Video: Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night Launch Trailer Shows Off Shovel Knight Collab

polemic comment: shovel knight > hollow knight

is it me or does Shovel Knight's head look kinda small? Otherwise I am still not convinced to buy this game after all the delays. It still seems to lack polish. Gonna wait for reviews. Bloodstained the 8-bit game by Inti Creates was awesome, though

Yeah, the moment I saw that foot, I knew it belonged to a Konami executive, too. /s

Better not to jinx it, but the game IS in my plans for this week's payday.

@NintendoPete I can't agree more with you man... actually ill go further, if I have to choose between shovel knight on his own game, in smash or this version, his version is by far the best IMO... and yes, me too ill wait for reviews.. but i haven't played yet bloodstained, but i'm looking forward to it

Wow, now I’m hyped. That’s one of the most oddball trailers I’ve seen in a while and I love it.

Nice trailer but a bit... presumptuous maybe? I don't know. Something doesn't feel right about hyping some features that we are already getting in other (very good) games. Also, hyping ''13 DLCs'' seems a bit too much for what's actually being offered. I know those extra features sound nice but at least 4 or 5 of those would simply count as a normal DLC pack by other developers.

That's not Shovel Knight

The gritty 'Bomber Man Zero'-esque makeover Shovel Knight got to fit in with the aesthetic of this game is pretty funny.

@NintendoPete Same.

Curse of the Moon was better than it had any right to be. Ritual of the Night is going to have to really impress to outshine that retro jewel for me.

Very cool. Really hope this reviews well as despite all the turmoil I think it looks great.

I didn't think I could get more hyped for this game. I was wrong.

@rex_rex
Shovel Knight = one of the best indie games I've ever played
Hollow Knight = one of the best games I've ever played, period
So for me, Hollow Knight > Shovel Knight

I can dig it.

@NintendoPete

Can't unsee this.

I really wish the game was out for Switch now. Even though I could get it for Steam or PS4, I need my IgaVania on handheld and I need it yesterday...

@OorWullie judging by your comments it seems a tie, isn't? i know both of them are superb! im in the middle of hollow knight.. but between shovel, hollow, celeste, necrodancer, wargroove (in the middle as well), overcoocked and finally lovers in a dangerous (allll the indies I've played... i go of with the knight with a shovel! uahuahua

Who you calling pinhead?

@NintendoPete Maybe this is his Hulk Armor? Just a little man in a big suit of armor. (I know it's a stretch I need to justify that tiny head.) lol

The game looks good but sadly I won't buy it on Switch because of the lower resolution and framerate. Normally that doesn't bother me but I feel like the programmers were just lazy this time and didn't want to optimize it. PS4 wins this round.

I'm sorry for having doubted Iga at the time of the Kickstarter.

This feels more like a crossover with DLC Quest. I wonder why the ability to jump and to use a weapon aren't listed in the DLCs...

Glad the game is finally coming out and that it won't end up like Shenmue 3 and Mighty No. 9.

@N8tiveT3ch I immediately thought that it was a tiny Shovel Knight controlling a giant mech armour made to look like his body. I shall not be persuaded otherwise.

@OorWullie Oh man, Shovel Knight is an ace addition but if they added the Hollow Knight as a playable character that would be the greatest!

I had this preordered but canceled it. Not sure yet if I'll pick it up. It looks good but I'm not sure I'm down to grind alot. Early impressions on youtube were that of having to grind a ton. I'll wait a couple days after it's release to see if price drops on Amazon and I'll grab it.

@N8tiveT3ch It's not too farfetched; King Pridemoor dons a giant suit of armor in the trailer for King of Cards, so it makes sense that Shovel Knight is doing the same thing here.

Is there a game Shovel Knight ISN'T in?

They're in full marketing mode, but all those features won't erase how poorly the Kickstarter was handled, in my opinion. I found the whole thing quite messy and disrespectful to backers. It should not have taken 3.5 years to determine that they couldn't do Linux and Mac, despite being day-one promises and not stretch goals. And not offering refunds, which was due to their own incompetence, was a slap in the face. They were also happy to dangle exclusive content when it was time to entice people to pledge, but they couldn't be bothered to stick to it. That doesn't even affect me, but I found it a shady move and think people are right to be angry about it. So I went from being excited when this thing was announced to not wanting to ever deal with Artplay and 505 ever again.

