Koji Igarashi, best known for his work on Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, has left Konami. His last day at the Japanese developer was Saturday, March 15.
The producer departed the studio with intent to open a new development studio.
"I've decided to break out on my own to have the freedom to make the kind of games I really want to make -- the same kind I think fans of my past games want as well," Igarashi told IGN. "Leaving Konami was a big decision, and not one I took lightly – I’ve spent my entire career there, made many friends, and had a lot of great opportunities – but I hope all the gamers and fans who have supported me in the past will join me in being excited about what comes next. Wish me luck!”
That would certainly be interesting. Konami may have the rights to "Castlevania" but they can't stop him from making a game about other people that fight Dracula.Might not even be about Dracula, but hopefully it will essentially be a Castlevania game just as much as MN9 is Mega Man.
I'm very curious about the timing of this. Did he wait to until the Castlevania IP was up for grabs again, and Konami denied it to him?That, or he's sick and tired of working on shovel-ware at a small desk.
And R.I.P 1999, lol.This is the only downside to this, Konami missed out on a seriously golden opportunity.
Now we'll (hopefully) have the awespme new Castlevania (Which has to be because it has to make up for LoS2
gameplay-wise los2 was good except for the playforming (or lack thereof) but the combat and controls was satisfying and intuitive. and the castlE sections were excellent. if next 3D konami game would focus on expanding the castle while developing the platforming and keeping the combat & tight controls, then we might have a winnerYep, I'm counting on Climax reusing the LoS engine and artstyle but listening to criticism. They are a good studio. (Please be Climax)
Yep, I'm counting on Climax reusing the LoS engine and artstyle but listening to criticism. They are a good studio. (Please be Climax)
Please no more games with seperate combat zones inhabited by damage sponge monsters. It was fine in LoS1 I guess, but when they combined it with open-ended exploration it got on my nerves. Can't they design it like Demon's or Dark Souls? I'm tired of combos and scripted platforming, too. They should do platforming like Ico and make it a puzzle.I agree with enemy sponges, they need to resist less, react more and be more varied. I could use less ledging too. The rest is fine.
Found out the news today....registered on the forum to express my sadness at Iga's departure. The CV I knew and loved is gone. :'(Eh, it's probably more alive than it was yesterday ;)
Eh, it's probably more alive than it was yesterday ;)
I believe he meant that its more alive because Igarashi is now free to make those styles of games now on his own, and Konami wouldn't have gone back to them anyway.A "Castlevania-style" game is nice, especially from Iga, which I'm definitely gonna support. But the chance of an official CV game going back to its roots is gone. The Belmont story is dead, and it was Iga who pieced all the games into a cohesive narrative.
Good for IGA, the total lack of respect from Konami was unwarranted given all he has done for them. Now if only Konami would just kill off the series entirely instead of continuing to sour this once proud franchise these abominations aimed at casuals.This is the most selfish, dickish and self righteous post I've seen in this forum. How about you just leave and leave us casuals here.
What was not casual about Iga's games? They were the easiest games in the series. The most difficult thing I can remember from them was drawing those ridiculous seals in Dawn of Sorrow, and that was just annoying more than difficult.
IGA should hire Masaki Hirooka for his new studio, would love to see him get more work.I kinda fully expect Ayami Kojima and Yamane running with him. Judging by his statement, he really wants to go full stop with fanservice.
I kinda fully expect Ayami Kojima and Yamane running with him. Judging by his statement, he really wants to go full stop with fanservice.I don't expect Ayami or Yamane to be back, but that would be amazing,
I don't expect Ayami or Yamane to be back, but that would be amazing,I do feel kinda empty now :-\
Man it kinda feels like Castlevania is dead now.
there was castlevania long before him and there will be castlevania still. I dont see how this man is treated like the god of cv by some ppl.Not so much he's god, but his departure signals the end of an era for Castlevania and Konami.
I kinda fully expect Ayami Kojima and Yamane running with him. Judging by his statement, he really wants to go full stop with fanservice.I don't see why not. Kojima and Yamane SEEM to be buds with IGA. I'm sure they are all on good terms, and considering Kojima and Yamane are both freelancers, anything could happen.
Found out the news today....registered on the forum to express my sadness at Iga's departure. The CV I knew and loved is gone. :'(Castlevania isn't just IGA. I was more disappointed to see Yamane leaving.
So we'll never see an IGA-penned 1999, will we? Seems like the greatest of hopes has finally been shattered...
He can still do it, just change 1999 to 2012 and Demon Castle War to Angel Palace Siege and he has a plot.I would die.
He worked on SoTN sure but he wasnt the director or even someone with a huge role.
Not so much he's god, but his departure signals the end of an era for Castlevania and Konami.
LoS2 apparently bombed, and Konami probably won't revisit the IP for awhile until they find a new studio/direction for the series. Who knows how long that will take, but we all knew at the end of the day Konami never had plans to return to what we all love about Castlevania in the first place; the 2D games.
If that doesn't bother you then more power to you, but I'm not liking the idea of the series reinventing itself over and over again to the point we get something way more different than LoS, and LoS didn't have much to do with the series until the dev team listened to criticism with the sequels.
This industry has taught me it pays to be more pessimistic than optimistic these days.
I really like how the thread at Neogaf is pretty much all "Glad he's finally leaving that sinking ship called Konami!" comments.
I really like how the thread at Neogaf is pretty much all "Glad he's finally leaving that sinking ship called Konami!" comments.That's pretty much true. Konami representant swears they are going to turn it around this gen tho.
Once Kojima leaves Konami is pretty much finished.
Castlevania isn't just IGA. I was more disappointed to see Yamane leaving.
Iga's departure is the end of an era, of consistently great CV games (with the exception of Judgment).
I think the last CV game before SotN was what, CV64? As far as I'm concerned, Iga saved the CV franchise from extinction.
I think the last CV game before SotN was what, CV64? As far as I'm concerned, Iga saved the CV franchise from extinction.
And Lamment of Innocence, and Curse of Darkness, and Order of Shadows, Nano Breaker and Portrait of Ruin.
I wonder what IGA will call his new studio.The Forgotten Ones?
Oh, I never denied that. They only have Kojima now. :)That last bastion of Konami supremacy. It actually never was much of a mystery, and now that Castlevania seems to be edging out of the picture, the rest of the story is pretty simple. When Kojima goes out, Konami goes down.
And Lamment of Innocence, and Curse of Darkness, and Order of Shadows, and Portrait of Ruin.That's your opinion.
And SOTN was Hagihara's invention (as RoB was)We've already had that debate. Let's not start it all over again.
The Forgotten Ones?Studio SOMA.
SOTN came out before CV64.Oh whoops. Guess that dated look made me forget.
And Lamment of Innocence, and Curse of Darkness, and Order of Shadows, and Portrait of Ruin.They weren't bad. Dunno about Order of Shadows, though I'm calling BS on any of you actually playing it either.
64 came after, the game before SOTN was called Rondo of Blood, which is the pinnacle of the classic series. Try again. And SOTN was Hagihara's invention (as RoB was) so IGA's first full title was Harmony of Dissonance (Coming after the excellent Circle of The Moon) or Castlevania Chronicles if you want. So, no, IGA didn't save anything.No one but a select few even got to play Rondo in the US except importers. IGA had multiple credits on SotN. Kudos to Hagihara, but Iga continued with the series.
That's your opinion.PoR might be my opinion, but the other ones are objectively bad games. Add Despair too.
We've already had that debate. Let's not start it all over again.No one gets a director credit for being a supervisor. Even if it was the initial idea it was Toru's. IGA didn't save anything.
Oh whoops. Guess that dated look made me forget.
They weren't bad. Dunno about Order of Shadows, though I'm calling BS on any of you actually playing it either.
It doesnt surprise me that it's the LoS fans minimizing Iga's contributions and talking smack though.
What is a Studio?(https://castlevaniadungeon.net/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.ffffound.com%2Fstatic-data%2Fassets%2F6%2Fa1f0d78fadc07b34ec68ac69dd5b74a07c805fad_m.gif&hash=0abebab742f590e1aae9a3aef2fa51d1954d0ce3)
IGA had no part with Order of Shadows, it was developed by an American studio.Isn't he credited as producer anyway? And yep, I know about PoR. Still it's sandwiched into 2 good games.
Also outside the Dungeon PoR is pretty well regarded.
I'm calling bullshit on you knowing me. See my join date? (in fact i think I got here in Order of Shadows' times, funnily enough) I was here before LoS, leave your arrogance at the door, kid.;D
I'm sad to see IGA go. As much as I love Castlevania as a whole, he is responsible for my favorite games in the series. I understand that he couldn't make Castlevania games forever, but I do wish he could've done his final 1999 game first. I kinda feel like we didn't get a complete ending to his saga, which is too bad.
I don't know what's next, and I don't expect to see it for a while, but I hope it's good.
