Update 56 - New Music, New Video, And Coming Attractions

Man, Zangetsu slides around the whole place like an Akuma player in a Street Fighter tournament.

And interesting how Barbatos looks like a huntsman, keeping in line with the demon's depiction as a great hunter in the Ars Goetia. This coupled with Buer's appearance, Vepar's mermaid-based design and other goetic demons we've seen so far, it would appear that for the most part the design of the goetic demons in this game are based on how the medieval manuscripts describe them.

And Yamane is on point with the soundtrack as always.

Zangetsu hate Miriam just because she has demonic powers? Can't wait to whip some common sense into him without taking any damage.

No I think they came along to help compose some of the tracks since Ippo is gone. Either way I think the update made it clear they were showing us Noisycroak tracks. The only one that felt Michiru Yamane to me was the first one but I'm glad others feel like they all have her sound. 

As Pure Miriam   said the castle design or layout is looking good thankfully. I'm not sure if I see better visuals as some people have said it looks largely the same to me. Sometimes I wonder if the people who had issues with the visuals just had issues with the art direction instead. The very people who liked the graphics in the boat location crapped on the church location and it's not like the visuals got worse, maybe they just didn't like the art direction of the location. One issue I see in that regard is there's a lot of lack of color. Which might work in 2D but makes everything feel bland in 3D. I think embracing some more color in the locations would be a good thing for the game. 


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Having said that, I think the game visually has looked quite consistent and good, I never really had an issue with them. It looks very IGAVANIA to  me but in 3D.

As far as the movement changes animation changes:
The quicker jump looks odd to me but enough people complained about something that was completely fine a change was bound to happen. As others said Miriam jumps quicker but still goes into the floaty fall after so it's a weird transition. The thing is the floaty jump and fall were apart of IGA games from the beginning so it shouldn't have been changed to begin with. I think seeing it in 3D has thrown people off but it felt good as it was. 

The mace being so quick seems wrong and again I know people complained about that too but it feels like these people don't get these games at all. The heavy weapons are heavy and more powerful but they sacrifice speed.  In SOTN they handled it by making Alucard's swing animation slower but also stiffer looking with a HEAVY air swing sound. That gives you the impression what he's swinging is heavy. The mace on the other hand sounds like it has the same swing sound, it has a similar animation so there isnt much to differentiate it from the other weapon types. 

#constuctivecriticism   

TlDr : The complaints that possibly fueled these changes were bad complaints to begin with. I am a complaint snob. 


As I said before: Solid update, this is what gets me hyped. Multiple topics to discuss from music to gameplay. Thanks for this! 

I am very fascinated by Zangetsu, he is going to be my favorite playable character (assuming he is playable). Those are some awesome moves!

the boss doing a lot of damage is a good thing. amateurs are gonna be chugging healing items anyways.

that minimap has to go, though. it should be optional and really breaks whatever immersion the game has, plus it blocks that corner that would see more of the cool surroundings.

Zangetsu looks like a challenge to kick to death...but I'll do it!

What I would really appreciate would be the possibility of having a map projected onto a second screen. That was one brilliant thing about the DS-games. For PC, this option would surely alleviate the problem of having a map obstructing your main screen without having to stop playing to look at it. But yeah, other than that, an option to turn it off should be implemented to let players play the way they want to.

Goodness that boss theme is amazing. Not as good as Dissonant Courage from Order of Ecclesia, but still damn good.