Topic: The Belmonts are coming to Smash Bros!

[The Puritan]

Grimoire of Souls version but colored to look more like his old NES sprite. Alt colors include Simon's Quest, SCV IV, and actual GoS colors.

[KaZudra]

As long as they don't do a "Megaman" where the model looks too much like the NES sprites rather than the official artwork.

Then again, Simon simply showing up will be the tipping point for me buying a switch.

[GuyStarwind]

If Simon actually shows up I'll buy a switch. I would be curious on his moveset though. CV has a lot of religious things in it, especially for a Belmont. Do you think they'd use crosses, bibles, and holy water?

[Inccubus]

If those miserable bastards actually allow Simon to be in the roster, I'll buy a switch too.
And I literally have zero interest in Smash.
Nor would I buy a copy of Smash.
Ok, I was gonna get a Switch anyway. ;P

[gallandryal]

Simon has been mentioned in a lot of "leaks," I could see it happening this time.

Question is, which Simon will they use?

this one obviously. The only one and true Simon.

[zangetsu468]

this one obviously. The only one and true Simon.

*Sigh*... Man.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

That could be one of the skins for him.

[Kingshango]

There's been "Simon coming to Smash bros" rumors since Brawl.

[X]

That could be one of the skins for him.

I would laugh my ass off if that was the case! It would be totally retro and probably help sell more of the game too just for that alone, lol.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

There's been "Simon coming to Smash bros" rumors since Brawl.

That is correct, but now there's some weight to it due to the source.

[GuyStarwind]

They've changed it now, but someone accidentally named the Galaga song on the main Smash YouTube page Bloody Tears/Monster Dance

[GuyStarwind]

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/455098996101480449/476590543095201792/Screenshot_2018-08-07-23-20-29.png

Here is what it was.

[RichterB]

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/455098996101480449/476590543095201792/Screenshot_2018-08-07-23-20-29.png

Here is what it was.

I'm way more excited for this than I thought I'd be. Mega Man AND Simon, two of the biggest non-Nintendo NES icons, together in one game would be amazing. I really feel like it's going to happen this time. And this makes me feel like the floodgates are going to open soon for Castlevania, as I said during E3 with all the rumors and evidence coming together. We had the two "leakers" talking about Resident Evil 2 Remake and new Smash characters, all of which were confirmed by Nintendo except Simon at said event, and the intriguing talk from the Gamekult editors, too, about a game they couldn't discuss at the time, which didn't appear to be Hyper Sports R:

I'm still very curious to see how this pans out given the previous reporting. Nothing may happen, but it's not out of the question that Konami could revisit Castlevania beyond GoS. Here's why:

1.) As reported on numerous sites in June 2017 from Konami rep: "All I can say is that there is lots of internal discussions going on within Konami regarding what games we can bring to the Nintendo Switch, other than Bomberman, a game which we are well aware of its heritage and how loved it and Castlevania is. So much so that Castlevania is getting is getting its own show on Netflix and because of that, we’re hearing a lot of desires from our fans for a new Castlevania series. So we do know there is a demand for a new game, but right now nothing is set in stone as the discussions are still on going." (i.e. [url]http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/06/konami_on_super_bomberman_r_support_and_the_possibility_of_producing_more_games_for_switch[/url])

2.) After the previous statements, "Belmont Bomber" Simon skin comes to Super Bomberman R for Switch. (i.e. [url]http://www.siliconera.com/2017/06/29/super-bomberman-r-update-lets-play-simon-belmont-pyramid-head-bombers/[/url])

3.) Netflix announces Season 3 of Castlevania is in the works, with Season 2 launching in Summer 2018. (SEE TWO ARTICLES: [url]https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2018-01-19/netflix-castlevania-writer-2nd-season-premieres-this-summer/.126679[/url] & [url]https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-06-08/netflix-castlevania-animated-series-gets-3rd-season/.132605[/url])

4.) Curse of the Moon had "100,000 downloads less than a week after it launched...56% of them on Nintendo platform," and Ritual of the Night scored $5,545,991 on Kickstarter and has again recently gotten buzz as a replacement for Castlevania.
([url]https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-06-07-half-of-bloodstained-curse-of-the-moons-week-one-sales-were-on-switch[/url] & Google search game and Castlevania pops up in headlines).

