Update 51 - Ask IGA and Three New Characters

Great! Great! Great! What a awesome update! Great characters! Great Ask IGA! Without even showing off any kind of footage!

My analysis, step-by-step

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We got a lot of very good information here.

The first question, about enemies whose level are way higher than what it would be expected for that part of the game, was something really interesing in SOTN and it is great this is coming back. Very few Igavanias had this after Symphony, so, it is a great idea. And also reinforces how much of freedom of exploration we will have in Bloodstained!

The second question, about details in game design that are not easily noticeable, it always impressed me how much dedication IGA gives to the main character. He is really dedicated to how the character is animated, how it moves, how it plays around, in order to make it as fluid and fun as possible. The Demo, several months ago, already showed us that this was achieved and it is only going to get better from there on.

The third question, about special commands, Bloodstained team already confirmed this for us before, but i want to highlight the fact that IGA said that this time it will be a little different. How? Maybe they will not be fightning games-esque commands? Or we will have to find them as scrolls or something, to unlock them? I'm so excited!

The fourth question, got me thinking a lot. Yes, bloodstained will not have sub-weapons (and that's good, i wouldn't like this), instead, we will have weapons that has special powers linked to Shards? For real?! That seems really interesting! Maybe some shards can only be used with specific weapons? Or some weapons change the behaviour of some shards? Imagine a Familiar Shard whose familiar changes it's behaviour when using a special weapon? Endless combinations! Choose your strategy to fight in Gebel's Castle!
LATE-EDIT: I also remembered about Shield Rod + Shields combinations on Symphony. I was wondering if we could reveal some special abilities on shards, by combining them with weapons somehow, summoning creatures that those shards normally wouldn't do it by using the normal way...

The fifth question, about the Next Demo, that was a given. Of course they will give us something more to play. Good to know that.

The sixth question, i personally also like Lament of Innocence (Curse of Darkness, in the other hand, had a great gameplay system but horrible scenarios), i would prefer if IGA could stick to the 2d games, it is his specialty and we have a lack of triple A 2d games, filled mostly by indies. BUT! whateaver the man wants to do.

The seventh question, about the mini-game, he can't say anything about it yet. That sound both good or bad. Good in "it's a development secret, we wanna surprise you!" and bad in "we have absolutely no idea how we will do this". I hope it is the first one.

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ABOUT HER DESIGN: Here comes my new waifu! I got right my especulation about a... plot-heavy character (big breasts).  She has a great visual! She's so beautiful and elegant. Her clothes are a classic "I am from the magical undisclosed church" look you have in some games, specially MMOs. The beret-type hat is a nice substitute to a holy veil, while her dress, with long open sleeves, gives a sorcery vibe. This dress, with a corset-like waist that acccentuates her curvy body, is damn sexy. The white half-shirt, opening right on her volumous breasts, is also there to accentuate them. Cute fillet on her left leg, legs dressed with dark panty hose and high-heels. What is not to love on this holy sexy design?

ABOUT HER PLOT: Of course the church wouldn't do nothing while a big freaking demonic castle shows up 10 years after demons start to havoc europe. She will support Miriam as a shopkeeper, but we already know she will take some trips ocasionally and Anne will take her place. Also, while the church labeled Miriam and Gebel as Demons, Domonique sees them as human beings. AND she is a old friend of Johannes, and SHE asked him to summon Miriam from her slumber? That's interesting. Those trips she will do, could be related to her as a playable character? I would love that.

(I made a thread about it. See it HERE).

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ABOUT HIS DESIGN: What a Dracula-vibe, Alfred has. A old man with long beard, long white hair and stylish rags. His brown cape, covering his shoulders, make me wonder that is not only to look like a cape, but to conceal a man with a strong body. The dark clothing, with the withe below it, give a very interesting look, if you think in symbolism about morallity. Never gray. Only black or white. And that tie with curse-like flowers? Alfred has a very symbolic design. I like it.

ABOUT HIS PLOT: As i said before, of course someone from the guild would survive and Alfred is that one. He is the adoptive father, in a way, of Johannes and Miriam, he "lost his former self" and is seeking for the book of Logaeth. Something related to Logaeth was mentioned before. Back in 2015, IGA gave an interview, and at one point, talking about the plot, he said this: "Miriam fell into a comatose state, so she couldn’t be the sacrifice, but using Gebel, the Alchemists were successful in summoning the demons. Miraculously, though, Gebel survived the ritual. By the way, it was the Enochian Tablet and Liber Logaeth that were used for the summoning. They’re written in the Enochian language, the language that was used by Adam in the Garden of Eden when he first gave names to everything."

The book of Logaeth was part of the summoning ritual. So, they used something called "Enochian Tablet" and something called "Liber Logaeth" (most probably the book) to transform Miriam and Gebel into beacons to summon demons and the book is with Gebel (Enochian Tablet is with Johannes?).

I can already make three speculations:

1) Alfred will be a boss, either possessed by a demon or using his own alchemy powers, probably a late game boss. Something like Barlowe from Order of Ecclesia.
2) Alfred will be Gebel's advisor, a right-hand man that could either be a total loyal servant (like Death from Castlevanias) or be something like a manipulator, controlling Gebel with his words and having his own agenda.
3) Alfred will be the true final boss.

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ABOUT HER DESIGN: Such a cute girl! Long braided hair, blue eyes, peasant style clothes with brown bag, green dress and a blue cover. There isn't much to say about it, but she has quite a classic (even a little overused) design.

ABOUT HER PLOT: Her parents were murdered and Anne was saved by Dominique and Miriam. I wonder if we will play that. Like, demons attacking her village, you killing them with Miriam, while Dominique, maybe at the background, slays them with her holy exorcist powers. That would be really fun to see. Anyways, Anne now looks after the shop whe Dominique is out doing "something". She doesn't look "bright and cheerful" with that face, but, well, she lost her parents, so, that's understandable.

As some already said, i don't think the shop will be the same with her. I think that, maybe, Dominique will be out at regular intervals AND at some plot-point times. And when that happen, maybe Anne offers some discounts, or put some exclusives to be sold? That would be interesting.

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This was such a great update, i had A LOT to talk about it, so, this text became way longer than i expected. Loved the fanarts (the comics one i saw before, by the way). They commented about showing up a "updated stage", that can both means some of the old footage, updated, or a totally new scenario. Can't wait already!

Great update guys!

That's all folks!

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I made a new thread. It is a poll asking if you want Dominique to be a playable character AND a discussion about how she could be playable. The pool is there to check the community's opinion AND, if favorable, to show to the dev team our desire, if they didn't thought about that yet.

See the thread HERE! Vote and discuss!