Yah, I don't know you, though I recognized your name on that neogaf thread. So then you've been around long enough to know about Iga's supposed "sexist" comment, and proceeded to pretend to play stupid like you didn't. Trying to make out Iga to be a sexist on there huh? Nice.I didn't remember that. Do I look like the Castlevania wiki or something, kid? He's not sexist, but he's a bit weird. Reading his interviews he has such obsucre concepts about many things, I get that's part of his charm but still... I remember when he said he was working to get money to retire, that's something you don't say to your costumers. Hopefully his passion was reignited, it seems so.
The Demon Castle 1999 isn't exactly the final/conclusion to the original series, nothing more but a prologue of an already existing games: Aria of Sorrow and Dawn of Sorrow which is the "TRUE" conclusion of the original series.
True, but it IS the end of Dracula physically existing in the realm of mortals with him officially being killed off for good.
But he still resurrected in form of Soma and there's a chance that he will return to the dark side like he was before as seen in the bad ending of Sorrow games.
I guess that all IGA haters are rejoicing now. Have fun with your fancy Belmont Dracula and rat stealth.
Wow that's big news.
I'm not sure how I feel about it.I understand why he had to leave, and I'm happy that he decided to create his own studio.But at the same time I'm kinda sad because that means he won't ever work on Castlevania again.
One thing is for sure, I blame Konami for this. The way they decided to handle the series is the worst that could happen to Metroidvania fans. I guess that all IGA haters are rejoicing now. Have fun with your fancy Belmont Dracula and rat stealth.
He was not resurrected in Soma...he was "reincarnated" in Soma which is completely different.
There is a chance that a "spiritually" controlled Soma by Dracula's soul could turn into something very much like Dracula (as shown in AOS and DOS's bad endings) with memories of his past life but the original Dracula is gone for good.
I guess that all IGA haters are rejoicing now. Have fun with your fancy Belmont Dracula and rat stealth.
If Dracula was really gone for good then even his soul should be destroyed as well. Resurrected or reincarnated, either of them marks the reborn of Dracula plus his castle was just sealed(which can be broken on some other way) not completely destroyed. If 1999 Demon Castle War was the real conclusion then there should be no events afterwards like the Sorrow games.
Actually Dracula being stealthy and transform into rat is quite accurate to the original Bram Stoker novel(I think) or the 1992 film adaptation:It's not about whether it's accurate or not, I watched the movie so I know that Dracula can turn into a rat just like he can turn into mist .It's just that part SUCKED.And I dare you to say the contrary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHrKUosSM7s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHrKUosSM7s)
Actually Dracula being stealthy and transform into rat is quite accurate to the original Bram Stoker novel(I think) or the 1992 film adaptation:Wow, even the red eyes glowing in the dark. That's neat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHrKUosSM7s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHrKUosSM7s)
It's not about whether it's accurate or not, I watched the movie so I know that Dracula can turn into a rat just like he can turn into mist .It's just that part SUCKED.And I dare you to say the contrary.
...And stealth doesn't belong in a Castlevania game.
Well I hope he makes a metroidvania style game in his new studio. I wonder how many of his coworkers back at Konami will join him in this new adventure. 2D Castlevania is dead for good. My only consolation is that I'll still be able to enjoy 2D games from other studios like Vanillaware.
why does every1 think iga will automatically make metrovania-style games
what if his new studio will now focus on his true passion, the puzzle genre
Leedmees Gameplay (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mnhaufLmVo#ws)
Good for IGA, the total lack of respect from Konami was unwarranted given all he has done for them. Now if only Konami would just kill off the series entirely instead of continuing to sour this once proud franchise these abominations aimed at casuals.
I guess that all IGA haters are rejoicing now. Have fun with your fancy Belmont Dracula and rat stealth.(https://castlevaniadungeon.net/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs27.postimg.org%2F49ebvlr2b%2F1370915820546.jpg&hash=6cb9fdd558b5289c337cafe5baea7855f7acccbf)
I don't think it would reach MN9 heights, but if IGA did a kickstarter by the end of the week I'd say he'd get a pretty penny. I mean, Yamane is now freelance and both of them are on good terms with Ayami Kojima, so conceivably he can get that 'gang' back together.
I also wonder if some of the other Konami people have also left in the past five years as well, like Curry the Kid, KO-G, and Soshiro Hokkai. The team behind SotN and HoD seemed to have disappeared from the map after 2002. I ask because IGA seems pretty confident he has the actual resources to create a studio, and studios beyond the ZONE and Pixel type tend to have more than one person.
Konami choosing profit over fans? How do you have profit in this industry without fans? Or do the people who buy games you don't like not count as fans?Well obviously the fans weren't pulling through or we'd be on Metroidvania 35 by now. IGA's pitch wasn't chosen over Mercurysteam's, and that says something about how Konami saw the reception to IGA's latest projects. Especially Judgement. That i think- is what really drove the nail into IGA's CV coffin.
Lords was already in development before Judgment was released. Plus Adventure ReBirth and Hodespair came out long after Judgment.
Well obviously the fans weren't pulling through or we'd be on Metroidvania 35 by now. IGA's pitch wasn't chosen over Mercurysteam's, and that says something about how Konami saw the reception to IGA's latest projects. Especially Judgement. That i think- is what really drove the nail into IGA's CV coffin.
Wow that's big news.
I'm not sure how I feel about it.I understand why he had to leave, and I'm happy that he decided to create his own studio.But at the same time I'm kinda sad because that means he won't ever work on Castlevania again.
One thing is for sure, I blame Konami for this. The way they decided to handle the series is the worst that could happen to Metroidvania fans. I guess that all IGA haters are rejoicing now. Have fun with your fancy Belmont Dracula and rat stealth.
Well obviously the fans weren't pulling through or we'd be on Metroidvania 35 by now. IGA's pitch wasn't chosen over Mercurysteam's, and that says something about how Konami saw the reception to IGA's latest projects. Especially Judgement. That i think- is what really drove the nail into IGA's CV coffin.Obviously fans of LoS didn't pull through either, or LoS2 wouldn't done better. I always have a problem with this kind of thing. It's like that guy from Square Enix who said they'd only THINK about a sequel to the Chrono series if Chrono Trigger DS sells well(which it didn't, so it's the FANS fault we aren't getting a third game). LOL!
Konami choosing profit over fans? How do you have profit in this industry without fans? Or do the people who buy games you don't like not count as fans?
The fact that posts like this pop up often, and are supported for that matter, speaks volumes about how toxic the CV community is. Maybe the Castlevania series should just die.
Well SOMETHING prompted Konami to give MS the torch. That I know, Japanese studios are not exactly that likely to do that for no reason unless they are Capcom.
Maybe it's just coincidence, who knows.
You aim for a different audience. Isn't this what the reboot was about. To get that God of War audience?
(https://castlevaniadungeon.net/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi228.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee35%2Fbeingthehero%2Fbeingthehero002%2Fbabby_zpsa177c9b1.jpg&hash=7126cd9efea4c101b27205f11b677284022d904f)
-insert butthurt IGA rant here-
Noticing some venom in the thread recently, whatever your opinion on IGA's work let's all stay civil guys. No two peoples lists of likes and dislikes will ever match up perfectly, nor should they.
1. He had Alucard defeat Richter, the strongest Belmont at the time, in battle. No way would that EVER happen. Up until that point, until later Iga games retconned it, Richter was the only one able to wield the Vampire Killer at full power. Oh, and the guy could make it RAIN HOLY WATER! And if Alucard was able to defeat his father, there would have been no need for the Belmonts in the first place.
2. Had Trevor concede to Hector in their second battle. That should have NEVER happened!
3. Had Trevor get stabbed AND didn't even tell us what happened to him in Curse of Darkness' ending.
4. Had Jonathan Morris defeat the Vampire Killer's memory of Richter. Are you kidding me!? No way!
5. Had Soma defeat Julius, supposedly, the strongest Belmont of all time, in battle. I know it's insinuated that Julius didn't give his all, but it still pisses me off.
6. Had Castlevania materialize in Japan. Hahahaha! What!?
7. He pissed on Dracula's 100 year resurrection rule. It's ridiculous how many times he had Dracula be resurrected in between his deaths.
8. Now, because of Iga, anybody can kill Dracula, using any type of weapon. He took the specialness and uniqueness of the Belmonts and the Vampire Killer and threw them away.
9. Had plenty of time to tell the 1999 battle but decided to make games, like Portrait of Ruin, Order of Ecclesia, and Curse of Darkness, that progressed the story line very little, if even.
And these are just off the top of my head/Palpatine'' Your Hate Has Made You Powerful '' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x7mYvellY4#ws)
You aim for a different audience. Isn't this what the reboot was about. To get that God of War audience?
