E3 2018: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Continues to Impress

Last year Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night was one of the best games I played at E3. Unlike Mighty No. 9, it understood what made its source great, at least in my opinion, great and managed to be different, while still being the same. The climatic final battle brought a thrilling end to an otherwise impressive demo. With the release fast approaching, the new demo showcases another boss, location and more.

The biggest compliment and criticism I can give Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is my opinion is unchanged. The harbor boss was interesting, just like the new location added some neat new enemies, though it all worked in a way that was all too familiar. If you’re familiar with the genre, then you know all the tricks and secrets to overcome the challenges that await.

When it comes to new content, this year some of the story was on display. It was cryptic, intriguing and vague, possibly because it takes place in the middle of the story (previews are rarely the literal starting point), giving me enough faith to be optimistic for the future. Even more so due to the fact this or a version very similar, will give backers around an hour’s worth of gameplay to play around with.

As much as I would like to say more, I’m left feeling like it’s essentially Castlevania and that is likely for the best. With last year’s demo showing how fearsome bosses can be and both demos highlighting the vast array of weapons at your disposal, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is on track to live up to expectations, which should be fantastic news for hopeful fans and faithful backers.