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

[shelverton.]

Still no news on this game? Why did they even have to reveal this game at all if they hardly had anything to show in the following months? It's kinda annoying, especially compared to other games like Bayonetta, GoW3 and such. Whenever a new game is presented it should be followed up by lots of info, trailers and gameplay videos. It's called promotion, and this game ain't got none. FAIL.

[Nagumo]

In Reply To #1108

Um, isn't it already going to be released within a couple of months?   

[Profbeanburrito]

Why did they even have to reveal this game at all if they hardly had anything to show in the following months?

It's really not as bad as FFXIII, they showed that like 2 or 3 years ago

[RichterB]

Still no news on this game?...It's called promotion, and this game ain't got none. FAIL.

On Session 103 of Konami's official Kojima Productions Report podcast (AKA Hideoblog), the game's status was mentioned. When one of the commentators said LoS was looking really good based on the trailers, Kenichiro Imaizumi--who produced MGS4 and did some cleanup work on the CG movies in SotN--kind of hemmed and hawed, hinting something to the effect that it was rough around the edges and had a ways to go. He said that he and Aki Saito (a product coordinator and translator) were going to take a trip to the European studio. From the tone of voice, it sounded like they might be going as enforcers of some kind to make sure something gets done a certain way.

...What I don't understand, is why there was the recent publicity with the Shadow of Colossus magazine comparisons. We've already seen the 'ice titan' before in the trailers. The horse was new, but does knowing that there will be SotC-style battles really give this game a big boost on the radar against other similar-atmospheric action/puzzle games like GoW3 and Darksiders? I mean, Darksiders has a horse, too, and both seem to have big bosses. If this is really coming out in March or thereabouts, the publicity department really needs to start separating this game from the pack in the coming months. Otherwise, this game could head into another too little, too late PS3/XBOX360 Bionic Commando scenario.

I say this because the Castlevania brand alone isn't going to let this do huge numbers if they don't present a compelling product. Right now, they're trying to appeal to the broader fanbase of mainstream-hardcore gamers, but I agree that it doesn't have enough exposure to rope those people in. Meanwhile, us Castlevania fans are kind of waiting to see more references to the "Castlevania" brand in this. I wouldn't be surprised if it will be delayed. I just hope the end product turns out strong and actually feels like a Castlevania game.

[Ahasverus]

WTH Happened to my post?
Look:
http://www.gamereactor.de/News/796/Castlevania:+Lords+of+Shadow/

[RichterB]

WTH Happened to my post?
Look:
http://www.gamereactor.de/News/796/Castlevania:+Lords+of+Shadow/

Thanks. Didn't see this before...but isn't this interview a carbon copy of what Cox has been saying all along? In summery: "This is a combo of CV1-4 and God of War, DMC, and Wander (AKA SotC). We want to grab the fanbases from modern action series, and we hope Castlevania fans will accept it, too. I think we nailed the original Castlevania in 3D."

His words are comforting, if canned, but the images and video are still the same stuff we've been seeing for months on end. I appreciate the secrecy with this project so as to avoid spoilers...but on the other hand, what I'm seeing computes to around 10% of the Castlevania feel, and 90% something else. Without the whip and swinging, this could be another series.

As I rewatched the previous trailer in this interview, I saw more and more SotC-familiar large bosses you have to ride: the lion-like beast crashing through the wall, the Orc, the Ice Titan, and, I hate to speculate, but the fact that there's a giant bird makes me wonder if we'll be riding that, too. Cox seems to suggest it looks like Castlevania IV in 3D, but I disagree. So really, this interview doesn't accomplish much, as it's not bringing something really new to CV fans, and it doesn't seem to be seeping into the consciousness of GoW fans. (Although, I have noticed some buzz in the SotC community, who are ironically calling this a potential sequel to that game).

(By the way, that Hideoblog podcast was from October 29th, so not so long ago).

[Lumas]

Not sure if this has been posted I haven't been around for a while.

http://www.nowgamer.com/news/1870/konami-we-feared-castlevania-backlash


"This wasn’t because Lords Of Shadow wasn’t supposed to be a Castlevania game, but because it was so different from the games before it that Konami feared the wrath of fans."

Looks like they are starting to fear us a little.

So basically if the reaction was good it was going to be a castlevania and if it sucked then it got made into a new franchise.

