Another year, another IGA Castletroid. We all have a lot of expectations for Order of Ecclesia, but we also have lingering doubts after the somewhat loose production of Portrait of Ruin, and the growing staleness in the "SotN" formula in general.
How much longer can Castlevania survive this way? Even the press has trouble sounding excited for any new IGA releases these days -- almost like it's an inside joke just to come up with new euphemisms, or at least synonyms for "(Enter protagonist here) ___ enters large castle and fights Dracula... maybe with whip". There's just a general feeling that more of the same is not going to be enough someday, and maybe someday soon. Afterall, POR is one of the lowest-scoring CVs since HOD.
I think it is inevitable in this next-gen environment for Castlevania to remain mostly in the 2D realm (even if it's on the best selling system ever) -- Castelvania has to go 3D and it has to do it right in order to truly break the mainstream barrier and that of the casual gamer. Either that or something drastic has to change about the 2D formula entirely.
Then there's the fact that ever since IGA set the beginning of the timeline in the 11th century and the finale in the 21st, there's only so much room and belivability to work with. At some point, given this, the series is going to have to look to side stories once more -- Alternate realities of the Belmont/Dracula dichotomy. But that's probably going to require a new producer. And hopefully it doesn't turn into the joke the Mega Man series has.
So, I decalre PROGRESS REPORT time. Where do you think the series grades now, and what would you like to see changed or added to spice it up? Or are you perfectly fine with it?
I'll let you guys start first. Just think about it. Any good ideas for a Wii CV? How could online play a larger factor? Should LOI truly be the beginning and the "Sorrow" series the end? Should some other force take over where Dracula left off; should some other force precede him?
Go wild, but don't forget to grade first.
(I'll just quickly reitereate I think the lack of solid 3D in the formula needs to be addressed, and addressed soon if this series is to see proper growth with the competition. I'll add my other thoughts later).