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'Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night' delayed until 2019
Things were looking rosy for the upcoming release of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night -- the game had even gotten as far as a private beta demo. But, citing similar reasons to its previous delay, the team at ArtPlay has announced it'll be held back again, this time until somewhere in 2019.
'Bloodstained' will scratch your 'Castlevania' itch
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (SotN) is one of the most influential games ever made. First released for the original PlayStation in 1997, the game has since been ported to nearly every platform under the sun. It perfected the series' core design concept where players could explore gigantic 2D environments at will, collecting new abilities that unlocked hidden-in-plain-sight secrets in previously traversed areas. It also iterated on the superb Super Metroid released for the SNES three years prior. That framework was so well-done that it spawned its own genre ("Metroidvania") and countless games have used it since. Koji Igarashi, SotN's co-creator, has finally brought his crowdfunded (and SotN spiritual successor) Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night to E3. How does it play? Pretty close to the original.
BitSummit 4 takes over Kyoto with more indie games and devs
BitSummit is back. The annual Japanese indie game festival recently announced its lineup of musicians and speakers including Koji Igarashi of Bloodstained and Castlevania fame, Rez creator Tetsuya Mizguchi, Tom Happ (the man behind Axiom Verge) and Goichi "Suda51" Suda. Oh, and Sony Interactive Entertainment's president of worldwide studios, Shuhei Yoshida.
'Castlevania' creator just funded a 'Symphony' successor
In case that two-hour commentary video featuring Castlevania: Symphony of the Night from over the weekend stoked a new fire in you for another side-scrolling dungeon romp, boy have I got some good news. Co-designer Koji Igarashi's taken to Kickstarter for help funding his new game Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, that, by all appearances, looks like the Symphony sequel we've been waiting for for 18 years. You play as a girl exploring gothic castle and uncovering its secrets while a curse changes your skin from flesh to crystal. Gameplay focuses on exploration with role-playing and crafting elements sprinkled in for good measure. Sounds pretty familiar, yeah? Unsurprisingly it's proving wildly popular so far. The funding goal is $500,000 and as of this writing it's already hit $510,032.
'Castlevania' designer explains what made 'Symphony' so special
There's plenty I could say about Castlevania: Symphony of the Night but in the interest of time I'll keep it short and sweet: it's one of the most influential games ever made. Don't believe me? Eighteen years later, its core design conceit (read: explore a gigantic environment at will, uncovering hidden-in-plain-sight secrets in previously traversed areas thanks to a cascading set of power-ups that grant new abilities) is still being used today. So with that in mind, watching co-designer Koji "IGA' Igarashi offer commentary while Double Fine Productions' senior gameplay programmer Anna Kipnis plays through over two hours of the game in the latest Devs Play episode is an incredible treat. Oh, and there's blood-red wine involved because of course there is.
Next Castlevania could be 360 exclusive
Speaking to Game Informer, Castlevania creator Koji Igarashi took some time to discuss the next console version of the series. Of particular interest to our console of choice is that Igarashi states the Xbox 360 would make the "best platform" for the next console iteration of Castlevania. The reason, according to Igarashi, is that the U.S. market is the biggest market for the series and that the PS3 is doing as well in the U.S. What's interesting about the interview is that Igarashi makes it sound as though the Xbox 360 will be the only platform for the next Castlevania, more or less pinning the hopes of a PS3 version on the success of Metal Gear Solid 4.When asked about whether the next console Castlevania would be 2D or 3D, Igarashi noted that he'd like to use an approach similar to the upcoming Dracula X Chronicles for PSP, which uses 3D models restricted to a 2D plane. Igarashi says that if the technique is accepted -- i.e. if Dracula X Chronicles sells well -- he'll consider doing the console version in a similar style. 2D Castlevania titles have typically fared better than the 3D outings, so here's hoping Dracula X Chronicles lives up to its pedigree. Either way, you can rest assured that we'll be playing the next version on Xbox 360.[Via Joystiq]
Castlevania producer autograph signing in LA
Castlevania fans in the Los Angeles area, grab your trusty whip and holy water and get them signed by Koji Igarashi! Not too sure how you sign holy water, but Igarashi can figure that out. Konami is sending the Dracula X Chronicles producer to the Universal CityWalk EB Games this Wednesday, September 12 at 6:00PM. Check out this poster for more details.[via Kotaku]
Dracula X Chronicles could be only Castlevania game on PSP
In a revealing interview with Koji Igarashi, 1UP's Sam Kennedy found out that the upcoming Dracula X Chronicles may be the first and last Castlevania game to grace the PSP platform. Why? "When I first started on this project, everyone around me strongly suggested that PSP could be the best platform for Castlevania. But unfortunately, PSP's market has been shrinking as of late, so I will have to watch the sales of the game." Considering Konami's significant support of the PSP through its Metal Gear series, we hope that they'll see sufficient reason to continue developing for our favorite handheld.The next game Igarashi will work on will be on the DS.
