Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night On Switch Had Biggest Response, Sales Were "Well Above" Expectations

I picked up a physical second hand after the framerate updates, and managed to redeem the eshop points on it as well.

Thoroughly enjoyed the game.

His surprise is why they didn’t get the port right on launch, as they were clearly hoping to not have to fix the switch version and have fans on the other platforms. Good thing it backfired on him, he should have known better as he previously developed on Nintendo platforms

I picked it up but not till about 3 months later on sale. Besides I wasn't playing it till they patched some of the issues out. I really did enjoy it once I started. Only the clock tower stage for the most part ran awful.

Incoming comments about the Switch version's visuals and performance.

"Igarashi thinks the game's success on the Switch might be linked to him developing games on Nintendo platforms before this"

Imagine if he didnt in what quality the game would be ... lol
It is an achievement to present a 2D game in 2020 in that state of buggines...

Perhaps if it had been built for Switch first and then ported to other consoles, it would have done even better. The poor port is what put me off from buying it. It's pretty obvious games like this are going to be more succesful on Switch than on other consoles.

Does it really count of you but the game on clearance?

I bought it day one at Best Buy for the Switch and I played the heck out of it until I got to 100% despite some of the issues. The portability made the game so convenient to play.

I played it on PC a month later and really saw what I had been missing graphically and frame rate wise. Despite this I still love the Switch port and maybe they can learn from this to better optimize the port in the future.

I think a lot of it just comes from whether people associate a genre with a particular platform. Nintendo is home to Metroid and the various Castlevania games.

The success of this not convincing Konami to spit out a collection of the Castlevania GBA/DS games is crazy to me. That audience is clearly still around!

@Dezzy Yet we will never get SOTN

@Orpheus79V Yep, 100% agreed it was really bad. Still is!

Imagine how much a castlevania GBA or a remastered DS collection could make....

I bought but waited the first patch.

So for those who have played it on Switch, what price point would you say it’s worth it to pick it up? Or is it worth picking it up at all in its current state? I don’t have any other way to play it at the moment. Been on the fence a while for this one.

No. Only Steam version

For the most part, if the game is side-scrolling or top-down (be it rpg, Metroidvania, platformer or Zelda-like) I will always prefer it on the Switch because I can play it anywhere. I prefer (usually) to play more 3D games on traditional consoles. FPS, 3D platformers, third person adventures, all those I rather play on my Xbox (these days.)

There are exceptions. I prefer a side scrolling fighter like Street Fighter on traditional consoles, and sometimes i find it appealing to play a lengthy but slow paced 3D game on the switch (example: Skyrim)

Anyways, because if this I pre-ordered bloodstained for the Switch and still waiting for that final quality patch.

I personally can’t believe the success came as a surprise, didn’t the 8bit game give them enough numbers to realize the series was going to sell best in Switch? Or did they truly delay the game for Switch only to discourage its purchase??

People may have bought it, but many couldn't play it and the majority of people wouldnt recommend buying it on switch. In my opinion, all the people who preordered, should have been given the option of a refund. Nothing to gloat about, such a shame so many people received an inferior product. If you do not know how to make a 2.5d simple platformer on switch, you should leave it to the professionals and make a unity game for steam instead.

@OorWullie that makes zero sense my guy. They spent years developing this game and the switch version was literally made when all the other versions were pretty much complete. Yes it should've been a better port but its not really their fault. The entitlement of switch fans is insane

@Moistnado keep in mind porting a game you spent almost 5 years on development in one year is a challenging feat. I can see why the switch port was garbage. And it's not a simple 2.5d game.

@PickledKong64 I know there are reasons why it was bad but reasons are not excuses. They should have pulled development on switch when they realised that they couldn't meet an acceptable standard. When I say simple 2.5d game, I'm just pointing out that far more elaborate games, real 3d, open world massive games run properly. This game was not an ambitious project and the switch can run games like this, and better, when they are made properly. It is totally unacceptable.

I really hope IGA won't take the wrong conclusion from this, that being that he can give Switch owners anything and they'd buy it...

Oh wait, that's exactly how it is.

