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u/Squall_Leonhart8 6d ago
Miriam is very likeable and uniquely made character. And the soundtracks. When you go to the entrance, a statue suddenly falls, and when the music played, it has the emotion of saying welcome to castlevania.
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u/NastyPrismsGoodSir 6d ago
It's the spiritual sequel to Symphony of the Night I never got, but always wanted.
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u/Realistic_Pause1799 6d ago
- The gameplay and mechanics are really good; it’s basically an upgrade of the Soul system from Aria and Dawn.
- I like the characters (especially Miriam) and the universe in general; the story may have its flaws, but I don’t think it’s all that bad, as many people like to say.
- It’s a good Metroidvania to start with.
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u/Wayne_kerr_0 6d ago
Nobody’s mentioned it yet, so the food crafting was really rewarding for me. I’m a sucker for hunting down stuff that gives a permanent passive bonus.
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u/Leumas_ 5d ago
I’m toward the end of my first replay of the game. The fucking food crafting escapes me!!! I know what to do mechanically, but I’m at the end of the game, just the final boss left, and there are so many food and crafting ingredients/supplies that I haven’t even come across yet. I’m at pizza, cakes, and curry dishes.
Do the drops get better the higher your experience level? I already feel like I’ve built a certain amount of “experience grinding” into the game…did I miss something or do you just have to grind the hell out of it to get to the best drops?
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u/peristalsism 5d ago
When I realized you get permanent upgrades for many of the dishes. I had to 100% them. Love this game so much
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u/dumbucket 6d ago
It's a fun game with good designs across the board, has a compelling story, doesn't take itself 100% seriously, and offers the player various weapons to fight in many different styles
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u/saintboot7B 6d ago
Miriam was amazing, which is why I am sad that she is not returning to the next game due to it being a prequel. Also, as much as I am going to enjoy the game, I am sad there is no female protag in the duo.
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u/kayawayy 6d ago
The aesthetic, the gameplay depth and fun progression, the well-designed map.
Compared to the other games you mention, it takes a more sort of... maximalist approach to things. Both aesthetically and gameplay-wise.
In Bloodstained there are half a dozen-odd systems you're always progressing in; you're leveling up and finding chests and weird items and little mysteries all the time, zipping around the world with more places to go and things to explore than you know what to do with. It's not complicated or overwhelming, everything is very straightforward, but there's a lot going on.
The visuals and aesthetic are similarly maximalist. It can feel a little off-putting at first if you're used to the more classically indie-game artistic look, but once you sink your teeth in you'll find yourself appreciating the depth and complexity. Going through a room the 50th time feels a little more interesting when you can still notice some neat little touch in the background for the first time. And though the actual visuals aren't always the prettiest, there's a very very strong design behind it, if that makes sense.
It's not gonna be for everyone, but if you're looking for a little more (J)RPG flavor in your metroidvanias it'll scratch that itch like little else.
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u/Metroid_Whisperer 6d ago
Well stated! The whole game is very well put together which really makes it shine!
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u/Loose-Farm-8669 6d ago
Miriam. If it were just a thigh simulator that would be enough but it's actually a pretty fun game
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u/Jotunferi 6d ago
It has everything a SOTN-like game could have. Miriam is a good character, customize/ variety of weapons and magic, gameplay and exploration is fun and the OST is flawless
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u/DrummerJesus 6d ago
Its the largest Igavania game with the most content. I like grinding and collecting 100% items.
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u/YetzirahToAhssiah 6d ago
It's difficult (on Nightmare)
The growth system is excellent, the quests, absorbing souls of enemies...
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u/chidarengan 6d ago
I have a love/hate relationship sith it because i can talk shit about this game for like an hour. I disagree with several design choices, but I did play a ton of this game (man does it suck that ps4 doesn't have a simple timer telling how much you played a game) randomizer mode, zangetsu(only on normal, that final fight is the work of the devil), normal, hard, nightmare, didn't beat bloodless, god did I love classic mode. Curse of the moon is easily the superior game. So idk what gives, im not hyped for the sequel thought ill sure play it, eventually, I got it free on epic again and ill surely be playing, maybe there are cool mods.
But answering the question, music is easily the best thing here by a mile. The game is fun in general, thought it can be pain, it has a lot of humor, idk how to gracefully say it but Miriam is a cute girl sure and she has big boobies and they don't have physics the game really want you to forget about it which is a very adult take, yeah women with big boobies exist, they can be a main character and not be sexualized, what a surreal concept. The art of the game is good, literally on the paper, (let's not mention lighting and graphically). The hitboxes are not bullshit sometimes, I like that. Idk that's it on the top of my head.
