Bloodstained is an incomplete game (Full Game Spoilers)

Rather than unfinished, it feels that it was cut down mid development. gremory boss fight placement feels like it was tucked there , and they certainly startedreusing the caves assets with varying results, overall, i think that the fire and ice caverns were very dull looking areas that probably were put together as a mean of quickly expanding the map. and yes, Focalor is clearly cut.

the underwater sections also felt like they were just finished so they were there.

Also the story kinda just crumbles after gebel's fight because it feels that we are needing to close and tie plotholes.



I really wish they would add focalor, tweak the boring areas to a level similar to the good areas (I LOVE the cathedral, library and the gardens) fix the castle progression and if at least they don't fix the story... give us a way of at least but i don't think it gonna happen sadly
That being said.. i enjoyed the game a lot. so thats also why i wish they would fix and polish teh parts that werent as polished as teh rest of teh game which i loved. 

Did you ever play Chasm? It felt like the Chasm team designed the fire and ice caverns. Although it didn't bother me as much because the game-play is what mostly draws me to this game. I'm on my second play through and I'm not bored at all.

I had no desire whatsoever to play Chasm a second time after I finished it. 

I wouldn't go as far as to say incomplete (90 hours in and still not bored) but I do agree that there are signs of cut content.

I agree about Focalor, it just lines up way too cleanly.

One-off mooks aren't all that uncommon in IGAvania's pretty sure OOE had enemies that were restricted to post-game areas and there is one that comes to mind that only shows up in one room (I forgot the name though).

I also think there was meant to be a third-endgame area between the den of behemoths and glacial tomb but not for the same reasons you suggest, sharp transitions are things IGA has done before. My current theory is that it was a gambling themed area where you would fight Valefar while the Den would have its own boss. This is supported by some early info that bloodstained was supposed to have gambling themes which don't exist in the final game outside of Valefar and a backer room (which doesn't count).

The race is fine imo. It very much feels like something they designed so it could be put just about anywhere. Although if you combine it with my theory about the third end area then chances are it would be there as a sort of analogue to real-life race betting.

I do agree that Secret Sorcery lab is something that was made after the train. Like they knew they wanted to do the train but didn't really think of what to do after it, maybe in the initial plan it was meant or it to take you to the Den of Behemoths or something.

I don't think they'll re-add the cut areas and if they do add no areas they way to get to them will be the same as the Gremory portal/8-bit nightmare rather than as a part of the castle. 

Ok I need to get this down, so my current theory on the initial order plan:
Everything up to Valac is the same as the original plan.
Instead of Valac giving silver bromide, the secret sorcery lab (or its replacement) would be to the right of the towers
Then everything is the same till Gebel except you get aqua jet from Focalor after draining the blood fountain.
Instead of slashing the moon you would instead take the train to the final section which would be a gambling area, Den of behemoths, and finally the glacial tomb (albeit expanded)

Unfortunately this cuts out the photo ID thing (which I like quite a bit) since I believe Dominque is meant to be gone after the Gebel fight (instead of dissapearing after the Alfred cutscene). It also means that OD would be completely missable.

EDIT 2: Just read the backer artbook and 

I agree, to say the game is incomplete (excluding Switch owners, they have it tough right now) is not accurate. Each gamer will have their own take on what a perfect and complete version of this game would feel like, so it's a discussion that will never end. I think  you nailed it when you said you're 90 hours in and still not bored. That's a sign of a game on the right track. We really won't know how this game holds up until years later after development has completely ended. Right now it's still all new to us, so we're kind of on a cloud nine mindset until more time passes.

SotN also reused literally every room in the castle for the second castle.

Also some items on the concept art where not used. There was a black version of the Blue Rose, maybe the Valkyrie Sword and Blue Rose where meant to combine on a Alchemy. Also the castle size feels like the size of any other Castlevania castle.

Losing the book with Lili Maid:
I will take this book as conpensation.
Please, anything but this. I don't even own them.
Well too bad it's mine. This will be a fine addition to the treasure trove.
No, you don't understand.
Winners keepers, miss Miriam.

O.D. Boss fight transcript:
Human, stop.
O.D.?
What is borrowed from the Library must be returned to the Library. But you lost the book in a bet instead.
I am terribly sorry.
Sorry will not do, human. Death is too kind for you.

After Boss fight:
O.D.? How are you still alive?
I am a vampire, remember. Also, I won back the book.
Yes, I am really sorry about that.
No, you have defeated me, which means I am now under your command. Pelidge my shelves as you please.

Lili Maid after Boss fight.
That book was from the vampire? Why didn't you say so?
Did something happen?
He threaten to drink my blood if I don't return the book.
Well, you shouldn't have taken it.

Regarding the OP: The datamines from last year showed that Focalor was originally intended to be fought after the train, so you're pretty spot in in regards to him supposed to be in the game. Valefar was also supposed to be fought a lot earlier, which most people should be able to figure out as he seems *really* out of place in Den of Behemoths.