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[ShockingAlberto]

If Mercury Steam took feedback in to account and learned to work with their hardware (or Konami allows a PC version), a Lords of Shadow 2 could be fantastic.

But if it's just the same mistakes, with maybe a few things fixed but not the important things, and basically no fundamental lessons learned, I'd not be too eager to jump on that train.

 

[Beth Cyra]

The Fire Emblem part came true (the 3D battles on handhelds and co-op is probably what the "warning" was about).

I haven't talked to the guy since then, but now I know I can trust him on leaks. My assumption, however, is that Konami ended up pulling a lot of the stuff from that conference out. MGS3DS and Love Plus, both arguably huge (and one inarguably bad) 3DS games, barely got jackshit attention. Konami kind of threw a MGS3DS trailer out after the conference that clearly no one looked at.

I don't necessarily assume they canceled the projects, but I suppose it's possible. I honestly don't know what the hell Konami is thinking these days. They seem to be actively struggling to find IPs that can sell games but don't want to provide any money to developers to give them that shot.

I'm hoping Castlevania and Contra are not casualties of this mentality.

That would suck indeed if they were cancel'd.

As it stands though I would actually fear if it was for 3DS. Konami really just doesn't seem that interested in supporting the platform outside of Love + and at least the Kojima Productions has really thrown their weight behind Vita.

 

[infinityBCRT]

Lords of Shadow 2, please. The only Castlevania that matters now in my book.

I love where they left off LoS... Due to my stupidity I never got to try the DLC as I traded it in before DLC was even announced. But I kinda hope they re-release LoS on next gen consoles so that people who have hangups over the 24fps can enjoy it at 60fps.

 

[Retro]

Lords of Shadow 2, please. The only Castlevania that matters now in my book.

Your book is terrible.

As fun and gorgeous as Lords of Shadow was, it was essentially Generic Action Game #152 with the names scratched out and replaced with Belmont and Dracula. All similarities to the Castlevania series are skin deep and any die-hard fan of the series (even those who profess to be even though they've never played anything older than SotN) knows the series' roots run deeper than aesthetics.

Don't get me wrong, LoS was a good game, but as a reboot (dear god) or replacement (no way) for the series? Never.

 

[infinityBCRT]

This whole thing about LoS being announced without the Castlevania title keeps biting LoS in the ass, doesn't it? Even though the game was always meant to be a Castlevania game and I believe is inspired by Simon's Quest.

 

[wrowa]

I just want a new Igavania. I don't even care if it re-uses the same assets again for the fortysecond time. They all sold pretty well, didn't they? And they really couldn't have cost a fortune to be made. Come on Konami, why don't you love 2D Castlevania anymore? Give IGA something to work on. He's a cool dude, no matter what some people with bad taste say!

 

[Beth Cyra]

This whole thing about LoS being announced without the Castlevania title keeps biting LoS in the ass, doesn't it? Even though the game was always meant to be a Castlevania game.

Regardless of it being meant to be a Castlevania game doesn't change the fact that to some it feels like a generic action game.

Just like the PS2 games felt like really bland DMC rip offs despite them being Castlevania games from the very beginning.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

This whole thing about LoS being announced without the Castlevania title keeps biting LoS in the ass, doesn't it? Even though the game was always meant to be a Castlevania game and I believe is inspired by Simon's Quest.

I am of the belief that I am not going to trust whatever Konami said happened with that game. They were more than a little suspicious with a lot of the goings on.

 

[wrowa]

This whole thing about LoS being announced without the Castlevania title keeps biting LoS in the ass, doesn't it? Even though the game was always meant to be a Castlevania game and I believe is inspired by Simon's Quest.

Yeah, well, nothing good can happen if you take inspiration by the worst Castlevania ;o

 

[Father_Brain]

I am of the belief that I am not going to trust whatever Konami said happened with that game. They were more than a little suspicious with a lot of the goings on.

I would still love to know the real story behind whatever internal politics led to IGA being allowed to announce his own CV PS3/360 title at TGS '08, followed by that project's silent cancellation.

 

[Beth Cyra]

I just want a new Igavania. I don't even care if it re-uses the same assets again for the fortysecond time. They all sold pretty well, didn't they? And they really couldn't have cost a fortune to be made. Come on Konami, why don't you love 2D Castlevania anymore? Give IGA something to work on. He's a cool dude, no matter what some people with bad taste say!

I was under the impression they did alright. I don't know how OoE did never heard much on that one which is kinda scary and then the horrible horrible Judgement (which is by far the worst Castlevania, the only saving grace is the amazing music) was a total disaster sales wise.

