Topic: Castlevania Identity Crisis:what should the next Castlevania game be like?

[Nagumo]

The thing is though, the cheesy monster movie feel is the strongest in the original, and it gradually waned after that. You may have to ask yourself if the series is still about that at this point. I actually really like the idea myself. A game that just embraces the campiness and rolls with it. I wonder how people would react if that really happend.

[beingthehero]

PoR kind of did, compared to all the games before it.

[Ratty]

Yeah PoR had possibly the lightest tone of all the handheld Metroidvanias in the series. Then OoE went in the opposite direction, so maybe the higher ups at Konami didn't feel the lighter tone brought enough sales?

[DragonSlayr81]

I think the hard part about doing a vertical platforming segment is that most 3D platformers, while platformers, are still trying to maintain this sense of realism in the game. And, from what I've seen in several games, realistic vertical platforming segments are really hard to do. Just look at CV64, for example. Granted, the villa was the only really "realistic" portion of that game, save for a couple other areas.

I would like to see a new 3D-vania apply these segments, though. If we got another "spooky" CV (a la CV1 or CV3) rather than a "horror" CV, than there would be no need to focus on realistic looking environments.

I don't think realistic should be an issue regarding a demon castle that can take many forms. What I liked about Olrox's Quarters in SotN was that to reach him, it was almost tailored for a vampire(long vertical shaft in the ceiling). Similar to the "heart" in the center. It's layout should act as an obstical in itself. Besides, I'm kinda sick of realistically designed locations. Dracula's castle isn't meant to entertain human guests. It should fit him and his monstrosities in a similar fashion the subterranean caverns in The Descent best fit those "Crawlers", not the human explorers.

That's kinda why I never questioned the strange platforming in CV games. I always figured, it's a vampire's castle filled with undead things that can leap and crawl all over the place. Any mere human would find it nearly impossible to traverse, while a Belmont would take the obsticals head on(because they're badass like that).

At least, IMO, that's a valid excuse to go with a less realistic layout.

Technically, I think it would be harder to program, but I DO think it's something that should be addressed, if not solely for CV, for the future of gaming altogether. Most hurdles regarding game design have been encountered, and though hard work, mistakes and pinpointing the problems, they've been surpassed. One example would be fixed cameras. It might not be perfected, but it's sure a helluva lot better than years ago, when it was more prone to get wonked out. It takes great minds to tackle this issues and when they do, that's a step gained towards a better gaming future.

The thing is though, the cheesy monster movie feel is the strongest in the original, and it gradually waned after that. You may have to ask yourself if the series is still about that at this point. I actually really like the idea myself. A game that just embraces the campiness and rolls with it. I wonder how people would react if that really happend.

I'd be SOOOO for it. A total Hammer-influenced Castlevania game. I love that style of horror. I HAVE been aching(for a while now) for an 19th century set CV(not like the ones we got) that reflects that visual style you'd see in a Hammer movie. Something like the Lee Dracula movies, or even like The Gorgon.





Or even the Brides of Dracula:





.... DAMN!!!

Something like that in style. Look at the last picture and the use of color regarding the back room and purple-ish light off to the side that's reflecting on the floor. Something like THAT! I'd stake a few vampires for a CV game like THAT!!!

[Munchy]

I'd also like a return of those film sprockets that were on the title screens of the first three games.

Also agree with above post, screw physical realism. I appreciate realistic environments in a game like Silent Hill but Castlevania should be about hopping around and having fun whipping an army of skeletons and bouncing tiny men.

[GuyStarwind]

I think CV should keep a feel of cheesy to it. Don't get me wrong the main story should still be serious but I'd like the game to remember it's a game and have fun within it. Now that's not to say make the game light or more kid friendly but just not so serious that it doesn't capture the original charm. People may disagree but I feel the MGS games have a more serious tone but that doesn't stop them from still having fun and I think CV should or continue (depending on your view) to do this.

[Ratty]

I think CV should keep a feel of cheesy to it. Don't get me wrong the main story should still be serious but I'd like the game to remember it's a game and have fun within it. Now that's not to say make the game light or more kid friendly but just not so serious that it doesn't capture the original charm. People may disagree but I feel the MGS games have a more serious tone but that doesn't stop them from still having fun and I think CV should or continue (depending on your view) to do this.

Yeah Castlevania has always been the amusement park Victorian Haunted House kind of cheesy, not the pie in the face kind. Which is one distinction you want to make between it and series that embraced "cheese" like House of the Dead. I just think it'd be fun to see a re-embracing of Hammer and Universal. Though you might not be able to use the Karloff Frankenstein design these days without a lot more modification to keep from getting sued.

Well after a decade of piddling about after the failure of "Van Helsing" Universal is planning on trying to relaunch their classic monsters in a series "in the style of" the big super hero cinematic universes. So who knows maybe they'll come back in vogue and Konami will reconsider it.

[DragonSlayr81]

Yeah Castlevania has always been the amusement park Victorian Haunted House kind of cheesy, not the pie in the face kind. Which is one distinction you want to make between it and series that embraced "cheese" like House of the Dead. I just think it'd be fun to see a re-embracing of Hammer and Universal. Though you might not be able to use the Karloff Frankenstein design these days without a lot more modification to keep from getting sued.

