Line #40 YMMV/CastlevaniaJudgment


1	* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Probably the only thing every fan can agree on is that ''Judgment'' has a damn good soundtrack. Hell, the version of "Vampire Killer" used for Simon's reveal in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''? ''This one.'' [[AwesomeMusic/{{Castlevania}} See the main page.]]
2	* BrokenBase:
3	** This game is probably one of the most controversial out of the ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' series. Flawed, horribly designed, wannabe-''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries Soulcalibur]]'' reject that ruined the franchise? Or a severely underrated classic that, though flawed, is still quite fun to play with, and people are just being too picky?
4	** The designs of the characters used to have a really negative reception, but some (particularly [[EnsembleDarkhorse Cornell]] and Aeon) are notable for being good. [[VindicatedByHistory Since then]], though many still complain about the designs, there are a good number of ''Castlevania'' fans who feel that the designs are actually all right and not as bad as everyone made them out to be. The latter party also raises up the good point that the designs are that way due to Aeon pulling all of the characters from different eras in time.
5	** Of all the designs that are quite base-breaking, Grant's design is this the most. At first, it was highly disliked for looking like a [[VideoGame/SoulSeries Voldo]] ripoff and less like a pirate -- many went as far as to state he looked more like a [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot mummy ninja]]. In the following years, however, more and more fans got used to and even warmed up to Grant's new design, citing that his original design was generic whereas this new one looked badass and made him far more distinguishable as a character. Some also pointed out two factors that could explain why Grant looks the way he is: he was pulled from a time ''after'' his debut, so he could've either gone through a lot of hardships after the events of ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaIIIDraculasCurse Dracula's Curse]]'', or he simply could've been beaten badly by Dracula himself during said game, similar to how Trevor is depicted with an EyepatchOfPower in line with the scars he sports in ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaCurseOfDarkness Curse of Darkness]]''. Another argument defenders use (though rare) is that, in the original Japanese, Grant was classed as a ''former'' pirate captain, but was presently a rebel, a noble thief, and an acrobat, so it's fair game for the character designer to do what they wanted with his design.
6	** Gameplay-wise, Maria causes rifts due to debates over her gameplay and the perceived effectiveness of her kit. Is she [[GameBreaker seriously OP]] and [[SkillGateCharacters easy to use]]? Or is she far too clunky and difficult to utilize?
7	** Story-wise, several characters like Sypha, Maria, and Eric Lecard are taken from before their big heroic deeds and are intentionally abrasive in an effort to retroactively inject CharacterDevelopment into their stories. But many fans feel that the game went too far and made them outright unlikable and unpleasant; all three of these characters have entries under TheScrappy on this page.
8	* CharacterTiers: Ever-present in a fighting game.
9	** Top Tier: Aeon, Alucard, & Shanoa
10	** High Tier: Death, Eric, & Simon
11	** Mid Tier: Carmilla, Cornell, Golem, Sypha, & Trevor
12	** Low Tier: Grant & Maria
13	** Bottom Tier: Dracula
14	* DesignatedVillain: Characters who battle Golem open the battle with their quote reserved for villains and during its Story Mode, the BGM for the villains' story plays.
15	* EnsembleDarkhorse:
16	** Golem. Anyone find it [[{{Irony}} ironic]] that the one character [[WhatMeasureIsAMook whose mere existence was overlooked]] in-universe turned out to be the one part most fans thought the game got ''right''?
17	** Cornell was another character that [[UnexpectedCharacter not a lot of people saw coming]], and yet he is usually grouped with Golem as one of the things ''Judgment'' nailed. His "wolf knight" redesign in particular is widely regarded as the best of the entire cast.
18	** Grant. Despite boasting a divisive design, his blend of entertaining personality, flashy gameplay, and unique story are considered some of the game's best. It also helps that this was the first time Grant had ever been featured alongside his compatriots Trevor, Sypha, and Alucard in some time (and, given his unfortunate luck with being AdaptedOut in future works such as ''Pachislot Akumajō Dracula III'' or [[WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017 the Netflix animated series]], possibly his last for the foreseeable future).
19	** [[OriginalGeneration The new character that was introduced in this game]], Aeon, was also well-received. Part of it is because his design is probably one of the best ones in the game, but his cryptic yet straightforward personality was seen as intriguing. Being TheChessmaster and the BigGood also helps. And his theme music is awesome!
20	* FanNickname:
21	** Simon Yagami - Simon Belmont, for his striking resemblance to ''Manga/DeathNote'' protagonist Light Yagami.
