Koji Igarashi took to Kickstarter with the intention of reviving what he’s coining the “Koji-Vania” genre that was made famous when he co-directed Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. To say that he was successful would be an understatement.

Following in the footsteps of last week’s Yooka-Laylee, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night proved that fans are more than willing to fork over the cash to get their 2D Castlevania fix. In less than 24 hours, the project’s Kickstarter page raised the $500,000 needed to fund the project, signaling another resounding rejection of a major publisher’s decision to pass on classic games.

Led by Igarashi, Bloodstained looks to capture the spirit of Konami’s series by creating an exploration platformer complete with RPG elements, memorable bosses and a variety of weapons, (including a whip!) As Miriam, an alchemist who carries the magi-crystal curse, she will be tasked with exploring a castle that attracts demons, all while discovering the reasons for why her friend, Gebel, has summoned it. Using her alchemic know-how to craft weapons along the way, it’s looking like she’ll fill the void that the Belmonts have left behind.

Developed by Inti. Creates, (of Mega Man 9, 10, Zero and Azure Striker Gunvolt fame,) and bringing in the voice talents of David Hayter, (which is surely a jab at Iga’s former publisher,) the promises that Bloodstained is making is enough of a reason for any 2D fan to get excited.

Want to contribute? As of this writing, the project is sitting at $1.5 million, with most of its stretch goals met! By participating in the community through creating fan art, interacting on Twitter, and a variety of other tasks, more stretch goals and giveaways will unlock as we approach the funding date. To donate, visit the Kickstarter page, and let us know what you hope Bloodstained will deliver!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/iga/bloodstained-ritual-of-the-night?ref=category