Wayforward is a studio that specializes in 2D platformers. They created the Shantae series.

It takes quite a long time to make a game. Development didn't even begin until after the kickstarter had ended. It was stated early on, that the release date would be sometime in 2019.

 

well this is a kickstarter project so if we follow mighty no 9s dev cycle, 4 years are spent on coke an hookers blowing your contributed funds, and a month or so on making the actual game with whatever is left.

so this seems right on schedule.

 

A large, detailed 2D game can take years to make. We just usually don't hear about them until they're pretty far into their development. Since this is a Kickstarter, we've been aware since before development even started.

Take a look at the Trivia section here to see how much thought, care, and detail was put into IGA's first Castlevania. It's easy to forget how much is really in there. And this isn't even a 2D game. It plays like one, but all of the assets are in 3D.

 

Quite a while. The prequel/mini-game that was released was good (although I don't care for the way the 'backtrack' option was explained), so I'm not worried.

 

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Physical And Digital Pre-Orders Are Now Live

Best Buy has an exclusive metal case.

Also there's the Iga's Back Pack DLC for $10. Its the previously exclusive backers DLC, who will get it for free still.

 

Here we go guys!

Just finished downloading from Steam and about to dive in, my spare time ill needs a saviour such as this.

 

Like @E. C. R. Former said in the Metroidvania thread, this one really needs its title changed.

I'm trying to be careful to avoid spoilers, so I'm avoiding livestreams of the game. Early impressions seem to be that this game has avoided the same fate as Mighty No. 9. I'm going to get it as soon as I can, whenever I have time.

 

I've clocked a couple of hours and from what I've seen so far, this was easily worth the wait.

Gameplay is spot on and the level design is ripped right out of IGA's other games. It's not an easy game either, anyone that doesn't have prior experience of CV or 2D action games in general is going to get wrecked once they get past the intro area.

Presentation is good. People are always going to bitch that it's not 2D, but it's easily one of the best looking 2.5D games I've seen and they've done a really good job of capturing the Gothic aesthetic. Bringing WayFoward on board to add that layer of polish was worth everything they spent on it.

Goes without saying that the music is great.

PC version seems to have a strange issue with multiple displays where it always opens on Display 1 regardless of which one is your primary, but I got round that buy temporarily disabling it with Win+P. Also noticed a couple of bugs with the subtitles during the talking bits, but aside from that there isn't any egregious jank that I've come across and it runs smooth as silk on my system.

If this holds up for the entire game then this will be an essential purchase for anyone into the genre.

 

I have to wait my Kickstarter was for the switch version and that doesn't come out till next week. Eagerly awaiting the download codes to show up in my e-mail.

 

I plan on getting the physical switch release when it comes out next week. I also like the majority of the dlc is going to be free. Also, this let's me see how opinions and all are going before i drop the money.

 

Good to hear positive stuff about this game. Got a week before i'll get it play it cause Switch.

 

Cool, how much is Target going to be selling the game for?

 

I'm loving it. I backed it for enough (way back when) for a downloadable copy and a physical copy. So I'm playing the game on PC while I wait for my physical copy on Switch.

 

I will buy this bitch twice on principle, on PC and Switch. Because it looks magnificent, and he didn't screw over his backers and fans with a crap game.

 

Regular price. $40. Didnt even seen it in the ads this week.

 

Ran out to Gamestop to pick this up yesterday, and had a chance to play through the prologue/ship.

Holy firking schnitt. I took to this like a fish to water. All the different weapon types are here; daggers, short swords, long swords, even a whip (take that, Konami  ), and those are just during the first few minutes. Interesting how guns have become a more legitimate option with their own dedicated ammo (in previous Igavanias, they seemed like more of a novelty than actually useful).

Miriam is basically a combination of Shanoa's looks with Soma Cruz's soul-absorbing abilities. I've always loved the randomness of the Aria of Sorrow/Dawn of Sorrow soul system, where every playthrough can be different just based on which souls you happen to obtain. Bloodstained's shard system is basically the same, with the ability to upgrade shards with materials and random monster drops. Plus all the crafting options...my head is swimming with the possibilities.

I can't wait to actually enter the castle  

EDIT: forgot to mention, so far the voice acting is very well done. Miriam in particular seems to strike the right balance of badass and compassion.

 

I'm a snob when it comes to English voice-overs of Japanese games. But in this case, my only complaint is that everyone talks very slowly, with generous inclusion of the Shatnerian dramatic pause.  

I have mixed feelings about the game's call-outs to CastleVania. On the one hand, this is a "spiritual successor" to CV and everyone knows that, and to an extent the callbacks are a delicious flavor of "fuck you, Konami, we brought it back without you." On the other hand, it kinda takes away from the game legitimately being its own new IP, and it's done often enough and obviously enough to be just a little distracting.

Examples so far include:

• enemies that act exactly like the zombie, bone pillar, and skeleton enemies (but look nothing like them)
• the main area to explore is a transient demonic castle, summoned from Hell. Seems oddly specific and suspiciously familiar...
• a ruined plush entry corridor to the castle, full of the not-zombie enemy, with dramatic music that is just barely not an actual CV cover
• a hidden room in the town that looks like a noteworthy secret room in Rondo of Blood. There's a breakable wall in the same location. (Rondo wasn't even one of IGA's games!)
• a giant fountain full of blood that looks like certain memorable areas from Bloodlines and SotN.

...and lots of stuff that I don't really want to spoil.  

At this point (about to fight the second boss), considering the nature of the castle, this could basically be in the Igavania timeline, but it's a weird episode where nobody can mention Dracula, and the returning enemies are wearing black sheets.

 

Which is kinda weird as Dracula is public domain. If they had mentioned them, not sure Konami could have done anything about it.

 

I know, right?

Hell, the Igavania version of Dracula has Koji Igarashi's own face, so Dracula could even look the same, and Konami would have a hard time doing anything about it.