Topic: How tied are you to the existing canon?

[Lumi Kløvstad]

Let's say tomorrow Konami announced a brave new world of Castlevania (they won't -- probably ever -- but it's nice to dream) and they'd be doing a whole new series of games.

Furthermore, fan favorite games like Symphony and Lament would be canon to these new games. But there's a catch: they are reinventing the canon. Not all the games remain important.

Say it's only half the canon that gets carried over while a new second half is constructed to reconnect everything in new ways and allow for new games to be made that supercede older ones like Simon's Quest.

Be honest: would you be cool with it or would you flip?

Knowing me, I'd try to enjoy the new canon. I'd probably end up enjoying it too, or at least appreciating what it tried to do. But I'd never love it the same way.

It's like a second marriage, that way.

[Claimh Solais]

I follow the existing canon simply because it's what they stated it was. I'm too lazy to come up with some form of headcanon or all that.

If (BIG if here) Konami decided to rework the canon for a new game, I'd be all for it. Everyone's already aware that Castlevania's canon is full of problems.

[Nagumo]

The rough framework of the canon remains mostly intact if LoI and SotN are still included. So does that mean you would just like to get rid of what comes after 1797?

[zangetsu468]

If some of the games are irrelevant then we're exactly where we are now with Legends, 64/LOD and certain others being retconned.

In my eyes whichever games are no longer in the main canon shift over to timeline B and so forth.

I like the current canon though. But if changes meant new (good) games and revitalising the franchise I would support it.

[theplottwist]

I'd see precisely zero problems with it -- both canons can exist. Would be confusing as fuck, but they can exist.

The only reason why IGA's canon is considered "the main canon" is because he's the only one who bothered to do it, and it is the only one to include the classic stories as main entries.

[DarkPrinceAlucard]

I would only be cool with it if they did a 1999 game first, after that they can do whatever they want to reinvent the existing canon.

[theANdROId]

I'd probably end up enjoying it too, or at least appreciating what it tried to do. But I'd never love it the same way.

Yeah, I think I'd most likely be the same.  I don't think it would be impossible to do super well though, perhaps even enough to "win me over" to it.

I mean, if someone was actually dedicated to it and had a vision to pursue (that was worth pursuing)...I get that they're redoing the canon but the point should still be to make a good and faithful(ish) game, right?  Even though I find the LoS games enjoyable, I feel (for some reason) like the name "Castlevania" was just tacked on to try and curry favor or something.  I wouldn't want that feeling from this new canon.  I have a few Star Trek fans who feel the movie reboots did that (even though I know there are fans who would disagree).

I would only be cool with it if they did a 1999 game first, after that they can do whatever they want to reinvent the existing canon.

That's a nifty thought.

[JR]

Honestly, I think I'd like to see Konami just start from scratch completely. The canon has gotten long in the tooth...I mean, how many times can the same clan (and others) beat Dracula and not have it seem like a joke?

I respect that the canon is extensive and long-standing, but it kind of diminishes Dracula's role when he's been beaten dozens of times.

What I'd like to see is something similar to Zelda's canon...or at least how people at one point speculated how Zelda's canon worked (I haven't kept up): have every two or so games directly related to each other, but separate from the rest. That way you don't have everything on the same timeline. This would be my preferred way of handling the canon.

[X]

I still only follow the CV Canon before IGA took over. It's a lot less convoluted--and in some cases--ridiculous. But if Konami decided to redo the series from scratch then I'll just have to wait and see what develops out of it.

[Shiroi Koumori]

I am willing to go into new canons as long as Konami makes a new Castlevania that is not a cop out.

[TheTextGuy]

A new canon would be fine so long as the tone and aesthetics are similar to the other Castlevania games.

[AlexCalvo]

What I would prefer if Konami were to ever re-start the series in a way, would be for them to respect the canon in general, but retell it in a more elaborate, thought out way.  Tell us stories longtime fans may already know, but give it to a real writer, flesh it out, connect it.  I would love to see the series lore discovered throughout the world like in the Elder Scrolls games, with the stories of classic transcribed from first and second hand accounts in books, and from villagers.  They could change some details, even some big ones.  But leave the high notes alone, and keep from creating glaring contradictions.

A more likely but still acceptable option would be continuous soft reboots.  Different games, with no real canon to connect them, but the same basic themes and gameplay mechanics.  I would love to see a more dark gothic game in the style of the vampire section from LoS aesthetically.  A more medieval fantasy type game, with a similar feel to the art style of Cv3, maybe even like someone else mentioned a campy tongue in cheek monster mash in the vein of the original game, an alternate Cv2 in a way.  I didn't like LoS's specific take on the series, but I am certainly down for experimentation.

[Guy Belmont]

Id Love for them to work on a Brand new Timeline, sort of LOS did, but keep all the older stuff in it, like The Real Vampire Killer, and, so forth. And I would love it if they could have a Crack at doing it in 3D, But have an NPC coming  with you and brakeing off from you, like lets say it was  A belmondo ( the player) and Alucard  and you would meet in the castle. Then you would team up but like if there was two ways to go But it took you to the same place you could split up. It be cool to see him running above you, and he would find keys and unlock doors and such. And be all like "I found this you may need it" and could be like a whip stone. 
And here is the one that I've always a want to see.  Your trying to get up to the 5th floor, when all of a sudden  the whole room shakes, Then the roof caves in.
The player would see Alucard falling as he is fighting a Boss, and when they  both come crashing down as the boss would be Huge, the floor would smash. So you would be dragged down to the catacombs.
So then there'd be a falling boss fight, then when you land after beating the boss, there would be a cut scene with Alucard  talking to the player and say something along the lines of "Sorry and thank you for the help, I hope I did not set you to far of your path" ands then you would be given a choice on how to respond. Kind, neutral, angry.

Oh man it would be soo cool.  Id love to Do what Bioshock Did with Elizabeth, and make the NPC helpful and really Smart, full of Character. Like he's a real person, and  fits in with the world, and reacts to it. But I really don't wanna make him like"oh Man he's stuck again, better  load up again, dag haven't saved for hours.
Its funny that no one has tired to make another Elizabeth, Well  its impossible to make another one. As there will only ever be one. But  it does  strike me as odd  that no body has made one in a similar vein.
But yeah a new Time would be amazing, oh WHY KONAMI, WHYYYY 


 

[Ratty]

I love the series lore but the gameplay and atmosphere are more important than the canon. Continuity is nice but for me a Castlevania game doesn't have to be beholden to any particular timeline, it's just got to hit the right notes.

In addition to good gameplay it needs to have-
-A Gothic spooky Castle setting for the majority of the game, bonus points for outside areas being in various states of decay.
-A menagerie of fun and interesting monsters to fight, including the signature medusa heads and flea men, culminating in an epic multi-form boss fight, preferably with Dracula himself.
-The classic mood-setting and blood pumping musical tracks we all know and love.
-Strong protagonist(s)

[Zuljaras]

I just can't be bored with the existing canon.

If they make another 100 Castlevania games like the SotN, CotM, HoD, AoS, DoS, PoR and OoE I will buy them and play them.