Castlevania 1's cover art is also partially inspired by a painting called The Norseman by Frank Frazetta, well, partially copied is more the right term, just like Simon's Quest's cover. It would've done well to also mention Dracula's Curse's Japanese Box art, which paints a much more deserted world, a blue fog in the distance, it's good stuff, although Trevor's face was a bit derpy.
Really interesting video idea! As a huge anime fan, I still think I enjoyed the more realistic approach of the older titles over Dracula X, but Ayami Kojima's artwork is the pinnacle of the series. Subbed for the next episode.
Thanks man! I checked out your channel as well, really great stuff. I get the sense that we share a lot of the same tastes. And yeah, I'm thinking about doing other "aesthetic retrospectives" for other series as well down the line. But we'll see if the idea catches on lol.
@@Ryan-Petre Appreciate it! I think the aesthetic retrospectives is a really cool topic that can be utilized for countless different series. It's just really really hard to get viewers these days sadly.
Thanks! And good find, that's one of my favorite of Frazetta's. Though I wouldn't say it's plagiarism, at least not on the same level as Simon Quest, which is pretty much 1to1 with its source. The first cover is just a copy in terms of composition and concept. But still created something new imo
Great video. I love the concept of aesthetically reviewing videogames! Castlevania is definitely a right choice for such an effort. Something worth noting, when talking about NES Castlevania's looks, or any old sprite-based game's, is that their art was designed to be displayed on CRTs, whose natural fuzziness considerably changes a sprite's look. You can look up "sprites on crt" on any image search to get an idea. When played on era-appropriate tech, their graphics don't look quite as dated. Even a decent "CRT" emulator filter is an improvement, IMO.
Amazing review of the visuals of this incredible serie!!! You really demonstrate that you understand well the deep artistics nuances of Castlevania, can’t wait for part 2! :D What is your top 3 favortie castlevania games?
Thanks a lot dude! That's a tough question. Order of Ecclesia is my favorite game, period, but there are 6-7 contenders for second place. It's such a consistent series. Ultimately though I'd probably go for Castlevania 3 and Portrait of Ruin (my first Castlevania game).
Hey thanks man. My vocal delivery is something I'm a bit self conscious about so I appreciate it. I actually got some flak for it in the horror series, which admittedly I kinda agree with. I pitched it down to the point where it was too gravely.
I also got to say I've really been enjoying your content as well man. You have such a defined presence and brand for someone who's only been at it for like a month and a half. Seeing you commit full time to YT genuinely inspired me to do the same, and I'm not just saying that. You're a trailblazer.
@@Ryan-Petre Commented these on the wrong account before, so reposting, but I think I saw that comment, but for what it's worth it works really well here. It also adds a lot to the jokes you throw in here and there, they catch you that much more off guard being a little deadpan.
@@Ryan-Petre Thank you by the way, I really appreciate the compliments. I'm glad it could push you towards regular content. I'll have to DM you soon because it would be good to have someone else to talk RUclips specific stuff with.
Thank you for putting Castlevania 4’s visual flaws into words for me! I enjoy the game overall, especially the final chapters, but I keep looking back and wondering what happened to the skeletons? why do all the blacks look greenish or brownish?
"...even though it was blatantly plagiarized." Ohhh, that's interesting... Maybe that is the reason why Dracula was cropped out of Simon's Quest's European box art.
Kind of sad you didn't mention Dracula X even though it was something of an attempt to port Rondo It still created It's own look and style for the different platform
I would agree, but from my perspective, only the best of the best on N64, like Conkers Bad Fur Day, I can look at and say "This looks really good", without an asterisk or without speaking comparatively to the rest of the library. Meanwhile games like FFIX, Legacy of Kain, and RE3 on PS1 still look fantastic to me even today.
@@Ryan-Petre Rare in general was the king of N64 graphics. No surprise they outhrone Castlevania 64 by a mile. Though my personal favorite looking N64 game is Kirby 64. It's simplistic beuty is so beutiful. However, if I am gunning for more realistic N64 graphics, my pick would be Sin and Punishment.
@@rac1equalsbestgame853 Yeah, Sin and Punishment does look great, I'd say it's about as close as the N64 gets to touching the best of the PS1, outside of the realm of simple, cartoony games. It's great that it's finally getting exposure via Switch Online.
@@Ryan-Petre Honestly, I prefer PS1 graphics even at their worst, for some reason I find myself actually nostalgic for PS1 graphics even though I wasn't a sperm at the time. Megaman Legends 1 and 2, Crash and Spyro and MGS have such a pixelated low poly glory
The N64 Castlevania games look better than the PS2 and PS3 3D Castlevanias. Tha art was incredible. If this had the graphics on the level of modern games it would get more respect
Thanks for watching everyone! Be sure to subscribe for the many videos on video game aesthetics and art I've been continuing to put out!
I want the series to return to it's Gothic horror roots so badly. I liked the anime style, but man they need to mix it up once in awhile.
Castlevania 1's cover art is also partially inspired by a painting called The Norseman by Frank Frazetta, well, partially copied is more the right term, just like Simon's Quest's cover.
It would've done well to also mention Dracula's Curse's Japanese Box art, which paints a much more deserted world, a blue fog in the distance, it's good stuff, although Trevor's face was a bit derpy.
Really interesting video idea! As a huge anime fan, I still think I enjoyed the more realistic approach of the older titles over Dracula X, but Ayami Kojima's artwork is the pinnacle of the series. Subbed for the next episode.
Thanks man! I checked out your channel as well, really great stuff. I get the sense that we share a lot of the same tastes. And yeah, I'm thinking about doing other "aesthetic retrospectives" for other series as well down the line. But we'll see if the idea catches on lol.
