Koji Igarashi Kickstarts Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (2.5D, backdash, 2018)

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that's great but it needs the wine glass smash as he says it's nothing but trash..
 
Rogue Legacy is currently on the kindafunnygames stream? I want to catch the Guacamelee speedrun, but I'm not sure of the timezone for the schedule. Does anyone know how long it's been going so far?
 
I dunno man, that image is giving me flashbacks to daggerfall's maps.

Honestly with more variable modules and artwork, one of those huge random dungeons would be awesome to explore. The problem with daggerfall is the lack of variety coupled with a horrible map system.
 
You simply don't see what they look like because they are that low-res.

They are a faithful representation of the anime style of the game at very low fidelity.

Nah, not buying it. Even if they were represented with anime character models, the atmosphere, tone and design/use of colors is entirely different.

This
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Feels nothing like this to me:

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There's a very flat, shaded, comic book style to the art of Bloodstained that I find very unappealing, where the art in recent Castlevania games is mostly much grittier and more interested in individually detailed environmental textures. The assault of bright colors just doesn't fit a gothic environment in my opinion.

This is why I wish they showed more than three concept art slides of the same environment before asking me to put down money of their game.
 
But that's exactly why most people do support them.

And if they want to, more power to them. But experimenting and creating new forms of gameplay is what I look for, not just rehashing what has worked before with a new coat of paint. It's why I'm a huge fan of Nintendo - and before you stop reading after how inane that statement is, yes, they rehash many of their biggest franchises, but they also do new things and create new concepts like Project: Steam and Splatoon. Do these concepts work? Not all of the time. But I'm glad that they are at least trying to change things up a bit.

One thing's for sure, if Miyamoto was to ever leave Nintendo, he sure as hell wouldn't start a Kickstarter for his new platformer, Excellent Giuseppi Siblings.
 
Reposting the higher res concept art someone posted earlier, maybe it should be added to first post so people can see more clearer look on the style.

They're using UE4 and only current-gen consoles/PC so if all goes right the 2.5D might even look better than this in motion, I'm hyped.
 
There's a very flat, shaded, comic book style to the art of Bloodstained that I find very unappealing, where the art in recent Castlevania games is mostly much grittier and more interested in individually detailed environmental textures.

This is why I wish they showed more than three concept art slides of the same environment before asking me to put down money of their game.
TBH I prefer the first art design, remainds me of Muramasa (one of the best games of the last generation)
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I won't buy it if it's not released on Nintendo consoles, good for IGA either way though, glad to see him keep doing what he enjoys the most.
 
Yes, I am curious about Inticreates' financials and how they manage money over a multi-year project, as it appears this would be. I've seen a lot of "responsible" KS things run out of money.

I have no qualms trusting Inticreates with money. They've made enough games I've enjoyed in the past for me not to be skeptical. We have no idea how Mighty No. 9 will turn out until it gets released in full but I wasn't one of those who were confused by the concept art so I didn't start vomiting blood when I saw the first footage. A lot of people's current anger towards Inticreates can be traced back to that and some of the ways Comcept/Inafune asked for additional funding later for other stuff people didn't feel was needed like voice acting. The TV series pitch, again a Compcet thing, also rubbed people the wrong way even though it was using no Kickstarter money.

Maybe it's just me, but not really feeling the choice of protagonist, it'd be one thing if she actually looked like a fighter, but it's another to have her dressed in skimpy schoolgirl looking anime outfits, just doesn't "fit" right to me.

Look at the Belmonts/Arucard, they always looked like they fit, like they were hunters vampires that came prepared in the context of the game.

This character looks like a generic anime schoolgirl that doesn't seem to fit within the context of the game world and what she's doing.

Just not a huge fan of over sexualized female protagonist that look out of place.

Still hope those that are helping get it funded enjoy it.

Generic school girl? WUT? She's clearly "patterned" from/an expy of Shanoa:

Shanoa_-_CHD.PNG


She's not exactly Shanoa but the inspiration is pretty clear. Like its fine if you don't like it but enough with the meaningless buzzwords (nor do all Castlevania protagonists fit the "fighter" motif like Maria or Soma).
 
Choosing between $150 and $250. I don't really care about the shirt, but I am a super sucker for boxes. An extra $100 for a box though...halp...

