Topic: Castlevania 3DS: What do you want?

[Valtiel]

I honestly don't think IGA is to blame for that. My guess is Konami has a lot of demands and ideas and this was probably coming from someone higher than IGA. (I mean, a person with a higher position, but yeah - that person was probably high on something else too.. lol).

I'd say this is more than likely. I think IGA's been pulled in almost any direction by now; I have my issues with his direction but I'm sure he's having a terrible time in his position, and it's not his fault.

Harry, Wizard of Oz omages aren't silly - they're classy. I'm not sure we have the same definition of "silly" (I'm not a native english speaker so in case we don't, it's probably my fault). I don't see silly as the opposite of "serious". CV never was serious, and can never be. Heck, even LoS isn't "serious" (and the Chupacabra isn't the only thing to point at). Something can be goofy and creepy at the same time, like the Flea Men. Looking at something more realistic-looking, take the Marionettes from DMC. They were absolutely goofy, but still gothic and creepy and they didn't disrupt any "serious" moment that came after it. Vacuum cleaners and the like mean that any possible "epicness" in the story is gone. The illusion of disbelief is broken - it's just a game. It's Super Mario now.

I hope I made myself clear now.

[Harrycombs]

I'd say this is more than likely. I think IGA's been pulled in almost any direction by now; I have my issues with his direction but I'm sure he's having a terrible time in his position, and it's not his fault.

Harry, Wizard of Oz omages aren't silly - they're classy. I'm not sure we have the same definition of "silly" (I'm not a native english speaker so in case we don't, it's probably my fault). I don't see silly as the opposite of "serious". CV never was serious, and can never be. Heck, even LoS isn't "serious" (and the Chupacabra isn't the only thing to point at). Something can be goofy and creepy at the same time, like the Flea Men. Looking at something more realistic-looking, take the Marionettes from DMC. They were absolutely goofy, but still gothic and creepy and they didn't disrupt any "serious" moment that came after it. Vacuum cleaners and the like mean that any possible "epicness" in the story is gone. The illusion of disbelief is broken - it's just a game. It's Super Mario now.

I hope I made myself clear now.

But how is fighting a tin man classy? I understand the dislike of the vacuum cleaners (I agree with that), as its just to the point of being ridiculous, and I agree that Castlevania has never been serious, but IGAs game are just as silly as many previous games in the series. They always had a contrast between things which are what you would expect from a gothic themed game, and also still had fun characters and elements. For instance, in the KCEK game CV64, was drowning in dark atmosphere, but they still had skeletons on motorcycles. But that was fine, because in Castlevania less serious elements have always been used along side darker ones, which is one of the reasons why the series awesome. Sort of like in the original DMC, where you fight all of these monsters in a creepy castle, but Dante still has a bunch of cheesy one-liners (flock off feather face), and it still works.

What I'm trying to say is that IGA didn't really make the series any sillier than it already was. Yes, he made some really bad decisions about Dawn and Portrait, but overall he has tried to stay faithful (even if he has failed) to what the series has always been about. He just is a bad designer he keeps using clashing art styles and poor gimmicks with no intent on progressing, but he has always maintained that feeling of what is Castlevania. Even Portrait and Dawn, with their terrible stories and art, were able to maintain that feeling at times, even if the suspension of disbelief was broken at times (well, a lot of times), but that vast majority of IGAs work has been able to maintain that feeling.

Castlevania has never been about maintaining "epicness", it has always drawn many elements together, whether there cheesy or not, and making them work along side each other. A little anime style girl defeating the forces of darkness isn't any sillier than a barbarian eating meat he finds inside the walls of a castle. I disagree with you on Lords, I think they were trying to be serious. For instance, Cox and Mercury Steam seem to be too occupied with making it epic and adult (like the nudity, which was completely uncalled for), and the comical elements they had (like the chupacabra) seemed like an afterthought and weren't very endearing or charming. It was way to serious (which you said yourself, is something that Castlevania has never been), and it paid more homages to Metal Gear Solid and Portal than the series it was based on (name drops don't count).  The game was just filled with grotesque, uninspired imagery and lacked any charm. The removal of some of the silly things the series originally had has made Castlevania lose a bit of its soul.