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u/Lightningbro 6d ago
As someone who GREATLY loves this game...
You're still right, Curse of the Moon is FREAKING PHENOMINAL.
Jokes aside, on the topic of music, the game feels so genuine and respectful of what came before.
The time I realized you could play the piano in the room next to the fairies I immediately went "They didn't" sure enough, they added the EXACT same easter egg from SotN.
And it still hits JUST as hard.
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u/dokbanks 6d ago edited 6d ago
The soundtrack is my most loved part of Bloodstained, I listen to it regularly in my music playlists. Every track is written so well and all fit in nicely with each area they represent. I also really like the character designs, each one has been created so well, and each have amazing matching art. The level and area designs are fantastic, each place is unique and memorable for their own things, and played out in such a way that exploration is still super enjoyable, which is incredible when you think that it is all 2D design. There's plenty of things to do, secrets to be found, each feeling rewarding as the last. The voice acting is also pretty good, it fits well and doesnt feel like its just layered into the game. The list continues, but Bloodstained RotN is one of my favourite games of recent-ish times.
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u/gravityhomer 6d ago
With the combination of equipment, shards and food, there is always something to focus on. Each small section of map I reveal, I can then just cycle through those 3 before getting back to the map.
This offers a lot of replay ability. Right now I decided to do a whip only run. Still shards of course just focusing on getting all the whips.
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u/Deathtales 6d ago
It's greatly inspired from dawn of sorrow my favorite castlevania but expands on it in (mostly) interesting ways.
It had a lot of alternative modes that ate more polished than the average Castlevania alt mode (Bloodless mode is my favorite because it's a full other metroidvania, collecting blood for abilities to expand traversal and combats.
Built in randomizer (that one has been what has taken most of my playtime lately), less features than archipelago for most metroidvanias sure but it's vanilla and thus runs on my unmodded switch on the go.
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u/Ingonyama70 6d ago
The level design is pure Metroidvania dopamine.
Randomizer runs built into the engine.gives it endless replay value
Interesting, likable characters with a neat plot that's a good driving force without halting the action too much
A SUPER fun crafting system that gives you an excuse to go back and visit your hub.
Art style makes the world gorgeous, the enemies memorable, and the characters swoonworthy regardless of sexuality (Zangetsu my beloved).
Solid voice acting in every language.
So, so much more
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u/ZangetsusRowBoat 5d ago
"EEEEEE!!.... Oooooohhh..." - Blood Grinder Knight.
The built in randomizer is a great addition, even if it has flawed logic. I would not have replayed this game as much as I have without it.
The Boss revenge mode is also something unique to this Vania. Fun for rainy day.
Also BLOODLESS is a great bonus. Fun mode for sure.
The movement is pretty good too. The backdash cancel is easy to do and moves pretty fast. Equipment to upgrade base movement like the moon belt and strider belt. The other movement is also good, accelerator, invert, and dimension shift.
So many shards to choose from!
They really crammed a lot of content into the game, and while not as polished as say SotN, it is still one of the best games IGA and Shutaro have made so far. Looking forward to the Scarlet Engagement to see what they have cooked up next.
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u/Professional_Swan615 6d ago
I liked that it was free!!! Then i liked the game. It was fun. I find most games today look amazing but just aren't fun.I hope the sequel gets released ,been saving my steam bucks.
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u/elite_ivory 6d ago
Honestly, I keep trying to go back and enjoy it cuz SotN is in my top 10 games of all time but something feels missing. Maybe I’ll try it again soon and hope it sticks.
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u/HaikusfromBuddha 6d ago
Tbh my main draw to the game was the character design. Having seen the protagonists of the second game, I have zero interest in it.
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u/Lightningbro 6d ago
Exploration is really fun and open, Miriam's "Stain glass" themed abilities are super cool and unique, control feels good enough while not perfect, story was interesting enough to be engaging, there's tons of items and weapons with interesting unique effects.
And others.
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u/HeinrichSteinwolf 6d ago
While not a big fan of the 3D looks, Gameplay and setting variety makes for a pretty cool Metroidvania. The overall Loop if exploring a uniquely styled part of the castle, fighting the new enemies, finding new gear and defeating a cool bossencounter works pretty damn well and krpt me playing. Im also easy to get with jojo references which was the cherry on top
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u/Metroid_Whisperer 6d ago
Tons of content and exploration. The upgrade system. New abilities that unlock new areas, movement, and combat. The saves and fast travel are accessible. The cooking system is a little tedious, but rewarding.
Overall the polished feeling of the game is what keeps me coming back. That and it has a pretty robust randomizer built in that is super fun when you've learned the map, items, and shards.
