Castlevania is one of Konami's most famous and beloved franchises, and will be dear to any seasoned Nintendo player; games like Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, Super Castlevania IV and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow are incredible video games, and the series has enjoyed an especially fruitful association with Nintendo during its long history.
However, following the disappointing critical reaction to Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, Konami placed the series in stasis - until now, that is. Yes, we're getting a new Castlevania game - but before you get too excited, it's only coming to Apple's iOS.
Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls is set in a future where "Count Dracula has been completely destroyed", but "a single letter delivered to Genya Arikado... put an end to that peaceful era". The words “The Grimoire has run wild and Count Dracula will be resurrected” are written inside, triggering a quest to discover the author and solve the mystery.
As well as Arikado, who previously appeared in Aria of Sorrow and Dawn of Sorrow, the game features fan favourites such as Alucard, Simon Belmont and Maria Renard, and will have a focus on four-player co-op and competitive play. It appears to adopt the same side-scrolling gameplay seen in Symphony of the Night and the GBA and DS trilogies, but with 2.5D visuals instead of hand-drawn 2D. Classic tracks from the series will be included, and you'll also be able to bring the dead back to life using special powers.
We have to admit it all looks pretty decent - especially for a smartphone game - and given the high volume of mobile titles arriving on Switch, there's a chance this could be adapted for Nintendo's system in the future. In the meantime however, we can't help but feel a little disappointed that Konami isn't focusing on making this a AAA console release; the series certainly deserves that much.
You can sign up on the game's official page to be notified when it launches in Japan; there's no solid release date as yet.
[source gematsu.com]
Comments (69)
What is a Konami? [flings his wine glass aside] A miserable little pile of strange marketing decisions!
@Shiryu But enough talk, have a gachapon!
@Shiryu @EvrgrnCmln I approve of these comments
Yay, more Konami, that's definitely what people want!
Sarcasm aside, I respectfully request for Konami to shove this 2010-looking mobile game, and its extremely egregious microtransactions into the same place they pulled it out from!
As a huge Castlevania fan I can say this is an abomination and should not be called Castlevania.
Konami are miserable pile of shi... secrets!
Seeing as the game has zero involvement from Iga, we'll see how far it goes.
Like how Metal Gear Survive had zero involvement from Kojima.
Bringing it to iOS is a bizarre move though, from the type of game it sounds better suited to portable consoles than iOS.
I've flipped all the tables at work. I demand trigger warnings for all Konami articles regarding beloved franchises.
Konami's continuous absurdity should be compiled into one big encyclopedia.
Why the IOS for what reason? This game better come out on the Nintendo switch because I love my Castlevania games on the switch.
Konami also never comeback DDR home console.
They are keep making DDR Arcade with PASELI Online.
For some reasons, they start to ruin a Whole of DDR Ace songs.
So many Vocaloids, Toho Projects and Uninspiring songs invaded DDR Ace.
Konami...just stop.
Konami is a total shell of what they used to be. Breaks my heart seeing them doing this junk. Almost wish they would go out of business just so someone decent could buy their franchises and do something worthwhile with them.
@RupeeClock It's worth remembering that IGA was only involved in the Metroidvania titles (and even on SotN, he shared directorial duties with the producer, Toru Hagihara) so it's not quite the same situation as Metal Gear. Castlevania has had many people involved since its inception so there's no reason why it couldn't continue without IGA.
When crap like this is announced, i get more anxious for Bloodstained to be released.
Konami is so infuriating these days.
Sony probably paid for this to stay off Switch.
@Xaessya If that were true, the game would be on PS4. No, it’s just yet another boneheaded move by Konami. I know I won’t be supporting this garbage.
@subpopz bigger userbase.
"Apple must have paid off Konami to keep Castlevania off the Switch."
Even if it does come to consoles it'll be some cheap port.
I guess this is what we should expect from the once great Konami.
This looks slick. And it will come to consoles eventually if it's a success on mobile. They mostly do.
@eltomo This is expected now. They killed their best franchises. That is why we can't play new Silent Hill games. This is why they make casino themed Castlevania games.
