Castlevania has provided some of the most exciting and certainly most challenging gaming experiences to date. Taking control of Simon Belmont and facing Dracula and his ghouls has always been highly entertaining.   I can’t help but imagine where the next game in the series will take us.  The first Castlevania on the NES is an absolute classic. It was atmospheric and one of the most challenging games you’ll play to this very day. Many have played while few have finished. Enemies respawn at will and even if you make it to the end, the bosses were brutal and unforgiving. The art style and music are two other elements that has made this one of my favorite series.

All three games on the NES were absolutely brilliant. As of today, you can find a large assortment of Castlevania games that range from the classic 2D approach to the open world of Lords of Shadow 2. My personal favorite favorite came in the form of Super Castlevania IV. It punished me as a kid and it wasn’t till I later revisited it years down the road that I was able to complete it. I loss count of how many times I died at Dracula’s feet. I eventually memorized each attack and only out of pure stubbornness, finally dealt the final blow to the Count.

For the next entry in the series, I’m looking for many of the same things that made Super Castlevania IV so amazing. This was revolutionary graphics, a remarkable soundtrack and unforgettable boss fights. We are at a time where many players enjoy an immense challenge such as the Souls series. I would love to see that same difficulty be present in the next Castlevania. I don’t want to be able to beat a boss until I”ve studied their movements and attacks. The trick is making the game extremely tough but in the end fair.

While I enjoyed both entries in Lords of Shadows, I’m extremely excited for the more classic look and tone that Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night looks to be bringing to the table (developed by the former Castlevania series producer Koji Igarashi). The 2.5D graphic style looks brilliant from what we have seen so far and thankfully still has the classic feel and format long term fans have been wanting to see return. Local co-op would be amazing and it appears that Koji Igarashi will be doing his best to make this happen. I think most gamers would really appreciate seeing this mode available. We would love to hear your thoughts on what you want within the next Castlevania entry and even your favorite aspects of this amazing franchise!