Topic: Konami's Castlevania Moving Forward

[RichterB]

Given everything IGA's promised with the various modes of Bloodstained, I think I'd most like a proper Castlevania 64/Legacy of Darkness successor from Konami that evolves and balances from that base design. It's wishful thinking, but that's what I want. In absence of that, Konami should put out a Castlevania collection that at least includes Castlevania 1-4, Bloodlines, Rondo of Blood, and Dracula X SNES. And if that's too much to ask for...then how about Bloodlines on Nintendo's eshop?

[Reinhart77]

I really hope something CV comes our way. I'm pumped for Iga's new game but I just like being an actual Belmont in a Castlevania game. I'm sure this new Iga game is going to look and feel like CV but my heart will know I'm not playing as my Belmont heroes. So, I hope the series isn't dead.

We're usually not playing as Belmonts in Igavanias, so I'll feel at home with Bloodstained.  But yeah, I'll miss all the real-Castlevania things.  Hmm, we've never actually had a true Belmont vs Dracula game in 3D yet.  Hope that changes with the next one, assuming there is a next one.

[GuyStarwind]

We're usually not playing as Belmonts in Igavanias, so I'll feel at home with Bloodstained.  But yeah, I'll miss all the real-Castlevania things.  Hmm, we've never actually had a true Belmont vs Dracula game in 3D yet.  Hope that changes with the next one, assuming there is a next one.

Which is actually my biggest Iga complaint haha

[Belmont Stakes]

Well, if they're gonna really test the water for mobile games, I'm sure we'll see a new Castlevania there sooner rather than later. Konami will probably test many of their IPs and see what happens, including some of the dead ones, like Suikoden, Gradius and Goemon. I don't expect the games to be anything worth playing though but that's another topic right there.

As for console games, I'm sure there will be plenty more MGS, and even Silent Hill some day. But a console Castlevania? Hard to say. The first LoS sold well so maybe Konami remembers that. The two sequels did not perform well but then again they recieved pretty bad reviews (something the first LoS did not).

The success of a console Castlevania is equal parts quality and marketing. I may not like the first LoS (and definitely not MoF or LoS2) but I can appreciate the ambition that clearly went into the project. It may not have been much fun (for me) to play whatsoever, but I can see that it's a quality production. That, combined with marketing + reasonably good press = success for Konami. LoS2 was the complete opposite of all that.

     I think that if another quality 3D title was to come out they should consider revisiting the Alucard from LOS2 Revelations.
The DLC was way better and more involved than the actual game was from my standpoint. This iteration of Alucard definitely had a lot good going for it and should be looked at again.

I am more passionate about a really good plat former as opposed to another Metroid endeavor so I would lean more towards a CVII or III revamp but for me an MV would be welcome if Alucard or a Belmont was playable but I do like the idea someone in here had of having a female or a female vampire as the PRO.

[Koutei]

Count Dracula and Winbee comes to Kingdom Dragonion.

https://twitter.com/yaegashi_san/status/613257505527824386

Perhaps skeleton knight will be a regular enemy?

[SomaCruz]

We're usually not playing as Belmonts in Igavanias, so I'll feel at home with Bloodstained.  But yeah, I'll miss all the real-Castlevania things.  Hmm, we've never actually had a true Belmont vs Dracula game in 3D yet.  Hope that changes with the next one, assuming there is a next one.

Harmony of Dissonance is the only IGAvania that had a belmont main character (a really forgettable one). I do agree about not playing as Belmont in IGAvanias.

Let's just hope Konami doesn't screw up the franchise.

[DarkPrinceAlucard]

Harmony of Dissonance is the only IGAvania that had a belmont main character (a really forgettable one). I do agree about not playing as Belmont in IGAvanias.

Let's just hope Konami doesn't screw up the franchise.

Lol Lament of Innocence?

Considering that was the origin game to the iga timeline I figured most knew about it but apparently not.

So IGA has featured a belmont lead in 2 of his games.

[SomaCruz]

Lol Lament of Innocence?

Considering that was the origin game to the iga timeline I figured most knew about it but apparently not.

So IGA has featured a belmont lead in 2 of his games.

Yeah, I definetly forgot about Lament of Innocence lol.

It's been a while since I've played it.

[Nagumo]

In a perfect world, with both the metroidvanias and the LoS series having run its course, what kind of new ideas/elements should CV explore?

[beingthehero]

Judgment 2.
It's not a bad thing to wonder what an Obata-ized Gabriel would look like.

In all seriousness, they should've went with the original idea of Lords being an "epic" (urggh) remake of CV1. From there, re-explore the series. I don't mean necessarily remake all the games from CVII all the way through an epic re-imagining of OoE, but trace the entire battle between the Belmonts and Dracula with brand new stories.

I know some people will say "but that's what LoS was..." but they seemed to always want to do just three Lords games. That seemed as needlessly self-limiting as the timeline for the old canon.

[e105beta]

Judgment 2.
It's not a bad thing to wonder what an Obata-ized Gabriel would look like.

In all seriousness, they should've went with the original idea of Lords being an "epic" (urggh) remake of CV1. From there, re-explore the series. I don't mean necessarily remake all the games from CVII all the way through an epic re-imagining of OoE, but trace the entire battle between the Belmonts and Dracula with brand new stories.

I know some people will say "but that's what LoS was..." but they seemed to always want to do just three Lords games. That seemed as needlessly self-limiting as the timeline for the old canon.

Well as we've discovered, the head developer of the LoS series didn't really care much for the future of Castlevania, he was just looking to push his own ideas and get his name on the map. That's about as self-limiting as you can get.

At this point, if the series has any hope of surviving, it needs a good and proper reboot. In my opinion that would mean a return to the 2D platforming gameplay with a bit of exploration thrown in, and probably some sort of gear/ability system. Not so much a Metroidvania as much as a Megaman X style platformer. I know I'd dig it.

[SomaCruz]

Well as we've discovered, the head developer of the LoS series didn't really care much for the future of Castlevania, he was just looking to push his own ideas and get his name on the map. That's about as self-limiting as you can get.

At this point, if the series has any hope of surviving, it needs a good and proper reboot. In my opinion that would mean a return to the 2D platforming gameplay with a bit of exploration thrown in, and probably some sort of gear/ability system. Not so much a Metroidvania as much as a Megaman X style platformer. I know I'd dig it.

If I remember correctly, was there already a Castlevania game that was 2D platforming gameplay with a mix of Metroidvania exploration in it?

[XombieMike]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1001974623155629&substory_index=0&id=243488722337560

I plead ignorance about how tied this community is tied, if at all, to this Facebook group. It seems to me like you probably all know eachother, but I'm new to posting here.

Fellow Castlevania fans, Operation: Akumajo has considered changing their mission statement regarding the Castlevania series. This is big news that should not be taken lightly. The facts were counted and it wasn't a decision that was easily made.

Cecil Kain Is a great voice of the people that has effectively communicated the desires of fans to those who need to hear them. This groups combined voice has let IGA know that we support him, and who knows how much confidence that gave him to move forward with what we now call Bloodstained?

I am saddened by the state of Konami, but if Operation: Akumajo's future lies with Bloodstained's path then we are in very good company.

Consider that during the Kickstarter campaign this group was concerned about the IP rights belonging to IGA. As soon as they had solid information from IGA via the Reddit AMA they were quick to respond with a positive reassurance to the community that we can indeed trust that the future of this envdevor of a game belongs where it should.