22	** As mentioned ad nauseam in this work's pages, the resemblance to ''Manga/DeathNote'' is easily noticed, and fans won't let go of making references to the manga. Among many examples, there's ''Dracula Note'', ''Death Notevania'', ''Castlevania [[AllAccordingToPlan Just as Planned]]'', ''Akumajo Keikaku Doori'', ''VideoGame/PowerStone: The Death Note Version'', and ''Death Note: The Fighting Game''. Meanwhile, Castlevanians of [[UsefulNotes/{{Canada}} the Ottawa region]] like to refer to the game as "[=CastlevaNote=]."
23	* FirstInstallmentWins: Seemingly {{invoked\|Trope}}. Aside from [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaOrderOfEcclesia Shanoa]] and [[OriginalGeneration the newcomer Aeon]], all of the characters in this game were introduced to the series before 2000, prior to when IGA became producer. References to the handheld {{Metroidvania}}s and the non-Platform/{{Nintendo 64}} 3D games are sparse: Death's music comes from ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLamentOfInnocence Lament of Innocence]]'', Trevor's ending foreshadows ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaCurseOfDarkness Curse of Darkness]]'' and most of the enemy models are taken from that game, Alucard's ending foreshadows ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaAriaOfSorrow'', and Eric's ending hints at a plot point introduced in ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaPortraitOfRuin Portrait of Ruin]]''. By comparison, one only needs to look to the playable cast of ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaHarmonyOfDespair'', which sits at the other side of the representation spectrum.
24	* HarsherInHindsight:
25	** Crossing over with HilariousInHindsight, Maria's plotline being centered on comparing her bust to every other girl's comes across as scarily prophetic considering the period in TheNewTens in which ''Castlevania'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN0Te7uTi7o took a rather sexualised direction]].
26	** When Aeon's Hyper Attack is used against Grant, he will end his trek through the glass with this: "Your tale will be passed down for eternity." Rather notoriously, [[WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017 the Netflix adaptation of CVIII]] saw Grant being AdaptedOut, which definitely makes Aeon's assessment fall under this trope.
27	* MemeticMutation:
28	** A small example. Since Aeon has unique comments for each member of the cast when hit by [[LimitBreak his Super]], fans have tried their hands at making lines for Aeon to use against characters from non-''Castlevania'' properties.
29	** As a result of Maria's Story Mode, [[UnusualEuphemism referring to large breasts]] as [[BuxomBeautyStandard a "sacred gift."]] What makes this especially ironic is the fact Maria was pretty busty herself in her artwork from ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaRondoOfBlood Rondo of Blood]]''.
30	* RonTheDeathEater: Though not hugely grossed out or highly exaggerated compared to other characters (thankfully due to other games featuring him not being like this), Trevor gets a lot of flak and is accused of being a self-righteous asshole for what he says to Grant in Grant's Story Mode. Players felt that Trevor wasn't being fair to Grant by accusing him of feeling himself worthier for Sypha... despite the fact that, considering Grant's tone and posture (he sounded sad, tired, and his head is bowed down), that might not have even been the case, and instead of challenging him to a fight, players felt that Trevor should've just talked to Grant to sort things out. Especially jarring since they're supposed to be best friends (though some can justify it's because back in the era where Trevor and Grant lived in, this was probably one way to settle things out). Players also felt that by the end of Grant's story, it's not Grant who broke apart their friendship, but Trevor himself, and that it was better that Grant distanced himself away from the two things that made him miserable (even though Grant ''did'' skip out from their wedding of his own free will due to his own jealousy and resentment that he DidNotGetTheGirl).
31	* TheScrappy: Many of the heroes pulled out of time before their games have taken place are intentionally very flawed in an effort retcon CharacterDevelopment into their stories and contrast them with their OlderAndWiser selves, but not everyone considers this experiment to be a success...
32	** This incarnation of Eric is ''really'' hated due to him being a [[BrattyHalfPint smug and arrogant child]] who thinks he's superior to others. A lot of fans were also angry at this incarnation due to questioning ''why'' Eric Lecarde should even be a child in the first place. However, it seems that [[IntendedAudienceReaction this may have been intentional]], as even the characters in-game disapprove of Eric and his arrogance -- Alucard firmly tells him off that the lance was only meant to accompany the whip, not be superior to it, and even ''[[BigGood Aeon]]'' takes a jab at Eric in his Hyper Attack against him.
33	---> '''Aeon (using his Hyper Attack against Eric):''' Jealousy of the whip does not excuse your arrogance with the lance.
