

Chapter 6: Valmanway, Dracula Tunic (Alucard/Soma), Winged Boots, Claimh Solais (Soma), Simon's Plate (Richter/Julius/Jonathan), Impervious Mail, Minerva’s Mail (Shanoa).

Chapter7:Hard: Winged Boots, Royal Crown, Badelaire (Alucard), Valmanway, Robe Decollete (Shanoa/Charlotte/Yoko/Maria), Miser ring

 

Character Specific Drops:

If a weapon is listed, w/o character specific information, it drops for Alucard OR Soma.

If an armor is listed w/o character specific information, it drops for whatever characters would normally be able to equip it.

If anything else is listed w/o character specific information, it drops for everyone.

 

Although the following are not boss only drops, Dracula (on hard mode) can also drop the following:

 

Simon's Gear- all of simon's gear can be received from purple chests in level 6 (hard) EXCEPT for Simon's Plate

 

Minerva's Gear- all of Minerva's gear can be received from purple chests in level 6 (hard) EXCEPT for the Minerva Mail

 

Muse’s Tiara - can also be received from level 6 (hard) purple chests.

 

Berserker Mail, Ancient Armor, and Yasutsuna are more likely to drop from Death than Dracula.

 

The Yasutsuna can be dropped from both Dracula and Death (on hard), but it is much more commonly dropped from purple chests on Chapter 5 (hard).

 

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Been playing some HD. Vania action this weekend with my buddies like Did the other week. We rocked Normal Dracula clear and all DLC maps, anf put some hurt on Hard mode, short the 2 drac clears.

 

These guys have been stompin the game. I saw their insane Soma mass dmg, as I also saw and put work on my Yoko Belnades, since that's my onry DLC chacter so far. They have all of them, and Fuma is pretty sick for hits too.

 

Heads up on the Dual Crush modes too. Whoever the closer (2nd Right trigger press). Will dictate what direction and what type pf special you will do.

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Man, this game just gets better the more you play. Did some more local 2 player play, and had some randoms join up too. Crushed Normal Dracula and did some mad clear and farm runs on Hard Mode.

 

I really hope this comes to PSN in the near future, because I'll buy it again. I know mad PSN heads who would be living Castlevania. :)

 

Btw, this game, like Undead Redemption, can get antsy if your NAT Type is moderate and you are trying to join some games. My buddy has his 360 online with ICS on Windows 7, and also has either a strict or moderate NAT type. We had issues when I tried to join his game last night. Will try again this week.

 

Also, PS3 Version coming. Getting this for PS3 as well, since I know mad 'vania heads on PS3.

Edited May 31, 2011 by Pic0o

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PSN Version sometime next month.

 

Extra features, one free map, and 2 DLC characters.

 

Along with the regular game, PS3ers who pick up Harmony of Despair will also gain free access to the first map pack, "Beauty, Desire, Situation Dire." That comes with the Pyramid Ruin level and two additional playable characters, Julius Belmont and Yoko Belnades.

 

While six-player online co-op will still be available in the PS3 release, vampire slayers will also have access to four-player couch co-op, which was missing from the original game.

 

There will also be a Survival Mode, leaderboards, and ghost data sharing once Castlevania: HD hits PSN.

 

Prolly gonna get again on PSN. I know at least one person who will, and likely a few more will be all bout it.

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Picked this (PS3 version) up and started on my Shanoa. 2/4 of spells and omw in a few more weapon levels, to smack up Boss rushin for last.

 

R2 on character color select, to use JP character voices.

 

If you would like all the maps to 11 thaf are available, it will be just under $30 USD. I had a 20 card, so got Fuma map and character as well with the Core 7 levels. The 8-bit Simon and Fuma are $1.99 each, while the other extra characters are $2.99 a pop. After you play the different levels, you do see the get value in the maps you gain. Too bad they didn't bundle em all for a lil less.

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I was thinking yesterday about how I feel it's a huge missed market, that this game isn't on handheld devices (3DS, Vita, etc).

 

I haven't played this in a bit and it's mostly because I unlocked tons of stuff on the 360 version, then put some moderate work on the PS3 version. This game would do well on mobile I think. Perhaps if a modification for solo play, to allow you use of the map shortcuts, would balance this pretty tight.

 

I'm not saying drop the MP for mobile, just give a solo option for on the go play. Cross platforms play is a wild fantasy of mine. I'd like it, but don't see it being a realistic request.