Castlevania's XBLA future looking grim
At GDC earlier this year, we asked Castlevania creator Koji Igarashi if he would consider making an original Castlevania title for Xbox Live Arcade. He told us that he was interested, but didn't elaborate beyond that. We hope you haven't been keeping your hopes up, because Igarashi has more or less declared that an XBLA iteration isn't in the cards. When asked by 1UP if a new downloadable Castlevania title was in the works, Igarashi responded, "There are two reasons why I am reluctant to create a game for such channels: 1. The price is frankly too low for what we'd want to do, and 2. Most of the next gen players are expecting really high fidelity games, so I'm really not eager to go that route."While an XBLA iteration seems doomed, Igarashi did note that preliminary planning for a new Castlevania title on consoles has begun. Unfortunately, there are no concrete details yet. We're just shooting from the hip here, but we'd bet good money it will feature vampires.
Warren Ellis blogs about Castlevania animated movie
Comic book legend Warren Ellis has been keeping a production blog to update fans on his script work for Castlevania: Dracula's Curse, an animated adaptation of Konami's Castlevania III for the NES. The Transmetropolitan author has been candid with details about the 80-minute, direct-to-DVD film, discussing characters he will be cutting out of the film (e.g. Grant DaNasty) and plans to make the story a trilogy. Reassuring us that he won't be butchering the franchise with an Uwe Boll approach, Warren made it a point to emphasize Castlevania producer Koji Igarashi's bothersome involvement: "He remains absolutely passionate about Castlevania. After eight rewrites of pre-production material, I remain absolutely passionate about beating the crap out of IGA in a dark alleyway one day."[Via GameSetWatch]
Interview reveals Symphony of the Night to include updated vocals
You may remember a little title that got everyone talking a few weeks ago: Castlevania. Ever since its incredible debut, Konami has remained silent on this hotly anticipated revival of Rondo of Blood, the only Castlevania title never to be released in the States. The upcoming Castlevania X Chronicles not only includes a 3D remake of Rondo of Blood, but includes the fan-favorite Symphony of the Night as well. Games Radar has an incredible interview with Koji Igarashi from GDC available, and here are some highlights: After years of working on GBA/DS games, the power of the PSP has been startling: "It's better than what I expected, actually. I'm very happy about the quality. Especially with the graphic quality. The PSP hardware system allows a very high resolution." Symphony of the Night will be getting a few enhancements: "So basically, it's mostly a straight port from the original SOTN on PlayStation. I wasn't happy about the quality of the PlayStation SOTN voiceover, so I'm trying to do something about it on the PSP." Don't forget to check out Games Radar for the rest of this brilliant interview.See also:The Symphony of the Night we won't get
Castlevania's Koji Igarashi: 2D games will never die!
Bringing his GDC presentation, "The Light and Dark Sides of 2D Game Production," to a flag-waving close, Konami's Koji Igarashi defiantly declared (via an enthusiastically projected slide) that "2D games will never die!" Though the Castlevania designer's train of thought seemed to switch several times during the talk -- no doubt exacerbated by the wonky on-the-fly translation -- his point eventually emerged as a light at the end of the tunnel.Igarashi explained that as 3D games grow more complex and require greater effort from artists, 2D games provide an advantage by being easier and cheaper to design. Though he argued that the perspective generally allows players to better judge distance in action games, he was largely focused on the production side of things. Pixel art and backgrounds can be reused throughout multiple titles, he noted, allowing designers to spend more of their time on other aspects of the game.A unique challenge for modern consoles, however, is adapting to the much higher display resolutions. More on-screen pixels means more detailed art, in which case drawing beautiful 2D assets might become just as strenuous and laborious as creating 3D character models. As such, Igarashi is treating the upcoming 2.5D Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles as an experiment -- can the dynamic presentation of 3D titles and the cost-effective design of 2D gaming get along? We'll find out later this year.%Gallery-2095%
GDC 07: Igarashi, "2D games will never die!"
