Castlevania 3DS - "we have people we need to satisfy"

Konami and developer Mercury Steam have discussed how they're intending to push the series forward in 3DS title Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate, with advances in emotional storytelling and, that key tenet of Castlevania, exploration.

Speaking to Gamespot AU, Konami and Mercury Steam, the developer responsible for 2010's Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, it's upcoming sequel and the 3DS spin-off Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate, have discussed where the series goes next.

Konami's David Cox said that both companies are aware that "with the success of [Lords of Shadow], we have people we need to satisfy who have really enjoyed what we've done, so we're developing that and making that more interesting ... Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate and Lords of Shadow 2 will be much more focused on exploration."

Mercury Steam's Enric Alvarez elaborated: "I think that what we're doing is improving on aspects that, for example, exploration, in Castlevania Lords of Shadow, you've got to reload specific levels to reexplore them. Both in Mirror of Fate and Lords of Shadow 2, exploration is going to organically grow from the structure of the game, you know what I mean? So no need to load--just go."

Cox cautioned that, despite appearances, the intention is not to make a "Metroidvania", "We're not looking to make a Metroidvania, but we are taking some influences from those styles of games. I guess for us, it's something more similar to Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, where we want branching paths and multiple characters."

Cox also highlighted the overarching story lines of the two Lords of Shadows console games and where the handheld offering fits in: "Lords of Shadow 1 is sort of 'Dracula Begins,' if you like. Lords of Shadow 2 will be the end of the saga where you play as Dracula and you know there will be a conclusion.

"Mirror of Fate is more focused on Belmonts and their relationship with Dracula. So in that respect, we are going to try to focus on the emotional element of the characters, which is something perhaps that hasn't been focused on in previous Castlevania games before."

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate is due to launch on 3DS later this year.