[Vrakanox]

But how is fighting a tin man classy? I understand the dislike of the vacuum cleaners (I agree with that), as its just to the point of being ridiculous, and I agree that Castlevania has never been serious, but IGAs game are just as silly as many previous games in the series. They always had a contrast between things which are what you would expect from a gothic themed game, and also still had fun characters and elements. For instance, in the KCEK game CV64, was drowning in dark atmosphere, but they still had skeletons on motorcycles. But that was fine, because in Castlevania serious elements have always been used along side darker ones, which is one of the reasons why the series awesome. Sort of like in the original DMC, where you fight all of these monsters in a creepy castle, but Dante still has a bunch of cheesy one-liners (flock off feather face), and it still works.

What I'm trying to say is that IGA didn't really make the series any sillier than it already was. Yes, he made some really bad decisions about Dawn and Portrait, but overall he has tried to stay faithful (even if he has failed) to what the series has always been about. He just is a bad designer he keeps using clashing art styles and poor gimmicks with no intent on progressing, but he has always maintained that feeling of what is Castlevania. Even Portrait and Dawn, with their terrible stories and art, were able to maintain that feeling at times, even if the suspension of disbelief was broken at times (well, a lot of times), but that vast majority of IGAs work has been able to maintain that feeling.

Castlevania has never been about maintaining "epicness", it has always drawn many elements together, whether there cheesy or not, and making them work along side each other. A little anime style girl defeating the forces of darkness isn't any sillier than a barbarian eating meat he finds inside the walls of a castle. I disagree with you on Lords, I think they were trying to be serious. For instance, Cox and Mercury Steam seem to be too occupied with making it epic and adult (like the nudity, which was completely uncalled for), and the comical elements they had (like the chupacabra) seemed like an afterthought and weren't very endearing or charming. It was way to serious (which you said yourself, is something that Castlevania has never been), and it paid more homages to Metal Gear Solid and Portal than the series it was based on (name drops don't count).  The game was just filled with grotesque, uninspired imagery and lacked any charm. The removal of some of the silly things the series originally had has made Castlevania lose a bit of its soul.

Great post, but didn't Castlevania always have nudity? At least from SotN onward? I definately remember some bare chests.

[Kingshango]

The japanese version of SOTN had a naked Succubus, other than that I think the nudity has been covered up untill LOS.

[Alutwon]

@Harrycombs
You bring up a very good point however, after HoDiss is where IGA faltered. AoS is a great game no doubt but it was as much of a departure from CV as LoS is. The soul system, the plot (I can over look this), and even the final boss were just out there. The next 2 games were just like AoS, only with OoE did he regain what was lost. Although LoS is a little bit too epic and serious (it's still very somber, which is as much a part of CV as its parodies) that is how games are made nowadays. I'm up for a little compromise, the game does have to sell after all.

[Vrakanox]

The japanese version of SOTN had a naked Succubus, other than that I think the nudity has been covered up untill LOS.

Yeah those must have been the breasts I was thinking of lol.

[thernz]

Well, there was nudity in the statues since CVIII, I believe. But it's really of little concern or subtly done, because nothing is really shown. In the case of LoS, it's just upfront and doesn't really make sense in the context. The design of the subweapon demon is pretty different from others and the pose of the female just makes it well, very upfront and noticeable, and the idea that Gabriel and Claudia use them is just hgfd.

That said, DoS Succubi were just odd. Completely nude, save for boots. Uh. Okay.

[shelverton.]

So, do you guys think there really is another Castlevania in development as we speak? IGA must be doing something, but maybe he's working on other projects like he said in some interview a couple of months ago.. It would be really strange to go back to the timeline again though. Would Konami even allow it?

The next game from Mercury Steam (if there even is one) will most likely end up on PS3/XB360 (I think we can all agree on that with 99.9% certainty) and that will probably not be finished until early 2012 at best given the small team that was working on LoS...  I don't think we'll be seeing anything new on the Wii, and definitely not on the PSP or the DS either. That leaves us with the 3DS as the only option...

Or maybe there's absolutely no new Castlevania in development whatsoever. Though we've been spoiled for the last 10 years with so many games it's hard to imagine there would suddenly be nothing. Or maybe we'll get another iPhone puzzle game while we wait for the LoS sequel, which in my opinion wouldn't really count..

