Oh, and did I mention just how fun it is to play as Joachim? You can MOVE while you attack.
The whip is just dandy, but I never got how in character artwork, the likes of Simon and Trevor, have a sword at their side besides the whip- and yet in the games, they NEVER use it. Unless that was the artist misinterpreting the dagger subweapon.
Id like to see em using more than one main weapon. After all, Vampire killer is for- as its name suggests- Killing vampires. Leon did just fine with the Whip of Alchemy until he met Walter and it didnt do squat. Yes yes, Rinaldo says the whip will be more useful than any dead mans discared sword. And yet- we still use sub weapons dont we? Such as Axes and knives? Which we FIND in the castle? Characters like Soma and Alucard dont even use the whip, and they can hold their own just fine against the forces of darkness. (Alucard might not count though, being as he IS a supernatural being himself.) With weapons they FIND in the castle.
Leon was a knight, It would have been cool if in addition to the whip, he did some swordplay. Im not buying that he for some reason, is incredibly apt at using the whip when he JUST gets it. I would actually expect him to, much like his word, pick up some discarded weapon and use it in tandem with the whip.
The level of customization available in games where the whip isnt the ONLY weapon, (normal modes only- special modes usually dont have customization at all, EG Joachim mode and Julius mode) is really fun. you can customize your weapon according to preference.
Why cant we do the same with the Belmonts? Vampire killer as your primary weapon is just fine, but why not give us the ability to use ANOTHER weapon as well? one we can freely change, and buy, and that isnt a special sub weapon that uses hearts? give me a sword with my whip, and im all set.