Feels like I kickstarted this game a decade ago. I am glad they gave a choice to switching my backing from the Wii U to the Switch.

I can't wait to play this, first I need to finish swords of ditto (having a blast with it, currently in the 5th era). Bloostain Curse of the moon was great, I can't wait to play this.

Oh, and.... Hollow knight > shovel knight, really can replay both for years and years to come

At this point, Shovel-Knight can be seen as the King of Cameos and not the King of the Indie scene.

@NintendoPete It sounds like it will still run at half the frame rate on Switch compared to PS4 and Xbox 1. That's garbage if you ask me. I want to play it on Switch, but with choppy graphics!

@mrmememan But he's holding a shovel though.

@Synthatron_Prime Wow, I didn't know they reduced the resolution and also halved the frame rate. That's pathetic!

@60frames-please Yeah. Portable is 720p obviously which is good but docked is 720p dynamic which is a disappointment. Along with 30 fps in both modes. I find that just plain lazy.

It sucks to say this because Switch is my favorite system ever, but Curse of the Moon is going to be the far better game on Switch. Ritual of the Night is choppy and ruined on Switch. I really really hope they can patch it to run at 60fps. Although even then, all the cartridges will have the choppy game on them and would need online updates to run properly. Such a huge bummer!!!

@Synthatron_Prime It is lazy. It reminds me of Mark of the Ninja, which ran at 60fps on a system from like 15 years ago, then 30fps on Switch. At least there are other games where the reverse is true, like Ms Splosion Man and the upcoming Castle Crashers.

Wow, he seems to harbor a bit of a grudge against Konami. I wonder if there's other underlying reasons they gave him the boot after watching that?

@60frames-please @Synthatron_Prime This is the first I'm hearing about that. I can't find a source, can you link one that has the differences?
If they got sloppy, I'll skip the Switch version.

@Cotillion No problem. I was disappointed.
https://nintendosoup.com/bloodstained-ritual-of-the-night-runs-at-720p-30-fps-on-switch-in-both-docked-and-undocked-modes/

The last last tune isn't from Child of Light??

@60frames-please @Synthatron_Prime That's the problem with a lot of new games coming to Switch. A majority of them were not created with the Switch in mind but instead was created with the more powerful systems in mind so when it got ported to Switch, performance had to be sacrifice for Switch to run it. Had the game was made with the Switch in mind and then optimized for the other systems it would had been a lot better cause then the game would be created with the best performance on Switch but with slightly better results on the other platforms.

Fortunately it makes sense for this game to suffer on the Switch as it was never developed with the Switch in mind cause when it originally Kickstarted, the Switch didn't exist yet. Still with the game having multiple delays and WayForward helping them it shouldn't have this problem, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero came out the same way through Kickstarter and runs great at 60fps in 1080p dock and 720p handheld mode and the game didn't see any delays plus it was on more platforms than Bloodstained and not a single one of those were cancelled either. Really disappointing indeed with the Bloodstained situation.

This discussion about worse version for switch is old. I have only the switch option and this information about framerate is useless. If the game runs consistently thats enough.

@retro_player_22 It was originally planned for Wii U which is weaker so I don't give them a pass. Also you pointed out a great example in your post and there are others such as Hollow Knight. It's not bad to get 30fps and 720p. The game will still be fun but it's disappointing. At least be 60fps. That can affect gameplay.

@retro_player_22 So if I just hold a Shovel, I can become Shovel Knight?

@SuperNoob It will be fine, no doubt. Especially if that's your only option. Its not mine so I'll do as different version. I did want it on Switch though.

@mrmememan You had to be a knight though otherwise you'll just be a shovelguy.

@Synthatron_Prime Thanks for the quick reply and source. I hadn't heard anything about this and in light of it I think I'll pick it up on Steam instead.

@SuperNoob It may be useless for you, but it's good information for those of us with other options.

I don't get why it's delayed ...

@retro_player_22 I'm fine with being Shovel Guy

@rex_rex I was going to say it’s not a polemic statement, because you are literally the only person in existence that would say Shovel Knight is greater than Hollow Knight. Then I see 5 likes on the post. This madness is worse than I first thought!

@60frames-please

Really? Why shouldn't such a game run at 60frames ? That would be hilarious if it turns out to be true. Switch is more than capable to run a Metroidvania at 60 frames. That would be a no go for me just like Sonic racing or crash team racing

@nkarafo yeah! i was thinking that too. Which is a Ubisoft game... what’s the connection?

