My thought's on 3D Castlevania...

[MrEco]

Before I get to the point of this thread, some back story. I never got into the Castlevania games when the series was still young (Mainly because I was still young), but a couple months ago I played about 3/4th's of the way through Symphony of the Night while staying over at a friends house. And I loved every second of it. So much, that when I bought my PSP one of the very first games I got was the Dracula X Chronicle's which has an unlockable version of SotN, and have been steadily playing it when I get the chance. I also recently played through Resident Evil 1 and 2, and after having a ton of fun with those I couldn't help but take notice of the similarities between the old style RE's and the 2D Castlevania games.

So that brings me to where I am now, having thought's on how they could make a 3D Castlevania game that doesn't have to be a cleverly disguised God of War clone (Lords of Shadow) or just plain terrible (All the other's).

In the old RE's you have to go around a more or less non-linear area and search for seemingly random objects that will be able to interact with the environment in some way to allow you to go on in the story. It's basically classic Metroidvania style gameplay, just with guns. So I'm wondering, why don't they try taking a complex maze like Castle (Much like the RE1 mansion) and lob all those glorified keys around for the player to find in the same old style of the 2D 'Vania games. Then have us play as a Belmont and give us a combat system more similar to Devil May Cry 3, or maybe Demon's Souls, to give it less of a hack n' slash GoW feel and you're set. The setup for the perfect 3D Castlevania game right there.

If you're reading, then yes, I do accept checks Konami.


So, what do you all think?

[Gamerforlife]

That sounds exactly like the Devil May Cry games

[Gamerforlife]

It's an interesting topic though. How do we make Castlevania relevant again?

The Soul Reaver games seem to have a Castlevania feel to them. I feel like other people may have already done the Castlevania style, beating that series to the punch. So now, it's left with no identity

I haven't played the Dark Soul games, but they sound a bit Castlevania style as well

[irixith]

It's simple, fixing Castlevania.

Take the focus off of combat and put it back on exploration with combat as a means to an end.

[Stark]

I feel like a Castlevania: Lords of Shadow apologist, but I think calling it a God of War clone is a disservice. It truly feels to me like what you're asking for. There is a lot of, "you can't get into this area, because you don't have the right skill". There are puzzles everywhere. Beating bosses, is figuring out patterns and attacks and not about mastering combos. Back-tracking abounds if you want to power-up health and skills. I absolutely cannot wait for LoS2 and hope it is more of the same honestly.

[Gamerforlife]

I actually think the first Darkisiders game had a few of the right elements for a modern Castlevania title. There was this Metroid-like influence reminiscent of the recent 2D Castlevanias. Also, we had a modern setting, but with demons, monsters and a gothic like feel to everything...which may be what we'll see in Lords of Shadow 2 as it doesn't look like it will take place in the past.

The problem with Darksiders was, again, too much God of War influence. I don't think that's how a Belmont should fight. Plus, it tried to copy all these other games too. One section it becomes a third person shooter. One section it becomes Portal. One section it becomes Zelda. None of that stuff screams Castlevania to me.

Take that Metroid style, keep that modern setting, but with demons and monsters every where. Add some rpg elements, but not in that stupid Elder Scrolls way that they did with Darksiders 2, but in a JRPG style. Maybe bring in a complex magic system like the awesome one in Eternal Darkness. The combat system should be something simplified. I'm tired of that Devil May Cry/God of War style combat. That's not keeping in the spirit of the old, 2D Castlevania games. We've already got the Devil May Cry series for that over the top, anime-ish combat in a gothic setting. The combat system should be something a bit slower and more defense oriented(maybe give him a shield). Belmont is a MAN, not a half demon super hero. Fights should be about SURVIVING, not flipping and jumping around everywhere and showing off.

Bring in a little survival horror influence and have Belmont be easily killable, forcing him to fight strategically and make the best use of spells and whatever items are in his inventory. Again, the Demon Souls games come to mind even though I haven't played them.

There should of course be lots of Tomb Raider style platforming with the whip essentially being the equivalent to Lara's grappling hook, like they did in Lords of Shadow.

Bring in all the classic monsters like vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc. but don't do it in that comical sort of style we see in the older Castlevania games. Make them genuinely horrifying and disturbing. Maybe give them disturbing new designs that re-invents them in some way. Let's see a touch of real survival horror elements here. The music should also feed into that. I don't want epic, movie music, but a soundtrack that creates tension. Lets have a geuinely creepy, Castlevania game. Castlevania meets Silent Hill

[Stark]

Bring in all the classic monsters like vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc. but don't do it in that comical sort of style we see in the older Castlevania games. Make them genuinely horrifying and disturbing. Maybe give them disturbing new designs that re-invents them in some way.

Did you finish LoS, it has all of this ^.

[MrEco]

Take the focus off of combat and put it back on exploration with combat as a means to an end.

That's pretty much what I meant to imply. I just added in the combat suggestion's because both of those games are known for punishing hack n' slash playstyle's and rewarding patience.

Bring in a little survival horror influence and have Belmont be easily killable, forcing him to fight strategically and make the best use of spells and whatever items are in his inventory.

That's another thing I forgot to mention. In SotN you died very quickly, which combined well with all the crazy enemy types they threw at you to make the combat more thought heavy rather than an action game.

[Nemoide]

I played Castlevania: Lament of Innocence last year and was surprised to find that it was actually pretty good. Is it one of the best Castlevania titles? No. But it held my interest, I had fun with it, and it had that Castlevania atmosphere I love so much.
I'm looking forward to playing Curse of Darkness at some point this year.

While Lords of Shadow was a decent game, I was let down by how not-Castlevania-y it felt. I'm really hoping the second one focuses more on a gothic atmosphere than "fight goblins in the dark ages" kind of a thing.

[Gamerforlife]

I played Castlevania: Lament of Innocence last year and was surprised to find that it was actually pretty good. Is it one of the best Castlevania titles? No. But it held my interest, I had fun with it, and it had that Castlevania atmosphere I love so much.
I'm looking forward to playing Curse of Darkness at some point this year.

While Lords of Shadow was a decent game, I was let down by how not-Castlevania-y it felt. I'm really hoping the second one focuses more on a gothic atmosphere than "fight goblins in the dark ages" kind of a thing.

Yeah, that's one of the things that turned me off of Darksiders 2 as well. I'm so sick of the LOTR vibe so many games have. I'm playing as death! I wanna talk to demons and fight supernatural shit, not run errands for some big orc people in some generic, fantasy world

It's so hard to find games with that Castlevania feel. Lords of Shadow only had it for one level, where you got to fight vampires in cemetaries. Darksiders 1 had it, then they kind of lost it in the second one. I miss Soul Reaver. It had that gothic vibe