Topic: I knew it! Castlevania: Lords of Shadow!(SPOILERS HERE, PLZ USE THE SPOILER TAG)

[RichterB]

I think we need a clarification on this thread: This is NOT Kojima's game in the purest sense. He is merely watching over it. He's not the director, and his team didn't work on it. It's funny that when we attach Kojima's name to it, suddenly it's his game that he's making. The fact that he got "involved" at all seems to suggest to me that this wasn't originally a Castlevania game, but Konami of Japan eventually stepped in and wanted a proven presence to oversee it once it was decided it would be Castlevania. (It's kind of like when Mr. Miyamoto steps in and helps Nintendo 3rd party developers with their projects from time to time as producer).

I have a question. When developing the game, who originally comes up with the idea...I just find it so strange that Konami would allow a game to be developed with so many strong resemblances to one of their oldest and most well received series...

From what I've been able to gather (with the earlier posted timeline of development on this thread), this was a game planned by MercurySteam of Madrid and Konami of Europe. (Konami of Japan, via Kojima, stepped in later). It actually isn't unheard of for a company to "copy" off of its own franchise to give the franchise new life in a new form. CASE IN POINT: As I noted earlier, Capcom's Ghosts 'N Goblins series was reimagined overseas as Maximo: Ghosts to Glory. Both were about a lone knight facing demons and the undead (in some cases, the same exact enemy designs were shared) to rescue his girlfriend. Both games had the mechanic of upgrading and/or losing your armor and having to fight in your underwear. And both shared the same first level theme song.

Therefore, Lords of Shadow could have been Konami saying "Castlevania is niche and/or fading in popularity in the wider market to stuff like God of War; therefore, let's make a new IP game that uses Castlevania's mechanics and does it 'right' in 3D." That's my theory anyway based on what's out there. We might know more on the 11th of this month, when the next podcast goes up at Kojima Productions...but I'm not holding my breath on that.

[Clara E. Leet]

Yeah why is a whip necessary for the final battle?? Just stake the bastard after an epic wrestling match or something.

[RichterB]

LoS Contact info: If anyone wants to ask a question about LoS or put a respectful comment in to Kojima Productions, the podcast is the best place to do it probably. (REMEMBER, be respectful, as that makes it more likely they will read and/or respond on the podcast). Here's the feedback form that was linked to their E3 podcasts at Hideoblog: http://www.konami.jp/gs/kojima_pro/english/blog_mail.html

[Oralox]

When PSW releases their next issue
perhaps will get the info thats really needed

http://kotaku.com/5267167/is-kojima-working-on-lords-of-shadow#c

[A n t r a x x]

Well aside of all the story stuff, which is less important, I just want them to make sure the gameplay feels close enough to Castlevania.

So to expand on my former list I think these things should be included to successfully mimic that "CV feel":

- Whip (check)

- Undead creatures and bosses that play off of horror mythos. Doesn't necessarily have to be the overplayed, parodied stuff either. Just i prefer creepy and ambiguous to straight up fantasy.

- Castlevania -- the castle -- itself in some form, doesn't have to be named that necessarily. Doesn't have to have a floating keep, but it would be nice if it could. There's a castle in the trailer, but I don't think any of the battle shown actually took place in it (it looked to be all outside). However, we can assume Gabriel is entering it when he crashes through the cathedral window.

- Sub-weapons -- this is a glaring KEY gameplay factor in any Castlevania game and a main aspect of its identity. Every single game in the history of the franchise has had a secondary weapon or power of some form, except Adventure, I think. It would not feel right without it (neither did Adventure). It's very possible the mask serves as something here in that regard.

- Breakable candles to earn items. Another series staple that must not be ignored. (And while we're at it, please don't make them all ground based candelabras like in LoI/CoD.)

- References to the series' music in some form (I already like the epic direction of the music already). It would be awesome if Michiru Yamane were to lend her hand in a couple of tunes here or there.

- Platforming and bottomless pits (these don't have to feel forced, and can be as natural as being able to fall off a mountainside or the like). We need jumping to be a considerable part of the gameplay, and several enemies should be able to jump too.

- Wall meat. (Yeah I went there).

- Whip upgrades (well would be nice)


THINGS THAT DON'T NEED TO BE INCLUDED:

- The Belmonts, Belnades and Dracula. It would be nice to have them, but a rebirth is a rebirth and if Mercurysteam and Kojima have a better idea; that would allow better, cleaner continuity, I say go for it. They could still be included but don't have to be the focus.

- RPG elements. Again don't mind them, but they were never there in the classic sidescroller games, except for SQ and VK and even then they were limited at best. But then again, there will be some sort of upgrade system to acquire new moves and items, as this is now a modern standard of action gaming.


THINGS THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED DESPITE THE CV NAME:

- Puzzles and secrets. Since an "open world" is promised, we better be doing more things in it than just killing enemies. Simple puzzles help break up the pace and secrets dictate replay factor. But this is just kinda common sense in game development by now. You can call it the "GoW" complex, but I call it smart design.