@Cotillion We did have an issue at the show with the Switch version that drew a lot of backer discussion. Due to the way the consoles were kept inside closed containers for the demo, there ended up being a significant overheating issue. This caused the game to drop frames and not run as smoothly as we would have liked. That same build (as well as subsequent ones) is much more stable when the console isn't overheated. There have also been optimizations since the show to prepare for console submission (an ongoing process).

With that said, here are the launch stats for the game on Switch.

Undocked: 720p (fixed) / 30 fps

Docked: 720p (dynamic) / 30 fps with additional effects / visuals, etc.

@Cotillion I couldn't get my phone browser to highlight the link, so I copied the words!

@Ryan_Again I really don't know....

I got the game early yesterday. Really liking it so far

I got it on GoG right now (kickstarter backer, for both GoG and Switch), and to me it has the true Castlevania vibes. The game is really good.

I couldn't wait. Opted for PC. Plays pretty lovely 1440p @ 144 fps. Worth every penny. I am using my 8bitdo sn30 pro in my switch's honor.

@acachewowow I'm actually using my Switch Pro controller over BT

Day 1for me I really need This!!!

@nkarafo I think so too! Aurora playable character DLC confirmed!

Honestly feel like i’ve been waiting forever for this and Playing Curse of the moon and the Castlevania collection (as fun as they were) just made the itch to play this that much worse! If Konami would now release SOT on the Switch I would be a happy boy!

@Goku1978 Hell yeah, Symphony of the Night NEEDS to come to Switch!

The 720p 30 docked revelation is news to me. That's a huge bummer.

Honestly, i love shovel Knight, but they have shoehorned him into so many games it just doesn't hold any appeal anymore.

Besides, he really doesn't fit in this game at all.

As for Bloodstained, it looks super cool, Castlevania is my third favorite franchise ever.

@Synthatron_Prime that blows, but I already pre-ordered so there's no backing out now. Which is a shame, cause I intend to double dip, now I kinda wish I waited for a discount on the Switch version instead.

However, I don't think the frame rate is going to be a major issue , Bloodstained doesn't look any faster than the DS Castlevania games, and those played perfectly fine on 30 FPS.

The resolution tough, that's just lazy.

@60frames-please I'd rather get the handheld titles.

SotN has a port history fit to rival RE4, while the handheld games are still stuck on their original systems, which blows because most of them are as good as SotN and in a lot of ways better.

@NintendoPete At one point in development they revamped the graphics. I suspect that was when Switch got dropped to 30fps. It sucks. I don't program, but I know it can be hard to get a nice looking high resolution 2D game running at 60fps on Switch. Mark of the Ninja and Wulverblade are two examples of games I'm sure the developers would've loved to have running at 60fps but they couldn't manage it.

@Starcakes Yeah, I would instantly but a collection of GBA and DS Castlevania games, and I even have some of the original carts. It would be nice if they would even just release one of the classic Castlevania games from GBA or DS on Switch!

@Zeraki It massively sucks!! I'm so excited about this game, but don't want to play it on some bulky system that must be attached to a TV or monitor. I really really hope they can patch in a performance mode that runs at 60fps with lower resolution and/or lower polygon counts (I assume everything in this 2D game is polygons, maybe there are sprites in there?)!!

@Zeraki I might buy it to play on my friend's PS4. I won't ever buy it on Switch if it's not patched up to run smoothly.

@Starcakes the DS games all run at 60fps. Almost every 2D game ever runs at 60 fps. It is ridiculous that we are getting 30 fps 2D games on a system as powerful as Switch! In my view there is no excuse for games like Kirby and Ritual of the Night to be running at 30fps. I wish they would just use sprites and make the games run smoothly. It would be more fun.

@Cotillion Yeah, it might not matter at all to someone who doesn't seem to see any difference between 30fps and 60fps, but for me it's the one piece of info I want more than any other about a game. Whether a game is fun or not is subjective. I'm happy to read lots of reviews and collect opinions, but frame rate is objective and I know exactly what is what when a game is 30 vs 60. I also like to know when a game is constantly dipping from 60. Hyrule Warriors wore me out on Switch. After an hour of judder I ended up selling the game. It should've had a 60fps mode like Fire Emblem Warriors did.

