Topic: Confirmed: IGA not involved with Castlevania anymore. Europe helms the series.

[DragonSlayr81]

Yeah, that's awesome! The Blood references remind me of the references in the reboot of Splatterhouse. You could find Freddy Krueger's dismembered lims and sweater in a bin near a boiler room(I think) in the West Mansion. In the Meat Factory, I'm pretty sure it's the area you first see Biggy Man, you see Ash's(ED/AoD) body on the floor.

Another great game that references horror and sci-fi is Zombies Ate My Neighbors. It's a game I would geek out to back when I was younger!

[Nagumo]

Interesting discussion going on here, but the thread has already been derailed quite a bit. So if you guys want to continue talking about this subject, please make a seperate topic about it. 

[Oniros]

I remember reading that quote on GAF, pretty sad indeed. Honestly as a kid born in the 90s, IGA + Yamane + Kojima are Castlevania for me (my first CVs were the GBA ones to give you an idea). Classicvania has its merits but everything that I adore from these series is the post-SotN elements.

I don't hold any grudges against Dave Cox or MercurySteam. They have taken the series to new heights and they're in the business of making money, not pleasing fans. However, what pisses me off is Konami's handling of the IP. If IGA was bad at making 3D Castlevanias but good at the 2D sidescrolling ones. Then why don't they give the 3D entries to the new devs while keeping IGA making DS/3DS games?!

Mirror of Fate was received very poorly, as the combat from the LoS series doesn't translate well to 2D. In an ideal scenario, MercurySteam would've handled the 3D entries from now on while leaving the 3D games to IGA. But since this is Konami we're talking about, when LoS 2 doesn't meet their ridiculous and out-of-touch financial forecasts. They're gonna give the IP to the lowest bidder and Castlevania will end up just like Silent Hill.

[Flame]

I don't hold any grudges against Dave Cox or MercurySteam. They have taken the series to new heights and they're in the business of making money, not pleasing fans.

Felt to me like it was more Cox and MS were the fans, and they were pleasing their own fancies. (the SCIV references, the various CV mythology nods thrown in throughout)

[DoctaMario]

I think handing the series to Europe or NA is a good move considering those are the areas of the world where the series is best received. Things may change, but what good series is without changes? We've seen what happened to Mega Man.

The thing that made the series interesting was that several different people helmed it back in the day. IGA was probably the longest running producer in series history, but having one guy make all the calls for 10+ years is part of why the series got into a rut. Not that I didn't enjoy some of IGA's games, but I was glad to see him not be involved to a certain degree.

[Mangoaxe5]

I hope that this doesn't mean that the original Castlevania timeline is gone for good.

[Shiroi Koumori]

I hope that this doesn't mean that the original Castlevania timeline is gone for good.

Whatever happens, we shall always have the memories.

[Ahasverus]

I hope that this doesn't mean that the original Castlevania timeline is gone for good.

Rest well knowing that whatever you had in your mind is better than what we would have gotten.

[Asgardwolf]

Whatever happens, we shall always have the memories.

And emulators

[shelverton.]

For the first time since...ever... I'm ok with putting Castlevania to sleep forever. It's been a great run and I'll never forget this franchise, but I feel like it probably has no business is modern gaming. Dunno... I am somewhat excited for LoS2, but I wouldn't cry if Konami decided to pull a Megaman on us after that. I won't complain.

Here's a toast to letting go, and allowing new things to happen! Goodnight Castlevania. You were awesome.

[Intersection]

Aaaah! First IGA, then the timeline, and now the series! Is being defeatist the new autumn fashion?

Has there been anything to suggest that the original timeline might disappear? Correct me if I'm wrong, but the LoS timeline was clearly marked as alternative, and Cox announced its end along with MS's departure. It's extraordinarily premature to prophesize the end of the classic continuity while we know precious little about what will happen next.

And since when was the franchise ending? Where on earth is this "putting Castlevania to sleep" idea coming from?
No business in modern gaming? You're saying this now?

[Belmontoya]

There is absolutely no reason to believe castlevania is going away. It may be changing, but it will survive, rest assured.

If the official titles are not appealing to you, then look to the fan games until konami releases a new cv that interests you.

Like a vampire, castlevania will survive through the ages.

[beingthehero]

Odallus: The Dark Call comes out next March, and it's a 2D Metroidvania that is heavily inspired by Castlevania. I contributed to their Indiegogo campaign and have beta access. They've released the first level to those who contributed, and the first stage is basically one huge homage to Dracula X's first stage. Also it's really good on its own terms.

[e105beta]

I don't even know if I want a 1999 game any more. As of right now, IGA's timeline (And I say IGA's because he is the one who fashioned it's current incarnation) is such a distant thought I personally might even be disappointed if the next game just resorted to going back to it.

I like new Castlevania. Not just this new Castlevania, but the idea of new Castlevania, treading new ground with a familiar theme. A changing series, rather than a stagnant one. We've already gotten enough of that.

I'm also just enjoying MoF:HD right now, so that probably has something to do with it.

[kadosho]

For the longest time I debated against the fact that the original release of LOS (without extra chapters) was a bad design choice. We have never played an unfinished tale before. I waited. Then I thought over the past games we've danced with IGA & Friends, I have to be honest, they actually had solid releases, and completed games for us to indulge in. I never felt like something was missing, you were always rewarded for going that extra mile, or challenging yourself to see how far you could go.

Looking at the new chapter of the series, retconning everything entirely, I think I am going to give it a chance. I just put my pre-order down for LOS:CE. I await to see what I have missed.

Knowing now that IGA & co won't be working on another CV related title for awhile. It does have merits, they delivered adventures, and great music. Curious where things will go from now on. *Oh, and I might put some down for LOS2, I think I've been bitten all over again.