Software:Castlevania: Bloodlines

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Short description: 1994 video game
Castlevania: Bloodlines
Castlevania: Bloodlines
North American box art
Developer(s)Konami
Publisher(s)Konami
Producer(s)Tomikazu Kirita
Artist(s)Teisaku Seki
Shinichiro Shimamura
Writer(s)Toshiki Yamamura
Composer(s)Michiru Yamane
SeriesCastlevania
Platform(s)Sega Genesis
Release
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Castlevania: Bloodlines, known in Japan as Script error: The function "nihongo_foot" does not exist. and in PAL regions as Castlevania: The New Generation, is a 1994 platform game developed and published by Konami for the Sega Genesis as part of the Castlevania series. A vampire named Elizabeth Bartley is orchestrating the beginning of World War I to serve as the catalyst for the resurrection of her uncle, Dracula. Players take on the role of Quincey Morris' son, John, and his friend Eric Lecarde to take up the fight against evil.

The development team approached Bloodlines as a unique Castlevania experience tailor-made for the Genesis. In this sense, the gameplay was made more fast and action-oriented. Writer Toshiki Yamamura also took creative liberties to craft what he viewed was a new chapter in the Castlevania saga. The game was the first Castlevania title for which Michiru Yamane composed music. She used her Bach influences to compose a renowned soundtrack, leading to her becoming a recurring series composer.

Bloodlines was released to positive reviews. It was re-released as part of the Castlevania Anniversary Collection on May 16, 2019, as well as the Sega Genesis Mini on September 19, 2019 and as one of the inaugural Genesis games for the Nintendo Classics service on October 25, 2021.

Gameplay

Each player-character has special controls and abilities. Using the d-pad, the player can attack enemies diagonally up as John Morris.

As with most early Castlevania games, players proceed through each level, defeating enemies and collecting gems to power special weapons: the axe, boomerang and holy water.[4] Each stage is sectioned, and has a sub-boss battle in the middle, with a main boss battle at the end.[5] Some items increase the power of the characters' weapons. Some portions of the game split into different paths, depending on which character is chosen. John is able to swing past gaps with his whip, whereas Eric must use a different route by performing high jumps by using his spear.[6]

Plot

Close up of the front cover of a book printed in 1899. A picture of a dark castle rests on a mountain surrounded by woods. The words "Dracula" are above the picture while the author's name, "Bram Stoker" is below it.
The game's story draws from Bram Stoker's horror novel Dracula by incorporating the character Quincey Morris into the Castlevania series.

In 1897, the long war between humanity and Dracula came to an end, as Dracula was laid to eternal rest by Quincy Morris, a distant descendant of the Belmont family. Peace was restored to Europe, until the outbreak of the First World War, which transformed the continent into a dark world filled with massacre and violence. At the beginning of the war, in June 1914 at Sarajevo, the Crown Prince of Austria was assassinated. It was said that a strange beautiful woman was involved, within the shadows. The woman was Elizabeth Bartley, who, in order to revive her uncle, Count Dracula, had conducted an unholy ceremony which caused the war, giving her possession of human souls from Europe.

The game itself takes place in 1917. The characters are John Morris, a distant descendant of the famed Belmont and Morris families who obeyed his fate to fight vampires day and night, and Eric Lecarde, whose girlfriend was transformed into a vampire when Elizabeth was revived. After Drolta Tzuentes resurrected Elizabeth Bartley by using black magic (Drolta is a subservient witch of Elizabeth), they traveled across Europe to conduct the resurrection of Count Dracula. John Morris and Eric Lecarde followed them. Even though the resurrection of Dracula was a success, the vampire hunters defeated him and his allies.

Development

Bloodlines was developed by Konami in Tokyo.[7]: 28  The concept behind the game was to develop a unique Castlevania experience for the Sega Genesis. In this sense, the gameplay was made fast and action-packed while retaining the strategic elements of previous games, and Eric was added as a playable character to add a distinct touch to the game.[8] The game is a spin-off of the main Castlevania series.[9] In fact, the game is also set in a wholly different era from previous games. Scenario writer Toshiki Yamamura took inspiration from novelist Hideyuki Kikuchi to craft his own interpretation of the series canon for Bloodlines. He viewed Bloodlines as the second act in a three-part Castlevania saga.[8] The development team was challenged with the limitations of the Genesis's color palette, and the 8 megabit cart size, but felt they were able to craft a unique atmosphere with intricately animated characters despite this.[8]

