Konami’s beloved Castlevania sequence is again within the headlines for the time being — season 2 of Castlevania: Nocturne dropped on Netflix a couple of weeks in the past (and, spoilers, it is excellent). However the hearsay mill is operating, and it is pointing in direction of a model new Castlevania recreation.
Yesterday, Chinese language-based journalist and GamesIndustry.biz contributor Daniel Camilo has heard from “dependable sources” {that a} model new “AAA” Castlevania recreation might be revealed this 12 months (together with a couple of different notable sequence). And Portuguese web site GeekInOut has corroborated the rumours through its personal sources “with data of Konami’s plans”.
After all, like all rumours, these ought to be taken with a wholesome pinch of salt. However with the success of the Netflix sequence, final 12 months’s Castlevania Dominus Assortment, and the return of quite a few Konami franchises — the Suikoden I & II remasters, Metallic Gear Stable Delta, and final 12 months’s critically acclaimed Silent Hill 2 remake — tongues are wagging.
We all know Castlevania hasn’t essentially been “gone”, with Netflix largely selecting up the slack, and Konami often rewarding us with the odd Castlevania retro assortment — they usually’re all actually darn good. However, let’s be sincere, the final model new console Castlevania recreation was 2014’s Lords of Shadow 2, and the Lords of Shadow sub-series in itself was a reasonably controversial change in route for the Belmont’s storied saga.
In any other case, the final “new” Castlevania recreation we bought was a remake of Haunted Fort, included in final 12 months’s Dominus Assortment. The sequence has primarily been relegated to cameos and spin-offs, with Vampire Survivors‘ excellent Ode to Castlevania DLC and Useless Cells‘ personal Return to Castlevania DLC being the highlights.
11 years is a very long time to go and not using a new entry, and we have made no secret about eager to see the Belmonts make their grand return. Heck, with nearly each single Castlevania recreation truly playable on Swap, we would even be glad to see Symphony of the Evening get a port.
The factor is, simply how does Castlevania return in 2025? We’re certain, for those who’re studying this, you’d prefer to see the franchise make a return, however Konami has taken the video games in a number of completely different instructions.
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The sequence began out as a side-scrolling action-platform one — with a quick detour into some extra RPG-leaning mechanics for the second recreation. Then there’s the soar to 3D on the N64, PlayStation 2, and Xbox period. And Lords of Shadow (made by Metroid: Samus Returns and Metroid Dread‘s very personal MercurySteam) took a extra character-action strategy.
However Castlevania these days is most well-known for birthing the Metroidvania style due to that aforementioned PS1 outing with Alucard. Expertise, stats, ranges, and tools had been added, in addition to an enormous interconnected map and tons of hidden secrets and techniques.
The style might be the preferred within the indie scene, and there is no scarcity of Castlevania-inspired Metroidvanias on the market; heck, even Koji Igarashi, the producer of many Castlevania video games, made his personal in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Evening. After which you may have the glut of retro-style platformers with punishing issue.
With Konami not too long ago revealing a 38% enhance in income final quarter, what higher time to capitalise on its success than by bringing again considered one of its most beloved franchises? Significantly with Nocturne being a success with followers.
We now have to acknowledge, after all, that there is no assure a brand new Castlevania will come to Swap, significantly if the “AAA” suggests a graphically intense motion recreation alongside the strains of contemporary God of Conflict. But when Konami decides to lean into the franchise’s roots, we may very well be setting funds apart for a Swap/Swap 2 Castlevania title. Konami is apparently gearing as much as assist the brand new Nintendo console; what higher means than with a brand new Castlevania?
So, what do you concentrate on the current Castlevania rumours? Do you need to see Castlevania make a return? And how do you need to see Simon, Richter, Trevor, Julius, and so forth., make a comeback? Vote in our polls beneath and get discussing within the feedback.
