Topic: Hopes and dreams for 2013?

[Nagumo]

The Artwork featured in LoS, while too scarcely used for my tastes, was still incredibly elegant and creative. it's just a shame that it is used so little in the game aside from monster bios and shit.

The artwork from the travel book was really neat. I really liked how dramatic it was in a Baroqish sort of way. But it's disappointing that the character designs pale in comparison with most other artists affiliated with the series up until this point.     

[son_the_vampire]

i want to get Nathan Graves brought into the story. After all, he IS the most powerful vampire hunter that isn't Belmont related. I also think a disc-based Harmony of Despair sequel would be a real bread winner... think how awesome it would be to see Leon, Hector, Gabriel and Trevor stepping into the arena and so many more bosses we all love

[Heuss]

I think the influence of LOS in the Castlevania series will important because it`s not a game isolated as Legens, Circle of the Moon, or Castlevania 64. LOS covers all generation X360 and PS3, and even in 3DS, so its influence on later Castlevania saga will be important.

[Heuss]

The artwork from the travel book was really neat. I really liked how dramatic it was in a Baroqish sort of way. But it's disappointing that the character designs pale in comparison with most other artists affiliated with the series up until this point.     

The Baroque style from Kojima is good for a Castlevania set in the 18th century, but this is not suitable for all times of the series

LOS have the best design of Simon Belmont

[JoshuaKadmon]

First, I would like to see more side-scrolling Castlevanias in the vein of SotN/DoS/OoE.  I know Mirror of Fate is coming to 3DS, but I would much prefer to play a 2D sprite-based game with 10 levels of parallax than see even the handheld titles move to 3D.

Second, as long as we're messin' with the 3DS, why not finally collect the entire primary timeline into one 8GB 3DS card for $49.99?

(01)   1094 - Castlevania: Lament of Innocence
(02)   1476 - Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
(03)   1479 - Castlevania: Curse of Darkness
(04)   1576 - Castlevania: The Adventure
(05)   1591 - Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge
(06)   1600s - Castlevania: Order of Shadows
(07)   1691 - Castlevania
(08)   1698 - Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest
(09)   1748 - Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
(10)   1792 - Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
(11)   1797 - Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
(12)   1798 - Nocturne in the Moonlight [radio drama] *
(13)   1800s - Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
(14)   1830 - Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
(15)   1844 - Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness
(16)   1852 - Castlevania 64
(17)   1897 - Dracula *
(18)   1917 - Castlevania: Bloodlines
(19)   1944 - Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
(20)   1999 - The Demon Castle Wars *
(21)   2035 - Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
(22)   2036 - Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
(23)   2037 - Ricordanza of the God Abyss *
(24)   11th Millennium - Castlevania: Judgment 3D

* Included in visual novel style for the first time.

Konami would need to do very little work to make something like this happen, especially if they only updated Judgment to 3D (thus giving people an actual reason to play it and winning Konami some extra mileage out of a title that originally flopped).  This would earn them serious bank from classic CV fans.

[Ahasverus]

I'm assured 2013 will be a great year, but I'm worried about the future. Here's hoping a new exciting developer takes the reigns of the franchise (read: No IGA)

[JoshuaKadmon]

I'd like to see Castlevania back in the hands of Japanese development.  Unlike many, I didn't have a huge issue with Igarashi's vision for the series.  I know his retconning/unretconning of several chapters got under some fans' skin, but ultimately, I think he was finally trying to infuse the franchise with some story consistency in order to progress intelligently.

Let's face it... Konami seems a bit lost on what to do with certain franchises.  I'm getting sick of Metal Gear, after it was supposed to end, like, three different times.  Silent Hill has completely sucked since it went to Western development.  Suikoden has been nothing but missed opportunities in the last couple generations.  We should've had ZOE3 long ago.  And frankly, I don't like seeing Lords of Shadow in some limbo between mainstream action games and the continuity of the original CV timeline.

Here's hoping that Konami makes my so-called Castlevania: Classic Timeline Anthology a reality, because something like that could really bring fans back to the series and possibly earn some new players in the process.

[Dremn]

As always, just more classic Castlevanias like ReBirth. I highly doubt anything will happen this year since we're already getting two major releases, but once Mercury Steam is finished you have to wonder what will become of the series next?

[Heuss]

We must be realistic, Castlevania had become a minority franchise  for a small niche of followers.

[crisis]

apparently not as niche minority as Goemon or Suikoden has become, both haven't seen a fresh game in years
Castlevania however has had a steady flow of games every other year for the past 2 decades till now, hardly what i'd call a "minority/unpopular franchise"

[Ahasverus]

We must be realistic, Castlevania had become a minority franchise  for a small niche of followers.

2 millions as for the last game is not niche by any means.

The problem is Konami, really, they just don't have the marketing presence (Metal Gear and Winning Eleven sell by themselves). If Castlevania was Square Enix's series, for example, even with the same games only different promotion, I'm sure it would be what people call "a blockbuster".

But I like this sweet spot though.
As a "B-tier franchise" (but a spiritual A in our hearts) it doesn't depend on market research and accomodation, it doesn't depend on "5 million or BUST!" (As seen on Dead Space, Mirror's Edge, Battlefield, Homefront, Crysis) so it can take more liberties and, most importantly, it'll keep its "essence" dependant only of each development team, not the mainstream dudebro audience and lastest economic wave.

You know, I'm fine with this.

[DragonSlayr81]

2 millions as for the last game is not niche by any means.

The problem is Konami, really, they just don't have the marketing presence (Metal Gear and Winning Eleven sell by themselves). If Castlevania was Square Enix's series, for example, even with the same games only different promotion, I'm sure it would be what people call "a blockbuster".

But I like this sweet spot though.
As a "B-tier franchise" (but a spiritual A in our hearts) it doesn't depend on market research and accomodation, it doesn't depend on "5 million or BUST!" (As seen on Dead Space, Mirror's Edge, Battlefield, Homefront, Crysis) so it can take more liberties and, most importantly, it'll keep its "essence" dependant only of each development team, not the mainstream dudebro audience and lastest economic wave.

You know, I'm fine with this.

Oh come on! You know CV needs more dudebro Belmonts with crewcuts, heavy guns and necks like tree trunks!!! 

[Heuss]

Oh come on! You know CV needs more dudebro Belmonts with crewcuts, heavy guns and necks like tree trunks!!! 

That's the Contra saga 

[JoshuaKadmon]

After Mercurysteam wraps up LoS this year, let's assume for a moment that Konami will return to the classic timeline (either with internal development or partnered with another Japanese studio).  If so, what opportunities lie within the classic timeline for potential expansion?

I think the most obvious choice would be the Demon Castle Wars in 1999, since we know some of the basic plot as backstory of AoS/DoS.  Similarly, Konami could flesh out the stories from the Symphony of the Night radio drama or the Ricordanza of the God Abyss novel.  Or what if they made a Castlevania version of Dracula, since the novel itself is in public domain...  Who wouldn't love playing as Quincey Morris, anyway?

They might also be able to fit an Ecclesia sequel in there, since the only dates specified are a generalized "1800s" time frame.  Shanoa's pretty popular now, to boot.  And of course, there's always more future settings they could explore.

But other than that, are there any gaps in the classic timeline that would allow for logical, non-contrived story arcs?  I'd love to hear some opinions on this...

12th, 13th, or 14th centuries maybe?

[Nagumo]

I thought it was interesting how the PoR timeline hinted at a game that would explain why Elizabeth Bartley had to be revived in Bloodlines. She is described as a legendary vampire from the 16th century, so perhaps a side story set in that time period?