Why do the cool map incentives always have to be so high up? Same reason why I didn't get the map with the Torment kickstarter even though I loves them..
 
Damn, I am REALLY not feeling the 'concept' art style here.

Man, the art style in Order of Ecclesia was such a return to form too:

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latest


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Good thing the images shown are concept renders and that the art could change at anytime.
 
Does Igarashi understand english any, or is he just smiling and nodding with all of these white dudes around him on the stream are saying?
 
Ok so just so we're all aware, I'm posting this from the Kickstarter page's FAQ for my own peace of mind:

"WHY 2.5D?

IGA decided to go with 2.5D for this project for both financial and artistic reasons. All decisions in game development involve trade-offs, and for Bloodstained a 2.5D world built on Unreal Engine 4 was the right choice to balance development time, graphical fidelity, budget, and scope. [...]"


https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/00...9&w=700&h=&fit=max&auto=format&lossless=true&

Please note the "All images are concept art, not actual in-game screens. Not representative of final product"

We good? Everyone sees dat shit right on the KS page? Ok.
 
And if they want to, more power to them. But experimenting and creating new forms of gameplay is what I look for, not just rehashing what has worked before with a new coat of paint. It's why I'm a huge fan of Nintendo - and before you stop reading after how inane that statement is, yes, they rehash many of their biggest franchises, but they also do new things and create new concepts like Project: Steam and Splatoon. Do these concepts work? Not all of the time. But I'm glad that they are at least trying to change things up a bit.

One thing's for sure, if Miyamoto was to ever leave Nintendo, he sure as hell wouldn't start a Kickstarter for his new platformer, Excellent Giuseppi Siblings.

Yeah, I'd love to see more veteran developers turn to Kickstarter and do something that doesn't look like it's imitating their previous work. Even if it's in the same genre, it'd be nice if it at least changed up the setting some.
 
Are a bunch of people in here trying to convince themselves that Castlevania wasn't anime since basically forever (classic vania excluded)?

Because it has been anime since then... quite obviously.
 
I have no qualms trusting Inticreates with money. They've made enough games I've enjoyed in the past for me not to be skeptical. We have no idea how Mighty No. 9 will turn out until it gets released in full but I wasn't one of those who were confused by the concept art so I didn't start vomiting blood when I saw the first footage. A lot of people's current anger towards Inticreates can be traced back to that and some of the ways Comcept/Inafune asked for additional funding later for other stuff people didn't feel was needed like voice acting. The TV series pitch, again a Compcet thing, also rubbed people the wrong way even though it was using no Kickstarter money.



Generic school girl? WUT? She's clearly "patterned" from/an expy of Shanoa:

Shanoa_-_CHD.PNG


She's not exactly Shanoa but the inspiration is pretty clear. Like its fine if you don't like it but enough with the meaningless buzzwords (nor do all Castlevania protagonists fit the "fighter" motif like Maria or Soma).

Damn that character looks so cool.
 
$336k already, holy shit. I'm not backing this as I have little attachment to the historic Castlevania games, but I'd like Iga to do well as one of the progenitors of the genre. Hopefully it will fare better than Mighty No. 9 has done so far.
 
Choosing between $150 and $250. I don't really care about the shirt, but I am a super sucker for boxes. An extra $100 for a box though...halp...

Why do the cool map incentives always have to be so high up? Same reason why I didn't get the map with the Torment kickstarter even though I loves them..

I just want the art book but paying $150 for an art-book is WHOOOOOOOOOO. No. They can't make the art-book digital and put it on the Steam release or something? IGA plz.
 
that glass toss alone is worth money

That's really the plan for a lot of people. Pandering to disposable income folks with the only memorable cinema in Castlevania's storied life.

I sound too negative, but this whole thing smacks of a marketing department challenge of doing a lot with very little. I have to say they were very successful as this is on track to do a lot and help the director himself get to be more well-known. Leveraging his name in the genre now was a very powerful trick.
 
Are a bunch of people in here trying to convince themselves that Castlevania wasn't anime since basically forever (classic vania excluded)?

Because it has been anime since then... quite obviously.

OoE (The best modern CV game) took a huge step away from the anime influence.
 