They can't come back from this embarrassment anymore. Castlevania fan games are better than their current products. We should support them NOT Konami.
Konami has one of the best video game ip libraries at the moment. Sadly all of them are wasting away into nothing since their not being used.
Hard pass on anything Konami until the leadership is flushed out and replaced by people who care about gaming; or at least their consumers or even their products.
Reminds me of that Xbox live castlevania game.
@Damo He was the producer of some of the non-Metroidvania Castlevania titles like Rebirth and Judgement as well, he wasn't involved in the MercurySteam developed titles.
This would be one of the first Japanese developed Castlevania titles without Iga's involvement as Producer, which started early 2000s.
@RupeeClock The series began in 1986 - 14 years before IGA became series head. I think it will survive without him
Man I love Castlevania, but seeing stuff like "breaks my heart" is kinda laughable. Just another game I won't play, and I will play one from the series I like.
Makes about as much sense as Capcom's decision not to localize MHXX.
@Xaessya A joke is a joke, but sometimes it's overdoing it.
It's one thing that people theorize about there being a reason and money involved behind some decisions companies make (wow companies actually pay other companies to compete with competition, crazy, right?) and then there's continuously making fun of people. I know you probably don't intend any harm, and I found the comments funny on some posts I've seen but this does get annoying.
I'm not one to write the "Sony paid for this" kind of comments but regardless of how nonsensical they may be, it's a little inappropriate to laugh at what others say over and over again.
To quote a fat egotist, "Konami is Konami and Konami is the worst".
Konami is the company that continues to drive me crazy. They’re decisions when it comes to gaming are baffling. All the Metal Gear drama, strange decisions sith Castlevania, Suikoden series sitting dormant for years, the litany of problems with the Silent Hill series..It’s maddening.
F*** konami
We don't mind anymore Konami. You slapped our face sometime ago when you decided not to bring any games on console anymore. We're not buying your IOS exclusive title either. Don't try
@Jasonmd nuff said brother
I'd pay all the money I have to be at Konami's meetings, just to witness with my own eyes what kind of idiotic brainstorming gives birth to such ridiculous, half-assed ideas.
@Varkster There needs to be! I would call it "The self destruction of Konami"
What a stupid idea.
It's alright, I don't think they could even make a good game anymore.
I'm surprised it's not another pachinko machine.
That's okay Konami. You can have your smartphone game. We'll be more than satisfied with Bloodstained on consoles which will no doubt be more true to Castlevania than a silly iphone game.
Is it 2.5D? Hard to tell from the small screen shots on my phone, but it looks like it's just 2D. Which I actually prefer.
I wish the game matched the artwork.
It's weird thinking back to the 90s and what konami used to be. Kids today will have no idea, they'll never believe it.
@Grumblevolcano no Western MHXX left a big hole in my heart. Fortunately Attack on Titan 2 multiplayer has helped plug that hole for now.
Ah, yes, the perfect platform for a game series that's difficult even with good controls... Touchscreen only ios?
Maybe it's a joint venture of Konami and Apple to sell more iPhones and iPads once they inevitably end up smashed against the wall in sheer frustration?
Cya
Raziel-chan
It’s in the original timeline and not being developed by a group of jack a****?
@Anti-Matter Maybe it's because DDR doesn't sell well in all countries so they can't justify making it?
Your Drunk konami go home
I don't know what kind of drugs the Konami CEO is on, but it surely is the best on the market. If you ever want to know the king of odd behavior, look no further than Konami.
@Matthew010
What ??
Did you know if DDR was a Huge Success started from DDR 3rd Mix, back on year 1999 ?
Almost everyone knew what is DDR, there were also the home console versions as well (PS1, Dreamcast, PS2, Gamecube, Xbox, Wii, Xbox360, PS3).
But.... too bad. Konami decided to leave from home console started from PS2 (DDR X Japan & DDR X2 USA PS2 = Last DDR on PS2, DDR 2010 = Last DDR on Xbox 360 & Also the first, the last and the Worst DDR on PS3, DDR II = Last DDR on Wii).