It did seem as though Harmony of Despair did well but maybe not enough to get Iga a dev kit. Though there was a rumor a while back he was working on a Castle for 3DS.

 

[wrowa]

I would still love to know the real story behind whatever internal politics led to IGA being allowed to announce his own CV PS3/360 title at TGS '08, followed by that project's silent cancellation.

Well, IGA has a trademark for 3D clusterfucks, so I guess I can imagine what happened.

Something like "Hey, old cowboy, show me the prototype you made there!", followed by "Hell God, IGA, do you never learn".

 

[Beth Cyra]

Well, IGA has a trademark for 3D clusterfucks, so I guess I can imagine what happened.

Something like "Hey, old cowboy, show me the prototype you made there!", followed by "Hell God, IGA, do you never learn".

After Judgement I can't blame them.

Just why did he have to pull that shit when he finally was going to use Alucard as the main again?

 

[wrowa]

I was under the impression they did alright. I don't know how OoE did never heard much on that one which is kinda scary and then the horrible horrible Judgement (which is by far the worst Castlevania, the only saving grace is the amazing music) was a total disaster sales wise.

It did seem as though Harmony of Despair did well but maybe not enough to get Iga a dev kit. Though there was a rumor a while back he was working on a Castle for 3DS.

I think I've read here some years ago that Dawn of Sorrow was actually one of the more successful Castlevania games, but the only number I can find right now is that it sold more than 160k in its first three months (US only).

 

[Beth Cyra]

I think I've read here some years ago that Dawn of Sorrow was actually one of the more successful Castlevania games, but the only number I can find right now is that it sold more than 160k in its first three months (US only).

That isn't looking to good even less so if Portrait of Ruin and OoE did worse.

Forget Iga was involved with the Dracula X Chronicles as well and that did pretty bad.

So he may have had some success but his failures regardless of quality certainly didn't help him.

Anyone have LTD for LoS?

 

[wrowa]

That isn't looking to good even less so if Portrait of Ruin and OoE did worse.

Huh? That means that DoS outsold in its first three months all GBA Castlevanias except the first. That's pretty good.

 

[Busaiku]

The Fire Emblem part came true (the 3D battles on handhelds and co-op is probably what the "warning" was about).

Clearly those were just guesses though.
They were just throwing out names of established franchises.

It's not like the Sega rumor stuff (though Bayonetta 2's missing).

 

[Beth Cyra]

Huh? That means that DoS outsold in its first three months all GBA Castlevanias except the first. That's pretty good.

That is true, but 150k copies isn't a good selling point when you are trying to move up and beyond.

Starting at 150K and having three straight games perform worse only to put out the worst performing Castlevania like ever isn't a very good argument, wouldn't you agree?

 

[ctrayne]

Nothing to contribute here other than the fact that I have replayed SOTN and the DS games more than anything else, even the big guns like Deus Ex. There's something really relaxing about them and I love going back every couple of years.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Judgment was a terrible idea.

It should have hewed closer to what that XBLA game was, but expanded out with a focus on single-player and with new art or what have you.

But IGA was one of those "lol why would you play a normal game on the Wii" developers and made a fanservice fighter (part one of going off the rails) that redesigned all the characters (part two of going off the rails) and then it wasn't even very good (part three of doing off the rails).

 

[wrowa]

That is true, but 150k copies isn't a good selling point when you are trying to move up and beyond.

Starting at 150K and having three straight games perform worse only to put out the worst performing Castlevania like ever isn't a very good argument, wouldn't you agree?

Eh, 160k during the first three months is a pretty good number for a handheld game. Especially if you take into consideration that it largely re-used old assets. According to a NPD leak of January 2009 DoS was close to selling 300k units in the US.

Why do you think that PoR and OoE are the worst perfoming Castlevania games "like ever"? Or a you referring to Judgement? Because I don't see how Judgement's sales are in any way related to the sales figures of the 2D games. Btw. according to the same leak PoR's sales were roughly 250k, while OoE sold 150k (which was released in October 08).

 

[Cwarrior]

Give me NEW 2D IGAvania +sound track by Michiru Yamane + new sprites

 

[Beth Cyra]

Eh, 160k during the first three months is a pretty good number for a handheld game. Especially if you take into consideration that it largely re-used old assets. According to a NPD leak of January 2009 DoS was close to selling 300k units in the US.

Why do you think that PoR and OoE are the worst perfoming Castlevania games "like ever"? Or a you referring to Judgement? Because I don't see how Judgement's sales are in any way related to the sales figures of the 2D games. Btw. according to the same leak PoR's sales were roughly 250k, while OoE sold 150k (which was released in October 08).

