Topic: In which continuity should a future Castlevania game be set?

[Nagumo]

Assuming you care. Poll is self-explanatory, and motivation is encouraged. 

For myself, I like to see the next game to have a completely original story again. I like IGA's timeline but I think it's time the series is no longer defined by one single set of stories and characters. I also don't like how some older games don't really fit with the ones IGA made. So I wouldn't mind seeing it demolished and being rewriten. Seeing a sequel or a prequel to CotM would be very intriguing, but sadly not something I see happening. Perhaps if Ko-G would direct another game in the series again?       

[Chernabogue]

Considering IGA's timeline is now quite a mess, I'd say new timeline.

Let LoS2 end the LoS timeline.
Let someone make a 1999 game to end IGA's timeline for good.
Make something new and good.

[Asgardwolf]

No LOS in the poll? this timeline is still virgin and has the potential to be explode for good in the right hands.

[Kingshango]

The next Castlevania game should take place in the timeline where vampire hunters go into a giant castle filled with monsters on a mission to kill Dracula.

[Intersection]

IGA's timeline still stands as the official canon for the series. There's a good chance Konami will return to it.
The 1999 game is a must; otherwise, there are still a few spots here and there that can be filled for a new game, if it comes to that.

Of course, we're bound to reach a point where the original timeline will have become overcharged; Castlevania will eventually need to move on to something new. For that purpose, I'll echo Chernabogue's thoughts:

Let LoS2 end the LoS timeline.
Let someone make a 1999 game to end IGA's timeline for good.
Make something new and good.

No LOS in the poll? this timeline is still virgin and has the potential to be explode for good in the right hands.

No. Lords of Shadow leaves with MercurySteam. That's how it was intended to end, and that's how it will end.

Seeing a sequel or a prequel to CotM would be very intriguing, but sadly not something I see happening. Perhaps if Ko-G would direct another game in the series again?       

How I'd love to see that. But I don't quite see it happening, either.

[Flame]

Just restart the series for real this time. CV1, no gimmicks, no TWEESTS, just Simon vs Dracula.

[X]

Hard to choose. I want to see the 1999 game wrap up the saga of the official canon, but I also want to see the series get a "proper" reboot. Flame said it best:

Just restart the series for real this time. CV1, no gimmicks, no TWEESTS, just Simon vs Dracula.

We need to go back to this. Back to the classic style that defined what Castlevania was. Then we can go from there (hopefully without any plot holes and predictable, shoehorned storytelling). A simple story; Dracula is Vlad, Dracula is bad, and the hero is the lone Belmont (male or female) who must enter the castle alone and bring him down or all of humanity is doomed.

[Intersection]

Putting the franchise through another reboot won't isn't guaranteed to help. Overwriting Castlevania again won't make it any cleaner -- it'll just confuse whatever's left of sense in the timeline.

And reboots without gimmicks or twists don't survive nowadays. You can't copy CV1's threadbare story and expect the game to succeed in today's market.

[Super Waffle]

It sure would be nice if there was a game that was a continuation of one my stupid fanfics.

You can't copy CV1's threadbare story and expect the game to succeed in today's market.

But Dark Souls did exactly this and it was celebrated as artsy experimental "minimalist" crap.

[Mangoaxe5]

I'd like to see the next Castlevania game return to the original timeline. I'm not a fan of throwing away 20+ years of story to start all over again. It's not fair to the fans.

However I wouldn't say no to a couple of non-canon standalone games either.

[Ahasverus]

I couldn't care less. It could be Kid Dracula for all that matters.

[GuyStarwind]

I put Iga because I feel there are many questions still needing to be answered. However, it seems that they never will be. But in the final word of The Count of Monte Cristo "Wait and hope"

With that being said I think a new timeline could be in order. All I want is a Belmont wielding a whip and tossing sub weapons to make his way through a castle that's impossibly huge while killing monsters and finally having a showdown with Dracula himself. Obviously I want things like The Grim Reaper, candles, hearts, wallmeat, The Belmont Pimp Strut, etc. Honestly they could keep crapping out games like what I've described and I wouldn't get bored of them. All in all I just want some Classicvania.

[Intersection]

I put Iga because I feel there are many questions still needing to be answered. However, it seems that they never will be. But in the final word of The Count of Monte Cristo "Wait and hope"

Ah, that. Attendre et espérer.
Though surely it was in a different context... 

In any case, it actually looks as if "who cares" is the most sensible answer here. After all, as long as we get those classic CV mechanics, the rest is secondary.

[DragonSlayr81]

I couldn't care less. It could be Kid Dracula for all that matters.

I'd love a new Kid Dracula game. Sometimes these games, and even this generation of gamers, takes themselves way to seriously.

[JR]

I wish they'd just start over, and go back to a more Hammer Horror-inspired game. Create a seamless blend of action and platforming. It could be serious or campy...I'd like it either way.