So now we had the whole "it wasn't supposed to be a castlevania in the first place argument" (which is put the rest I hope) when in fact it was meant to be a Castlevania title but was released as lords of shadow because they wanted to see the reaction from the fans first and they didn't want to steal the thunder from Judgment.

If the reaction sucked Im betting there would be people arguing that "it was suppose to be a Castlevania title not this lords of shadow crap!"

Also got a ps3 finally so I can't wait for this game to come out.

[Little Dracula]

Good interview, but yeah, nothing new.

[uzo]

Distancing itself from Judgment because it sucked, haha. Now that I think about it, that probably was a clever idea, and certainly sheds more light on "stealing Judgment's thunder". Makes more sense when put it this way.

[The Silverlord]

I say this because the Castlevania brand alone isn't going to let this do huge numbers if they don't present a compelling product.

Yeah, and I would also guess that Castlevania doesn’t mean a whole lot to the mainstream gamer of today.

There’s a 14 year old in our house (2 years old when Symphony released) but he only appears to associate with modern brands like Call of Duty, GTA, Need for Speed, first-person shooters, or generally what his friends are playing or he hears most about in the media.  They may even mostly be crap games, but that doesn’t seem to matter to the kids now.  It wasn’t like in old days when you’d cautiously check mags like Superplay, CVG, GamesMaster or Edge and painstakingly read the reviews/make your mind up on the best; now they get money and just go and buy what seems to be flavour of the month.  (You honestly can’t tell them otherwise though.)

It could be argured that if a game is considered too mature (as Lords may be considered), mainstream kids won’t play it . . . but fact is most (if not all) kids play 18-rated games now anyway.  Our has has played CoD: MW2, GTA IV, Bioshock, Assassin’s Creed, Dead Space and Batman: Arkham Asylum.  Fact is: EA, Ubisoft and Activision (and others) seem to have gained names for themselves this time around, and they pump out so much in terms of marketing that their brands seem to have more weight or significant impact.  Perhaps they’re better established for this generation.

"Konami" as publisher and "Castlevania" as brand isn't really going to cut it.  Having "Kojima" on board may do a bit.  But I guess what I’m trying to say is that even turning something "Castlevania" into one of those killer brands today is going to take nothing more than a minor miracle: I feel only by making it a very, very good game at the end of the day.  I honestly do not think it will appeal to the masses of young adults of today, so Konami would indeed do well to try and rub the game up against similar fanbases like Shadow of the Collosus to try and cover their bases; they simply must make it appeal to fans of games like Prince of Persia, God of War, and Shadow of the Collosus fans.

[RichterB]

Yeah, and I would also guess that Castlevania doesn’t mean a whole lot to the mainstream gamer of today.

There’s a 14 year old in our house (2 years old when Symphony released) but he only appears to associate with modern brands like Call of Duty, GTA, Need for Speed, first-person shooters, or generally what his friends are playing or he hears most about in the media.  They may even mostly be crap games, but that doesn’t seem to matter to the kids now...they get money and just go and buy what seems to be flavour of the month.  (You honestly can’t tell them otherwise though.)

...But I guess what I’m trying to say is that even turning something "Castlevania" into one of those killer brands today is going to take nothing more than a minor miracle: I feel only by making it a very, very good game at the end of the day.  I honestly do not think it will appeal to the masses of young adults of today, so Konami would indeed do well to try and rub the game up against similar fanbases like Shadow of the Collosus to try and cover their bases; they simply must make it appeal to fans of games like Prince of Persia, God of War, and Shadow of the Collosus fans.

That begs the question, though: If Lords of Shadow doesn't fully grab the mainstream action/adventure market and, in the effort to have done so, quashes the feeling/spirit of Castlevania fans have been wanting, it's a lose-lose situation. I'm nervous they're betting too much on matching the success of those EA, Ubisoft, etc "popular" titles, rather than popping the eyeballs out of fans' sockets. In the end, they may come up lukewarm on both bases ala the recent Bionic Commando restart.

Now, I know fans alone aren't going to give them the sales they want, but Castlevania, when it began, was an fairly essential video game title/franchise. Therefore, in my opinion, if you can push the right buttons at the heart of CV for a new 3D game, it's possible it could catch the mainstream again, rather than gambling it all by trying to reverse engineer Castlevania from other franchises. It might turn out fine anyway, but the fact that the trailers, while high-quality, have failed to move me is disconcerting.