Obviously fans of LoS didn't pull through either, or LoS2 wouldn't done better. I always have a problem with this kind of thing. It's like that guy from Square Enix who said they'd only THINK about a sequel to the Chrono series if Chrono Trigger DS sells well(which it didn't, so it's the FANS fault we aren't getting a third game). LOL!
8. Now, because of Iga, anybody can kill Dracula, using any type of weapon. He took the specialness and uniqueness of the Belmonts and the Vampire Killer and threw them away.
I'm glad that piece of shit Iga is done with the Castlevania series because:
1. He had Alucard defeat Richter, the strongest Belmont at the time, in battle. No way would that EVER happen. Up until that point, until later Iga games retconned it, Richter was the only one able to wield the Vampire Killer at full power. Oh, and the guy could make it RAIN HOLY WATER! And if Alucard was able to defeat his father, there would have been no need for the Belmonts in the first place.
2. Had Trevor concede to Hector in their second battle. That should have NEVER happened!
3. Had Trevor get stabbed AND didn't even tell us what happened to him in Curse of Darkness' ending.
4. Had Jonathan Morris defeat the Vampire Killer's memory of Richter. Are you kidding me!? No way!
5. Had Soma defeat Julius, supposedly, the strongest Belmont of all time, in battle. I know it's insinuated that Julius didn't give his all, but it still pisses me off.
6. Had Castlevania materialize in Japan. Hahahaha! What!?
7. He pissed on Dracula's 100 year resurrection rule. It's ridiculous how many times he had Dracula be resurrected in between his deaths.
8. Now, because of Iga, anybody can kill Dracula, using any type of weapon. He took the specialness and uniqueness of the Belmonts and the Vampire Killer and threw them away.
9. Had plenty of time to tell the 1999 battle but decided to make games, like Portrait of Ruin, Order of Ecclesia, and Curse of Darkness, that progressed the story line very little, if even.
And these are just off the top of my head.
Man, keep it civil guys. We're better fans than this.
Juste?
:o Wow! Big news...and TONS of replies already (that I don't have the patience to go through :P). I read page 1 and 9...did I miss anything crucial, or is that probably the gist of it?
No. It is I! Thomas Belmont!no you idiot I was saying Juste had white hair
Leon, AlucardI think you might be colorblind.
Rinaldo, DraculaNo shit, both are old men in their respective appearances. Dracula appears with White hair only in his premature resurrections, since he is not at full power.
cv fans love IGA, even the ones that love to "hate" him. if none of us cared about IGA & his endeavors, then this topic woulda only had 4 replies & 20 views
admit it, dungeonites. you guys aint foolin me
No. It is I! Thomas Belmont!
ill headbutt yuo no problem >:(ill jab ya in the gabber m8 swer on me mum
it wasnt the real Richiter, therefor, it wasnt as strong as the real Richiter
Am I the only one who read this and instantly thought of this song from another topic?:I also thought that.
Starbomb - Crasher-Vania (Lyrics) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC3TtYZxspQ#ws)
And am I the only one who read it like they sing it in the song? :-[
P.S. Iga, not every character has to have white hair. Leon, Juste, Rinaldo, Dracula, Alucard, Hector, Soma....
Ritchet*
And fans of Lords of Shadow aren't Castlevania fans because of what? Some ridiculous fandom litmus test?
Castlevania is a super pastiche of genres, not even Cv 1 and 2 are the same genre. Hell, not even the first 2 versions of CV1.
Not of fandom, but of concepts. You see, the more I think about it, the more I am reminded of say, DmC. What people like about it, in relation to previous games, is often only on the surface. Digging deeper and you see nothing resembling what came before in any regard. I feel this is what Lords of Shadow has done: it is running with the Castlevania name, but has next to nothing to do with the root of what Castlevania is. This is not about lore, but about gameplay, about basic elementary concepts that Lords, for better or worse depending on where you stand, have completely changed. Fans of Lords of Shadow would be fans of Lords of Shadow. Very little of that has to do with Castlevania prior, to be perfectly honest. It has the IP name, but is it really, sincerely, the same? I would actually argue no. This is not to say Lords of Shadow is shit, but it's trying to fill in the shoes of something totally different under the same brand name, and those things under the hood are significantly different.
We're now at a point that what most of us probably liked about Castlevania will literally have to be found in what Igarashi might be doing, as what's taken its place in the reboot is not what was once there. The point of a reboot is to revive something, and various reboots have had various degrees of success. I would position Lords of Shadow as a boom for the IP name, but is it a revival of Castlevania? In name only, yes. In what its core elements were? Those are gone. Like how Devil May Cry fans had to go to Bayonetta, or even some Final Fantasy fans went to The Last Story, I feel what I dug about Castlevania really isn't alive in its present state. To assume the reboot continues will only continue that feeling. And again, I am not talking about the story, but very basic ideas of what the older games were about that the reboot for the most part chooses to get rid of. Lords of Shadow and Castlevania before it are really two different things, as David Cox once argued. I would really affirm to that position, personally.
I hope you see I am offering no ire for fans of Lords of Shadow, but Lords of Shadow and Castlevania, and to a lesser extent of evolution the IGAvanias, are totally different beasts who share an IP name. You and I may dig both for they share the same IP name for we attach to that brand appeal, but in truth they're really almost two different franchises altogether.
.It's hard because it's personal and subjective so in the same way you can't say what it means, you can't just decide what it doesn't mean in a global sense, just for you. The root of the series doesn't really exist, it's all about what perceptions, and for that all the "holier than thou because I don't like LoS" rethoric is futile.
Star Fox Adventures
It's hard because it's personal and subjective so in the same way you can't say what it means, you can't just decide what it doesn't mean in a global sense, just for you. The root of the series doesn't really exist, it's all about what perceptions, and for that all the "holier than thou because I don't like LoS" rethoric is futile.
Bullshit. I've been playing DMC since the DMC1 demo and DmC had plenty of the elements of previous DMC games in it. It wasn't 100% verbatim like the old games (thankfully they decided to do it a little different as opposed to DMC4 which was a rushed, hot-garbage attempt at bringing back elements of DMC1 but done badly) but the people who hated the game were mainly butthurt about the botched PR campaign. No one I've ever debated about it has many valid reasons for disliking it outside of hating Tameem/Capcom.
Likewise, LoS has TONS of elements of previous CV games, it's just that people either don't recognize the source material, or don't WANT to recognize it because they want more of the same. Name pretty much any element of LoS and I can tell you what previous game or games utilized it, outside of the Light and Dark magics (which is debatable) and the QTEs. And since a lot of that source material was taken from past 3d CV games, it's not surprising that a community that pretty much hates 3d games wouldn't know where the elements came from.
You know, I played Star Fox Adventures, and while I thought it was a strange turn of events, I never once thought to myself "This is not a real Star Fox game".
.Don't worry I wasn't talking about you especifically, it's just that today is the day when I've most seen the "LoS is for casuals/posers/untrue fans and real fans hate it". It grinds me to no end!
Since Mercury Steam isn't technically Konami, I'm gonna dream about the possibility of Konami letting Iga's new company helm a Castlevania project some day. Don't know how realistic that could be, but someday, maybe it'd make sense to do.I'm not counting on IGA being in super friendly terms with Konami.
Don't worry I wasn't talking about you especifically, it's just that today is the day when I've most seen the "LoS is for casuals/posers/untrue fans and real fans hate it". It grinds me to no end!
Are we really having the "Lords of Shadow isn't Castlevania" thing AGAIN? That shit was old 4 years ago, let it go.it can't be helped. LoS just ended, and IGA just left. Both two of the big camps in the fandom. Tensions are bound to arise over both of those coinciding.
It seems a lot of the major figures in video game development in Japan (Hideki Kamiya, Shinji Mikami, Keiji Inafune) have been leaving in the past few years. I remember Mikami saying that he left Capcom because it simply wasn't fun to work there anymore. With there not being any sufficient talent to replace them, look where Capcom and Konami are at.Only a matter of time before Ono takes the long walk... Capcom's running him into the ground. I recall him talking about how ridiculous his schedules and stresses were, that when he spoke to the doctor after collapsing, the doctor said his stress was on par with a marathon runner or something like that.
^I was talking to a buddy about this and he pretty much said the same thing. They could still do 1999 but it just wouldn't be Iga behind.
I got into CV during the Iga era so yeah I'm a little bummed to see him go.
I don't think it would reach MN9 heights, but if IGA did a kickstarter by the end of the week I'd say he'd get a pretty penny. I mean, Yamane is now freelance and both of them are on good terms with Ayami Kojima, so conceivably he can get that 'gang'
Irregardless of this,
I'm calling IGA's next game title as musical term of something or something of musical term. ;D
I asked Iga why he wasn't in charge of Lords of Shadow. "We made two 3D Castlevania games," he said. "And to be honest, they didn't turn out so well. Mercury Steam is very skilled at creating beautiful 3D images, so they were brought in to develop the game."