They're using UE4 and only current-gen consoles/PC so if all goes right the 2.5D might even look better than this in motion, I'm hyped.
Yeah but this Inti Creates. What experience do they have in creating amazing high definition 2.5D graphics ? And Inti Creates is a small team.

Sadly, I have zero confidence that they can deliver on that aspect. Their most recent work in this domain is Mighty 9 after all.

Asking Inti Creates to make such a game makes no sense. They are great at low resolution sprite based 2D, that's it.
 
It actually looks alot like Muramasa, too bad it's not for Wii U, oh well...

That's what I was worried about. I know it's quite popular but I actually stopped playing Muramasa because I really didn't like the artstyle. Hopefully it will look different in 2.5D (for me).
 
Nah, not buying it. Even if they were represented with anime character models, the atmosphere, tone and design/use of colors is entirely different.

For all intents and purpose, it is a different game.

Just the fact that the game revolves around a curse that gives your body multi-coloured glass panels imply that it's presumably going to have a less muted use of colour, and closer to stuff like this :

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I get what you're saying, but I also get why the tone of Bloodstained is different.
 
Did you watch the video? They don't even need the half million. Someone else is footing the actual development bill for this project. The half million is just to prove that there is any sort of demand for this.

Its kind of skeezy.

I think that's a fair pitch. I mean this game actually having publisher funding would go a long way.
 
Man I would be so down if this was stage based like Castlevania 1, 2, IV, and Rondo. I love those games but really not into the exploration Castlevanias. Oh well.
 
Damn, I am REALLY not feeling the 'concept' art style here.

Man, the art style in Order of Ecclesia was such a return to form too:

Good thing the images shown are concept renders and that the art could change at anytime.

Honestly the non-concept art renders look like Hirooka Masaki art. Noses, coloring, and the drawings in general look similar.
 
Yeah but this Inti Creates. What experience do they have in creating amazing high definition 2.5D graphics ? And Inti Creates is a small team.

Sadly, I have zero confidence that they can deliver on that aspect. Their most recent work in this domain is Mighty 9 after all.

Asking Inti Creates to make such a game makes no sense. They are great at low resolution sprite based 2D, that's it.

I agree with you but after watching the stream I can't help it but to feel positive.
Not going to pledge anything though before we see the game.
 
I am sold -- except for the extremely shitty concept art.

I hope they stick to pixel art and make it more gritty. Don't want no fluo poppy vector graphics.
 
You know what would be interesting, A Igavania game, that has layered 2D maps.

Like maps on top of maps

Like in Valkyrie Profile for example

177021-valkyrie-profile-lenneth-psp-screenshot-dungeon-map-screens.jpg


Instead going into room after room traversing left or right, there were also doors into the background and foreground you could go into and it would be it's own separate map layer.

I would have liked another 2D game to use this style of exploration / map progression.

That would be great! Exploration in Valkyrie Profile was top notch, as was the soundtrack. Several time during the game I've found myself thinking "damn this feels as good as a Castlevania"
 
not gonna lie, I noticed them too and I didn't follow the KS. I was like "oh, here's the backer area"

Yup, character portraits from backers totally cheapen games. Was really disappointed to see it here. I'm totally ok w/ developer portraits, provided they fit the games aesthetics, because they MADE the game, but some dude who coughed over X-amount of money? No thanks.

You know what would be interesting, A Igavania game, that has layered 2D maps.

Like maps on top of maps

Like in Valkyrie Profile for example

177021-valkyrie-profile-lenneth-psp-screenshot-dungeon-map-screens.jpg


Instead going into room after room traversing left or right, there were also doors into the background and foreground you could go into and it would be it's own separate map layer.

I would have liked another 2D game to use this style of exploration / map progression.

I always figured something like that would be great for secret passages. Something that connects 2+ rooms that would otherwise require much more circuitous navigation. Maybe a secret passageway that the item merchant is using, which would explain why he can get from point A to B faster than you can, and if you pay him enough money, he lets you use his hidden network.

That one's free, iga :)
 
This might be the first time I ever use kickstarter. That Alchemist treasure tier is so tempting...

Also I wonder what they mean with this under the "What about Nintendo part":
That said, we've heard legends about a remarkable treasure hidden in the castle basement...
 
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