The music was composed by Michiru Yamane. Though already an established composer at Konami, Bloodlines was her first time composing for a Castlevania game.[10] As the series was already popular and known for its music, she felt pressure to perform well.[10] Having extensively studied Johann Sebastian Bach in university,[11] Yamane felt a link between her classical music knowledge and the vampiric themes of the series, so she worked to integrate her style with the rock themes of previous Castlevania games.[12] The development process required that Yamane program the music into the game, on top of composition.[11] As she was already experienced with FM synthesis, she was comfortable doing this.[8] Yamane went on to become a recurring composer for the Castlevania series.[11]

Release

Bloodlines was released worldwide in March 1994.[7]: 24 [lower-alpha 1] The western version was made more difficult than the Japanese version.[8] Packaging artwork for the North American version was illustrated by Tom duBois, who also designed artwork for other western releases of Konami games.[17] The game underwent censorship during localization to PAL regions. Blood and violent imagery was removed from the game, and the title was changed to Castlevania: The New Generation to keep the word blood out of the game's title. The game was first re-released as part of the Castlevania Anniversary Collection for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in May 2019.[18] It was also included in the Sega Genesis Mini dedicated console released later that year.[19] An unofficial tech demo for the Super NES also exists.[20]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings81.88%[21]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CVG83/100[23]
EGM9/10, 8/10, 8/10, 8/10[24]
Famitsu28/40[25]
Game Informer8/10,[26] 7.5/10,[27] 8.5/10[28]
GamesMaster70/100[30]
Hyper79%[31]
Electronic GamesA-[33]
Max Overload!72%[34]
Mega82%[35]
Mega Machines70/100[36]
MegaTech83/100[37]
Sega Magazine86/100[38]
Sega Power70%[39]
Sega Pro84%[40]
Sega Zone85%[41]
VideoGames8/10[42]

According to Famitsu, Castlevania: Bloodlines sold 9,354 copies during its lifetime in Japan.[43] The Japanese publication Micom BASIC Magazine ranked the game third in popularity in its June 1994 issue, and it received a 21.7/30 score in a poll conducted by Mega Drive Fan and a 7.4173/10 score in a 1995 readers' poll conducted by the Japanese Sega Saturn Magazine, ranking among Sega Mega Drive titles at the number 221 spot.[44][45][46] It also received generally favorable reception from critics, holding a rating of 81.88% based on four reviews according to review aggregator GameRankings.[21][47]

GamesRadar named Castlevania: Bloodlines the 8th best Genesis game of all time out of a list of 25.[48] Game Informer's Tim Turi praised the level of gore relative to other Castlevania titles at the time. He also called it "one of the most overlooked treasures in the franchise."[49] In a 1997 Castlevania retrospective, GamePro said that while the graphics and sound were not as impressive as those of Super Castlevania IV, it was a strong game by Genesis standards.[50]