In 2010, Konami didn't quite yet have its own game engine that could handle Castlevania. Remember, this was years before the Fox Engine.
"Couldn't you still have been in charge?" I asked.
"It would've been difficult, with them in Europe and me in Japan," he said. "And since the quality for our 3D Castlevania games wasn't that high, it wasn't really our place to tell them how to do one. They had that expertise."
"Looking from the outside, I think they did a good job," Iga said. "But for many fans, they automatically think 2D when they hear Castlevania. So there's that to overcome."
"When we did our 3D versions, many fans said they preferred 2D. So because of that, it might be difficult to make 3D Castlevania games."
"Were you depressed when you were no longer in charge of Castlevania?" I asked.
"Yes, of course, I was depressed," he replied, grinning. "But, I am a huge Castlevania fan. I want there to be Castlevania games for the next one hundred years. I want them to continue making those games."
"Were you bitter?" I asked.
"Certainly not. I didn't create the franchise. It was something I worked on."
"But you made it your own."
"Well, this is the next phase of Castlevania," said Iga. "I have a lot to be grateful for because of Castlevania."
I really hope this line of questioning and his responses can do a lot to temper much of the irrational spite, that Lords of Shadow as a series seems to garner.
i remember when Ahasverus hated IGA with extreme passion & dissed his games & tenure with castlevania left n rightEh I still hate his later years and his recycling and unambitious attitude.. but it's not out of bad intentions, he's a purist and a humble man who knows not to go far of what he masters. Now I can respect that. And I kinda miss his games now, however by LoS1 announcement I had a metroidvania overdose :P
i am glad to see you have fully crossed over & come to your senses my friend. Thomas Belmont, youre next @_@
Guys guys! Fellas..It's so Castlevania, it will remind you the times when bad Simon animations were getting you killed, and the cheery times when you couldn't past the third boss. Fun. (And the whip is like the worst weapon of the game)
We have a new Castlevania game already. It's called Dark Souls 2! You see, all you have to do is find the whip weapon, upgrade it with fire damage (FLAME WHIP), get some throwing knives and witch flasks.
Here it is done in Dark Souls 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUZmridPRic (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUZmridPRic)
Your post didn't make any sense. Please try again later.I'm sure there is a Dark Souls forum out there.
Guys guys! Fellas..yeahno.
We have a new Castlevania game already. It's called Dark Souls 2! You see, all you have to do is find the whip weapon, upgrade it with fire damage (FLAME WHIP), get some throwing knives and witch flasks.
Here it is done in Dark Souls 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUZmridPRic (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUZmridPRic)
lords of the fallenimo im liking lotf more than ds from what i see.
Or do you want another uninspired Souls ripoff like that Lords of the Fallen, only with the Castlevania slapped name on it.
1. Richter was being controlled by shaft so his powers were not under his own control.
Where in the game is it implied that his powers were weakened because of the spell? Shaft's goal for Richter was to keep everybody away. Why would Shaft make him weaker? I know that Alucard never defeated Richter but it pisses me off that many people think he did. Ask any average person who played SotN and they are going to say that Alucard won, and If the spell made him weaker then state it in the game.
2. 3d vanias suck.
I wouldn't say that the games are terrible, just their stories.
3. refer to number 2
4.jonathan was of the belmont bloodline somehow
So? That shouldn't give him the ability to defeat the whip's memory of Richter. Somebody on here posted that the whip's memory of Richter was weaker than the real Richter. Where was this stated in the game?
5.julius subconsciously probably knew what he was doing was wrong and the whip failed him.
No way should a teenager with only a small fraction of Dracula's power at the time be able to beat the, according to Aria of Sorrow, strongest Belmont of all in a fight. I don't care if Julius didn't give it his all. Julius should have defeated Soma and then Soma should have questioned why Julius didn't kill him.
6.I know I hated that too. but once you know soma is a possible succesor to dracula I guess it's o.k.
7.so what some dark preists are assholes who want attention
That was just one of the many times that Dracula was prematurely resurrected. In fact, I'm having a difficult time thinking of one of Iga's games where he wasn't prematurely resurrected.
8.*coughs* ERIC LACARDE
John Morris was the one who defeated Dracula.
9.I want the 1999 battle too
IGA making new games similar to CV only means one thing.
Yeah. That he can't come up with an original idea of his own.Just stop.
http://kotaku.com/the-challenge-of-leaving-castlevania-and-konami-behin-1544855373?utm_campaign=Socialflow_Kotaku_Facebook&utm_source=Kotaku_Facebook&utm_medium=Socialflow (http://kotaku.com/the-challenge-of-leaving-castlevania-and-konami-behin-1544855373?utm_campaign=Socialflow_Kotaku_Facebook&utm_source=Kotaku_Facebook&utm_medium=Socialflow)
His interview with Kotaku. It's pretty fascinating. He really did leave for the fans. He apparently requested to be moved from Castlevania to social games. And apparently Operation Akumajo may have had an effect: he cites the constant messages on Facebook for him to make another Metroidvania as a reason for striking out on his own. And you were right, Flame- the failure of his 3D Castlevania games was way he was passed over for Lords.
Just stop.
Die Thomas Belmont you don't belong in this world!
Thanks for posting the link. You know what? As much as I hate what he did to the series, story line wise, he seems like a really nice guy.Absolutely. C'mon people, at least lets acknowledge that IGA was as much of a fan of Castlevania as you or me.
Anyway, it's funny in hindsight how all those "Please make 1999 IGA" comments on his Facebook wall actually had effect on him, despite that he ignored them all. Heh.He has a facebook?
Absolutely. C'mon people, at least lets acknowledge that IGA was as much of a fan of Castlevania as you or me.
He has a facebook?
Anyone else feel it's a little disrespectful to him for the interviewer to keep going "but why weren't you working on it?", he's not going to want to say "Yeah they took the franchise away from me and that sucked", even if that was true.That's Kotaku for you.
On an off-topic note it's also sad how he compliments MS's skill at art, because now that lead artist is gone...RIP Mercury Steam.
RIP Mercury Steam.
I feel like the interviewer wanted Igarashi to be bitter or say that he had the series taken from him against his wishes. I also feel like he missed the point of Cox's statement on Mega Man. There's nothing wrong with being like Mega Man but Cox meant that, he didn't want Castlevania to end up dead.. deader... undeader? ..est?agreed. author totally missed the point of cox's Megaman comparison.
The Emperor - 'Let the hate flow through you' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Avn2nT16FA#ws)Lol
That's Kotaku for you.RIP Mercury Steam.The lead artist is sorely missed as a director, bur Mercury still has the best artists. LoS2 problem was not about lack of beautiful art, it was about lack of cohesion in the art.
agreed. author totally missed the point of cox's Megaman comparison.
on bitterness, i think it was meant to emphasize or show that he was really NOT bitter, despite fans calling bloody murfer and conspiracy. that it was partially his decision and that he was completely ok with los and his "replacement"
Guys guys! Fellas..
We have a new Castlevania game already. It's called Dark Souls 2! You see, all you have to do is find the whip weapon, upgrade it with fire damage (FLAME WHIP), get some throwing knives and witch flasks.
Here it is done in Dark Souls 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUZmridPRic (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUZmridPRic)
I think you are slightly late to the party, intersection-samaI woke up and realized that I'd missed 10 pages of discussion. So yes, you could say that.
I have nothing against gays and I did not mean it that way back in the day we used that term to insult friends. I just don't like the way Los is copying the series that ruined vampires with men walking around without a shirt on. It doesn't appeal to me.You declare that LoS2 is gay, and then complain about shirtless men. Speaking of connotations...
I have nothing against gays and I did not mean it that way back in the day we used that term to insult friends. I just don't like the way Los is copying the series that ruined vampires with men walking around without a shirt on. It doesn't appeal to me.
Fuck youI didn't realize shirtlessness was gay.
Now we wait and see castlevania become what has been feared for years.the fuck is this(click to show/hide)
666 hail Satan my dark lord and master. Come into me and I will serve you.
Fuck you
Los is *coughs* GAY
It's getting way too ugly in here.
Sorry man I just like to defend the original games even if it means trolling the supporters of Los. I'll cut it out.You're not defending anything, you're just flamebaiting.
You're not defending anything, you're just flamebaiting.
He even wrote the groundbreaking dating sim Tokimeki Memorial.
On an off-topic note it's also sad how he compliments MS's skill at art, because now that lead artist is gone...
I actually laughed out loud at that, e105.
Guys guys! Fellas..
We have a new Castlevania game already. It's called Dark Souls 2! You see, all you have to do is find the whip weapon, upgrade it with fire damage (FLAME WHIP), get some throwing knives and witch flasks.
Here it is done in Dark Souls 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUZmridPRic (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUZmridPRic)
I know if I was him, I'd probably be a bit bitter, but who knows.
