Bloodstained Preview
The Castlevania series is one of our all-time favorites in all of video games. This stems all the way back to the original Castlevania on the NES, which still holds up considerably well today! Throughout the years the style of gameplay has shifted from straight 2D action to 2D adventure with slight RPG elements. Sure, they’ve dabbled in the 3D realm with mixed results, but when someone mentions the name Castlevania most people most likely immediately think of the classic 2D side-scrollers.
The series took a pretty dramatic turn in 1997 when Castlevania: Symphony of the Night released on the PlayStation. For the first time gamers could explore a huge castle and find special power-ups and items necessary to progress. In many ways (including the in-game map) the game reminded people of Metroid, and hence the term “Metroidvania” came to be. Although Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest first dabbled in this “open world” concept, it was Symphony of the Night that perfected the formula and is still beloved by many gamers today.
Koji Igarashi’s success with Symphony of the Night led him to create more games in the same vein for the GBA and the Nintendo DS. Despite their critical acclaim, Konami had begun to transition many teams to other sectors of its business. This led to his departure from the company and his desire to make another game similar to the Castlevania games he loved making. Bloodstained was born and a Kickstarter campaign was a massive success, netting over $5 million pledged. Some of the main team from the prior Castlevania games have returned to this project, so you can expect some familiar art, gameplay mechanics, and sound design.
Bloodstained has been playable at several events and the game is progressing nicely. It’s taking a little longer than initially planned to create the project, with a current 2018 release scheduled. The Wii U version has been canned in favor of the Switch, which we believe is the right move considering the current gaming landscape. We can’t wait to see more and finally get our hands on this highly anticipated title.
About
It’s the late 18th century England, an era when people’s lives changed dramatically with the ushering in of the Industrial Revolution. You are Miriam, an orphan scarred by an alchemist’s demonic curse, which is slowly turning her skin to crystal. As the curse matures, Miriam drifts into a mysterious coma and awakens ten years later as a castle appears and Hell is resurrected. Now, she must travel to the castle to hunt and kill its summoner, Gebel, battling his demons as she searches for a way to stop the curse.
This imaginative, side-scrolling game is the latest opus from the renowned Koji Igarashi, godfather of the “Igavania” genre of gothic, exploration-focused action platformers. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a spiritual successor to his much-loved and highly acclaimed Castlevania series. Initially revealed on Kickstarter with a goal of $500,000, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night went on to become one of the most funded games on the platform, with more than $5.5 million pledged by fans eager for its creation.
Key Features
Genre-Defining Innovators: Bloodstained is created by Koji Igarashi, who has been designing games since the early ‘90s, beginning with Castlevania, a game that has inspired generations of designers since its release. Bloodstained also features music from Michiru Yamane, the composer for a huge number of Castlevania titles, as well as Super Smash Bros. and Skullgirls; and voice acting from talent including David Hayter (Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid) and Robbie Belgrade (Alucard, Castlevania).
A Haunting Gothic World:Bloodstained’s story unfolds as you explore Gebel’s hellish castle; a sprawling structure that features a variety of eerie locations guarded by malevolent demons. As you explore the massive palace, you’ll find helpful Warp Gates that will allow you to traverse quickly through it without having to backtrack.
Classic RPG Elements: It’s not an Igavania without leveling, and Bloodstained will be no exception. In addition to the classic elements everyone’s come to expect, enemies in Bloodstained will drop a wide variety of items, materials and magi-crystals necessary to create the items that will get you safely through Gebel’s castle.
Craig has been covering the video game industry since 1995. His work has been published across a wide spectrum of media sites. He’s currently the Editor-In-Chief of Nintendo Times and contributes to Gaming Age.
