Though it wielded one of the most revered names in gaming over two decades ago,Castlevania’s popularity has diminished massively to a point where it’s not that well known by fans today. Titles like the originalCastlevaniaon the Nintendo Entertainment System andSymphony of the Nighton the PlayStation were pioneering in the way they approached game design and visual art styles, standing alongside the likes ofMetal Gear,Zelda, andFinal Fantasyas one of the most innovative franchises during gaming’s first few generations. The 1997 title alone was the starting point for an entire genre, but in 2022 the property is most familiar among audiences for its animated Netflix adaptation, leaving room for the likes of Blade.
Vampire games aren’t as popular as they used to be. The decline of vampire-centric offerings has coincided with the rise of Marvel games, which have been enjoying a renewed success asMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy,Spider-Man, and theupcomingMarvel’s Midnight Sunshave put the company on the gaming map. To establish itself, it has to win over fans of both Marvel and the gaming medium itself, and using one of the company’s coolest, and most morally gray characters, Blade, could give it a stronger grip in an industry withinCastlevania’s usual niche.
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Blade Could Be Marvel’s Secret Weapon
Blade debuted inMarvel ComicsinThe Tomb of Dracula #10in the Summer of 1973, but while his beginnings in the pages were humble, he gained mainstream attention with theBladetrilogy starring Wesley Snipes.A Blade movie in the MCU is currently in development, but his immense combat proficiency, complex character development, and rich history means he could transition to gaming perhaps better than any other Marvel character yet. Eric Brooks is a fascinating personality with his heroism being drastically different in tone to most other Marvel entities. This makes him a perfect fit for a gaming industry that typically enjoys more tonally bleak stories likeThe Last of Us, God of War, andBloodborne.
Blade is far from upbeat, yet the thing that makes him ripe for video games is his skill set, and the strong evidence to suggest it can provoke something truly great. A sword is his weapon of choice, but he is a proficient marksman, and he also boasts accelerated healing and slowed aging. A gameplay loopin the same vein asDevil May Crywould be perfect, taking advantage of his ability with a blade and a firearm. The latter traits means healing can be seamlessly weaved into the narrative and a potential franchise wouldn’t have to overcome the obstacle of his age. He can be at the center of his own series for years to come, being just as sprightly in the sixth game as he was in the first.
The Decline of Castlevania
It’s true that plenty of franchise don’t stand the test of time, butCastlevaniais perhaps the most popular that never truly maintained its success long-term.The Legend of Zeldais constantly changing and improving to suit new audiences and evenMetroid Dreadreaffirmed fans' love for that series, but Konami’s vampire classic was devoid of new releases on the PS4/Xbox One generation of home consoles. Its influence is felt massively, though, asBloodstainedhas drawninspiration from the aforementioned games as well asBlasphemous,Hollow Knight, andGuacamelee!.
The desire for a newCastlevaniagame is as potent as ever, and Netflix' adaptation has done well to introduce a prematurely aging franchise to fresh eyes and younger people. Konami has a hand in plenty of other business ventures, soreturning toCastlevaniais unlikely to be atop its list of things to do, but the lack of interesting or quality vampire games means there is a significant gap in the market. If Konami isn’t going to fill it, then there’s no reason why Marvel shouldn’t capitalize by bringing a Blade title to reiterate its dedication to the video game medium while using the popularity of Marvel outside the comics.Castlevania’s niche is a seamless fit, and one that should be taken advantage of.
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