Remember, Flame, don't feed the trolls, if someone admits to doing it that's a sign to ignore 'em, not egg 'em on. And machetespaghetti, don't try our patience, Jorge has already warned you once. Let's get back on topic.
Doctamario, I think I lot of people find similarities between the Souls game and Castlevania due to the aesthetics and level design. While there's not so much platforming, since you can only do running jumps (unlike in CV), there are lot of giant old castles in Lordran/Drangleic that would serve as Dracula's in a pinch. They're also filled with Castlevania style enemies, like skeletons and zombies and such. So it makes sense that people might like both :)
Akumajo the Arcade woulda worked great with the playstation Move, why konami hasnt capitalized on this idea is beyond me
I not like LoS I thinking Machiete spighitti is right
666 hail Satan my dark lord and master. Come into me and I will serve you.
Squidward and Machetespaghetti were the same person, and both have been banned for sockpuppeting/trolling. Everything's back to normal, friends, we can get back to the discussion without worrying about any trolling nonsense :)
Imagine the man behind one of your biggest franchises just takes the ball and leaves, no doubt to make a game to serve as a direct competitor to your products. Even if you two part ways on amicable terms (as opposed to the unceremonious breakup between Inafune and Capcom) you’ll be scrambling to fill that void and remind gamers who the real house of Castlevania is, right? Maybe this will lead to something of a 2D Castlevania resurgence as Konami scrambles to fill the void. We could be looking at dueling studios, striving to provide the best action game with whips and Draculas they could. Or maybe they’ll just pull a Capcom and look the other way, not paying IGA’s new studio any mind one way or another. Either way, IGA surely has big things planned and his departure should bring about awesome announcements in the coming months.
How many think that IGA is going to make something that resembles castlevania with his new studio or something new altogether?
Exactly.Now we have the likely scenario of IGA making the kind of games fans want while Konami can do what they please with Castlevania.
Competition benefits customers more than a monopoly.
I don't know why anyone has any faith left in Konami... Maybe if Kojima Studios took over theh series they could make a good Castlevania..
And I have no doubt Iga will do more Metroidvania type games. I can see him trying more 3d games though. It's something I'm sure he'll want to get "right."
I'm done with LoS, I really need something new, FAST.I'm willing to wait however long it takes for them to make the next inevitable reboot something I will really enjoy.
I'm willing to wait however long it takes for them to make the next inevitable reboot something I will really enjoy.I hear people say this, but is the LoS2 engine PS4/XBONE compatible? I'd imagine the next 3D CV, if they have it in mind, would be for THOSE consoles. PS3 and X360 are all but finito!
They have the LOS2 engine at their disposal, I would love to see them work with it and help evolve it into the prime engine used for future entries. Doesn't mean I want more LOS games though.
"When I left Konami, they told me I couldn't use the name Castlevania when talking about my plans. So it was actually really handy that the word 'Metroidvania' existed!"
A slightly new tidbit of info that no one has posted yet.I really hope his new game uses the same setting.
http://www.usgamer.net/articles/gdc-2014-why-koji-igarashi-is-grateful-for-the-word-metroidvania (http://www.usgamer.net/articles/gdc-2014-why-koji-igarashi-is-grateful-for-the-word-metroidvania)
So yup, his next game is confirmed to be a Metroidvania.
I admit I enjoy Metriodvania games but I don't think I've played one that wasn't CV or Super Metriod
A slightly new tidbit of info that no one has posted yet.TransylFortress coming to a PC near you.
http://www.usgamer.net/articles/gdc-2014-why-koji-igarashi-is-grateful-for-the-word-metroidvania (http://www.usgamer.net/articles/gdc-2014-why-koji-igarashi-is-grateful-for-the-word-metroidvania)
So yup, his next game is confirmed to be a Metroidvania.
No Shadow Complex? That one was pretty fun. Outland was okay, too...never finished it though...Sadly no. It looks fun though.
It's enough time for me to completely lose interest on the series.
Am i one of the few people who aaaactually would be genuinely curious about a Kojima helmed Castlevania?He's eyeing Silent Hill now.
Am i one of the few people who aaaactually would be genuinely curious about a Kojima helmed Castlevania?
"Couldn't you still have been in charge?" I (Brian Ashcraft) asked.
"It would've been difficult, with them in Europe and me in Japan," he said. "And since the quality for our 3D Castlevania games wasn't that high, it wasn't really our place to tell them how to do one. They had that expertise."
I am really looking forward to his talk at the GDC, and I hope they stream it somewhere.
God, a 3D Castlevania game with Lords of Shadow 2s combat engine, and all of the fun and varied sub-weapon attacks from Lament of Innocence, with classic music. Dream come true.
From Igarashi, I would love something akin to a 2D survival horror game with his typical RPG elements. Maybe give weapons durability so you can't just mindly hack/slash/shoot your way through everything and really up the horror atmosphere all while keeping it done in excellent sprite work.
I'd love it if Igarashi could cooperate on something like that with that excellent sprite artist that worked on that Mercenary Kings game and the Scott Pilgrim game.
I'm very curious about the timing of this. Did he wait to until the Castlevania IP was up for grabs again, and Konami denied it to him?
DMC4 ... a rushed, hot-garbage attempt at bringing back elements of DMC1 but done badly
IIRC, Mercurysteam owns the LOS engine
That's a possibility, given the timing. I'll sure bet it wasn't a decision to be taken lightly, to leave Konami.
Perhaps IGA got wind of what was on the horizon (which may be nothing at all!), and either he wasn't going to be part of it, or he didn't like it—the straw that broke the camel's back. Maybe the Lords of Shadow 2's release played a factor in his thoughts, made him reflect on what once was.
Speculation . . . but all the best to him. Will be very intriguing to see what happens next . . .
I don't see any reason to not take the man at his word.
Igarashi's move from creating core games to social games was largely driven by Konami's internal direction, he said. He stepped away from making 2D Castlevania games because, he said, while Konami recognized that its 2D legacy franchises had a passionate fanbase, it saw the video game business moving in a different direction.
One of the things, that made me happy is [that] a lot of people said, 'Hey, I want you to hire me, take me with you.' So that felt good."
I want the next CV to have the soul of an IGA game and the produciton of a MS game. That'd be glorious.AMEN
... it was two years of making a game that leaned too 'hardcore' for the social market. So it was canceled. Then I'd try again and be canceled. And again and be canceled.
Media Create Sales: Week 11, 2014 (Mar 10 - Mar 16)
01./00. [PS3] Dark Souls II <RPG> (From Software) {2014.03.13} (¥7.800) - 255.197 / NEW
02./02. [3DS] Yo-kai Watch <RPG> (Level 5) {2013.07.11} (¥4.800) - 37.247 / 569.720 (+3%)
03./03. [3DS] Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru to Ruka no Fushigi na Fushigi na Kagi # <RPG> (Square Enix) {2014.02.06} (¥5.490) - 18.728 / 737.593 (-40%)
04./01. [PSV] Soul Sacrifice Δ <ACT> (Sony Computer Entertainment) {2014.03.06} (¥4.980) - 17.357 / 66.143 (-64%)
05./04. [3DS] Harvest Moon: Linking The New World <SLG> (Marvelous AQL) {2014.02.27} (¥5.040) - 15.883 / 176.180 (-46%)
06./06. [3DS] Fossil Fighters: Infinite Gear <RPG> (Nintendo) {2014.02.27} (¥4.800) - 13.362 / 93.900 (-40%)
07./09. [3DS] Kirby Triple Deluxe <ACT> (Nintendo) {2014.01.11} (¥4.800) - 12.225 / 501.835 (-13%)
08./10. [3DS] Pokemon X / Y # <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2013.10.12} (¥4.800) - 10.106 / 3.994.938 (-6%)
09./07. [PS3] Yakuza: Ishin! <ADV> (Sega) {2014.02.22} (¥8.600) - 10.034 / 222.147 (-49%)
10./14. [PS3] Grand Theft Auto V <ACT> (Take-Two Interactive Japan) {2013.10.10} (¥7.770) - 7.910 / 736.810 (+8%)
11./11. [3DS] Puzzle & Dragons Z <RPG> (GungHo Online Entertainment) {2013.12.12} (¥4.400) - 7.755 / 1.407.075 (-26%)
12./12. [PS4] Battlefield 4 <ACT> (Electronic Arts) {2014.02.22} (¥7.665) - 7.539 / 55.286 (-23%)
13./05. [PS3] Ar Nosurge: Umareizuru Hoshi e Inoru Uta # <RPG> (Gust) {2014.03.06} (¥7.140) - 6.751 / 33.787 (-75%)
14./00. [360] Dark Souls II <RPG> (From Software) {2014.03.13} (¥7.800) - 5.950 / NEW
15./13. [PS4] Yakuza: Ishin! <ADV> (Sega) {2014.02.22} (¥8.600) - 5.451 / 119.722 (-41%)
16./21. [3DS] Monster Hunter 4 # <ACT> (Capcom) {2013.09.14} (¥5.990) - 5.132 / 3.239.571
17./15. [WIU] Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze <ACT> (Nintendo) {2014.02.13} (¥5.985) - 5.117 / 72.401 (-29%)
18./23. [3DS] Doraemon: Shin Nobita no Daimakyou - Peko to 5-nin no Tankentai <ACT> (FuRyu) {2014.03.06} (¥5.229) - 4.813 / 9.665
19./22. [3DS] Animal Crossing: New Leaf # <ETC> (Nintendo) {2012.11.08} (¥4.800) - 4.759 / 3.692.937
20./17. [PS3] Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. Full Boost # <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2014.01.30} (¥7.980) - 4.395 / 338.323 (-25%)
Top 20
3DS - 10
PS3 - 5
PS4 - 2
360 - 1
PSV - 1
WIU - 1
Fuck Japan. I can't take the market seriously. They just elected Lightning from FFXIII best charater of the generation.