Konami kept making DDR for Arcade until now. They started to stop providing Home console DDR on year 2011, after they released DDR X2 Arcade.
Started from DDR X3 until DDR Ace, Konami NEVER Want to release their games with newest songs on Home consoles.
Konami has ever released DDR on Mobiles, but just only for a while before they also stop made DDR for mobiles. They kept focused on DDR Arcade with its Online features to get a lot of money.
Not just only DDR they abandonded, Tongari Boushi to Mahou no Machi for 3DS was the Last games for 3DS , they left the Japan version with No English version localized.
It was also after year 2011.
The more ironic news that i heard from Konami, one by one their BEMANI musicians left from Konami, worked at different game company like SEGA / Capcom, even the Biggest DDR Music composer, Naoki Maeda left from Konami since year 2013, as well with her partner Junko Karashima (Together they formed as name TERRA) & both of them worked for Capcom and Naoki Maeda created the Rhythm games for Capcom with title Cross X Beats for Mobiles and Arcade.
I felt bad for Konami when i saw some Ex-BEMANI artists such as Jimmy Weckl, Hideyuki Ono, Naoki Maeda, Junko Karashima, etc left from Konami. Without them, DDR & other BEMANI games (Beatmania IIDX, Pop'n Music, GITADORA, etc) are Not same anymore.
Four player co-op on IOS?? Oh that's right, I forgot Konami had lost their mind these days...
I honestly expect nothing less from Konami these days. Hopefully if it turns out decent, it will come to Switch.
@Shiryu Honestly with full games like PUBG and Fortnite on mobile devices the time of oh mobile games are crappy time wasters and not real games is gone. With both PUBG and Fortnite on mobile devices it proves that you can make full console type games for mobile devices without sacrificee so it's not surprising now that gaming companies are looking to the mobile market.
Konami, you seem human and yet... what do you here? In all seriousness I wish Konami would outsource their IP. For CastleVania I'd like to see Yacht Club, Inti Creates, and Way Forward make a 2D and From Soft, Platinum, and Sony Santa Monica make a 3D CastleVania. If no real games are coming from Konami let someone else give their IP the love they deserve.
looks like konami realized iga left and this is their version of the bloodstained they cant call him back to make...go head and hit that little heart below
#F**Konami
So Konami making bad decisions?
Can someone just buy up all of Konami's IP's so we can get a company who actually cares about them?
That said, Lords of Shadow was an awesome game, screw the haters. Gabriel's story was so damn gut wrenching and made me actually side with Dracula. They royally screwed him over!
I can't comment on the sequel, because I never finished it and stopped playing once I hit the modern setting.
Me when I first saw this title: Yay!
Sees that it's being produced for IoS: Booo!
Did I just read Genya Arikado? Are we meant to understand that they're going back to the old timeline now? No more Lords of Shadows nonsense? We're back to the old canon?
Obviously Tim Cook paid Konami so this would stay out of Switch
Wtf? And even i thought Konami can't go worse than it is. So many choices from ps microsoft switch and they go and do this I would love to play this game but on a phone pfff pass. Hope it fails on sales.
Retro gaming is an incredible palette cleaner at times like this. It allows one to live in a world where Konami are still the developer cherished the world over for their astoundingly good arcade games and home console titles. The jingle on their logo still sending tingles of joy down my spine. You can keep this modern world with this imposter bearing a mighty gaming God's name.
It's so sad that Konami has abandoned traditional consoles. A new Castlevania on the switch would have just printed money for them.
Then again, should this be a gorgeous looking husk of a castlevania game used as cynical bait for microtransactions, they can keep it.
Time will tell....
@Tasuki
you still sacrifice control. sure iphones can run real games but without real controls most are just bad.
unless apple is bringing out a controller dock for the phone/pad. i don't see it working though. peripherals are notoriously hard to sell mainstream.
Unplayable without d-pad, I guess?
@BensonUii strangely admitted that i would buy it
A wise man once said: Ah, poop!
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