Koji Igarashi is known for his work on the Castlevania series; he essentially created the Metroidvania genre and is a legend for doing it with such ease. So when a Kickstarter campaigned popped up for a new Metroidvania title from the mastermind himself, did you not think it would get funded right away?
Well it did, but it took a little while for him and his team to develop the game. Now after a long four year development cycle, the long-awiated return of Koji Igarashi is finally upon us! The game is now available for all platforms — PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch; and it seems that both fans and critics are loving it!
Down below are some of the most respectable gaming sites in the industry, check out the highlights for their reviews on Koji Igarashi’s latest title — Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
This is a game that is well aware of its pedigree, and every person involved in making it has given their all to deliver on that prestige. Aside from some minor performance issues and localization typos barely worth mentioning, Bloodstained is an incredible feat in independent video game development. I’ll be coming back to this one for years to come.
A sprawling and beautifully executed monument to the Castlevania titles of old, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night feels like a promise delivered for fans of not just the series, but intricately structured action adventures too. The king has returned.
DualShockers 85
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is an excellent Metroidvania game that encourages exploration and experimentation. It’s incredibly fun to solve its many puzzles and finding that perfect shard combination feels fantastic. Fans of the genre will be very happy with this release. That said, I also think it’s a solid entry point if you’re wanting to see what all the hubbub is about. Igavania is back, and the video game world is better for it.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night’s journey is familiar, but the way it iterates and builds on that familiarity help distinguish it from its lineage. Its combat, RPG elements, and enticing exploration intertwine seamlessly, and had me obsessively scouring every nook and cranny of a gigantic map for hours, even after I’d defeated the last boss. I enjoyed finally returning to this haunted castle, even if it belongs to a new master.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has, amazingly, lived completely up to expectations. It’s the Castlevania game we knew we needed, but Konami didn’t want us to have. Koji Igarashi isn’t trying to hide the fact that Bloodstained is a Castlevania game in all but name, and he doesn’t have to. It’s a heartfelt, authentic, beautiful MetroidVania game and I am so very happy with it.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is now available for the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. Are you excited about Koji Igarashi’s new game? Let us know in the comments below!