I wont be supporting them in any way. Release a proper switch port and then Ill consider.

Why is it easy for me to imagine that had it released on the Vita, it would have gotten a more bespoke version of the game knowing they’d have to have a convincing port?

I think they thought a poor Switch release would be an easy sell. They probably weren’t wrong.

I also think they went where Mighty No 9 didn’t dare to go with its portable version of the game, that probably wasn’t up to standard and would never be.

I'm surprised, especially after they lied about the crappy quality of the port and then delayed the game a week to avoid negative reviews-I mean fix the Switch port.

I am still amazed at how much coverage dedicates to the game.

@Kinpatsu $20-$25

@Olliemar28 I ain't saying it wasn't, in fact I'msure it is. It's just funny to me how easily predictable comments sections on any subject can be. It's like any article about anything to do with Paper Mario, you know exactly what everyone's gonna be saying.

I did buy the Switch version and will be playing it soon. I hope the fixes since the initial release have fixed whatever performance issues the game shipped with.

Bloodstained could've been an all-time great, but the Switch port was so poorly delivered that I consider it merely a good metroidvania.

I played through the game twice on Xbox Game Pass, and I plan on getting the game physically for the Switch, just because I feel a bit bad for not paying specifically for the game despite enjoying it as much as I did.

I think it's really not as bad as you all say it is.

Yet another developer stating their "surprise" response from the Switch side. Yet I guarantee they'll continue to treat the Switch like the red headed step child in future games. I keep saying this in every Nintendo Life article on the subject matter. I'm turning into a broken record.

@Orpheus79V

"Incoming 'justified' comments about the Switch version's visuals and performance."

Fixed that for you.

More people own just a Switch than a Switch and another console. It's USP is that it straddles the portable and home console market. Sooner Devs realise, the sooner they'll pump money into Switch only games and make money. I ended up getting BSRoT on Xbox and pretty much regret it, as it is wholely mediocre. Even I'll admit it was a good fit for Switch though, despite the lack of effort put into that version.

Sorry Koji I am calling BS....first off this game was launched with a Kick Starter and from the get go raised big money of Switch version. I think what he meant to say is "We knew this port was so crappy and coming out a week later than others expected it to sell poorly'. The patching did help fix most the game breaking bugs, and improved the performance, particularly where fun killing response lag was concerned. Being a fan of all things CastV and this being the hyped successor of the timeless SOTN I was super primed to have this on a portable. They let fans down and don't kid yourself in that if it didn't sell great on Switch they would have never bothered patching it to the level they did which atleast made it passable.

This was a game I had been looking forward to and did wait for the Switch release, but ended up skipping it. The reviews of how poor the Switch port was turned me right off it. It's been since relegated to possibly someday on massive Steam discount for me.

The surprising part of this, is reading just the headline I thought that he was surprised given the state the game was in when they released it, which is actually what surprises me.

@Justaguest
I totally agree, and am shocked at how many people bought the subpar Switch version. I boycotted it, hoping that most Switch owners would do the same. Instead, I bought Odallus, an awesome Castlevania clone. I did buy the Curse of the Moon games, though, because they are great and were properly ported to the Switch. There are at least twenty great 2D Castlevania games, and even more if you add the awesome clones that have been made, such as Master of Darkness and Holy Diver. Thanks to all those games, I really don't mind missing this one Castlevania release.

@Kang81
I actually don't understand why Orpheus made that comment in the first place. I've opened every Bloodstained article on this site, hoping to find details about the Switch version's performance after the patches, and hardly found anything. The few, justified, comments merely say it's subpar, but don't really give details. I wish someone would put that info out there. To me, it sounds like I should never buy this version of the game.

@Zuljaras I think it was less a matter of effort but a combination of factors such as misreading the market(building the game for PS4-style of console power due to the default large install base the PS4 built over the years since it's out. Even with its current successes there are still liess Switches out there than PS4).

Another issue was underestimating the effort to port on Switch a game developped for PS4-style hardware first.

If anything though these numbers however confirms that future developments will likely on achieving good performances on Switch first while still looking decent and going "extra" for stuff like the PS4 second.