Hahaha, that's kind of awesome
I remembered hearing a rumor that Iga was working on Konami's social games, which were increasingly profitable for the company. Iga didn't think this was necessarily a bad thing. "I don't dislike social games," he said, adding that he requested to be shifted into the social games section. With social games being incredibly popular in Japan and seeming to eclipse traditional games, Iga thought there was something he could learn and that social games would be a good platform for quirky, unusual titles.
And since social games are so profitable in Japan, the industry is focusing on them. "I think there will be even more of a shift towards social games in Japan," said Iga, putting down his cup of coffee. "And at Konami as well."
I guess it's worth noting that the failure of Lament and Curse probably had more to do with KCET overall than specifically IGA
The previous page has a quote where he says Konami denied his social game ideas at least three times because they felt too much like core games. He explicitly said that was one of his motivations to leave.
Yeah, but Konami apparently demanded he made social games while that wasn't what he wanted to do, hence he set up his own company. I still stand by my analogy. :P
Well he wanted to do social games because that's the trend Japan itself is going in and welcomed doing something new, but I guess his personal design tastes didn't fit their social game mold.
Igarashi doesn't have a name for his new development studio, he says, and he hasn't ruled out collaborating with some of his former colleagues and co-creators, like artist Ayami Kojima and musician Michiru Yamane.
He'll likely focus on console games at his new studio, as that's where much of his fan base resides. But he doesn't want to exclude other platforms, like PC, mobile or handhelds, and if fans demand it, he'll consider all hardware options. "I don't want to close any doors," he said.
"I'm a simple man with simple needs," Iga said. "The process of making something, releasing it, having fans be happy with what you've created, [that's what I want]. The last two years, I haven't been able to finish that process for a variety of reasons. If I can do that, that would make me very happy. That is what I want to do with my studio: release games that make people happy."
Castlevania is dead. Excuse me while I go play some Dark Souls 2 with my fire whip, holy water, and throwing knives.
Viskod, although IGA worked on social games, Konami rejected his ideas because they felt too much like core games, meaning that was not where his heart lies. I don't get what's wrong about that.There was nothing wrong with it, whatever ideas IGA had just didn't fit with Konami's new criteria by the looks of things.
There was nothing wrong with it, whatever ideas IGA had just didn't fit with Konami's new criteria by the looks of things.
Viskod, although IGA worked on social games, Konami rejected his ideas because they felt too much like core games, meaning that was not where his heart lies. I don't get what's wrong about that.
Yeah, but Konami apparently demanded he made social games while that wasn't what he wanted to do, hence he set up his own company. I still stand by my analogy. :P
Konami apparently demanded he made social games
while that wasn't what he wanted to do
Viskod, although IGA worked on social games, Konami rejected his ideas because they felt too much like core games, meaning that was not where his heart lies. I don't get what's wrong about that.
Castlevania is dead. Excuse me while I go play some Dark Souls 2 with my fire whip, holy water, and throwing knives.Go away Rugal, DS is nothing like Castlevania in anything but the most superficial ways.
Maybe Konami could remake Castlevania 1 again in the mean time. I'd be down for another retelling of Simon's game.The fact that LoS was originally supposed to be that really has left me itching for a current gen CV1 remake
The fact that LoS was originally supposed to be that really has left me itching for a current gen CV1 remakeMy 3DS just needs a new Classicvania period.
Anyway, I'm feeling the urge to replay alll of IGA's 2D games in chronological order. I'm going to throw in the Arrange version of Chronicles and DXC for good measure as well.
My 3DS just needs a new Classicvania period.Why does it have to be a handheld?
Man we're running out of things to talk about with this series, I feel like I repeat the same thing almost everyday now. :T
Why does it have to be a handheld?Because my 3DS still needs a truly good Castlevania game. Mirror of Fate wasn't enough to scratch that itch.
ANOTHER interview. He's going all out. I don't think this one has been posted here yet and it was just put out 3 hours ago. This one with Jeremy Parish, one of the popularizers of the Metroidvania term.
http://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-resurrection-of-koji-igarashi (http://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-resurrection-of-koji-igarashi)
USG: I noticed you did seem to focus on appealing to Japanese gamers in some ways. The anime art style of Dawn of Sorrow, for instance...
IGA: This is actually a common misconception that occurs. And that is the anime style chosen in Dawn of Sorrow - it wasn't to make it appeal more to the Japanese market, it was to make it appeal more to the DS market...
USG: Ahh, I see...
IGA: ...and the rationale there was that people who were gaming on the DS continue to get younger and younger versus previous handhelds. And if you, with the franchise, don't continue to try and get new fans and new customers, then you just end up with older and older gamers that sometimes stop gaming or peter off. So that was pretty much us trying to appeal to new, younger users, to try to get them interested in that series. Though it didn't really work.
DMC4 ran at a stupidly slick 60fps and its combat system was (and still is) an absolute delight to play.
I'm interested to know how close a resemblance his new project will bear to CV and if it does, how Konami will react. That Koumajou Densetsu game bears a preeeeeetty close resemblance to CV (Sotn) and I'm wondering if IGA will go that route.
I just thought what if he made a getsu fuma like game or gradius, or contra like game? He could be the answer to other players prayers as well.
Before everyone gets too excited fantasizing the new dream IGA metroidvania like its 1999, just remember that the majority of video game startups fail before getting off the ground. Also, fans always seem to complain that Konami never gave IGA enough of a budget, which in theory is the reason many of his his games were flawed. Running a startup, I doubt he would have anywhere near the budgets that Konami gave him to produce gems like Judgment or Harmony of Despair.
Remember, he can't take the sprites with him...
After reading these interviews and seeing how Igarashi left on quite amicable terms, and how he was pleased with Lords of Shadow as a series I don't think he'll try to copy Castlevania or step on their vampire mythos toes just out if respect for Konami and the series.
He's quite grateful to them and wants the series to continue to be successful so I don't see him trying to undermine or sabotage Konami.
I would so be ok with IGA's first project being a side scrolling 3D Metroidvania if it looks this impressive.
He still might step into the vampire mythos. There are a lot of vampire stories in the world that doesn't involve the European vampire model. And if I can recall correctly in an interview he gave years back, he is well aware of other vampire stories like the ones in Southeast Asia.
It will be more interesting if it will be involve youkai mythos rather than vampire mythos.
He still might step into the vampire mythos. There are a lot of vampire stories in the world that doesn't involve the European vampire model. And if I can recall correctly in an interview he gave years back, he is well aware of other vampire stories like the ones in Southeast Asia.
So, would Harmony of Despair qualify as a social game?
Dungeon's worst nightmare: HoD reboot.
Probably could actually. I'm kind of surprised its considered bad here, while I've never played it myself, I've seen videos and on other forums its generally well received as a really fun multiplayer experience.
I don't think that would be a good idea. We already know of IGAs reluctance toward female heroeswhy do people think this? All because he reconnected one game which happened to have a female lead, suddenly he's a woman hater or doesn't like female protagonists.
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2014/03/19/future-of-castlevania-in-limbo/78550/ (http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2014/03/19/future-of-castlevania-in-limbo/78550/)
With the original Lords of Shadow, Mercury Steam created a modern day classic that truly honored the Castlevania name and legacy. In fact, I would rate that game as one of my top ten of the entire last generation. Then came Mirror of Fate, a heartfelt homage to classic 2D Castlevania with that ingenious Metroidvania design fused in for good measure. The level design in Mirror of Fate is up there with the best that the series has to offer.It's strange seeing this kind of talk now, I don't remember such positivity for the series before 2 came out
It's strange seeing this kind of talk now, I don't remember such positivity for the series before 2 came out
I'm going to coin this right now before anybody else gets to it first:
The Lords Effect
When a game is released that significantly alters a classically cherished canon or continuity in either story or gameplay, it will at first be met with flak equivalent to the intensity of love given to the series by the traditional fans. However, with each game released prior to said reboot, the game will be remembered more and more fondly, eventually being heralded as a "classic" in contrast to the most recent release, which will in turn be regarded as a huge disappointment.
