Castlevania: Bloodlines

{{Infobox video game

| title = Castlevania: Bloodlines

| image = Castlevania Bloodlines.jpg

| alt = Castlevania: Bloodlines

| caption = North American box art

| developer = Konami

| publisher = Konami

| producer = Tomikazu Kirita

| writer = Toshiki Yamamura

| artist = Teisaku Seki
Shinichiro Shimamura

| composer = Michiru Yamane

| series = Castlevania

| platforms = Sega Genesis

| released = {{vgrelease|NA|March 17, 1994{{cite web| author=Konami staff | title=Castlevania Bloodlines | url=https://www.konami.com/games/castlevania/us/en-us/page/history_1994_md | website=Castlevania web portal | publisher=Konami | access-date=2 March 2020}}|JP|March 18, 1994{{cite web |title=Software List (Software Licensee Release) |url=https://www.sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html |website=Sega Hard Encyclopedia |publisher=Sega Corporation |access-date=May 15, 2023 |language=ja}}|EU|March 20, 1994{{cite web| author=Konami staff | title=Castlevania The New Generation | url=https://www.konami.com/games/castlevania/eu/en/page/history_1994_md |website=Castlevania web portal | publisher=Konami | access-date=2 March 2020}}}}

| genre = Action, platform

| modes = Single-player

}}

Castlevania: Bloodlines, known in Japan as {{nihongo foot|Vampire Killer|バンパイアキラー|Banpaia Kirā|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} and in PAL regions as Castlevania: The New Generation, is a 1994 action-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

Image:CastlevaniaBloodlines1.png, 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.{{cite book| title=Castlevania: Bloodlines Instruction Manual| year=1994| publisher=Konami| pages=14–15}} Each stage is sectioned, and has a sub-boss battle in the middle, with a main boss battle at the end.{{cite book| title=Castlevania: Bloodlines Instruction Manual| year=1994| publisher=Konami| pages=6–7}} 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.{{cite book| title=Castlevania: Bloodlines Instruction Manual| year=1994| publisher=Konami| pages=12–13}}

Plot

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.{{rp|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.{{Cite magazine|date=November 1993|title=バンパイアキラー|magazine=Beep! Mega Drive|language=ja|page=91}}([http://shmuplations.com/bloodlines/ Translation]) The game is a gaiden to the original Castlevania series.{{Cite web|title=Page 33, Rondo of Blood Strategy guide book|url=http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/2/rob-guidebook.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405051208/http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/2/rob-guidebook.htm|archive-date=2010-04-05|access-date=2010-11-23}} 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. 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.

The music was composed by Michiru Yamane. Though already an established composer at Konami, Bloodlines was her first time composing for a Castlevania game.{{cite web|last1=Köhn|first1=Johan|date=September 4, 2016|title=Interview: Michiru Yamane|url=http://spelmusik.net/en/interview-michiru-yamane/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316100755/http://spelmusik.net/en/interview-michiru-yamane/|archive-date=March 16, 2017|access-date=December 10, 2018|website=Spelmusik.net|language=en}} As the series was already popular and known for its music, she felt pressure to perform well. Having extensively studied Johann Sebastian Bach in university,{{cite web|last=Game Developer magazine|date=December 26, 2013|title=A classic interview with Castlevania composer Michiru Yamane|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/a-classic-interview-with-i-castlevania-i-composer-michiru-yamane|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208062929/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/207767/A_classic_interview_with_Castlevania_composer_Michiru_Yamane.php|archive-date=December 8, 2017|access-date=December 10, 2018|website=Gamasutra|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|date=February 2010|title=Interview with Michiru Yamane (February 2010)|url=https://www.squareenixmusic.com/features/interviews/michiruyamane.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917112905/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/features/interviews/michiruyamane.shtml|archive-date=September 17, 2011|access-date=December 10, 2018|website=Square Enix Music Online}} The development process required that Yamane program the music into the game, on top of composition. As she was already experienced with FM synthesis, she was comfortable doing this. Yamane went on to become a recurring composer for the Castlevania series.

