One of the most enjoyable elements of Team Asobi’s hit PlayStation 5 platformer Astro Bot is hunting down the different character cameos that can be found throughout the game. From Kratos to Claire Redfield, characters from dozens of famous gaming franchises appear as adorable, collectible robots hidden in each level. For fans of Konami’s iconic Castlevania games, though, the appearance of robotic versions of Alucard and Richter Belmont may serve as a painful reminder that the legendary series is long overdue for a new mainline entry.
Found in the Funky Fungi stage of the game’s Lost Galaxy map, the Astro Bot cameos from two of Castlevania’s most well-known characters were a nice nod to fans of the franchise but likely left many wanting more. While the long-running series recently received a re-release of several formerly Nintendo DS-exclusive titles in the form of the Castlevania Dominus Collection, it’s been over a decade since the last mainline entry in the franchise. But with characters from the classic franchise now showing up in everything from Astro Bot to Dead by Daylight, it could be the perfect time for Konami to bring Castlevania back from the dead.
Konami’s Castlevania Franchise Has Lain Dormant for Too Long
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Konami’s vampire-centric series released some of its most acclaimed titles, with games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night being regarded by many gamers as milestones of the medium. Despite being one of the oldest and most well-known franchises in gaming, though, the Castlevania series has lost some of its luster in recent years. While 2010’s Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and its sequel found some success by swapping out the series’ side-scrolling gameplay for a more action-oriented approach, they failed to revitalize the franchise and currently stand as its last all-new entries.
Following a largely negative response from gamers and critics to 2014’s Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, Konami quietly moved away from making new games in the series. Although the ensuing years saw some of the franchise’s most iconic entries receive re-releases, including the Castlevania Dominus Collection which launched on PC and consoles in August 2024, the series’ storyline has now remained stagnant for a decade. Now, given the ongoing calls from fans for a new Castlevania title, and a public profile that’s been bolstered by both a hit animated series and character crossovers with other games, Konami should finally resurrect the franchise and give gamers what they’ve been asking for.
Castlevania’s Best Days Could Still Be Ahead
Even though it’s been years since the last new entry in the franchise, its popular Netflix series and a series of high-profile crossovers have kept excitement around Castlevania alive in the hearts of gamers. What’s more, the Metroidvania genre of games that the series inspired has proven to be enduringly popular with players in recent years. This creates an opportunity for Konami to give Castlevania the triumphant return it deserves and a chance to prove that the series’ best days still lie ahead.
Although games like Castlevania: Lords of Shadow showed that the series is capable of changing with the times, returning to Castlevania’s roots may be the best bet for revitalizing the franchise. Releasing a sleek and stylish, side-scrolling Castlevania that not only pays homage to the series’ history, but also incorporates elements of games like Hollow Knight that followed in the franchise’s footsteps, could appeal to both long-time fans and new players alike. This would return Castlevania to a place of prominence and set the stage for a spate of sequels.
By embracing Castlevania’s enduring popularity and finally releasing a new mainline game, Konami could give the legendary series another chance to shine. Maybe then cameos like Alucard’s Astro Bot appearance won’t be seen by gamers as a tragic reminder of what they’ve been missing out on for far too long.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 77 /100 Critics Rec: 70%
- Released
- October 5, 2010
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Nudity, Violence
- Developer(s)
- MercurySteam, Kojima Productions
- Publisher(s)
- Konami
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Castlevania