What we see above is active interest in Switch's market, an apparently successful (and continued) revival of Castlevania's branding to a broader audience via the Netflix series, and what could be seen as "brand-poaching" of sorts with a new franchise getting compared to Castlevania and showing decent sales buzz.

I think we are gradually moving toward Konami doing something, in the same way that Capcom made their move with Mega Man 11. I don't believe it will be a truly bold move (i.e. expanding on the style of Castlevania 64/LoD), but it should be a lateral move that will complement Bloodstained's emergence. I wouldn't be surprised if we get 1.) A Castlevania 1 remake, 2.) A Castlevania III clone, perhaps even tied in to the Netflix series 3.) A mid-level Metroidvania. If any of the rumors are true, I do not believe it will be a return to Lords of Shadow or a straight GoS port, though the latter is the more likely of these two. I'm imagining it will either be done in-house with one of the seemingly newer teams, like the one that did Metal Gear Survive, or have it passed off to a company like WayForward, who I believe expressed their interest in Castlevania in the past. I'm pretty sure it will be either 2D or 2.5D when/if it does happen.

...

Well, I wouldn't say I have supreme confidence in Konami, but I want to pump the brakes a little, because here's what I'm left wondering...

First: What was the other Nintendo Switch game from Konami at E3? The official E3 site suggests two Switch games were supposed to be at E3 from Konami: "Action/Adventure > Nintendo Switch" and, later down the list, "Compilations > Nintendo Switch" ([url]https://mp1630k065.mapyourshow.com/7_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?ExhID=4XTDjeQv[/url]). Hyper Sports R is a next-gen Wii Sports-style compilation game of various sports activities. So, was the E3 listing above suggesting that one game fit two categories--you could make a loose argument there because of the nature of sports in culture--or was the "Action/Adventure" game pulled or shown behind closed doors with some kind of extra restrictions to media? Secondly: The embargo seems to have been about Hyper Sports R, yet Gamekult, if translations were correct, said that the game being shown was not PES or Hyper Sports R and deflected the questioning when asked if it was "horror-related." (You could still make an argument for some sort of development related to Silent Hill or Metal Gear Survive, but Castlevania also fits there.) So, there are some questions there...

If we're speculating a little, besides the trends* posted earlier in this thread that are in favor of an eventual Castlevania return at some level, one has to wonder if it was decided it was too early in development to really showcase it, or if Nintendo changed their Smash reveal plans related to Simon, and therefore the potential tie-in with a Switch Castlevania was pulled for a later showing in a Nintendo Direct. I mean, we had all that alleged evidence of Star Fox Grand Prix existing from Retro and therefore perhaps making a showing, and then nothing. But that doesn't mean that game doesn't exist, either.

Knowing what the Gamekult editor was referring to, and if they can talk about it, would be huge. But if Simon is ever confirmed for Smash from the earlier roster rumors that already turned out to be correct, I think Castlevania for Switch will probably happen in some capacity, because that will be one too many rumors around the alleged game that will have come true when you consider the RE2 Remake confirmation, too.

In closing, sure, Konami is primarily more of a casino- and sports-focused company at this point, but given that they did something like Super Bomberman R (and now Hyper Sports R), I don't think they won't do games under the right conditions--i.e. potential profits to be made from market timing-driven properties.

*In that earlier post, I forgot to add that Solid Snake is back in Smash (and Bomberman was added as an Assist Trophy), which is a licensing deal with Konami, showing some continued partnership on Konami's part with Nintendo Switch.

[Neobelmont]

It's been along times guys. This was the only place in the world that can possibly understand how I feel. I been wanting Simon since brawl, melee possibly. I was still in middle school. But regardless, hope ya'll doing well.

[Nagumo]

Simon and Richter confirmed with Alucard as assist trophy.

Possible Kid Dracula appearance as well.