Release

Bloodlines was released worldwide in March 1994.{{Cite book|title=The History of Castlevania: Book of the Crescent Moon|publisher=Konami|year=2019|location=(Digital ebook included with Castlevania Anniversary Collection)}}{{rp|24}}{{Efn|The game was released in North America on March 17,{{cite web| author=Konami staff | title=Castlevania Bloodlines | url=https://www.konami.com/games/castlevania/us/en-us/page/history_1994_md | website=Castlevania web portal | publisher=Konami | access-date=2 March 2020}} in Japan on March 18,{{Cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?a=page_h_title&title_id=7649|title=バンパイアキラー [メガドライブ] / ファミ通.com|website=www.famitsu.com|access-date=2018-07-24}}{{cite web| author=Konami staff | title=バンパイアキラー VAMPIRE KILLER | url=https://www.konami.com/games/castlevania/jp/ja/page/history_1994_md |website=悪魔城ドラキュラポータルサイト |language=ja | publisher=Konami | access-date=2 March 2020}} and in Europe on March 20.{{cite web| author=Konami staff | title=Castlevania The New Generation | url=https://www.konami.com/games/castlevania/eu/en/page/history_1994_md |website=Castlevania web portal | publisher=Konami | access-date=2 March 2020}}}} The western version was made more difficult than the Japanese version. Packaging artwork for the North American version was illustrated by Tom duBois, who also designed artwork for other western releases of Konami games.{{cite web |last=Gidney |first=Adam |title=Tom Dubois artist page |publisher=BOX=ART |access-date=August 18, 2016 |url=http://www.boxequalsart.com/tom-dubois-artist-page.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802162449/http://boxequalsart.com/tom-dubois-artist-page.html |archive-date=August 2, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} 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.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-castlevania-anniversary-collection-is-good-but-still-has-a-couple-of-chipped-fangs|title=The Castlevania Anniversary Collection is Good, but Still Has a Couple of Chipped Fangs|last=Oxford|first=Nadia|date=2019-05-21|website=USgamer|language=en|access-date=2019-06-03|archive-date=2019-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603012949/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-castlevania-anniversary-collection-is-good-but-still-has-a-couple-of-chipped-fangs|url-status=dead}} It was also included in the Sega Genesis Mini dedicated console released later that year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-genesis-mini-announces-10-more-games-optional/1100-6466953/|title=Sega Genesis Mini Announces 10 More Games, Optional 6-Button Controller|last=Watts|first=Steve|date=2019-05-21|website=GameSpot|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531085135/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sega-genesis-mini-announces-10-more-games-optional/1100-6466953/|archive-date=2019-05-31|url-status=live}} An unofficial tech demo for the Super NES also exists.{{cite web | url=https://www.retronews.com/unofficial-snes-port-of-castlevania-bloodlines/ | title=Unofficial SNES Port of Castlevania: Bloodlines | Retro Gaming News | date=31 July 2024 }}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

|GR = 84%{{cite web | access-date=November 16, 2013 | url=http://www.gamerankings.com/genesis/563315-castlevania-bloodlines/index.html | publisher=GameRankings | title=Castlevania: Bloodlines for Genesis – GameRankings | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618154832/http://www.gamerankings.com/genesis/563315-castlevania-bloodlines/index.html | archive-date=June 18, 2012 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }}

|Fam = 28/40

|GI = 8/10{{cite magazine |title=Legacy Review Archives |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/legacyreviews |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214131120/https://www.gameinformer.com/legacyreviews |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 14, 2018 |magazine=Game Informer |access-date=3 October 2021}}

|Hyper = 79%{{cite magazine|last=Humphreys|first=Andrew|date=February 1994|url=https://archive.org/details/hyper-003/page/46/mode/2up?q=%22james+pond+3%22|title=The New Generation: Castlevania|magazine=Hyper|issue=3|pages=46–47|accessdate=June 30, 2021}}

|SJ = 84/100{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Superjuegos_023/page/n41/mode/2up?q=bloodlines|title=Castlevania: The New Generation|language=es|magazine=Superjuegos|issue=23|pages=42–49|accessdate=June 30, 2021}}

|rev1 = Mega Machines

|rev1Score = 70/100{{cite magazine|author1=James|author2=Al|date=April 1994|url=https://archive.org/details/mega-machines-05/page/n45/mode/2up?q=castlevania|title=Castlevania: The New Generation|magazine=Mega Machines|issue=5|pages=46–48|accessdate=June 30, 2021}}

|rev2 = Sega Magazine

|rev2Score = 86/100{{cite magazine|last1=Leadbetter|first1=Richard|last2=Automatic|first2=Radion|date=February 1994|url=https://archive.org/details/sega-magazine-2-february-1994/page/n91/mode/2up?q=|title=Castlevania|magazine=Sega Magazine|issue=2|pages=91–92|accessdate=June 30, 2021}}

}}

GamesRadar named Castlevania: Bloodlines the 8th best Genesis game of all time out of a list of 25.{{cite web | access-date=February 2, 2013 | url=http://www.gamesradar.com/best-sega-genesis-games-all-time/ | publisher=GamesRadar | title=Best Sega Genesis games of all time | author=GamesRadar staff | date=April 17, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726104316/http://www.gamesradar.com/best-sega-genesis-games-all-time/ | archive-date=July 26, 2012 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }} 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."{{cite magazine |title=Ranking The Castlevania Bloodline |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/04/04/ranking-the-castlevania-bloodline.aspx |magazine=Game Informer |last=Turi |first=Tim |date=2012-04-04 |access-date=2013-12-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507064948/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/04/04/ranking-the-castlevania-bloodline.aspx |archive-date=2013-05-07 |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite magazine |title=Castlevania Rises from the Grave|magazine=GamePro |issue=108|publisher=IDG|date=September 1997 |page=32}}