Philosophically, I think they were right to move CV away from the convoluted, niche nature of SotN and push it back toward the older titles, but I'm not sure the execution matches the thought. (IE: Cox seemed to downplay platforming while boosting up action in the basic design, the visuals have a more Celtic/fantasy look rather than a Transylvanian/Greco-Roman feel, and the design may borrow from too many other modern games in its "a-ha!" moments). Regardless, Silverlord, that was a very revealing, interesting, and well-written post.

[Ahasverus]

What I say is, yes, secrecy is good, but some screenshots every now and then, a new teaser, whatever, that wouldn't harm.
It's because of the lack of information, that I believe in the webs that especulate that the relase date is Octover-November 2010. It's too far far away. It won't be April for sure

[CastlevaniaX]

From Examiner.com

When Konami revealed that Hideo Kojima would be taking control of the upcoming Castlevania: Lords of Shadow title for the Xbox 360 and PS3, many assumed it’d be the best 3D Castlevania game in recent years. While the 2D incarnations have been stellar, the 3D titles haven’t done well in terms of gameplay and exploration or in sales. While talking with Official Xbox Magazine UK, David Cox talks about the changes the development team made in order to bring the series into 3D properly.

The key changes made to the game to make it more 3D friendly are on the gameplay front and the game is sounding an awful lot like God of War or your typical action game. He notes that you’ll now learn new moves and abilities as your progress. Players will have the option to upgrade weapons and this will open up new attacks.

"As you progress you will learn new moves and combos," Cox explains. "[You'll] upgrade the weapon to allow additional attacks and features. For example, you get a grip ability that allows you to latch on to scenery in the game and indeed on to enemies too."

The game will also be designed as a linear experience. Nearly all the Castlevania entries since Symphony of the Night have had the world open for you to explore at any given time, this entry will instead resort back to the original level design with separate stages.

"The game is in linear stages and is level-based, much like the original Castlevania games," Cox explains. "Some levels are huge and offer multiple routes while others are more 'go from A to B.’”

With every 3D Castlevania disappointing fans, Lords of Shadow will either continue that streak or it’ll be the first solid 3D Castlevania title. Though the game isn’t scheduled to release until later next year, we’ll surely be seeing and hearing a lot more on the game as 2010 rolls on. With the game sounding more like God of War and other action games, things are certainly looking promising for this title.

Link: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-12218-Video-Game-Examiner~y2009m12d2-Castlevania-becomes-God-of-War

[Profbeanburrito]

This game can really go either way. It could be a great CV game or it can be like every other action game ever made. We need to see some solid gameplay videos now, and when a demo comes out maybe it'll be easier to judge it. Regardless, as with any Castlevania title, I am excited, but I won't get my hopes up and make a final decision until it's spinning in my PS3

[The Silverlord]

Interesting.  And there's slightly more over at http://www.oxm.co.uk/article.php?id=15533 (OXM):


Mr. Cox: "I think it is fair to say that there was some uncertainty in Konami about the title being called Castlevania and about what we were doing. The game was quite a departure and I think at that point it could have been either an original IP inspired by Castlevania or carried on as a Castlevania title proper, and there was some indecision around the time of GDC about that."

"After the showing at GDC, I was asked to present a work in progress at a high level meeting in Japan and that was really the turning point," Cox states. "There was a profound change after that meeting once everyone saw what we were doing, and it was after that meeting that Mr. Kojima approached me directly. The company got fully behind the title and any doubts as to whether this was going to be a new Castlevania or not were swept away."

"It's fair to say that Castlevania wasn't garnering the attention, or indeed sales, that it had done in the past... we wanted to bring the franchise to a new audience and make it more fresh," he states. "Perhaps they simply felt that a 2D sprite-based game wasn't for them. In doing so, we knew we would have to drop the existing timeline and story. This would be a new story that would not tie-in directly to anything that has come before, so that new players could just jump straight in."

"We didn't want to completely alienate the fan base that exists for these games and so we have kept many elements that will feel familiar to them - but we are not slaves to the past."

Main character Gabriel inherits the iconic Belmont surname, pulling him in line with the previous protagonists whose family has battled Dracula over the millennia, and he'll be wielding the whip-type weapon, but with some new changes.