@@Ryan-Petre Appreciate it! I think the aesthetic retrospectives is a really cool topic that can be utilized for countless different series. It's just really really hard to get viewers these days sadly.
Hear, hear! There really is no other art style that fits better for Castlevania series than Kojima's.
I knew that rendition of 64’s intro sounded familiar. Love that video. Love that game. Love this video
Thank you. It's a beautiful cover isn't it. I'm really happy mklachu let me use it.
This was such a great video. About to go watch part two. Castlevania is one of my all time favorite series.
Thanks bruh!
nice work! by the way, i believe the cover of the first one was also plagerized - from Frazetta's "Norseman".
Thanks! And good find, that's one of my favorite of Frazetta's. Though I wouldn't say it's plagiarism, at least not on the same level as Simon Quest, which is pretty much 1to1 with its source. The first cover is just a copy in terms of composition and concept. But still created something new imo
Nice video big fan of castlevania I’m subscribing just because not enough people make content on the series (the games not Netflix show).
Thank you very much, I totally agree! I love darkness, gothic and stylish... especially in a vampire/monsters work, of course! Very good work
Or perhaps more than stylish, contrasty, rather... Hate those movies or videogames with no blacks. And I'm a photographer/videographer!
Great video. I love the concept of aesthetically reviewing videogames! Castlevania is definitely a right choice for such an effort. Something worth noting, when talking about NES Castlevania's looks, or any old sprite-based game's, is that their art was designed to be displayed on CRTs, whose natural fuzziness considerably changes a sprite's look. You can look up "sprites on crt" on any image search to get an idea. When played on era-appropriate tech, their graphics don't look quite as dated. Even a decent "CRT" emulator filter is an improvement, IMO.
Amazing review of the visuals of this incredible serie!!! You really demonstrate that you understand well the deep artistics nuances of Castlevania, can’t wait for part 2! :D What is your top 3 favortie castlevania games?
Thanks a lot dude! That's a tough question. Order of Ecclesia is my favorite game, period, but there are 6-7 contenders for second place. It's such a consistent series. Ultimately though I'd probably go for Castlevania 3 and Portrait of Ruin (my first Castlevania game).
I really like the vocal delivery you used, it fits this style of video really well. Same with your horror of early 3d games series.
I also liked that you put the scrolling backgrounds behind the 4:3 footage, small details like that complete the package.
Hey thanks man. My vocal delivery is something I'm a bit self conscious about so I appreciate it. I actually got some flak for it in the horror series, which admittedly I kinda agree with. I pitched it down to the point where it was too gravely.
I also got to say I've really been enjoying your content as well man. You have such a defined presence and brand for someone who's only been at it for like a month and a half. Seeing you commit full time to YT genuinely inspired me to do the same, and I'm not just saying that. You're a trailblazer.
@@Ryan-Petre Commented these on the wrong account before, so reposting, but I think I saw that comment, but for what it's worth it works really well here. It also adds a lot to the jokes you throw in here and there, they catch you that much more off guard being a little deadpan.
@@Ryan-Petre Thank you by the way, I really appreciate the compliments. I'm glad it could push you towards regular content. I'll have to DM you soon because it would be good to have someone else to talk RUclips specific stuff with.
Thank you for putting Castlevania 4’s visual flaws into words for me! I enjoy the game overall, especially the final chapters, but I keep looking back and wondering what happened to the skeletons? why do all the blacks look greenish or brownish?
commenting for viewer engagement
Thanks bro, I appreciate it.
Interesting stuff.
This video is proof that not everyone's opinion is valid
you got a sub from me. great video man! awesome content and editing! the music is soooo good!
Thank you my friend!
I saw Cornell from Castlevania Judgement! :3 am happy
"...even though it was blatantly plagiarized."
Ohhh, that's interesting... Maybe that is the reason why Dracula was cropped out of Simon's Quest's European box art.
Oh this is good, really good. And some key words like frazetta and somber were used. It's like dang you beat me to it lol. Also n64 love.
Thanks friend, glad you liked it. Part 2 coming out this Tuesday morning!
Kind of sad you didn't mention Dracula X even though it was something of an attempt to port Rondo It still created It's own look and style for the different platform
The N64 versions need a remake
Absooooolutely
I would say, Castlevania 64 looks a lot better than a good chunk of the N64 library though. Even the textures
I would agree, but from my perspective, only the best of the best on N64, like Conkers Bad Fur Day, I can look at and say "This looks really good", without an asterisk or without speaking comparatively to the rest of the library. Meanwhile games like FFIX, Legacy of Kain, and RE3 on PS1 still look fantastic to me even today.
@@Ryan-Petre Rare in general was the king of N64 graphics. No surprise they outhrone Castlevania 64 by a mile. Though my personal favorite looking N64 game is Kirby 64. It's simplistic beuty is so beutiful.
However, if I am gunning for more realistic N64 graphics, my pick would be Sin and Punishment.
@@rac1equalsbestgame853 Yeah, Sin and Punishment does look great, I'd say it's about as close as the N64 gets to touching the best of the PS1, outside of the realm of simple, cartoony games. It's great that it's finally getting exposure via Switch Online.
@@Ryan-Petre Honestly, I prefer PS1 graphics even at their worst, for some reason I find myself actually nostalgic for PS1 graphics even though I wasn't a sperm at the time. Megaman Legends 1 and 2, Crash and Spyro and MGS have such a pixelated low poly glory
Nice
The N64 Castlevania games look better than the PS2 and PS3 3D Castlevanias. Tha art was incredible. If this had the graphics on the level of modern games it would get more respect
thanks for the video
get part 2 out soon
It sounds like you’re bored out of your mind.
I miss the masculine style of Castlevania. After Symphony of The Night the characters started looking the same and overly girly