For games like these(especially RPGs) I -feel that should be the way to go(Switch's portability lending itself very well to the long play of RPGs) but it needs to be remembered that a few years ago when this entered development the future player base of the Switch and it's tastes were still up in the air compared to established platforms like the PS4.

@Moistnado well I would say performance and visuals are on par with something like the witcher port.

@PickledKong64 the Witcher port was a large scale project, probably 20 or more times more complex than bloodstained. The Witcher port did not have gameplay breaking slowdown. If the Witcher was a 2.5d metroidvania I would expect more from its visuals just like I expected more from bloodstained. Comparing bloodstained to Witcher like this is like comparing a skateboard to a Ferrari and saying they both have nice wheels.

Bought it only a month ago, beat it with the bad ending, uncovered just over 65% of the map, and didn’t notice any hiccups or have a single crash.
Game is beautiful and great fun to play!!!!

I brought it but haven't touched since it was a terrible port and when it crashed on like 4 times. I honestly wish I hadn't brought it. It was a shame what they did to switch owners and then straight left them hanging for months for a update. Glad it sold it well and all but hope devs will stop being lazy and releasing games when they're clearly not ready

@Zuljaras Seriously I can play a low quality looking game if it's fun. But like Fallout new Vegas multiple crashes in short time span ruin a game for me especially if it doesn't have auto save. Cause that's a ton of lost time and that's draining

I will never buy this game.
Hopefully they’ll learn and do a better job next time.

I waitrd for the past and loved every minute of it. I think I'll take it for a spin again soon!

Of course people bought it, it was promised to be good. I returned my physical copy before opening it, and got it on PS4. Switch owners buy a ludicrous about of games, and when a genuinely GOOD one comes along, of course people snatch it up. The system is starved for well-done, non-retro (whether pixel art or port of a 10 year old game) titles made by someone OTHER than Nintendo.

I've got it on Switch and Xbox. It's amazing how much better it looks on Xbox(yes, if you like 30fps side scrolling games it's playable on Switch). I'm still holding out hope for a 60fps patch on Switch! Yeah right...

@Moistnado regardless I've played the witcher port and it has slowdown and looms trash. While not game breaking. You act like you've aged bloodstained my guy. The updates heavily improved these issues. It's not on par but they fixed it now so why complain? Also the witcher port is overrated.

@Valdney perhaps the same could be said about animal crossing

@Moistnado how about another comparison then. Animal crossing launches with lackluster content and is still lacking content but they fixed it with updates. People judge it by it's current state not past state. You are judging bloodstained, an indie game with less than 2 years to be ported which had had updates to fix its issues. I'm convinced you havent played the game recently -_-

@PickledKong64 I just expect games to work properly. The switch version is not not fixed and I don't think the devs are able or willing to fix it completely either

@PickledKong64 finding examples of far superior games like Witcher and animal crossing and pointing out their flaws does not rectify the flaws with bloodstained. I don't care how quickly they ported it or the fact they have patched some aspects of the games faults. The fact remains that the game is a bad port. In its current condition, technical issues distract from gameplay and make it very hard to find enjoyment. I wonder if you work for the devs or something? Seems suspect how you leave misleading high praise for such a shoddy and disappointing game.

Hey! I've never played this game, including its Switch port, but I still feel entitled to say Bloodstained Dev Bad!!
I read an IGN article one time you can trust me!

Loved this game on Switch. Yeah some issues.. great game though.

Why is it a shock that after six games on Nintendo handhelds (thus establishing the market) is a mystery.

Secondly, why Konami doesn’t half ass the mobile port of Symphony of the Night to the Switch by Thursday’s update is a mystery. ($9.99 and it would sell gamgbusters.

Definitely regret buying it and probably won't be supporting this dev ever again

Too be fair they had to scrap the Wii U version which they already heavily invested into (ported UE4 to Wii U without Epic's support) and had to take a game with an already struggling development and do a Switch port within a year? They did good. The patches have made the game so nice and smooth! Really loving it! Nintendo has always been the console/handheld home for Metroidvania games so this did not surprise me!