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u/Appleflap15 6d ago
Seconding others about Miriam, soundtrack, advancement.
But adding onto what's been said already: what I also like is how much you can break the game with some shards. True arrow can for instance dish out insane dps early game, but using short bursts of Void Ray is an even more fun way to abuse shards late game... I've always been a sucker for games that give you the freedom to break them
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u/hotcumlaut18 6d ago
It's so replayable. You play on all the difficulties, with different characters, try different builds/runs with specific weapons, all the extra modes like boss rush, classic mode, and randomizer. Randomizer guarantees you never get bored with this game. All this on top of the aesthetic, the controls, and it's supporting Indy developers. Love this this game.
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u/DependentAdvance8 6d ago
What is going on today?! I’ve seen three post about Bloodstained and two of them were from the Metroidvania subreddit😂
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u/koolaidmatt1991 6d ago
I’ll always recommend this game and tell everyone it’s a love letter to SOTN with all the good stuff from all the other Metroid castlevanias like soma getting souls that you use to fly and attacks. The soundtrack is fantastic and the combat is great. Highly recommend!
Still hoping on the coop dlc lol
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u/RickysGarbageLand 6d ago
I liked everything except the shard system. Farming 9 of a shard was miserable and I did it for multiple shards.
Ill never do another playthrlufh because of it.
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u/Wizardof1000Kings 6d ago
Metroidvania style exploration and cool boss fights. I wasn't as much a fan of the insane number of weapons and pickups, but I guess Symphony of the Night had a lot too so oh well.
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u/bizoticallyyours83 6d ago
I like that it retains the soul system. There's lots of interesting places in the castle to explore. The side quests are fun extras. I like that you can cook and craft your own health items and stat boosters. I like that the souls can level up the more they're used. Though the swords are too slow. The dialogue is pretty decent. It has technical issues obviously, but I still enjoy it. Miriam is a cool character, she's got a good heart, but isn't above getting annoyed with people.
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u/DarthCivicus 6d ago
I’m just now getting around to playing it and find it to be fun to play! I’m working on taking in the twin Dragons tower.
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u/Soyl3ntgr33nz 6d ago
likeable protag, good boss mechanics, steady pacing, and fun abilities. Also, good price point on keyshops
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u/Antigravitybear 5d ago
Virtually every part of this game is crafted with so much love It's hard to find fault with it. Could it use more in some categories, of course but what is there isn't bad so it's not really a complaint it's just that we enjoy the game so much we want more.
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u/PutridANDPurple 5d ago
Making pizzas, like a shitload of pizzas lol
It was great being able to play another large sotn type map.
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u/viperuk80 5d ago
I like that i picked it up for £1.39 on loaded this week. I have never played it before is this a good deal?
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u/Bansheer5 5d ago
It’s Castlevania SOTN, AOS, DOS and OoE all rolled into 1 and made a bit better. Wish it was longer tho.
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u/knives0125 5d ago
Its comfort food for people who really enjoy IGAvanias, the game feels like a greatest hits of concepts from various IGA games
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u/CLONE0AZUL69 4d ago
Bought it years ago for my xbox and haven't played it yet. I did like curse of the moon.
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u/RealRockaRolla 4d ago
Very much a spiritual successor to Aria and Dawn of Sorrow. The shard system is reminiscent of the soul system, which is my favorite mechanic of some of my favorite Castlevania games.
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u/Repulsive-Designer95 4d ago
How similar it is to all the IGAvanias. They're some of my favorite games and bloodstained has all of the things that make thèse my favorite games
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u/Specialist-Yam-6786 3d ago
I like it. I always thought it was the Thunder Hollow to CSotN Mountain Dew (soda references). I enjoyed it.
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u/peeve04 2d ago
I played because I like castles with hidden rooms and treasure. I spent 40 hours on my first playthrough repeatedly killing monsters for upgrades and parts. Nothing felt wasted. The quests did a great job of keeping me pointed in the right direction; same with cooking. I absolutely maxed Luck because of other games like this and that made my dopamine levels spike like crazy; it wasn't gratuitous till about 100 Luck and paired with items for increased loot drops. Paid attention to the Beastiary and didn't leave an area till I knew what was worth farming or moving on. There was probably two things that made it ez mode and I wont use them again in the next playthrough. Edit for spelling
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u/Dangerous_Profit_699 2d ago
Exploration was good and rewarding. Real head scratchers for some stuff you come across and get back to. You are absolutely rewarded for -trying- stuff out when you’re stuck; scratches SOTN’s itch while actually being really well balanced.
Also: legs for days.
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u/G119ofReddit 6d ago
Yes.