The opposite of this effect is the Sonic Effect, in which a game will be praised greatly upon release as the rebirth of the series, only to become more and more hated with each subsequent release.
Don't forget, this effect is also prominent to the Zelda series as well.
why do people think this?
He retonned Sonia because she really didn't make much sense considering the time period
You do realize that Joan of Arc was charbroiled for her troubles, right
Sonia was a pretty shitty character and the "Alucard porked Sonia and thus came Trevor" alluded to is even shittier. Let's all just be happy she was retconned. :p
And then after that, realize the bulk of Castlevania's story/timeline is pretty basic and retarded anyway and all is well.
Dude, are you trying to start a war or something?
Dude, are you trying to start a war or something?
Because IGA admitted it himself.Mind getting me a quote on that?
With all due respect Flame that's a weak excuse coming from IGA. Do I really need to pull out the Joan of Arch argument again?*Arc*
This news is only a shock to people who do not understand the culture in Japan. Unlike in places like Europe and the US, in Japan it is customary for people to at least work 5 years in any job they take. Generally speaking, employers in Japan will not fire a bad employee, even a very lazy one unless they are doing something extreme or of an illegal nature. In the case of someone in a position of prestige (like IGA), they most certainly wouldn't do it; it would be considered rude and disrespectful, not to mention would reflect poorly on the company. Instead, they would give him a less influential job (which they did) in the background. But make no mistake, it was the equivalent of being fired, and he knew he was done, as did most people in the industry in Japan as well the minute it happened. Which is part of the reason why he chose to leave and create his own studio I'm sure.yeah, they won't outright fire you. They WOULD however, passive aggressively suggest you leave, or make conditions so that you "take the hint".
Mind getting me a quote on that?
Also, she was burned at the stake a heretic for posing as a man in the army, and claiming she heard voices from the heavens.
Think she would have gotten away with being a female action hero? For reference, Joan of Arc died 19 years before CV Legends. yeah. No.
I'm not sexist.Oh, so we're playing this game now?
Instead, they would give him a less influential job (which they did) in the background. But make no mistake, it was the equivalent of being fired, and he knew he was done, as did most people in the industry in Japan as well the minute it happened.
On the topic of Dracula's wife getting burned at the stake, what was his excuse for this? At that point the dude was extremely powerful and should have been keeping tabs on something like this. What was his excuse for letting a very public ceremony going off without a hitch? I'll tell you.
It was his vampire harem. Dammit Dracula.
Being Belmont'd at the time? He does tend to come and go from the earthly plane of existence rather often.
He was assumed to be laying low or in hiding at that time.
Yea I remember that, but I still don't see that as a reason to let your beloved and mother of your child get murdered by a mob of people given his power.
Whatever happens with the new IGA game, we won't have any Belmont and certainely no Dracula. I hope he can come up with a great new idea.
The also probably burned her at the stake during the day.
I understand the belmont part, but why certainly no Dracula?While Dracula isn't "copyrighted" like the Belmonts, I'm not sure Konami would let him make a game with a [protagonist] killing ennemies in a castle with Dracula.
Care to explain?
While Dracula isn't "copyrighted" like the Belmonts, I'm not sure Konami would let him make a game with a [protagonist] killing ennemies in a castle with Dracula.
My statement isn't based on anything legal/other, but if IGA's not silly, he should know he has to come with something different.
Well I assume by then he had gained some loyal minions, if that was the case he could have easily sent them to the town to take care of the villagers who where trying to murder her even if it where during the day.
Well I assume by then he had gained some loyal minions, if that was the case he could have easily sent them to the town to take care of the villagers who where trying to murder her even if it where during the day.
While Dracula isn't "copyrighted" like the Belmonts, I'm not sure Konami would let him make a game with a [protagonist] killing ennemies in a castle with Dracula.
My statement isn't based on anything legal/other, but if IGA's not silly, he should know he has to come with something different.
If it was during the day, how would he know? It doesn't take long to grab someone throw them to a stake and set them on fire, and I doubt he had Slogra and Gaibon living at her house as her personal bodyguards.
Maybe his minions were with him due to his assumption that the village his wife and son were residing won't harm them.
Besides, I don't think at that time Drac is powerful enough to gather a troop of willing humans.
Then we can just safely assume that his minions are idiots.
Lisahttp://www.konami.jp/gs/game/dracula_ps2/ (http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/dracula_ps2/)
It happens in Lords of Shadow (although in a different way) and no one cares there.
axtually a lot of ppl here hated that in los too, lol
Going back to an earlier recurring point, there is nothing wrong with Belmonts and Dracula being related (the "Sonia" argument). It happens in Lords of Shadow (although in a different way) and no one cares there. But bring up Sonia and all of a sudden 'It's such a stupid idea, it would never happen, the thoughy of it makes me barf' blah blah blah. It's huge hypocrisy.
I think Legends should be remade and the story fleshed out. Got issues with the whole time period/woman fighting thing? Let her dress up as a male, maybe Alucard figures it out. She can still have a baby, explains the Belmont power, Trevor beats Dracula with his dad...I dunno. Working on two hours of sleep and on a cell phone, lol. You get the gist.
I liked Fusion. ;____;
It was weaker than Super Metroid, but most things are.
Historical accuracy and Castlevania, lol.
If you want to continue this discussion, please make a seperate topic.
(remember the Belmonts were feared & exiled from society at that time due to their reputation) then it would be cool to throw in a rebooted Sonia, i dont think nobody would be opposed to that. JUST DONT MAKE HER FIGHT DRACULA
So, when Legends ignores CV3's original intent it's a problem and the game should be retconned, but when CV3 ignores Adventure's original intent then it's perfectly fine? Using the same logic, shouldn't IGA have removed one of them as well then? Adventure and CV3 can't even exist in the same universe because they are mutually exclusive to each other.
I actually don't care about Legends getting retconned, but I thought it was interesting to point out.
Also, thread derail lol
To be honest the best story parts of the old cannon were when the Belmont's were not so pure. I like to imagine them as a flawed lineage, which see themselves as "holy" but in reality they aren't.
I KNOW OFFICIALLY THEY DO. But symphony of the night alucard is not the same alucard as arikado, who isn't the same as CV3 alucard. Geez, I'm just rambling now...
I don't mind that the Belmonts are fallible. They're human. They're supposed to be.
I just don't want them picking up the 4e "Vampiric Heritage" feat.
The bolded part, why do you say that?
They are the same, didn't you play Julius mode in DOS?
Its shown that Arikado is just a disguise and that he can revert back to his vampireic SOTN appearance when need be.
But you have a point about CV3 Alucard, but that had more to do with them wanting to base him on on classic/mainstream interpretation of Dracula's son at the time.
I know they are the same, I suck at explaining myself. The whole point of that long rant was to explain that to me, none of the games follow each other, I know I sound crazy. But after years and years of time to get used to it, I still can't see the symphony of the night alucard being the same guy as the Dawn of Sorrow alucard. Am I making myself clear? I know I sound like an idiot right now.
I know what you mean. For example, I can't really imagine any of the NES games taking place in same universe as Symphony of the Night. The whole nature of the world just seems too different to me.
Not that curse of darkness is a bad game or anything
lol so you think its good? i'd say its okay.. "passable" at best. a couple steps back from loi
if it wasnt for the excellent soundtrack & other little things here n there, then the game would be downright terrible in my eyes. but as hard as it is to believe, there are much worse games out there than curse of darkness
I know what you mean. For example, I can't really imagine any of the NES games taking place in same universe as Symphony of the Night. The whole nature of the world just seems too different to me.
belmont warlord chromosones, bro. the belmonts got their power from centuries of monster hunting & pure will. they were only accepted into society again after the church discovered Trevor & he defeated Dracula
"the bosses are the stars of the game."
Always knew there was a reason I liked him.
belmont warlord chromosones, bro. the belmonts got their power from centuries of monster hunting & pure will. they were only accepted into society again after the church discovered Trevor & he defeated Dracula
Yeah, I think the same way. The bosses in a videogame are my favorite part, and in a Castlevania game, since the first games, they ARE my favorite element of the game.Whenever I would think up a fan CV idea, after the initial plot idea, the first main thing I'd think up is what bosses I'd love to include! In video games, bosses are ALWAYS a highlight, and Castlevania is no exeption. It's the reason I(among others HERE, and I know for a fact because of it we are all kindred spirits) always stay tuned, eyes peeled and ears to the web when a new CV is released(did it for LoS, MoF and LoS2, despite not liking them much) JUST to get a list of what bosses will be featured in the games.
Yeah, I think the same way. The bosses in a videogame are my favorite part, and in a Castlevania game, since the first games, they ARE my favorite element of the game.