Well after a decade of piddling about after the failure of "Van Helsing" Universal is planning on trying to relaunch their classic monsters in a series "in the style of" the big super hero cinematic universes. So who knows maybe they'll come back in vogue and Konami will reconsider it.

Emphasis on the bolded part. There's different kinds of cheese. Sometimes, it's just an older era looked by from modern glasses that sees it as cheese, kinda like when people nowadays view an 80s Jane Fonda workout video. Back then, it wasn't cheese, people actually used them to work out in their living rooms. Same for older horror movies. I'm pretty sure all those Universal and Hammer films were filmed with serious intentions. Lugosi and Lee weren't going, "Blah blah blah, I'd Drac-OOOOO-lah! I vant to suck your BLOOD!!!".

Personally speaking, I've never been one for something(be it games or movies) that takes itself TOO seriously. I love Nolan's Batman movies, but I'm glad they were only a trilogy and it's over. What I love about the Marvel cinematic universe is that they can go straight serious, but aren't above going cheesy as well, and it WORKS(damn well too)!!

[Maedhros]

They should try another reboot. Just with Castlevania DNA this time around, instead of random references being shoehorned left and right.

[X]

They should try another reboot. Just with Castlevania DNA this time around, instead of random references being shoehorned left and right.

This is the Castlevania I want more then anything. But knowing Konami their tunnel vision regarding 'What's hot and what's not' will just get in the way.

[darkmanx_429]

Howz about that cancelled title: "Harker?"

I loved the element of actual stalking a vampire's lair before actually encountering the vampire.

I think that's an element that hasn't been explored in any Castlevania yet you see it many a classic vampire movies.

Imagine having a day or night system in a true open world environments where you could choose when to visit a specific locale to search for vampires. I always imagined it being something along the lines of John Carpenter's Vampires where they are at the beginning in that house looking for prey.

[theANdROId]

I don't recall if I said this somewhere else or not, but this all makes me think of Gauntlet and it's recent release (or...near future release...I forget the date.)  It looks good!  I'm excited to play it (even though I certainly don't have the money to buy it anytime soon after my escapades this year!)  I hope to get it someday, and I'd hope my cousins (with whom I frequently played the original Gauntlet) would also buy it, because what I've seen makes me want to play it with them like we did the NES title and GC titles.  In one video I saw, one of the producers (I assume, anyway) discusses how they went back to the NES titles for inspiration, using them as a model and essentially trying to make a modern/updated version of them.  I haven't played the new game, so I don't know how well they did, but I'm hopeful!

That's what I wish someone would do for CV (assuming I clearly explained the intent behind Gauntlet).  Go back to the old games and old style as models.

[DoctaMario]

This is the Castlevania I want more then anything. But knowing Konami their tunnel vision regarding 'What's hot and what's not' will just get in the way.

The thing is, with game production costs being what they are, if we get something high budget, they're going to have to make some sorts of concessions so that it sells. I think LoS1 did it much better than 2, but if we don't get something big budget, it'll likely be something cheaply done and not worth mentioning like HoDespair.

[DragonSlayr81]

The thing is, with game production costs being what they are, if we get something high budget, they're going to have to make some sorts of concessions so that it sells. I think LoS1 did it much better than 2, but if we don't get something big budget, it'll likely be something cheaply done and not worth mentioning like HoDespair.

That's the problem with mainstreaming a franchise. In a way, I'd rather CV didn't go mainstream if it meant "not selling out" for the sake of appeasing whatever current trend is in season. And to be honest, I'd be fine with lower budget CV games if that was the case.

That being said, trend taste is not a concrete thing. Trends change all the time and some have very short lasting power. The thing is, you can't possibly milk it forever, and you can't possibly know how long a trend will remain relevant until the people grow tired of it. Though, probably the most important one, you really don't know WHAT will start a trend(or cause something to gain mainstream appeal). Sometimes things just sweep in and get everybody talking. Sometimes it's almost a counter to the trend the preceded it. I think people/businesses look to trends as a sure thing, but I see them as being just as unstable as trying something original. From my experience, only the frontrunners really reap in the reward that comes with trends. Almost everyone that follows suit solely to captialize on the trending formula gets labeled as being "ripoffs".

[Belmont Stakes]

This may seem like a rather non specific answer but here goes. There is no way to determine which way the production team will go as far as making the next game or saga in the series. I liked a lot of the LOS saga though the final game in the series went too modern and for that matter modern warfairy for me. I definitely like when castlevania stays more old school and platform oriented but I do find a value in the more SOTN/RPG aspects as long as implemented for seamless continuity. Castlevania should use the mirror more in its image making it more like Castlevainia. I liked that idear.
For the most part I am in accordance with Egoraptor or AVGN. Keep it dark dangerous damning and  keep it Dracula and Death.
Konami should follow what Netherealm studios did with the last Mortal Kombat game and return to what the game was when it first started. Granted the MK series has not had the identity crisis that this franchise seems to be saddled with I think older school is better for now. I would not pass up an opportunity to play a SOTN esque entry but I am a chess guy first.
Here is a random thought. I was going through the top 100 Vania songs on Youtube by VashClone and saw Melancholy Joachim on it. Made me wonder what if they show how someone like Joachim or Walter or Rinaldo ended up in their states. I.E how Walter lost himself to vampirism how Joachim became imprisoned how a Sucubus was made or how Rinaldo became the alchemist that he is known as. Just a thought.