Lords of Shadow producer believes the days of 2D Castlevania games are gone

David Cox, producer of the Castlevania: Lords of Shadows series, believes that the days of 2D Castlevania games are gone.

[kagon01]

Guess what? DC I played your demo of Lords of Shadows and it sucks b**s. The atmosphere & gameplay were horrible for my taste as a Castlevania fan. The same feeling I got as Donte reveal for the new DmC...

[Snookies12]

I would NOT compare it to Dante from DmC. I'm a long-time fan of Castlevania as well, having played the originals on NES back in the day. Sure, the demo for Lords of Shadow 2 wasn't that great. However, judging a game on a demo alone is not wise. If it comes out and it sucks, well feel free to bash it. Wait until the full game is released though before passing judgement.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

I owned the original LoS at one point, and I feel that it got uncomfortably close to being a combo-focused God of War re-skin with a different story.

I traded it in and didn't regret it. If the sequel is along the same lines[all GoW combat and little free-roaming exploration of different huge areas], then I'll likely skip LoS 2 as well.

I'd give a lot to see Castlevania return to the Metroid-vania style of collecting and upgrading combined with free-roaming exploration of a huge castle or two...

Or, heck, I'd love to see a successor to Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow hit the 3DS or Wii U. That was one of the best iterations of the entire Castlevania line, IMO.

[NukaCola]

I heard LoS2 was weak but honestly the 1st LoS was outstanding

[Justindark]

DMC gamplay wasent messed with just the style. but this was altered beyond be-leaf

[SlappingOysters]

2D games are coming back in a big way - this seems odd.

[Remy_S]

I think there's still room for 2d downloadable Castlevania games as well as a triple A 3d ones.

[isarai]

Trust me, no they aren't, but neither are 3D Castlevanias, they both have an audience and can co-exist fine

[SteamPowered]

Castlevania can rock the 3ds anytime. They had quite a few good side scrollers on DS as well.

[WeAreLegion]

We want both!!! Is that so hard to understand? Same with Mario, Sonic, and Donkey Kong.

[KnightRobby]

I know right? We can have both. Release on a LOS 3 with improved mechanics, take cues from Bayonetta and the classic DMC games, and bring us an Xbox Live/PSN 2D game for $15 to celebrate the release of the 3D game.

Wow, I just planned ahead better than Konami, etc. Hmmmm...hire me please.

[SaturdayNightBeaver]

But you planned for Konami pockets , not for gamers :)

[KnightRobby]

SaturdayNight, I actually really enjoyed the original LOS but it seems LOS 2 will be a huge letdown. I just hope they continue the LOS games while bringing us 2D Castlevania's as well.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

If he abandons 2D Castlevanias, I'll likely abandon the series.
3D-type Castlevania is fine sometimes. I loved the ones on the N64, after all.
But 2D-type is the quintessential experience for the series.
It's where it began and where it always shows its best gameplay, and I think the series will suffer if it abandons 2D entirely.

[Skate-AK]

This is his last Castlevania game.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

With a statement like his, I should hope so...

[starchild]

You know what? I've played most of the Castlevania games going back to the first Castlevania game on the NES and they were good for their time, but I don't enjoy that style of game as much any more. I would take games like Lords of Shadow over the older games any day.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

That's your opinion and you're entitled to it, but I'm pretty much over God of War-vania.
I went into the game hoping for massive amounts of free-roaming exploration through a huge land filled with secret nooks and crannies that could only be accessed once I'd found the appropriate items/skills needed to access them, and the ability to back-track to any area I'd passed through in order to hunt for even more secrets.
But I got a linear combat adventure instead.
You can see why I prefer the classics.

[sypher]

They will always have a place I think. They can be made cheaply, and they are popular with Castlevania fans. So profits can be made.

As long as money can be made, they will exist.

And if you read the article Dave Cox says this. But he just doesn't think they will be a big mainstream hit like the originals were. Which i completely agree with. They serve a hardcore Castlevania audience. Article is using a misleading title for clickbait.

[kewlkat007]

Damn that sucks..I wish there was a company that only did 2D games...

I still have not played a Castlevania better than Symphony of the Night.

I might be nostalgic but 2D games have it's space..The Nintendo DS have done well with 2D games.

The problem is the "AAA" budget attitude and mindset. Do you really need to spend 100 million to make a good game these days?

We need more smaller devs working on smaller games that are magical. I'm happy Ken Levine gets it. Get back to making great games that are not over budget without all the added stress sticking to the status quo.

[mydyingparadiselost]

You've got the right idea, is to bad Konami will probably have to fold in on itself and someone will have to go to kickstarter with a 'Dracula Whip Man' game before we see another amazing 2D Castlevania.

[Inception]

I don't think so David. We've seen tons of devs who made amazing 2D games in this era. That's why i'm sure Castlevania can go back to 2D roots anytime Konami wants.

And i love 3D Castlevania such as Lament of Innocence or Lords of Shadows. But as far as i love 3D Castlevania, my love for 2D Castlevania are high above the 3D series. Rondo of Blood, Symphony of the Night, Bloodlines, and Order of Ecclesia are my favorites Castlevania.

