I posted this at another topic, and a posted an earlier version here. So, i wanted to post it again.
Here's my updated version of Bloodstained Menu and Shard System Analysis:
MENU
The first thing to note on the Menu is that it is clean and easy to use. Also, it is cute and simple, i like it.
Miriam's stats are more or less the same from Castlevania games, we can guess that they work the same way
[ATK] probably Max attack power (probably STR + Weapon)
[STR] probably raw attack power (without weapon)
[INT] probably related to magical power
[LCK] probably
increases chance to find forging itens, shards, drops.
[DEF] probably
raw defense power
[CON] probably
max defense power (DEF + armors)
[MND] probably probably related to status resistance
There are the resist elements, that i posted before, and we can guess what they mean.
It may be something like this (updated opinion based on others)
| Cut | Pierce |
| Blunt | Fire |
| Freeze | Thunder |
| Curse | Holy
|
| Poison | Darkness |
| Petrify | Earth |
Slow down
| --- |
Ignoring the Cut, Blunt and Pierce, the first columm being stats-related, and the second one being elements-related.
About the Menu options, it is curious to note that there is nothing related to forging itens, maybe because it is a demo.
ITENS
Here, we can see that the item menu has several tabs, each one for a specific type of item. The first one is probably a "all itens" tab. The second looks like a healing itens tab, the third is really hard to guess. The fourth are key itens and the fifth are files, books, documents and things like that. That potion healed +50 HP from her.
As a curious last note, most Castlevanias from IGA had a funny thing about colors. At most igavania games, it was like this:
HP bar was red, MP bar was blue. HP Potions was blue, MP potions was red.
Now, apparently, they FINALLY decided to match the colors. So, now:
HP bar red + HP potion red, MP bar blue + potion blue.
EQUIPMENT
Here, we can see the equipment slots and we can guess more things about the game here.
First, did you guys noticed that the equipment tab is called "Equipment Set 1"? That means Miriam will be able to have "sets" of equipments, that you probably can change in real time, like A/B Sets from Dawn of Sorrow and the sets from Order of Ecclesia. The equipment slots also has some interesting things to notice:
[WEAPON]: Nothing surprising here. But, when the player changed the sword for those combat shoes, her boots also changed to shoes. Also, there are TWO weapon slots. Like Alucard, Miriam can probably equip one weapon per hand. Maybe there will be shields too?
[HEAD]: She is equipped with a headband that the player got and her looks didn't changed. We know Miriam will have some special equipment that changes her looks, but i guess this is not the place for it.
[BODY]: Armors. I doubt that equipping different armors will change her dress.
[ACCESSORY I & II]: Varying accessories. Maybe some cosmetic equipment will be equipped here.
[SCARF]: That is a interesting surprise. There is a specific slot dedicated to her scarf. I think her scarf will work like Alucard's cape on Symphony of the Night. You can change her scarf and that will reflect on her visual, changing the scarf color and looks. I bet it will be like this.
THE SHARD SYSTEM
The "Shard system" is probably a mix between Glyph Art from Order of Ecclesia (OoE) and the Soul Dominance from Aria/Dawn of Sorrow (A/DoS). Like the Glyph Art from OoE, not all enemies have a magic to offer, and like Soul Dominance, there are different types of shards and you need to equip them to use it. That idea where you would need to mature the shard first, in order to use it later, seems to be abandoned, or maybe just few shards are like that.
Again, the Shards have the same "Equipment Set 1". I think that is an error. It is probably that you can combine and change in real time, different equip sets and Shards sets. Or the equip and shard sets are linked, like Dawn and Order. Either way, we can see all Shards types right here, and can guess how they can be used and what they do. Also, they are color-coded, like Red and Blue Glyphs from Order of Ecclesia, and the Red / Blue / Yellow / Grey Souls from Aria and Dawn of Sorrow:
[TRIGGER]: Red color. Usable by pressing (Y). It is probably the most basic form of magical attack. The name implies that it is a instant-type magic. You pull the trigger and the magic "shots". Not only projectiles, of course, but basic magical attacks and effects.
[EFFECTIVE]: Blue color. Hard to guess what that is. We can't see how it is the imput, but considering the name, it may be some kind of power summon, that you can hold a button to use it or to activate it, like barriers.
[DIRECTIONAL]: Pink Color. We can see that from the Fire Cannon Shard. These Shards are activated by using the RIGHT ANALOG and RT button. Aim with RIGHT ANALOG, activate it with RT. Targetting magic? Cool!
[ENCHANT]: Yellow Color. Confirmed on a video, that this shard type give stats boosts and special effects and don't need imput. Like gear, you just equip and that's it. Aria and Dawn of Sorrow had a enchant soul type that had the same effect.
[FAMILIR]: Green Color. The name is probably a typo. They meant "Familiar" and we all know what that is. A shard slot dedicated to summon familiars! So you don't need to waste a Trigger or other shard to summon a familiar. I don't have any idea of what imput it will be, but it is probably one of the shoulder buttons.
FINAL WORDS SO FAREverything looks really promising so far. I was really curious to see how the game magic system would work and like what i see. But some questions linger:
Maturing Shards?I'm still puzzled by the fact that the Shard System has absolutely nothing on that idea that the shards would need to be "matured" to be usable. I think they dropped that idea. IGA said they where discussing that obtaining a power and not using it right away could be frustrating.
Forging Equipments?No sign of weapon forging or equip forging. But that is probably because it is the first area, and that ability will be unlocked later. Or maybe you can only forge equips at a special place, like a shop, Johannes's lair or something.
Not all enemies have shards? Powers beside shards?
The fact that Morte has no shard, makes me think that not all enemies have a shard, so it is not like Aria/Dawn of Sorrow. The game has 5 types of Shards, and if not all enemies will have one, the game will probably have A LOT OF enemies. Maybe you can obtain shards hanging around, not only on enemies?
Also, At one of the old updates, we could saw some artwork of some powers and magics. There was one called "Voltic Chain" (based on Gunvolt) , whose description was "Summons electrified chains to attack all enemies with electric volts. This is a special “seventh" ability—not a demonic one". Since it is not a demonic one, there will be powers not in shards? Or Voltic Chain and some others, will come at shards not linked to enemies?
Relics? or Ability Shards?All shard types apparently are based on combat and special abilities. There is no such thing as an "Ability Shard" or something like that, like the Ability Soul from Aria/Dawn of Sorrow, that could be turned ON and OFF. So, double jump, maybe wall jump and other progression abilities, necessary to explore the Castle, would be linked to relics? Of course, the game will have shards that will be necessary to explore too, but the question is if there will be a main thing for that, like relics.
That's all for now folks!
quack
yey