Topic: Mercury steam is working on TWO unannounced games....

[Kale]

I doubt any company really works on both games at once when they're sequels... maybe a spin off. But I doubt that too.

[DragonSlayr81]

Really? do I have to point this one out? Really?
Really?

Its Los2 and 3, gaming franchises are plagued with trilogies, its a current Cliche in any form of entertainment.

I really hate the whole trend and idea of trilogies in general. Especially in Hollywood. Everytime a movie is made with the hope of(by some sliver of hope) continuing on the tale, they always have contracts where the actors and actresses sign up for a three-picutre deal. Out of the whole contract thing, I just can't see the whole ideology behind a trilogy. RARELY does it ever work, mainly because, as it is, sequels tend to suck, but by the third movie, which is the END, so much pressure is on your to make it a GOOD end piece, usually in the hectic time of rushing to get it out, some vital pieces are cut from the project and it always falls apart. It's biting off more you can chew. I think, in some fantasy dream world, the idea of a nice three part tale is wonderful, but in reality, to pull off something isn't so easy. It would be much better just to leave things open and not box yourself into a corner. Just say, "It ends when it ends!". Nothing's definite in this world. The only certainty in this world is uncertainty.

[shelverton.]

Still, Cox once said something like: "I don't want to become Mr Castlevania. I'd like to make maybe one more game and then pass the torch."

I don't expect Mercury Steam to make LOS3. LOS2 will probably sell poorly compared to LOS, sequels often do, and Konami is all about sales.

[Nagumo]

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Cox is not Mercurysteam.

[K.G. Morder]

the trillogy thing can probably be traced back to LoTR. Except in that case, the books were a trillogy as well.

[cecil-kain]

I really hate the whole trend and idea of trilogies in general. Especially in Hollywood. Everytime a movie is made with the hope of(by some sliver of hope) continuing on the tale, they always have contracts where the actors and actresses sign up for a three-picutre deal. Out of the whole contract thing, I just can't see the whole ideology behind a trilogy. RARELY does it ever work, mainly because, as it is, sequels tend to suck, but by the third movie, which is the END, so much pressure is on your to make it a GOOD end piece, usually in the hectic time of rushing to get it out, some vital pieces are cut from the project and it always falls apart. It's biting off more you can chew. I think, in some fantasy dream world, the idea of a nice three part tale is wonderful, but in reality, to pull off something isn't so easy. It would be much better just to leave things open and not box yourself into a corner. Just say, "It ends when it ends!". Nothing's definite in this world. The only certainty in this world is uncertainty.

The trilogy concept goes back to the Greek theatre of ancient antiquity --the classic 3 Act play...  Unfortunately Hollywood trilogies are so bent on selling individual movies, that they loose sight of the original concept.  Act 1 Introductions/Quest.  Act 2 Conflict.  Act 3 Climax/Resolution.  These acts were never meant to stand alone as independent stories.  Although the LotR movies are actually a terrific example of doing it right --Hollywood is more interested in quick profits than investing in epic story-telling.

With that said, I would argue that the open-ended approach leads to an aimless narrative --even moreso in video games than movies.  Take Castlevania for example.  These games originally had a narrative "Dracula rises every hundred years and a Belmont goes to kill him"  That in itself meant that either the story stops when we hit present time, or we go into future-vania.  IGA tried to solve the problem by introducing Soma Cruz, but after Aria --we can see now that he really didn't know where to take the idea...  So we had all of these early resurrections and side stories cluttering and confusing the continuity for the sake of petty profits.  Then at some point, someone at Konami woke up and realized that mainstream gamers were no longer buying Castlevania --in part because they couldn't make sense of their abused narrative anymore.  So rather than wrap up the continuity properly --they just reboot the whole damn thing.  Although I'm not a big fan of trilogies, I think you get the best story-telling when there is a proper climactic ending to the narrative.  Then you can reboot to keep it fresh and keep everyone on board.

[KaZudra]

the way I put it, LOS2 better pick up after the Dracula Scene.

going into the Dracula vs. Satan thing is a great and Fresh Concept.

The Thought of LoS3 is very resounding, since it feels like a big story, I just Hope Mercury Stream doesn't Trash the main Character like Sony Did Kratos,
(in GoW he was reasonable on his motives and a badass, GoW2+3 He's just an Over Powered Spoiled Child Crybaby "Whaaaa I can't have my way, DIE, Whaaaaa!"


If any LoS Haters wanna pop up, I got one thing to say....
the Original was Akumajo Dracula, the story is Centered around Dracula, Sure the story goes in depth with Belmonts and the others but ultimately Dracula.

[Nagumo]

Just because the series is about Dracula doesn't mean making him the protagonist is a good idea, though.   

[KaZudra]

Just because the series is about Dracula doesn't mean making him the protagonist is a good idea, though.

*ahem* Aria and Dawn of Sorrow Sold many, many copies.

[Nagumo]

Dawn of Sorrow had anime artwork as well. And you know how many people here thought that was a good idea. 

[KaZudra]

yeah, the Anime thing was horrible, which is also why PoR didn't sell all that hot.

[Nagumo]

We know they changed back to a more serious style afterwards, but we can't say it it's the reason for declining sales. Same with how you say that because Aria sold well, it must be because Dracula is the protagonist.     

[KaZudra]

Dawn only sold well because the game was very good and showcased the DS very well, Combined with the fact that quite a few people have played Aria and the Upgradable souls were a must, part of it has to do with protagonist dracula but mostly rides on the success of Aria, and it being an early great DS title.

PoR was a pretty fun game, but the Anime Plague crippled it, where the characters were so bland it wasn't funny, it wasn't til half way through when the true PoR starts being told.
the first half was Extra dialogue, the priest, typical Retard who's cool with everything Jonathan, I don't want to be treated like a child no. 197846854876587091365987136509316496757 093485329857340985132098573014975 Charlotte, and He who looks nothing like himself "Wind"

[shelverton.]

Dawn only sold well because the game was very good and showcased the DS very well.

PoR was a pretty fun game, but the Anime Plague crippled it, where the characters were so bland it wasn't funny, it wasn't til half way through when the true PoR starts being told.

Dawn was excellent IMO and it's still my favourite of the DS trilogy. The anime look doesn't bother me. Maybe cause I know absolutely nothing about anime. It felt fresh to me because of it.

Also, about PoR; While I agree with what you say, the second part was also (ironically enough) less fun, gameplaywise, because of all the remixed portraits. I really felt the game should've been shorter, even if it's not that long to begin with. It's just that the background graphics are soooo damn repetitive towards the end. In PoR's defense, the Brauner battle was EXCELLENT.

[Sumac]

Yea but the fact remains that LOS has obviously divided the Castlevania fanbase.

So? It's always happens when series change itself.
It's impossible to always retreading the same thread and pleasing everyone. Someone will be disappointed anyway no matter what Konami will do. They create another "metroidvania" - people will hate the same old concept. They create something new - people will hate that it's not repetition of the past formula. With such logic it's simplier for series to just die already, since it's impossible to please several groups of fans at the same time. Especially given how rich history of CV was and how many major and minor chnages series had over the years.

And besides, like it or not, but series must change. It's a given. It's impossible to create games and cought the same spirit as 10 years ago. Understanbly someone will be displeased, but games created for money first and foremost, not for relatively small bunch of people who think that this is art or something.
And I don't think that creators will be plaeased themself to rercreate one and the same game over and over.