Word. I value bosses to an incredibly high degree in games and I think the Iga produced games have a lot to do with developing that in me. Those and Treasure games.Bosses have always been a "thing" with me and my friends. I remember my friend lending me Kid Niki back in the day(must've been in elementary school) and the first thing I asked as NOT what the game was about, but what the bosses were. "Death Breath, Stone Buddha, Horned Witch, Green Grub, Mad Monk, Samurai Guard and Stone Wizard!". Fuck yeah, now you're playin' with POWER! BOSS POWER!!! ;D
Bosses have always been a "thing" with me and my friends. I remember my friend lending me Kid Niki back in the day(must've been in elementary school) and the first thing I asked as NOT what the game was about, but what the bosses were. "Death Breath, Stone Buddha, Horned Witch, Green Grub, Mad Monk, Samurai Guard and Stone Wizard!". Fuck yeah, now you're playin' with POWER! BOSS POWER!!! ;D
Whenever I would think up a fan CV idea, after the initial plot idea, the first main thing I'd think up is what bosses I'd love to include! In video games, bosses are ALWAYS a highlight, and Castlevania is no exeption. It's the reason I(among others HERE, and I know for a fact because of it we are all kindred spirits) always stay tuned, eyes peeled and ears to the web when a new CV is released(did it for LoS, MoF and LoS2, despite not liking them much) JUST to get a list of what bosses will be featured in the games.
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/213706/Father_and_SON_IGA_talks_Metroidvania.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GamasutraNews+%28Gamasutra+News%29 (http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/213706/Father_and_SON_IGA_talks_Metroidvania.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GamasutraNews+%28Gamasutra+News%29)
Some other stuff here too
Bosses have always been a "thing" with me and my friends. I remember my friend lending me Kid Niki back in the day(must've been in elementary school) and the first thing I asked as NOT what the game was about, but what the bosses were. "Death Breath, Stone Buddha, Horned Witch, Green Grub, Mad Monk, Samurai Guard and Stone Wizard!". Fuck yeah, now you're playin' with POWER! BOSS POWER!!! ;D
I declare myself guilty of such thing, too ;)...
I declare myself guilty of such thing, too ;)...It's pretty much a religious thing. And yeah, we are not alone. Whenever someone says, "Leak! The game's been LEAKED! Someone got it EARLY!!!", everybody who's anybody is always clawing over each other in the boards wondering if the boss list has been posted yet. Yup, I'm there with bells on!!! :D
http://www.polygon.com/2014/3/21/5534730/koji-igarashi-symphony-of-the-night-how-to-make-a-metroidvania (http://www.polygon.com/2014/3/21/5534730/koji-igarashi-symphony-of-the-night-how-to-make-a-metroidvania)
That was... Dissapointing....
Igarashi said in game development, too many action franchises fall into the trap of catering only to mature, dedicated fans. This results in the company making changes that spike the series' difficulty level and heighten the barrier of entry for new players.
And he's still looking for people there, publishers/studios that want to fund his game or people who want to make it happen.
That wasn't dissapoiting in any way. He was talking for developers about development, this isn't E3 where he goes to show his game to people liks us.
And he's still looking for people there, publishers/studios that want to fund his game or people who want to make it happen.
"I made symphony of the night, remember guys?"It was a talk about metroidvania design. The best and most regarded game of this style, SOTN, was his first game. IT was a talk about the game and it's design, for developers.
OOE proved in many ways that IGA could make a metroidvania that was actually hard and challenging which is something many complained about with previous metroidvanias.
I must say I had not played a metroidvania that hard since COTM.
I dunno what the fuck you expected.
I expected talks about the future, not about the past.Yeah, that wasn't what the talk was about, sorry about that. But everyone who actually took part on the talk knew about this. You would have too, if you have readed what it was about.
I expected talks about the future, not about the past.
Also, in the Polygon interview, he mentioned that some people at Konami asked him if they could go with him. I wonder if anyone decided to quit in the end to join him.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/news/a559424/ex-konami-producer-wants-to-make-new-metroidvania-games-gdc-2014.html
[He] revealed the Inverted Castle from Symphony of the Night was a result of designers not wanting to create new characters.
Igarashi explained the team began creating a new story that accommodated the main Castlevania timeline, but glossed over any inconsistencies between it and their own creation. The team also decided to give the game's visuals a fresh coat of paint, changing the game's look and feel from the main Castlevania line.
his new company should be called "IGAGINATION"That would create a paradox and destroy the universe as we know it.
mixing of his name, and the word imagination
excellent choice, right guys? .....guys?
his new company should be called "IGAGINATION"
mixing of his name, and the word imagination
excellent choice, right guys? .....guys?
That would create a paradox and destroy the universe as we know it.
Order of Ecclesia is the pinnacle of the series regarding bosses. I don't remember any other game with so many enjoyable bosses. It's simply the best on the series in this regard. Reason why I love it (other reason being the combat system, more streamlined and relevant than SOTN).
And COTM was supposedly hard because of it's design. The way the characters control is more like the older games, even though the control is a bit better.
When I play the first Castlevanias (before Legends comes to light), I supose that the superhuman powers that the Belmonts has were form the Belmont Chromosomes (as is implied in the CVIII manual or box, I don´t remember). Then, when I played and finished Legends, and I read that Sonia have a baby with Alucard, I learned that "maybe" is because of that the superhuman power of the Belmont, from that part of the history... I accepted, but I don´t like it too much.
Indie Game Authority or I.G.ALOL! You had fun, didn't you?
Gigantic games
Eye of the Tiga
Iga Stole my Bike
Innovative Gaming Assets... LOL
The issue with the Sonia/ Alucard affair is that the VK doesn't work that way, it can't be used by a tainted soul/ blood. If Alucard's blood got into the Belmont's lineage then the direct bloodline would be contaminated. I think CV III as the first showdown with Dracula fits better as well. Which is not to say Sonia shouldn't reappear in the old canon, in a later game. One could say that Legends and the non-canon games simply fit into an alternate timeline, problem solved.
"無知が" or "Muchiga".
Muchi = Whip
Iga = Hurr Durr
IGA seems to like whips (xD). And it has a nice pun when read as an english speaker. Much Iga.
YES I used the translator leavemealone...
I must say though that "Iga Stole my Bike" is extremelly appealing to me.
From Japanese media. Japanese language. The contents are the same as other existing appearance pages.
http://www.famitsu.com/news/201403/22050353.html (http://www.famitsu.com/news/201403/22050353.html)
http://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999903/20140322009/ (http://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999903/20140322009/)
http://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/826/826253/ (http://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/826/826253/)
http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20140323_640849.html (http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20140323_640849.html)
Classic "A" is justice vampire. IGA changed it. SoN's "A" is vampire half.
The Famitsu one, and perhaps even all of them, look like more in depth summaries than the english language articles describing the talk.
From Japanese media. Japanese language. The contents are the same as other existing appearance pages.
http://www.famitsu.com/news/201403/22050353.html (http://www.famitsu.com/news/201403/22050353.html)
http://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999903/20140322009/ (http://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999903/20140322009/)
http://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/826/826253/ (http://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/826/826253/)
http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20140323_640849.html (http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20140323_640849.html)
Classic "A" is justice vampire. IGA changed it. SoN's "A" is vampire half.
I took it less as him saying he "ignored" past games and more as him saying they went rather experimental on the story and weren't afraid to step on any past continuity toes since they could just write the game out of the canon later if they wanted (if there was fan displeasure or the like).
Are we sure he left Konami? What about he was fired?
I don't believe he was fired. I always got the impression that IGA made a similar decision to that of Keiji Inafune when he left Capcom, with their reasonings being different.Isn't that what happens in Japanese companies? People are placed in lower positions instead of being let go? Isn't that what happened with Sakaguchi(Square) and Gunpei Yokoi(Nintendo)?
I wanna resurrect him and have him make a new 2D Metroid.
Well the point is, people can say whatever they want, but as DragonSlayr81 mentioned, Konami may have "invited" him to leave. I'm not trying to stir up a rumour but Japanese society is not one where being fired or asked to leave is a nice thing to share with the public. Thousands of fans know your games and your face, you're surely not gonna say "Hey guys I got fired" or "Hey guys Konami basically forced me to leave". "Hey guys I decided to leave to make games the way I want to" sounds a lot better. Plus, the fact that the guy is all over US now, where most of his fans are. Why not stay in Japan? I bet because no one gives a poop about him over there.
I think Metroid is what Iga was always meant to make. I'd love to see that.
Konami might be a front for the yakuza, and IGA is a man on the run now knowing their terrible secret.
He might really be a masked crime fighter, and this is the only way he can safely protect the streets of Japan while keeping his identity a secret.
Maybe he is Jorge D Fuentes. Have you ever seen them standing together in the same place?!?
Now I'm not saying these are valid, but they could be valid.