Notes

  1. ↑ The game was released in North America on March 17,[13] in Japan on March 18,[14][15] and in Europe on March 20.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Software List (Software Licensee Release)" (in ja). Sega Corporation. https://www.sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html. 
  2. ↑ Konami staff. "Castlevania Bloodlines". Konami. https://www.konami.com/games/castlevania/us/en-us/page/history_1994_md. 
  3. ↑ Konami staff. "Castlevania The New Generation". Konami. https://www.konami.com/games/castlevania/eu/en/page/history_1994_md. 
  4. ↑ Castlevania: Bloodlines Instruction Manual. Konami. 1994. pp. 14–15. 
  5. ↑ Castlevania: Bloodlines Instruction Manual. Konami. 1994. pp. 6–7. 
  6. ↑ Castlevania: Bloodlines Instruction Manual. Konami. 1994. pp. 12–13. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 The History of Castlevania: Book of the Crescent Moon. Digital ebook included with Castlevania Anniversary Collection: Konami. 2019. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 "バンパイア キラー" (in ja). Beep! Mega Drive: 91. November 1993. (Translation)
  9. ↑ "Page 33, Rondo of Blood Strategy guide book". http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/2/rob-guidebook.htm. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Köhn, Johan (September 4, 2016). "Interview: Michiru Yamane" (in en). http://spelmusik.net/en/interview-michiru-yamane/. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Game Developer magazine (December 26, 2013). "A classic interview with Castlevania composer Michiru Yamane" (in en). https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/a-classic-interview-with-i-castlevania-i-composer-michiru-yamane. 
  12. ↑ "Interview with Michiru Yamane (February 2010)". February 2010. https://www.squareenixmusic.com/features/interviews/michiruyamane.shtml. 
  13. ↑ Konami staff. "Castlevania Bloodlines". Konami. https://www.konami.com/games/castlevania/us/en-us/page/history_1994_md. 
  14. ↑ "バンパイアキラー [メガドライブ / ファミ通.com"]. https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?a=page_h_title&title_id=7649. 
  15. ↑ Konami staff. "バンパイアキラー VAMPIRE KILLER" (in ja). Konami. https://www.konami.com/games/castlevania/jp/ja/page/history_1994_md. 
  16. ↑ Konami staff. "Castlevania The New Generation". Konami. https://www.konami.com/games/castlevania/eu/en/page/history_1994_md. 
  17. ↑ Gidney, Adam. "Tom Dubois artist page". BOX=ART. http://www.boxequalsart.com/tom-dubois-artist-page.html. 
  18. ↑ Oxford, Nadia (2019-05-21). "The Castlevania Anniversary Collection is Good, but Still Has a Couple of Chipped Fangs" (in en). https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-castlevania-anniversary-collection-is-good-but-still-has-a-couple-of-chipped-fangs. 
  19. ↑ Watts, Steve (2019-05-21). "Sega Genesis Mini Announces 10 More Games, Optional 6-Button Controller" (in en-US). https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-genesis-mini-announces-10-more-games-optional/1100-6466953/. 
  20. ↑ "Unofficial SNES Port of Castlevania: Bloodlines | Retro Gaming News". 31 July 2024. https://www.retronews.com/unofficial-snes-port-of-castlevania-bloodlines/. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Castlevania: Bloodlines for Genesis". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. 2008. http://www.gamerankings.com/genesis/563315-castlevania-bloodlines/index.html. 
  22. ↑ "BEメガドッグレース: バンパイアキラー" (in ja). Beep! Mega Drive (SoftBank Creative) 10 (4): 17. April 1994. https://archive.org/details/beep-megadrive-1994-04/page/n18/mode/1up. 
  23. ↑ Ahmet, Deniz; Rand, Paul (February 1994). "Review: Castlevania (Mega Drive)". Computer and Video Games (EMAP Images) (147): 62–63. https://archive.org/details/computer-and-video-games-magazine/Computer%20and%20Video%20Games%20147/page/n61/mode/2up. 
  24. ↑ Semrad, Ed; Carpenter, Danyon; Manuel, Al; Sushi-X (February 1994). "Review Crew: Castlevania Bloodlines". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Sendai Publishing) (55): 38. https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_55/page/n39/mode/1up. 
  25. ↑ "New Games Cross Review: バンパイアキラー" (in ja). Famitsu (ASCII Corporation) (275). March 25, 1994. 
  26. ↑ Anderson, Paul; VanDerSchaegen, Ross; McNamara, Andrew (March–April 1994). "Sega Genesis Reviews: Castlevania: Bloodlines". Game Informer (Sunrise Publications) (15): 8–9. https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-15-march-april-1994/page/n9/mode/2up. 
