Topic: Minimum Level of a Game for a Castlevania "Comeback"?

[RichterB]

There's been a lot of gloom and doom about where Castlevania should go, or if it's stuck in a tomb.

I just wanted to ask what is the minimum level of a game you would accept for Castlevania at this point?

For example: After the whole LoS endeavor, rightly or wrongly, one doubts Konami would try a big-budget 3D Castlevania as a follow-up effort. So, let's say Konami decided to make a download-only 2D linear game like Super Castlevania IV in visuals and gameplay (so slightly more advanced than Rebirth), but with only 5 or 6 levels, and charged between $8-$10 for it. Is this something fans at large would accept? Or does it have to have modern visuals, sprawling levels like CVIII and/or Rondo, or be a Metroidvania with a lot of varied things to collect and places to explore?

And I'm not talking "Comeback" as in Castlevania becomes mainstream or all your dreams are fulfilled; I'm just saying that in your mind, you feel like the Castlevania itch has been scratched in a satisfying way that gives you hope for the future.

[Nagumo]

I'm going to be greedy and say at least a 2D and 3D game. If it has to be a compromise with LoS games on consoles and something different on handhelds then that would be fine with me.

Regarding a download-only 2D game, 5 or 6 levels would technically be fine, but as such a game would cater mostly to nostalgic fans, I think it's fair to say unless the game was designed for really hardcore players, like Akumajo Dracula for the X68000, it would probably be too short and forgettable, like Rebirth. Therefore, although I have no problem with such a level of difficulty, I think it would be more fun if they would expland on the RoB formula, because I think the type of game design it has lends it the best to replayability. So, it might be a more fulfilling experience in the long run.     

[Flame]

a big budget game would be nice, and have the added bonus of getting attention.

a 2D download only wouldn't hurt, as long as its good, but even if it were on all platforms, might not really garner much attention.

I agree with nagumo on this, that a bit of both would be a healthy option.

that said, I doubt LoS would have turned them off from big budgetvanias. If anything it just convinced them to be more careful. After all, LoS1 WAS still a success. the reason LoS2 went bad was because of troubled development.

Hopefully, it would convince them to make their next big budget effort internally. or, do it externally, but have Kojima more involved as supervision/advisement. He wasn't that involved in LoS, (barely) but it still seemed to help, if only to sell the game

[zaxiou]

As much as it hurts me to say this, right now Castlevania's in the same state as Alien IP was after Colonial Marines. The best course of action with minimum efforts for Castlevania to come back would be to take a break and introduce a new, and by new I mean return to SOTN roots 2D Castlevania with a mario-maker esque level editor in 2016. The best way however would be a faster paced Souls game titled Castlevania made by Fromsoft but I don't think Konami now will take any risks unless Kojima himself coerces them to. Either that or a title by Platinum.

[Flame]

I wouldn't say it's as bad as Colonial marines.

I'd compare it more to Megaman or Metroid. As in, they are unsure of how to revitalize CV to bring it permanently into the modern age. More Metroid though IMO.

And SotN is hardly the "roots." something like rebirth was more akin to the roots.

level editor would be nice though.

And Fromsoft games, (Souls particularly) are hardly fast paced. they are much more slow and methodical.

platinum sounds nice, but I wouldn't be too sure about that.

IMO, they should throw it at Kojima. surely he can do something (not to mention get all the money)

[zaxiou]

By SoTN roots I meant back to SoTN like games, like the DS ones. Too bad it won't be by Iga but not much we can do about it there.
Bloodborne is a lot faster than the previous souls games, I'm sure they can make even faster paced titles. But the chances of that happening's still pretty low. I hope something similar to Alien Isolation happens, an unexpected good reveal out of nowhere that too by an unexpected dev team. Kojima'll be too busy with Silent Hills and his MGS1 remake which he want to make unfortunately.

[piscesdreams]

Honestly, a good followup of the same size and caliber as Adventure Rebirth would work for me. Dunno about the fans, but for me that would do it.

[theplottwist]

Honestly, a good followup of the same size and caliber as Adventure Rebirth would work for me. Dunno about the fans, but for me that would do it.

Maybe a bit more ambitious than Adventure Rebirth for me, like branching paths.

[Shinobi]

If a team which now known as Treasure who is responsible for making Super Castlevania 4 returns to make a new Castlevania, my life is complete and die in peace.

[piscesdreams]

Maybe a bit more ambitious than Adventure Rebirth for me, like branching paths.

I would love that. Adventure Rebirth did have some long levels. But a game like that with alternate routes and hidden stages would be choice. I would love a game at least as long as SCIV with branching paths.

[KaZudra]

After Hard Corps: Uprising, I've been wanting to see how Arc System Works would do for a Castlevania in terms of Visuals.
as for design, I thing the game should be in stages, with Super CV 4 in mind but with many branching paths

[The Silverlord]

I still feel Lords should have been released as a new IP.  Whatever the original intention was and/or its resemblence to the series (CV or not CV?), I think it would still have sold well, and it would have been a brave new IP from Konami; theirs, a company lacking the creativity it was once renowned for in the arcades and on MSX and early consoles.

Would it have been a risk to go its own? New IP the likes of DMC, Bayonetta, Dead Space or Demon's Souls still seem to fare OK.

However much we're told that game development is more expensive in this day and age, I yearn for Konami to get back to some of those roots; freedom, and creativity. They should take heart I feel for there are many indie developers out there today with relatively small teams who are developing some cracking stuff, and perhaps driving just as Konami did early on. 

On this issue of dead IPs: of course, the likes of Gradius is dead in name . . . but how many kids today have even heard of it? There's nothing to say a Gradius wouldn't be successful today in an age of more mainstream shmups like Resogun and Geometry Wars.  A Gradius today is almost akin to a new IP for many, many potential players who are, frankly, unaware of the series' existence.  So if there's this perception that the likes of Gradius or Goemon are dead, I think there's a new fanbase out there to go and win over. Those characters and mascots are not out of touch or out of date IMHO. A game featuring Pentarou? Why not.

PSN, Xbox Live and Steam are a great platform for reasonably priced games, and there's nothing to stop Konami getting stuck in with some solid games and being creative.

It may come to that if the AAA bubble bursts.

However, with PS4 selling like it is, and Konami being Konami, I think a CV on that platform means an opportunity to make money. And it may mean a game featuring Pentaru is forced to take a backseat.

[The Silverlord]

It may probably be a Lords of Shadow Trilogy remaster, going by current trends . . .

. . . but if any, I'd love to see a Simon's Quest style adventure, possibly as a PSN/Live release. Completely new. I played Way Forward's Bloodrayne last year and while I hated it at first, it really grew on me--these are the kind of games/platform Konami could really do something with/could reach out for new fans with.

[Kingshango]

Unfortunatly, Castlevania will make it's comeback either on iPhones or Patchislots.


On the bright side, if demand is high for it, maybe when the Iphonevania comes out maybe Konami will port it ot other handhelds if demand is high for it.

[piscesdreams]

Unfortunatly, Castlevania will make it's comeback either on iPhones or Patchislots.


On the bright side, if demand is high for it, maybe when the Iphonevania comes out maybe Konami will port it ot other handhelds if demand is high for it.

That sounds like my personal hell.