- Intelligent AI and challenging difficulty. I got SO damn tired of watching the enemies in the IGA-troids just stand there and receive their punishment. OoE had far fewer of these, but it was still apparent. Enemies should have a killer instinct, hit the ground chasing after you and if development has time to implement it, have group instincts to try to corner and surround you. I'm particularly thinking of the wolves in this case.

- Drop items. Yeah it's now a Castlevania thing, but I want them just because they help up the replay and can make a battle more interesting. CoD's steal mechanic when an enemy would flash purple was a great idea and added another layer of strategy and timing to a battle. I'd actually like to see that return.

- LOCK-ON. Unless all of Gabriel's moves can attack in a wide area, we're going to need the ability to focus our attacks on a certain enemy at a given time, precisely. We also need seamless target switching.

- Blocking and double-stepping.


......This is my grown-up XMAS list.

[RichterB]

In Reply To #442

I'm basically in complete agreement with you, Antraxx. That was a pretty complete and fair list. The only glaring thing I'd add is lots of uses for the whip (Since we're in 3D, I want the whip to be able to interact with a variety of enemies and objects in different ways for platforming, combat, and exploring--and not just in cinematics. The trailer hints this may appear in the game, but I'm not sure if it will be implemented in a skill-based way yet, or just for "show."

By the way, the idea of some puzzles and exploring in 3D wouldn't even have to be inspired by God of War, since the N64 Castlevanias had this element long ago. One last thing that might fit nicely in item drops would be x1, x2, and x3 upgrades for your sub-weapons like in earlier Castlevanias.

[Rugal]

Antraxx, I think you need to mail them all of that information.

Oh, and goodbye childhood..

[Saner]

well lets just treat LoS as if it was the Castlevania movie that would have been released.   

besides if the main character is never revealed to have a last name, then that's good plothole to just act like they are a Belmont. 

[Oralox]

In Reply To #443

LoL you want more belmont?


Also
I agree with you Antraxx.

[Beowulf]

whats the use of creating a castlevania without a dracula? Cause Castlevania is Dracula's Castle, it would make no sense what so ever to create a game that does not have "Castlevania" in it. Belmonts do not have to really be part of Castlevania, they are the main protagonists but yes, the battle needs to be handed down to other people like Alucard, the Morris family, Shanoa, the Belnades, Hector, Lecarde family, etc. I am looking forward to this game cause this is the world of Castlevania i have always imagined for such a long long time, and Koji Igarashi brought this world to life with Symphony of the Night, but after that, he killed my world, stomped on it like a little bug with his anime crap. Yes! we need a rebirth! and i believe this is it! Thank God for Kojima cause he will be the one who will pick the shattered pieces up and put them together to make this masterpiece! hahaha! and i believe that mask will have something to do with dracula... especially since the mask is for Gabriel's wife AND Dracula's most common sacrifice is a female woman, so this maybe interesting heheheh...

[Oralox]

In Reply To #438

HOLD IT!!

There is still some truth to be told whether the mask was added by Kojima or mercurysteam themselves.

Since the mask was never mentioned from the beginning until the name stamp.

[Danial]

I found this interesting.  It's an interview done with Iga around the time Judgment and Ecclesia came out.

Kikizo: Do you see Order of Ecclesia as being the last Castlevania game on the DS, or will the DS continue to be the principal platform for the franchise going into the near future?

Igarashi: I would definitely like to develop still more Castlevania games for the DS platform! For the US market, though, the retail price on DS games are traditionally very low - $30, maybe $40 if the game card itself has a larger capacity. The development costs for Castlevania do tend to be higher than average for a DS game, so it's hard to get some concepts for the series approved. I love the DS and want to continue work on it, but I'm not sure if it's the best option from a pure business standpoint.

Kikizo: Would you have any plans to remake older Castlevania titles, like you did for Dracula X on PSP? Maybe for release on services like WiiWare or Xbox Live Arcade?

Igarashi: Castlevania has a lengthy legacy of great games, and I'm definitely interested in revisiting them if I get a chance. However, every time I've tried to pitch something like that, I just get told I should make a new game instead. But yes, if there is another opportunity like there was with Dracula X Chronicles, it's something that I would definitely like to do.

Here's the link to the site: http://games.kikizo.com/features/koji-igarashi-interview-oct08-p3.asp

[Saner]

mercurysteam doesn't know what they are doing,  they are just making guesses and Kojima never made a Castlevania before, and he is just babysitting the developers making it. 

His production studio shouldn't even be mentioned, only he is overseeing the work mercury is doing.   But Kojima doesn't care cause he fears Castlevania being better than his Metal Gear games,  therefore he will screw this up for fans on purpose. 

[Oralox]

In Reply To #451

Awww You miss IGA too?
Poor boy...

[DingusBelmondo]

In Reply To #451

He speaks the truth! Clearly Kojima is out to get at those damn Castlevania fans! All hail the wise one!
In reality, all we do now is wait and see what the future has in store for Castlevania.