[Vrakanox]

So, do you guys think there really is another Castlevania in development as we speak? IGA must be doing something, but maybe he's working on other projects like he said in some interview a couple of months ago.. It would be really strange to go back to the timeline again though. Would Konami even allow it?

The next game from Mercury Steam (if there even is one) will most likely end up on PS3/XB360 (I think we can all agree on that with 99.9% certainty) and that will probably not be finished until early 2012 at best given the small team that was working on LoS...  I don't think we'll be seeing anything new on the Wii, and definitely not on the PSP or the DS either. That leaves us with the 3DS as the only option...

Or maybe there's absolutely no new Castlevania in development whatsoever. Though we've been spoiled for the last 10 years with so many games it's hard to imagine there would suddenly be nothing. Or maybe we'll get another iPhone puzzle game while we wait for the LoS sequel, which in my opinion wouldn't really count..

I really hope there is another Castlevania in the works. I know they won't stop the series entirely so it's really a decision of if it's going to be Iga or Cox that makes the next one. I'm personally hoping for an Igavania next and then maybe they will alternate. I don't think there will be another DS castlevania with the 3DS so close and we know IGA has been playing around with a 3DS Dev kit. I seem to remember him saying on his blog he wanted to do a PS3/360 game which would be a dream come true for me but I don't think it will happen now. Maybe maybe not.

I'll say this though, I don't think IGA's canon is dead yet.

[shelverton.]

I really hope there is another Castlevania in the works. I know they won't stop the series entirely so it's really a decision of if it's going to be Iga or Cox that makes the next one. I'm personally hoping for an Igavania next and then maybe they will alternate. I don't think there will be another DS castlevania with the 3DS so close and we know IGA has been playing around with a 3DS Dev kit. I seem to remember him saying on his blog he wanted to do a PS3/360 game which would be a dream come true for me but I don't think it will happen now. Maybe maybe not.

I'll say this though, I don't think IGA's canon is dead yet.

I actually think that we'll be seeing someone new producing Castlevania in the near future too. Cox already said he would like to make one more game, and then pass the torch. Meanwhile, Igarashi has been at the helm for so long it's unlikely he'll be going on for much longer. I predict Cox making one more Castlevania, and IGA making maybe three more, tops. Maybe even less. There are many young, talented game developers entering the industry all the time, hopefully with some new and fresh ideas too. God knows what Castlevania will look like in 5 years..

[crisis]

I would like to see The Castlevania Dungeon make the next Castlevania game.


Make it happen Konami!!

[Vrakanox]

I actually think that we'll be seeing someone new producing Castlevania in the near future too. Cox already said he would like to make one more game, and then pass the torch. Meanwhile, Igarashi has been at the helm for so long it's unlikely he'll be going on for much longer. I predict Cox making one more Castlevania, and IGA making maybe three more, tops. Maybe even less. There are many young, talented game developers entering the industry all the time, hopefully with some new and fresh ideas too. God knows what Castlevania will look like in 5 years..

I love it when someone comes and brings a lot of new fresh ideas to the table with a game. As much as I like IGA and his games I know they wont go on forever and I know someone's bound to come along and change the series. Who knows by how much, and I'm okay with that. My only concern is with the iconic characters (specifically Alucard) which I hope don't get altered too much. Other than that bring on the innovation.

[shelverton.]

It was easier back in the day when no one knew nor cared about producers, composers and such. We just got new Castlevania games and played them, no questions asked.

At some point when I was really young I kinda thought Nintendo made ALL games btw, LOL!
"I play this game on my Nintendo console so it must be made by Nintendo. Nintendo is the best! They make games with plumbers, vampire hunters, little blue robots and even the ninja turtles!". 

I was a carefree child.

[angevil]

Bring back the nudity! I like how SotN has it..both Succubus and naked statues. I hate how in DXC the werewolf has pants. That′s just ridiculous. He appears naked when you fight him and when he is defeated he gets panties?! Really??? That is my only problem with DXC, which I find perfect if it wasn′t for something like this. So, bring back the nudity!!!!

[GuyStarwind]

I don't really care what they add in or make like I just want to play as a Belmont.