34	** That said, just by taking place later in his life, ''Bloodlines'' itself implies that Eric got over himself, as Sypha did below. Indeed, his portrayal in ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaPortraitOfRuin Portrait of Ruin]]'' shows that Eric died a far cry from the arrogant child that entered the time rift.
35	** Sypha is also ''really'' hated in this game due to being an uptight {{hypocrite}} [[KnightTemplar who claims she is doing goodness]] [[VanHelsingHateCrimes by eliminating all children of the night]], yet in the same vein, she does not seem to care or acknowledge that [[DarkIsNotEvil some of those characters have good intentions and have nothing to do with Dracula]] (even going ''against'' him) or simply [[BadPowersGoodPeople derive their powers from the darkness and nothing more]]. What doesn't help her case is that a) the characters she antagonizes are [[EnsembleDarkhorse Cornell]] and Shanoa, who are far more well-liked than her, and b) [[BoomerangBigot Sypha herself draws upon otherworldly sources for her magic and is seen no more favorably in the eyes of the church she serves than the creatures she hunts]]. ''[[TheVamp Carmilla]]'' even calls her out on her hypocrisy.
36	*** What also doesn't help Sypha's case is that Shanoa is also part of the church. So technically, they're on the same side. Which basically means that she really is a huge {{hypocrite}}. The only silver lining in this is that this was supposed to be a take on past!Sypha before ''Dracula's Curse'', so her eventual fate was to be given [[BreakTheHaughty a soup of humiliation]] by [[TakenForGranite being petrified by the Cyclops]], saved by Trevor, and [[CharacterDevelopment mellowed down once she felt calmer and matured up during the quest]]. But considering that in the original, she was amiable from get-go even when her ending hints at a DarkAndTroubledPast, that artistic liberty isn't helping much. Even the pachislot version had her be more amiable. (Though some defenders will point out that her attitude, while flawed, has at least some justification behind it, as ''Judgment'' [[AdaptationalAngstUpgrade upgraded]] the mention of her having "a bad life" prior to meeting Trevor to Sypha being the survivor of a WitchHunt instigated by Dracula's servants, thereby explaining [[FantasticRacism her poor view on anything darkness-aligned]].) Thankfully, because of this, [[WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017 the usually profanity-littered Netflix version]] decided to just make her the GoodIsNotSoft [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Woman]], having her rudeness toned down along with several moments putting her caring nature on display, coming off a lot more well-received than (or considered a good improvement over) this version.
37	** The incarnation of Maria here usually tends to trump both Eric and Sypha, despite not being turned into an arrogant version of herself, simply because she has the most "anime-ified" design considered to be the worst offender, very awkward fighting style, and her storyline being considered the most ridiculous amongst all others and also completely OOC in its own way compared to her ''Rondo of Blood'' origin (she was cute, but she ''didn't obsess over the boobs of other ladies''). If most people get asked who's the most problematic character in ''Judgment'', Maria is usually first in line.
38	* ScrappyMechanic: Maria has a random chance of failing two of her special attacks due to weakly tripping, which gives opponents an advantage to press.
39	* UnexpectedCharacter:
40	** Golem, a generic enemy from the games, is a fully playable character.
41	** Cornell, hailing from the obscure ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaLegacyOfDarkness''.
42	** [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaIIIDraculasCurse Grant Danasty]]. This game was the character's first appearance in over a decade (and even longer than that depending on how one counts his zombie doppelganger from ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight Symphony of the Night]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaPortraitOfRuin Portrait of Ruin]]'').
43	* ViewerGenderConfusion: Eric looks even more like a girl than he did in ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaBloodlines Bloodlines]]''!
44	* TheWoobie:
45	** Golem's own "Mama" (Carmilla) finds the concept of it thinking for itself to be absurd. And even after Death affirms its sapience as close to achieving humanity, he tells it that it ''should'' be mindless. Given his strength, he potentially reaches IronWoobie levels.
46	** Cornell can be seen as one. He ''hates'' his beast form, yet he ends up stuck in it while in the Time Rift. There, he tries to find a cure for his curse. Along the way, he not only tells Carmilla to get lost when she tries to convince him to join their forces since he is also a child of the night, but when he goes to Sypha who is part of the church, [[KickTheDog she nastily rebukes him and tells him she has no cure along with telling him to, as she put it, go to death]]. Though, Cornell interprets it as [[LiteralMinded actually going to Death]] rather than taking Sypha's obvious notion of telling him to go die. However, Cornell would most likely be an IronWoobie as well, since when he finally finds Death, Death offers him the cure in exchange of his allegiance to Dracula. Cornell refuses and declares that he'll find a cure himself.

Context YMMV / CastlevaniaJudgment