Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Plays It Safe
Hey hey folks. In this video, I delve into the world of Metroidvanias, a genre that combines elements from the Metroid and Castlevania series. While many games claim to be Metroidvanias, they often fall short of the true definition. However, in 2019, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night emerged as a spiritual successor to Symphony of the Night, capturing the essence of the genre. I discuss its Kickstarter success story, where players contributed over 5 million dollars to help Koji Igarashi create the game they had been longing for.
As the protagonist, Miriam, a shardbinder with the ability to absorb demon powers, players embark on a quest to stop Miriam's friend, Gebel, who has unleashed a castle filled with demons seeking revenge. Bloodstained offers intricate map exploration, collecting shards from defeated demons, and a wide array of weapons, armor, and accessories to craft. I explain how the game incorporates elements from Symphony of the Night, such as specific shards required for progression and the potential for multiple endings.
While Symphony of the Night provided a significant inspiration for Bloodstained, I highlight how Igarashi drew inspiration from other Castlevania titles he had worked on, incorporating ideas like the Tactical Soul system and glyph-based abilities. However, this heavy reliance on past influences results in Bloodstained lacking a distinct identity of its own. I discuss how the game was deliberately designed to appeal to fans of Igarashi's previous works, aiming to meet their expectations.
Despite my personal enjoyment of the gameplay, I express that Bloodstained felt like a nostalgic trip down memory lane rather than a fresh, innovative experience. I mention the positive reception from fans, with some criticisms revolving around bugs and performance issues, as well as the lack of significant innovation. Finally, I express my curiosity about Igarashi's future projects and his potential departure from relying solely on past successes. Join me in this video as we explore the world of Bloodstained and contemplate what lies ahead for Igarashi's game development journey.
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Transcript: https://davegamethoughts.blogspot.com...
= Sources =
Kris Graft (Gamasutra) - A Bloodstained Q&A with Koji 'Iga' Igarashi
https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/3...
The Sphere Hunter - How Bloodstained Kept Its Promise
• How Bloodstained Kept Its Promise