Who is the third playable character? Is it Shovel Knight? heheh

@SuperNoob I'm sure you'll have fun with it. If 30fps is fine with you then you'll probably love the game on Switch. I'm just bummed because I've been very excited for this game and I really only want to play it on Switch. Then, since it runs at 30 I know I won't be happy with it. 60fps makes a huge difference to me. Anyways, enjoy the game!

I will wait for reviews and a patch or three. I keep reading that the combat is "janky" and that doesn't sound like being on the same level as Castlevania SOTN to me at all.

@N8tiveT3ch That's exactly what I thought. Well I thought more of Transformers Headmasters but same thing. As if he could just jump out and there would just be a huge set of armor with no head which would explain why his head is so disproportionate to the rest of his body.

@nkarafo Yeah what’s up with that? I knew that song sounded familiar. Good catch.

@NintendoPete They decided to go the same way Blade Strangers did, make Shovel Knight the big guy. Which is ironic considering he looks more like a dwarf in his own game (being short and squat and with a penchant for digging).

Now I wait for a cameo in a Zelda game.

@60frames-please Really? Damn, the heck were they doing with this game? It's not like it reached it's originally intended launch window when the Switch was brand spanking new, they had the time to properly optimize it.

That puts a major hamper on my mood, well, I'll guess it will atleast make the wait easier. Hopefully my eventual run on PS4 won't ruin my enjoyment of the Switch version which is the one I got the steelbook for.

Thanks for the clarification free of smug condescension, those are generally hard to find these days.

Regarding the handheld titles, I thought they were fantastic titles that vastly improved upon what SotN stablished, while simultaneously each maintaining a solid identity, which is why it really blows that they aren't talked about more unless you are on /v/ levels of game nerdiness.

Re-releasing them would do wonders for them, but I am not holding my breath because Konami is Konami.

The trailer kinda made me sad, all those free DLCs are great, but to think we used to consider most/all of those regular modes included to a game years ago...
Then again it's a perfect jab to Konami that indeed proved to be incline to turn into paid DLC anything that shouldn't even be "additional content" to begin with.

The Switch version is by all accounts an utter disaster, so avoid it at all costs. Unfortunately for Kickstarter backers who chose the Switch version before the scale of its ineptitude became clear, we're stuffed.

I can only imagine what state the (now cancelled) Vita and Wii U versions would have been in.

@Starcakes Every 2D Castlevania game ever made (including the DS ones) were 60fps.

30fps is a game killer for anything 2D.

@McDerbert LOL!! you see, it's a tough fight man!! again, I really like hollow knight.. but shovel is even in smash! uhauahaua! my two favorites assist trophies, him and Alucard!

@graysoncharles but how about you??? shovel or hollow?? hehehe

@rex_rex

You're a wrong 'un

8 bit mode should have had her 8-bit pixelized with the rest of the game., other than that one small slight dissapointment basically undoing 8 bit modes retro pull. The trailer looks dope, and i cant wait to play this game! X)

@Starcakes Yeah, it really should run at 60 on Switch.
No problem, I get frustrated when there is lack of understanding about what 60fps is, but if people can't watch something like Digital Foundry's video on "Daytona and why 60fps has always mattered" and understand it, then I won't be able to clear it up for them! I don't want bitter fighting, just smoother graphics.
I agree. Castlevania 2(because it's nostalgic for me), Symphony of the Night, and all the GBA and DS Castlevanias are my favorites. Those portable titles are all classics. I wish they'd never stopped making them. A 2D sprite based game on 3DS (with 3D stereoscopic visuals running at 60fps like Steamworld Heist or the Streets of Rage 3D remakes) would've been so awesome. Actually, I badly want a Castlevania like that along with Metroid. If only Samus Returns had been sprite based and 60fps with 3D like Shantae and 3D classics like Kirby, Sonic, and Streets of Rage...

@60frames-please All valid points. Also, I see someone decided to go through and dislike almost all of your posts, lol. Fanboys gotta fanboy despite logical, non-abrasive comments.

@Synthatron_Prime Thanks. Yeah, I can see how it I didn't notice the difference between 30 and 60 I'd be annoyed that anyone was talking about it or constantly mentioning it. Like, why are you trying to get games to change in some incomprehensible or useless manner?!

