Topic: That time Climax Studios pitched their own Castlevania back in 2006

[The Puritan]

Have we this discussed before? I've been around since the Classicgaming days but I don't remember Climax's proposal for a next-gen Castlevania ever being brought up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2qdVjDtr64

-3rd person action game set in an open world monster-infested Venice
-dual-wield combat system involving a mix of melee and ranged options, including firearms
-day/night cycle, local NPCs wear masks and are peaceful by day but violent by night
-bosses drop masks that unlock new abilities and areas
-protagonist is Michael Cross, a down-and-out rock star wallowing in guilt over his girlfriend's death
-screams beside his hotel room lead him to an encounter with a dying member of the Belmont clan, who gives him a bloody note
-he urges Michael to go to the address on the note and inform "the others" of his death
-his last words are "Take the objects in the room as protection." and "Sara sends her love, don't blame yourself."
-Michael finds a whip and a crucifix and the adventure begins

There are a few more details in the video itself, including concept art, but yeah: pretty sure we would have hated this had Konami given it the green light. Lords of Shadow got some flak for being a "GOW clone". This one looks like it would've drawn its own flak for being a little too Devil May Cry-ish, not to mention taking the Castle out of the Vania and straying too far from the franchise's overall look and feel.

[Reinhart77]

cool, first time i heard of this one.

[theplottwist]

-Venice
-Michael Cross, a down-and-out rock star wallowing in guilt over his girlfriend's death
-Michael finds a whip and a crucifix and the adventure begins

I can see why Konami would tell them no without even clicking the video.

These guys were very clearly thinking Castlevania was a "anything goes as long as it's edgy" type deal. The part about "giving the franchise a breath of fresh air" by turning it into the most generic shit ever was hilarious!