  27. ↑ "Classic GI". Game Informer (Sunrise Publications) (64): 64. August 1998. https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-64-august-1998/page/n65/mode/1up. 
  28. ↑ "Classic GI: Classic Reviews". Game Informer (Sunrise Publications) (126): 159. October 2003. https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-126-october-2003/page/159/mode/1up. 
  29. ↑ Slate, Chris (February 1994). "Review: Castlevania: Bloodlines". Game Players (GP Publications) 7 (2): 58–60. https://archive.org/details/Game_Players_Issue_37_February_1994/page/n59/mode/2up. 
  30. ↑ Groves, Will; Ellis, Les; Tucker, Tim (March 1994). "Review: Castlevania New Generation". GamesMaster (Future Publishing) (15): 48–49. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:GamesMaster_UK_015.pdf&page=48. 
  31. ↑ Humphreys, Andrew (February 1994). "Review: Castlevania - The New Generation". Hyper (nextmedia) (3): 46–47. https://archive.org/details/hyper-003/page/46/mode/2up. 
  32. ↑ Swan, Angus; Hickman, Lucy; Davies, Paul (February 1994). "Castlevania: The New Generation". Mean Machines Sega (EMAP Images) (16): 2–7. https://archive.org/details/mean-machines-sega-16-castlevania-supplement/page/2/mode/2up. 
  33. ↑ Yates, Laurie (May 1994). "Cartridges: Castlevania Bloodlines". Electronic Games (Decker Publications) 2 (7): 79. https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-05/page/n78/mode/1up. 
  34. ↑ Lakin, Paul (April 1994). "System Overload: Castlevania (Mega Drive)". Max Overload! (Dark Horse International) (2): 32–33. https://archive.org/details/max-overload-02/page/n33/mode/2up. 
  35. ↑ Dyer, Andy (March 1994). "Game Review: Castlevania". Mega (Future Publishing) (18): 43. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:Mega_UK_18.pdf&page=43. 
  36. ↑ Beaven, James; Needham, Al; Pitt, Adrian (April 1994). "Platform Review: Castlevania: The New Generation". Mega Machines (Impact Magazines) (5): 46–48. https://archive.org/details/mega-machines-05/page/n45/mode/1up. 
  37. ↑ Guise, Tom; Howe, Lloyd (February 1994). "Megadrive Review: Castlevania: A New Generation". MegaTech (EMAP) (26): 54–57. https://archive.org/details/mega-tech-26/page/54/mode/2up. 
  38. ↑ Leadbetter, Richard; Lawrence, Edward (February 1994). "Mega Drive Review: Castlevania". Sega Magazine (EMAP Images) (2): 91–92. https://archive.org/details/sega-magazine-2-february-1994/page/n91/mode/2up. 
  39. ↑ Pegley, Rob (March 1994). "Mega Drive Review: Castlevania: The New Generation". Sega Power (Future Publishing) (52): 38–39. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:SegaPower_UK_52.pdf&page=38. 
  40. ↑ Johnson, Jason (April 1994). "Review: Castlevania: The New Generation". Sega Pro (Paragon Publishing) (30): 60–61. https://archive.org/details/sega-pro-30/page/n59/mode/2up. 
  41. ↑ Davies, Jonathan (March 1994). "Mega Drive Review: Castlevania: The New Generation". Sega Zone (Future Publishing) (17): 46–48. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:SegaZone_UK_17.pdf&page=46. 
  42. ↑ Meston, Zach (March 1994). "Reviews: Castlevania Bloodlines". VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine (Larry Flynt Publications) (62): 67. https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_62_March_1994/page/n64/mode/1up. 
  43. ↑ "Game Search". https://sites.google.com/site/gamedatalibrary/game-search. 
  44. ↑ Nishibu, Masako (June 1994). "メガドライブ" (in ja). Micom BASIC Magazine (ja). Super Soft Hot Information (The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation (ja)) (144): 21–23. https://archive.org/details/micomBASIC_1994-06/page/n278/mode/1up. 
  45. ↑ "メガドラ読者レース" (in ja). Sega Saturn Magazine (SoftBank Creative) 11 (9): 82–85. September 1995. https://archive.org/details/sega-saturn-magazine-ja-1995-09-01/page/83/mode/1up. 
  46. ↑ "超絶 大技林 '98年春版" (in ja). PlayStation Magazine (Japan) (ja) (Special). 42. Tokuma Shoten Intermedia. April 15, 1998. p. 873. 
  47. ↑ Taylor, Matt (March 1994). "ProReview: Castlevania Bloodlines". GamePro (IDG) (56): 46–47. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_056_March_1994/page/n47/mode/2up. 
  48. ↑ GamesRadar staff (April 17, 2012). "Best Sega Genesis games of all time". GamesRadar. http://www.gamesradar.com/best-sega-genesis-games-all-time/. 
  49. ↑ Turi, Tim (2012-04-04). "Ranking The Castlevania Bloodline". Game Informer. https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/04/04/ranking-the-castlevania-bloodline.aspx. Retrieved 2013-12-05. 
  50. ↑ "Castlevania Rises from the Grave". GamePro (IDG) (108): 32. September 1997. 

Further reading



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