Im bring up Judgement because of Iga's involvment.

As it stands when I talk about 2D Castle I think of Iga and his track record has been going down because of horrible flops like Judgement and DXC.

As it stands we know it got pretty bad for him, like they gave him tiny ass budgets and his standing wasn't very good.

Do you remember the cringe worthy way he presented Haromy and then introduced LoS?

It's just I had hoped that Harmony had given him a leg up considering it seemed to have done well, and the rumor he was working on a 3DS title had helped me feel that way but I'm just not sure they are willing to trust him to bring out another full fledged 2D retail title.

 

[Boney]

Judgment was a terrible idea.

It should have hewed closer to what that XBLA game was, but expanded out with a focus on single-player and with new art or what have you.

But IGA was one of those "lol why would you play a normal game on the Wii" developers and made a fanservice fighter (part one of going off the rails) that redesigned all the characters (part two of going off the rails) and then it wasn't even very good (part three of doing off the rails).

I find it hilarious that Castlevania became a fighter and Soul Calibur became a hack n slash

 

[infinityBCRT]

I am of the belief that I am not going to trust whatever Konami said happened with that game. They were more than a little suspicious with a lot of the goings on.

Mercurysteam even released the trailer that they showed off internally to konami. The same one that convinced Kojima that they should allow it to be a castlevania game.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Actually, IIRC, just after E3 last year, IGA made mention that he has a 3DS kit and wants to make games for it.

Maybe he was working on a Castlevania that got axed.

http://www.destructoid.com/koji-igarashi-on-3ds-kinect-the-future-of-castlevania-177441.phtml

Konami had also announced a slew of games in support of Nintendo’s 3DS, including games in the Metal Gear, Frogger, and Contra franchises. While there was no word of a 3DS Castlevania, IGA reveals that he does have 3DS development kit from Nintendo at his office in Japan. The tech, he says, has already improved -- what he saw at E3 is looking even better than what he had previously seen. He certainly wants to create games for the 3DS, but his ideas are still in their infancy; he still has a lot of testing to do, he tells me.

 

[Beth Cyra]

Actually, IIRC, just after E3 last year, IGA made mention that he has a 3DS kit and wants to make games for it.

Maybe he was working on a Castlevania that got axed.

http://www.destructoid.com/koji-igarashi-on-3ds-kinect-the-future-of-castlevania-177441.phtml

If it is indeed that Castlevania that got axe'd, it could be a 3D experince and if Iga is involved then your contact would certainly be right that we wouldn't be happy about it.

 

[Smellycat]

Kojima's involvement in the CV franchise pisses me off. I bet that he is responsible for the cancellation of the 2D CV HD game that IGA pitched. Stick to Metal Gear!!

 

[Busaiku]

Kojima's involvement in the CV franchise pisses me off.

 

[Beth Cyra]

Kojima's involvement in the CV franchise pisses me off. I bet that he is responsible for the cancellation of the 2D CV HD game that IGA pitched. Stick to Metal Gear!!

As it stands outside of liking the pitch and making a few phone calls he wasn't even that involved.

And if Konami cancel'd a 2D HD product just because Kojima liked a trailer then they have much bigger problems then Castlevania's future.

 

[Darkmakaimura]

I want a Castlevania like it's 1999!

 

[MYE]

I want a Castlevania like it's 1999!

???

 

[Busaiku]

???

Why are her legs 2x the size of the rest of her?

 

[Smellycat]

As it stands outside of liking the pitch and making a few phone calls he wasn't even that involved.

And if Konami cancel'd a 2D HD product just because Kojima liked a trailer then they have much bigger problems then Castlevania's future.

You are right.. I was just trying to blame someone.

 

[Anth0ny]

An HD Super Castlevania IV style game would be godlike.

 

[0 HP]

I don't want another Lords game after seeing that ending, fuck that shit. Bring Iga back or pay Treasure to do another game like they did with Gradius

 

[wrowa]

Im bring up Judgement because of Iga's involvment.

So... what? Why does it matter? Judgement's sales don't have anything to do with the sales of 2D Castlevanias.

As it stands when I talk about 2D Castle I think of Iga and his track record has been going down because of horrible flops like Judgement and DXC.

His 2D trackrecord went down because of Judgement? How does that even make sense? And why do you think that DXC was a "horrible flop"? It sold 35k in Japan and 200k in the US. That's not a striking success, but it's far from a flop.

