Messages to IGA

What's funny is that I didn't even realize that I missed a game like Castlevania in my life. Sure, for YEARS I'd been clamoring for a modern take on the classic 2D sidescroller. I'd say "the formula was such good fun, but someone needs to freshen it up by bringing it up to the 2016 standard." Better voice acting/writing, updated computer effects for spells/explosions/etc., smoother animation, and an improved user interface.

I'll say this itch was largely scratched by Rayman Legends. It's an insanely fun game, fantastically innovative, gorgeous to look at, unbelievably polished, and surprisingly challenging if you're aiming for top scores. I have nothing but praise for that game, as it re-ignited many of the gaming memories I cherished as a child. But as spectacular and enjoyable as Rayman is, my tastes tend towards the more mature. Beyond that, I love investing in a character. I like upgrading stats and gear and watching their story progress. I'm also a sucker for a character with style.

Funny then, that I didn't really bat an eye when I first heard about Bloodstained. Odd, since Symphony of the Night was easily one of the most influential games of my childhood. The atmosphere, the aesthetic, the music, and the beautifully refined gameplay. I leveled my Alucard till poor Dracula was (if memory serves) a 1-2 hit kill. I wanted to take him to 99, but abandoned the ambition when the toughest opponents gave me virtually zero experience. I think I was in the high eighties when I stopped. For whatever reason, I saw Bloodstained and thought "Oh, that's a nice little side project, but nothing earth-shattering in a world dominated by Witchers, Kratos, Master Chief, and Nathan Drake."

But then, the oddest thing happened, by tiny increments. One day I thought, "Hmmm, that's interesting, some of these character designs are looking rather stylish." Then "Oh wow! That new screenshot of the castle really pops." Then "Hey, those monster designs are as beautifully outlandish as I remember in some of the earlier games." Little by little, it started to come back to me. The visceral joy of shattering a lantern with a well placed slice of my blade. The way Castlevania monsters crumble, or ooze, or disintegrate. The simple pleasure of seeing that distinct "Level Up" text come zooming onto the screen. I realized just how much I've wanted a game like Bloodstained, without even being acutely aware of it. It was always there, somehow, floating just off the edge of my awareness, waiting until something like these promo vids tickled my intrigue.

What has always been critical to my gaming is art direction. For me, it's a close second only to gameplay. People will debate all day about the merits of games as art, but there's never been a debate in my mind. It was for this reason I missed and loved games like Castlevania, and why I'm now waiting with bated breath for the release of Bloodstained. The ambiance of working your way through a foreboding and dilapidated castle, calling upon creatures of the dark, cracking whips and swinging hammers, all the while humming to some of the finest music in gaming...I can't believe I was almost going to miss this experience.

Thank you, Iga, for resurrecting this vision, as you have raised Dracula so many times before. I have no doubt that an entirely new generation of gamers will fall under its dark spell. For those of us who are returning, it's like coming home. If home were a bloodstained, gusty castle with crumbling towers and moaning corpses... You get the idea.

Ask IGA

For next month's Ask IGA, he'll will be answering his favorite questions from multiple categories:

- Gameplay
- Storyline
- Development
- IGA / Wild Card

If you'd like to ask one, tweet @swordorwhip using the #AskIGA hashtag.

----------

My questions are:

- Will the difficulties be available to choose from at the very start?

- Will the Nightmare difficulty given us options to toggle on/off. Like double damage from enemies, items locations swaps at random, etc.?

- Will statistics, like damage numbers and name of the monsters be shown from the very start, or abilities obtained during game?

- Will shards grow stronger -or- evolve into something else if we collect more of the same ones? And if yes, how will you address the "grinding"?

- Are silly cheatcodes gamechanging (like tripple jump, infinite stats etc.), or just a way to spice up the game with visual themes like holiday events, falling snow, red water instead of blue?

- Will backer features like swordwhip and "Pure Miriam" alt. costume be available at start, or obtained later in game? Perhaps after defeating the hidden IGA boss?

- Are we going to obtain IGA's hat in the game?

- Will monsters and bosses have weakness towards some elemental attacks, meaning, even if a knife with fire, does more damage to the enemy rather than your really good ice whip when meeting an ice monster for example?

- Will all music be available on the official soundtrack, even the 8 / 16bit music? If not, will you give us the option to download it?

- Any thoughs on how familiars will work? Will we evolve them into other beings? Will they be of usage to reach other parts in the castle so we use all of them at least for a while?

- Will there be a save feature whenever I feel likt it, or just in special rooms?

- Are there any high tier end items and weapons that let us toggle around with colors and settings to make them a bit personal? Perhaps earning a prize lets us get our name on it, the name we chose before starting the game. Example "Enkeria Gin's Hammer of IGA".

- Are easter eggs related to the Castlevania series, or anything other? Like say... the kickstarter adventure? The whip itself are a strong easter egg that is confirmed.

- Have you drawn any inspiration out of the recent games you've played during the development of Bloodstained. For example Chasm, Axiom Verge and similar?

- Are we going to see an Alchemy book / tome of information about the monsters we encounter in the game? Perhaps lore, health, weakness and tutorials how to beat the boss for a sum of money would sufice?

- Will you allow community-made mods through Unreal Engine? If unsure, or yes, we would love to see a future patch that allows us for moding, post-launch, with a menu to activate those that are approved by the Bloodstained crew.

- Enviroment question: Will all places, even those on Galleon "Minerva", be reachable? A complete map is always nice to have.

- Will other playable characters have the option to change headpieace and weapons too, or will they be a bit more restricted?

No need for double post, we (and they) sees it. But it might be nice for the developers to take note perhaps.

Got any message for Iga? He will make a video VERY SOON and if you have questions, leave them here!

New posts are lit up for all members There are some reading here. And true, not double post. But anyway

Should Miriam always kick down walls for secrets?

Poll: Mostly says yes - Source

Question: Will Miriam always kick down walls?

looking forward to the switch version, cant wait to hear about these 3 new characters thatll be revealed soon ^_^

Counting Dracula..

1.. 2.. 3.. 4..

That made me smile hehe.

Welcome to the forums, enjoy your stay! Everyone that likes the IGAvania's world is a friend of mine!

Thank you, IGA, for making Order of Ecclesia. I hope Bloodstained will be a lot like it (at least it seems this way at the moment). Please, put more traps in Bloodstained. I always thought that Castlevania games starting with SOTN have too many enemies and too little traps. I think it's always nice to have one level with no enemies at all, but filled with traps instead (and some mechanical boss at the end). It adds some variety + enemy designers can take a break . Puzzle level is a good thing too (I liked Wallman episode in OoE).

Good luck!