CANT WAIT! My friend bought it for PlayStation 4 while waiting for his switch version and has told me it is amazing so far. He’s also already started to collect food items like in Castlevania. 😂
We made a joke there should be a “Charcuterie tab” in the beastiary lol

@retro_player_22 what’s wrong with Shenmue 3? That’s coming along extremely nicely by the looks of it unless I’m missing something...?

@ramu-chan I've already been corrected, but thanks for the clarification anyways.

@ChromaticDracula People are really mad at it because it decided it would be an Epic Store exclusive despite promising a Steam release to backers.

@60frames-please If I am being honest, I have a very, very hard time telling 30 from 60 fps unless it's constantly shifting between the two or, god forbids, it goes below 30 cough any fromsoftware game cough

The harsh truth is that Castlevania's sales never matched the sheer weight of it's legacy, and the franchise was reaching critical mass anyways because the timeline was filled to capacity.

It still blows tough, I would have very much rather taken 1-2 more metroidvanias over the lack luster Lord's of shadows and the just downright trash Lord's of shadows 2.

Saddest part being that it felt like a franchise that still had tons of vigor in it, Order of Ecclesia is possibly my favorite entry because of the sheer number of new ideas it had while polishing the existing formula, not to mention it's art direction and story are also possibly the best in the franchise.

Seeing a team that was clearly still full of ideas and passion get it's wings clipped like that is a tragedy almost as sad as what happened with team silent.

Screw Konami, seriously.

@OorWullie They are both indie games lmao. They are both cool in their own way.

I'm with everyone else.....where on earth is the idea that the foot belongs to a Konami exec coming from? Nothing in this video suggests the character is implied to be related to Konami. That's just a bizarre correlation unless a lot of us are missing something here.

That said, I pre-ordered this after E3. I've been waiting for this game since the days when we got articles about Project Cars on Wii U, and news articles about what game is not coming to WiiU on a daily basis. 2012, 2013?

@Jokerwolf I realise that but my point was, Hollow Knight is one of the best games I've played period. I should've worded it better.

@OorWullie I like it a lot, but I have my criticisms like needing to equip something just to get a damn map, and then equipping more stuff to track stuff on the map. To me that was the one major flaw it had.

@Starcakes Yeah, for years I liked 60fps but didn't know what it really was. I liked wipEout and Wipeout XL, but was blown away by Wipeout Fusion and it's 60fps smoothness. Same with Wipeout HD. I also remember liking and noticing when GameCube games ran at 60 versus 30. I was disappointed with Waverace Blue Storm and excited about 1080 Avalanche(they got it mostly running at 60, and it still looks and plays great today on a Wii with component cables).

@sdelfin wow that sucks. I've learned to wait rather than spend more than $10 with kickstarters given mighty no 9 (no refund/option to change 3ds version which doesn't exist,let alone the mediocre reviews, amd half-assed manuals that don't fit in their game box) and apparently this.

At least the end product for bloodstained has a ton of stuff to justify full price, but yeah I'm glad to wait, similar to earthworm Jim indiegogo comic, no way I'm paying $50 for 2 trade paperbacks before they're released (marvel has a BOGO sale on comixology, and similarly with games steam/Nintendo have a ton of sales) and there's no digital option.

@MrVariant thanks for your understanding and sharing your approach and ecperience. I was in a different state of mind back in 2015, and Shovel Knight was still pretty fresh. Backing games on Kickstarter is tough, and I'd be more hesitant now than I already was. It looks like Bloodstained will be a success from the reaction to it, and most will likely forget about the issues during the development and how poorly some backers were treated. I won't forget. Luckily, I got a decent resolution. I backed just enough for a digital version, so I wasn't in very deep, and I was able to sell my key for nearly as much as I paid, plus I received the retro companion game last year, so I technically made a profit, I think.

@nkarafo you know... the Child of Light music is played immediately after the Shovel Knoght reveal... it doesn’t seem inpossible they are teasing a similar cross-over? Could be we get Aurora as a playable character in Bloodstained... 🤔

@Ryan_Again It could be a cross-over but it doesn't seem to fit.. Dracula theme with rock music and on the other hand we have a fantasy theme with piano music. But then again, Shovel Knight was introduced and some years ago we had Monster Hunter with Street Fighter, Zelda, etc.. Whatever..

@mrmememan Only if you uphold the vows of Shovelry.

That first scene...this guy has humor.