Do you remember the cringe worthy way he presented Haromy and then introduced LoS?

And what does that have to do with anything? If cringe-worthy presentations are anything to go by no one at Konami would have a job anymore, after what happened at last year's E3.

Well played.

 

[LeleSocho]

You know what? i don't give a fuck anymore, they can give me a rom dump of all the 2d games without any enhancement just give me some Castlevania and i'll be happy

 

[Beth Cyra]

So... what? Why does it matter? Judgement's sales don't have anything to do with the sales of 2D Castlevanias.


His 2D trackrecord went down because of Judgement? How does that even make sense? And why do you think that DXC was a "horrible flop"? It sold 35k in Japan and 200k in the US. That's not a striking success, but it's far from a flop.


And what does that have to do with anything? If cringe-worthy presentations are anything to go by no one at Konami would have a job anymore, after what happened at last year's E3.



Well played.

I think it matters because it's call into questoin his ablity to deliver a game that will sell.

If you don't think it matters then so be it. Given his game was cancel'd and we haven't heard anything from him outside of Harmony I will continue to feel that way until proven wrong.

 

[IrishNinja]

I think it matters because it's call into questoin his ablity to deliver a game that will sell.

If you don't think it matters then so be it. Given his game was cancel'd and we haven't heard anything from him outside of Harmony I will continue to feel that way until proven wrong.

this, pretty much. taking into account what alberto's posted, and Konami's recent MO of basically shedding anything they think can't make nearly AAA #'s (Suikoden, etc), i think the writing's kind've on the wall, tragically. they're clearly dying to revive old IPs and bank on them like say Capcom has this gen, and have propped themselves up with MGS almost by itself.

I love Igavanias and really wanna see that 1999 war one too - nevermind how awesome a 3DS one would be - but Iga's likely sent the message to them that he's not the guy to be given sizeable budgets, so from a sales-age angle, wouldn't they likely see LOS as the direction to go in?
god, i hate myself for writing that. really wanna be wrong here.

 

[Big One]

Yeah Igarashi definitely needs to make the 1999 game. Whether you love the dude or not, he has a right to and it's absolutely necessary for it to happen. Unfortunately I'm not sure Konami considers Castlevania to be much of a major franchise anymore. At most all I can see is another Lord of Shadows.

 

[Riposte]

Make a crossover game called Metroidvania. Two birds, one stone.


(Also make it play like pre-SotN to spite all those shitty indies.)

 

[Smellycat]

holy crap!

I had no idea that the music from the cancelled Resurrection game was online :O

Have Mercy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIU3IdSp-yA&feature=related

Cartoon Disco:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqq244mqhbM&feature=related

Cartoon Evil:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KE5KGbsEoY&feature=related

Cartoon Jazz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfgAmt3Z8lA&feature=related


Are these real?????

 

[yggdrasil]

Time to lower your expectations, folks!

North American #PSN users, rejoice! #Castlevania Harmony of Despair launches this Tuesday, Septermber 27th! More @ http://goo.gl/6EjHp

http://twitter.com/#!/Konami

Oh wait. Sorry. BELIEVE!

 

[ShdwDrake]

Lords of Shadow 2 plz.

 

[Nora Kisaragi]

Castlevania? Hmmm.....

Here are my thoughts.

1.) They should do that Castlevania Symphony of the Night sequel, even if it ends up sucking. That cliffhanger ending man, that cliffhanger!

2.) Harmony of Despair 2 please, or more chapters because that game needs a chapter 12 conclusion bad.

3.) No Lords of Shadow, that isn't a CV game.


edit: SOTN has a cliffhanger ending (Isn't the only CV game that isnt actually concluded either..). I'm assuming they were going to remedy that with this now cancelled game

 

[brandonh83]

Time to lower your expectations, folks!



http://twitter.com/#!/Konami

Oh wait. Sorry. BELIEVE!

Don't care if it sucks. It's a new Castlevania something that I haven't played. When you're starving you will eat the shittest of shits.

 

[klee123]

Time to lower your expectations, folks!



http://twitter.com/#!/Konami

Oh wait. Sorry. BELIEVE!

Yay!

 

[Derrick01]

Lords of Shadow 2, please. The only Castlevania that matters now in my book.

Yup same here. Would really love a new more improved sequel.

 

[abstract alien]

This or another game like Adventure Rebirth

Although I liked it, I felt like they tried way too hard to make it seem retro. It didn't actually seem like a natural addition in the same way MM9 was to its older nes predecessors. I think it was the overall "cheap" look, and the music was way over done, but everything else worked ok. Had a good feel to it.