Koji Igarashi, the producer of recent entries in the Castlevania series and assistant director of Symphony of the Night, gave a presentation on 2D games at GDC last week. Specifically, his presentation centered on the differences between developing 2D games and 3D games. Igarashi noted a few philosophical differences between 3D and 2D games, but also noted a few advantages that hadn't occurred to us. For instance, 2D games are easier to produce, faster to design, and faster to implement. Of course, all of this is generally cheaper than 3D production as well.
The return of Richter Belmont in Rondo of Blood
Ever since Castlevania was announced for PSP, many people have been asking a few questions. Firstly, why remake Rondo of Blood? Easy: it's the only Castlevania game to never have met a US release. As revealed in an IGN interview with Castlevania's producer, Rondo of Blood is the crucial "turning point" in the series. While many loved the changes made in Symphony of the Night, most gamers have missed out on many of the finer details of the classic's story, simply because Rondo of Blood was never released. (Castlevania X for the SNES was a "port" of sorts. However, it strayed significantly from its origins.)Rondo of Blood takes place 5 years before Symphony of the Night, and explains many origins of the characters found in the revered PS1 classic. Players will be treated to seeing Richter Belmont, "the last Belmont," fighting Dracula himself. Who is Shaft and how does he control Richter in Symphony of the Night? Who is Maria Renard? These questions will be unearthed through Rondo of Blood.While Nintendo's handhelds have met great additions to the Castlevania franchise, the future of the series may stay on the PSP. When speaking to IGN, Koji Igarashi revealed his love of the platform. "If the PSP version of Castlevania does great ... [doing sequels] is something I'd love to take a look at."See also:Tales From the Crypt: Castlevania 20th Anniversary Blowout from 1UPPlaying Dirty: Dracula wears eyeliner: Part 1 & Part 2
Castlevania celebrates 20th year of vampire violence
Aside from usually being an absolute blast to play, the Castlevania games can have the strange effect of prompting one to engage in rather dubious debates regarding some of its more colorful traditions. Certainly, the startling presence of gold coins inside candles and chandeliers is a popular topic, as is the nebulous gender of whatever whip-wielding protagonist winds up exploring Dracula's anarchic abode. There's also the more obvious question as to whether or not Castlevania works in 3D, a question which once lured me into the following (and very real) conversation:"Hey what did you think about Castlevania: Lament of Innocence? I thought it was a bit crap.""Well, the level design was far too repetitive, but the atmosphere was really true to the series. As an action game, it works pretty well -- I must admit, it has an ace combat system.""It has an Ace Combat system?""That's what I just said.""Meaning you fly your Belmont around and shoot down vampires?"Luckily (?), that particular version of Lament of Innocence never saw the light of day, though if it did, it would likely be mentioned in 1UP's great series retrospective. To celebrate Castlevania's 20th year of existence, the article delves into the pivotal points, the exacerbating enemies and the obscure oddities that litter Dracula's castle. It's well worth a read, especially if you enjoy masterfully written subtitles. Castlevania: Waltz of Discontentedness -- where are you?
Castlevania's Koji Igarashi: Microsoft don't get us
Embedded at the end of an interview with Game Informer, Castlevania producer Koji Igarashi hints at just why Microsoft's 360 can't grab that Japanese market they so desperately sought. Apparently, Japanese gamers only like three games, because as Igarashi says, "... if Japanese developers would say they're working on Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest or Metal Gear maybe, then I guess Japanese consumers would take it [Xbox 360] seriously and consider purchasing it."I never understood the fascination by Microsoft to try and conquer Japan. I always believed that they should have just gone by the Field of Dreams mantra: If you build it, they will come.Back to the real point of the interview, Igarashi said that a co-op Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin for DS Wi-Fi is not out of the realm of possibility. He says, "It's not confirmed yet because I haven't started work on it. That's why I can't confirm. But actually I'm thinking about preparing a special unlockable stage where you can do co-op over Wi-Fi. Technically speaking, I think we are able to do something like co-op, yes."[via Eurogamer]
