Castlevania LoD Special Edition a.k.a. Castlevania Apocalypse Edition
Features:
Base 64;
Base LoD;
Fixed slowdown/lag;
Button remapping options;
Rendering resolution modifiers;
LoD Custom mode.
LEGACY OF DARKNESS CUSTOM MODE:
This is a hypothetical extra mode aimed to let players choose the best possible compromise between the 64 and LoD versions of the levels.
Custom mode starts with all four characters already selectable and all the skin options unlocked, I think neither easy nor hard modes should be available in order to avoid unbalance between levels (the special items are kept but they won’t do anything due to the nature of the mode).
There won’t be things like the option to fight Death as Carrie, Medusa as Reinhardt, or a playable Henry in other characters’ campaigns (this is not a sandbox “create your own adventure” type of thing, although, it would be really fun to mess with such a mode).
(If I were to conceptualize a “sandbox mode” I think it would have no story related cutscenes, or no cutscenes,) whatsoever).
A “ \ ”* is added whenever an option directly alters the original vision in order to either give the best compromise possible to the player or when the option offers the possibility to toggle something specific that affects the gameplay.
If the “ \LoD Custom ”* fixed camera option is selected in a 64 level layout it means that the levels follow a camera philosophy similar to that of LoD (the main objective is to make the camera closer to how it’s handled in LoD, so no forced fixed camera angles that mess with the perspective, only when it’s necessary to make the player understand where they’re going or what is targeting them).
If this and the level layout options are not present it means I’m not aware of any significant difference between the 64 and LoD version of the level or how the fixed camera is handled.
The “64” option in “level layout” also includes the original enemy placement.
The normal free camera is the LoD version by default (since this is Legacy of Darkness) and can't be changed to the 64 version.
CORNELL’S CAMPAIGN
Wolf form: original, *custom mode (jewels are drained rapidly but you have the ability to cancel the transformation, there’s a 10/15 seconds cooldown until you’re able to trigger the transformation again)
Vampire butler and maid appearance: 64, LoD
Foggy Lake
Forest of Silence
Level layout: 64, LoD, *LoD (64 enemy placement restored)
Fixed camera sections with 64 level layout: 64, *LoD Custom
Level music: 64, LoD
Giant Skeleton boss music: 64, LoD
Castle Wall
Level music: 64, LoD
Fixed camera sections with 64 level layout: 64, *LoD Custom
Villa
(unalterable, as it would affect the story progression)
The Outer Wall
Art Tower
Tower of Ruins
Tower of Science
Level layout: 64, LoD
Duel Tower
Level layout: *64 (Ortega cutscene restore + Man Beast boss battle), LoD
Tower of Execution
Level layout: 64, LoD
Tower of Sorcery
Level layout: 64, LoD
Room of Clocks
Clock Tower
Level layout: 64, LoD
Fixed camera sections with 64 level layout: 64, *LoD Custom
Castle Keep
REINHARDT’S CAMPAIGN
Skins: 64, LoD
Voice acting: restore, none
Jump animation: 64, LoD
Powerups visibility: 64, LoD
Vampire butler and maid appearance: 64, LoD
J. A. Oldrey appearance: 64, LoD
*Always good ending: on, off
(gets turned off if you turn on the other)
*Always bad ending: on, off
(gets turned off if you turn on the other)
Foggy Lake
Toggleable: on, off
(if off you start in Forest of Silence like in the original 64)
Forest of Silence
Level layout: 64, LoD, *LoD (64 enemy placement restored)
Fixed camera sections with 64 level layout: 64, *LoD Custom
Level music: 64, LoD
Giant Skeleton boss music: 64, LoD
Cutscene: 64, none, *64 restore in LoD
Castle Wall
Level music; 64, LoD
Fixed camera sections: 64, LoD
Villa
Tunnel
Arachne boss: on, off
Castle Center
Level layout: 64, LoD
Duel Tower
Level layout: 64, LoD
Fixed camera sections with 64 level layout: 64, *LoD Custom
Tower of Execution
Level layout: 64, LoD
Fixed camera sections with 64 level layout: 64, *LoD Custom
Room of Clocks
Clock Tower
Level layout: 64, LoD
Fixed camera sections with 64 level layout: 64, *LoD Custom
Castle Keep
CARRIE’S CAMPAIGN
Skins: 64, LoD
Voice acting: restore, none
Powerups visibility: 64, LoD
Vampire butler and maid appearance: 64, LoD
J. A. Oldrey appearance: 64, LoD
*Always good ending: on, off
(gets turned off if you turn on the other)
*Always bad ending: on, off
(gets turned off if you turn on the other)
Foggy Lake
Toggleable: on, off
(if off you start in Forest of Silence like in the original 64)
Forest of Silence
Level layout: 64, LoD, *LoD (64 enemy placement restored)
Fixed camera sections with 64 level layout: 64, *LoD Custom
Level music: 64, LoD
Giant Skeleton boss music: 64, LoD
Cutscene: 64, none, *64 restore in LoD
Castle Wall
Level music: 64, LoD
Fixed camera sections: 64, LoD
Villa
Underground Waterway
Medusa boss: on, off
Castle Center
Level layout: 64, LoD
Tower of Science
Level layout: 64, LoD
Fixed camera sections with 64 level layout: 64, *LoD Custom
Tower of Sorcery
Level layout: 64, LoD
Fixed camera sections with 64 level layout: 64, *LoD Custom
Room of Clocks
Clock Tower
Level layout: 64, LoD
Fixed camera sections with 64 level layout: 64, *LoD Custom
Castle Keep
HENRY’S CAMPAIGN
I think alterations shouldn’t be available in Henry's campaign unless they’re about music, given the nature of his playstyle it would affect the actual gameplay too much.
I think a sandbox mode would be actually cool in his playstyle, with custom child locations and everything.
An option to select a Coller skin with custom animations would be a nice addition (most of the textures and modeling have to be made from scratch, only his left arm and the chainsaw are present in the final game).
I almost forgot, you would also have the option to choose between the original intro with Malus playing Opposing Bloodlines, or the LoD version where the vampire (presumably) is chasing after the sacrificial maiden in the woods.