Cannot wait for Bloodstained RotN2! Will get Curse of the Moon 2 when preorders open on Limited Run!

I got a new copy a few weeks ago for $19.

Have yet to try it. I did like Curse of the Moon, though. But that's from a different developer.

People keep forgetting this was developed initially for the WiiU

@Moistnado it does work properly now tho. You havent played it just admit it

Sad thing is everyone wanted this game to be great, but before patches it even saw issues on the PS4. Input lag got fixed, but having a physical cartridge that will always need a patch is lame. Also the delay on release that fixed nothing just felt bad.

I like Koji's games, and they fixed the game eventually. It doesn't change the fact that the console with the greatest amount of demand and fanfare anticipation got the worst version. Everyone can point to hardware limitations or shorter port time but you can go to any number of great 2d metroidvanias on switch and that is the expectation.Hollow Knight, Dead Cells, Blasphemous, etc. That's the bar.

Having tried this on Xcloud and Switch, gotta say the Switch version is not as pretty but holds up okay. I'm content as a backer, but IGA really should've known better. Lol

@Darkthany agreed. Also, I feel like people exaggerate a bit about the Switch version. It plays just fine, to me.

I played it on Switch at launch, and it wasn’t all that bad. Worst thing was the load in between some screens. Quite playable and enjoyable.

Heck I’m even glad I played at launch since they nerfed the weapons I used.

@Kinpatsu
It's worth at least a $20. $30 at a stretch, but that's if you like the idea of a customizable randomizer after the first "true end" clear, to keep successive playthroughs fresh.

Given most of the Metroidvania games are on Nintendo's handhelds(Only Symphony of the Night is not on a Nintendo system), I would argue there is a massive built-in fanbase for a Metroidvania style game that was developed by the same people who made the Castlevania games on the Game Boy Advance and DS.

I'm honestly not shocked that this game sold better on the Switch then on other platforms. Even looking past the Metroidvania games, Castlevania has a rich history in Nintendo platforms dating back to the NES.

@MrGawain
Same here! Got it for $20! I was super stoked!!

I feel like one of the reasons people got this game was to experience how bad it was. I still can't comprehend how a Switch port of a METROIDVANIA game got screwed up this bad. How do you mess up a platforming game that shouldn't be super graphically intensive?

I was going to buy this game on Switch. But because of my nasty habit of waiting a week or two to check the professional and user reviews before buying a game, I bought it on PS4 instead.
@NathanTheAsian I agree. After playing this on the PS4, I'm really not seeing anything that should be a problem for the Switch.

I think some people here are forgetting the game started development long before the Switch was a thing

It still boggles my mind how badly this port turned out.

There are games far more demanding that have been well optimized on the Switch that didn't need to cut as many corners as this game did.

It should have just been delayed. I would have gladly double dipped later on for a portable version of the game that looked good and ran well.

they still need to give the switch version one more performance patch to fix the certain areas looking still not right.

Not surprising. Switch gamers are starved for content

@Pigeon LOL. Nice try tho. 😏

It’s a pretty good game, issues aside. People just forget that it was originally developed for Wii U and they spent time and effort porting UE4 to that console for this very game. Too many people think that games are just farted out by a bunch of nerds in an office somewhere and that technical difficulties are completely on the devs.

@PickledKong64 You are fully aware that the game still has significant performance problems and is a very different, superior experience on other platforms. Big man resorts to name calling on the internet. Go away and play your shoddy games.

@RustedHero Well you aren't wrong really. I can't help but notice that myself.

Back OT: I bought it after they started patching its major bugs. I do enjoy it, got a bit laggy in some areas here and there but no crashes. Its a nice little game.

Played through it on Switch late last year, and it was great! Not happy that the version on the cartridge is crappy from what I hear, but I got it for $20. Hopefully they will make a sequel and this experience will help them rectify the issues.

I have this on my PS4 and it plays beautifully; love it to death! I will get the Switch version eventually, granted they patch the Hell out of it and make it as stellar as the other console ports. Here’s hoping that is sometime soon in the near future or we get a proper sequel/future series of these games.

