Castlevaniafans receivedsome pretty exciting news last week.
His new game, Igarashi explained, would prove that the genre is still relevant.
It would seem Igarashi was right.
What draws us back to the Draculas castle?
This installment introduced new ways to explore Draculas castle and defeat the evil creatures creeping in its halls.
Most importantly,Symphony of the Nightshaped this genre by combining the games of old and embracing its oddities.
This wide range of choices also made the game naturally replayable.
And it fit right in with the games RPG elements.
Of course, backtracking is often necessary in these games to get 100% completion.
Metroidvania games lend themselves perfectly to the Gothic horror style.
Oddity Can Be Embraced
The gothic horror genre is inherently odd.
As we delved deeper intoSymphony of the Night, the game got stranger.
Enemies like Beezelbub and the Spittle Bone became more grotesque during a second playthrough.
It also doesnt hurt thatSotNis the most aesthetically-gorgeous of all theCastlevaniagamesespecially for its time.
Igarashi raises a question regarding the inherent oddity of the gothic horror genre.
He references the notion that publishers are no longer keen to back video games that are considered gothic horror.
These days, horror seems to revolve around zombie bashing, psychological thrillers, and survival games.
Were certainly not seeing a lot of gothic horror.
Gothic horror isnt an easy genre to produce.
Nostalgia can be a powerful force for developers.
We approach every game we play with nostalgia because it is always intertwined with our hopes and expectations.
We judge what we play by what weve played in the past.
But a great game cant survive on nostalgia alone.
That brings us back toBloodstained: Ritual of the Night.
Until then, there are always the halls ofCastlevania: Symphony of the Nightto brave.