Anyway, where the hell is IGA? I hope Konami not give him another cold shoulder like they did with Silent Hill and Suikoden team who got disbanded years ago :(

[WPX]

I think his(IGA's) team got disbanded. His last game being Castlevania Rebirth. I'll need to verify this though.

[Inception]

Ok, if you can verify that news about IGA, feel free to PM me. Thx u :)

[WPX]

Well I saw the "disbanded team" news at a forum post. but there is no evidence supporting nor denying it. This one is open for verification still.

What is 100% true though, is that IGA isn't involved with Castlevania AT ALL, sadly. It's now 100% Mercury Steam for now. He is still working for Konami, fortunately.

And another correction to myself, the last project he was involved with was Harmony of Despair.

[N4g_null]

Konami doesn't have any 2d talent any more. Every one is trying to turn gaming into movies that you pay $60 for.

[frostypants]

If it's not 2D, it's not truly Castlevania. It's just some game exploiting the name.

[starchild]

Blah, blah, blah... just the way the only true Metal Gear games are the old 8 bit ones? Screw those 3D Metal Gear Solid games, right?

I couldn't disagree more. Sidescrolling Castlevania games have been pretty crappy for my tastes for quite some time. The series would basically be dead to me at this point if it wasn't for Lords of Shadow.

[frostypants]

The Metal Gear series did 3D well. Castlevania never has. Stealth mechanics work better in 3D. Platforming doesn't.

[tweet75]

castlevania like many franchises that started in 8 /16 bit days have all their best moments in 2d sidescrolling.

[Paul85]

The 2d castlevania games are my favorites.

[ibrake4naps]

Loved the last one on 3ds!

[SaturdayNightBeaver]

Hard Castlevania fans that are mad with game going casual/mainstream and not liking it ,
Dave Cox has spoken: Deal with it loosers :)
Very sad, i know..

[gano]

You sound stupid as hell.
david cock didn't make it. this is another one of those
pass the series of to westernize the fuk it.

Los was garbage, lament of innocence was my shyt.
2dvania end when iga says so.

just like a good western silent hill is book of shadows.
lol

[N4g_null]

The west really is turning to shit it seems. All we know is Hollywood.

[SaturdayNightBeaver]

LOL why don't you read what Dave Cox actually said? Then call me stupid again..

In translation:

"Series are going casual and crappy so more kids will buy" Sadly that's how it goes today with games , hardcore fans are only few compared to those "next-gen kids" ..

I didn't want to stand by his side on that comment i made, if anything i hate what they are doing with the games the most of all.

[Mr_Luke]

I agree, those times are gone. R.I.P. Castlevania, i'll miss you ;(

[Tzuno]

wrong, wrong, wrong, just look at symphony of the night and tell me that is a bad game. 2D is always awesome especially with today tech, you just need to know how to use it to make it awesome.

[Inception]

Exactly. We've seen Vanillaware made the gorgeous Dragon's Crown with small budget. But it turns out Dragon's Crown is the most profitable game for Vanillaware. Or when ArcSys handle (contra) Hard Corps: Uprising. It has good graphic and challengin gameplay too.

The way i see it, looks like David Cox just bitter because Mirror of Fate doesn't sell and not receive well for the majority of Castlevania fans.

[Rynocirator]

Then I will never buy a castlevania game again because lords of shadow is just god of war/dmc reskinned...I want a deep rpg with tough jump puzzles and even tougher bosses not the shit they call castlevania now.

[DC777]

Castlevania was one of my first nes games and still one of my favorites. Not sure what happened to the franchise. Go back to your roots.

[linkenski]

The 2D castlevanias? Does he mean the only good Castlevanias? Those are gonna be permanently replaced by shitty 3D games?

[Tex117]

Yeah, no, because they can still deliver good experiences.

And further, sure LoS was fine, but I always felt in terms of gameplay, tone, timing, and thoughtful gameplay, the Souls games were really the 3D Castlevania we never got.

[Enigma_2099]

... tell that to IGA, ya cocky, Castlevania-of-War loving bastard.

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

Thats a stretch to say.

[BosSSyndrome]

Well 9 times out of 10, the 2d games have kicked the crap out of the 3d ones. LoS sucked for me.

[pleasuretokill]

Devs showing how out of touch they are with gamers here. Dawn or Aria alone are worth more than every single 3D Castlevania ever made or that ever will be made.

Keep that horrible LoS crap. Give me a full on, 2D, HD sequel to Aria or Dawn and I will purchase day one. I may buy LoS on Steam when it goes down to $2.99, lol

[BosSSyndrome]

Well DoS IS the sequel to Aria but yeah I agree. The only 3d Castlevania I enjoyed was Curse of Darkness. Lord of Shadow was lame.

[hano]

Castlevania is a 2D franchise

3d castlevania sucks

[Cryptcuzz]

I hope they continue to make 2D Castlevania games in the future. There is always a market for both 3D and the 2D versions of the game. I personally prefer the game play style of the 2D Castlevania games more though.

Better yet, why not make a 2D Castlevania game but using polygons instead of sprites.

Imagine a Castlevania game with the visuals of a game like Guilty Gear Xrd. It is all polygons, but damn, it is so smooth that it can pass as HD sprites.