I got the game the day it came out, was originally thinking of getting it on the xbox since I heard the switch version was a week later, but decided to wait. The ps4, steam, and xbox versions all got goor reviews so I just figured it'd look a little worse but mostly be the same experience... cue me losing progress to crashing for a while, in fact when I got to the tower with dragon I couldn't even advance for a while because it crashed every time I tried to progress in it.

I did wind up getting the 100% so it wasn't terrible but it wasn't great either,.wound up playing it again on gamepass and the experience was far better, can't recommend the switch version at all if you have other means of playing it.

I bought the PS4 version half a year ago, since I heard a lot of bad things about the Switch-Version, but it wasn't great either. The game had massive input delay and was unplayable at times.
I love the fact, that they put randomizer stuff in it though.

@Onkel_Laser PC version has no such trouble like input delay. You got the bad version as well from the look of it

@Moistnado I ain't gonna f with you vit literally read some of the comments here and you will see that others had an experience like me yeah some frame drops here and there but damn son, you're making this game to be an unplayable nightmare. My dude you still avoid the question have you played the game so its pretty much confirmed you havent played it. F off troll

The game isn't totally unplayable on Switch, but you can absolutely feel the difference between the Switch and the PC version.

There exist medals you can earn by killing bosses without taking damage. I managed to complete all of these on the PC, but I was completely unable to do any of them on the Switch version due to the slight input delay and the slight lag. It really makes a difference to how skilled you can get at the game. But if you're just cruising through the castle and don't really care for the precise challenge aspect of the game, then Switch is perfectly doable.

But I would never want to play it myself when I have the nicer option. For me, Switch is not an alternative platform.
It's not like when I was playing SotN on the PSP - sure, the XBLA version is better in almost every way, but the PSP version wasn't terrible. It did its job as a portable SotN, and I enjoyed playing through with the new character. But when it comes to Bloodstained, the Switch version just isn't an option for me. It just feels too bad to play if you're used to the PC version.

@TheWingedAvenger

Unfortunately, I can't accurately answer your question. I gave up waiting on the fixes and updates. I do still own the game, but I've honestly had no desire to go back and find out.

I believe the last time I looked at it, was probably right after the last big patch, and I dont recall it being much of an improvement. Considering we have games like BotW, Witcher 3, etc. on Switch, there is no excuse for what we were given.

I have the superior version on GamePass, but at this point, i just don't even want to be bothered with playing the game. I'm honestly not sure if I'll ever buy a game from Iga and his team again, just out of principle.

@TG16_IS_BAE

Look on the bright side...the iPhone did.
Wait...🤦‍♂️

@RustedHero

Thanks for bringing up deeply repressed memories of my childhood. We gingers may not have souls, but we have feelings d@mn*t.
😭
Haha

@Kang81 savage

@PickledKong64 Haven't seen you in a while! Hope you are well!

@TG16_IS_BAE the hurricane knocked out power. Been better. I still hate my life

@PickledKong64 Oh wow, glad you’re still alive and kicking. You’ll bounce back!

So your awful version released more than you thought. And it was only because of waiting an extra week. Ha. Sure.

Go tell it to those who picked it up on d1... an almost unplayable mess. One of the few games I ever regret buying on Switch

What this news tells me about Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is that when it comes to the genre of the game made (Metroidvania action/adventure) games of said genre seem to sell best on Switch then on other platforms. I guess the World of Nintendo who is us appreciates them more than fans of other platforms and looks out for them to purchase on a more consistent basis. I'm guilty as charged there. I always enjoy a great Metroidvania action/adventure title. Some will say Bloodstained was graphically and performance poor but to me? It wasn't the worst I ever played in that regard in all my years. Of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. Out!

I'm hopelessly hooked on this game, even after finishing it twice. It's got some less-than-exciting design early on in the game, but it's a good ol time for Castlevania fans and the Randomizer Mode gives the game exponentially more replay value than any of the official Castlevania releases (talking about commercial releases, not the absolutely rad randomizer mods for the handheld 'Vanias).

All that being said, for Switch being the platform with the most sales, it's still busted as all get out. I'm lucky if I can get through a sitting with less than two hard crashes.