Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has been rated by the ESRB
It seems like we are finally getting close to the release of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Koji Igarashi’s spiritual successor to the Castlevania series has recently been rated by the ESRB. Usually, this means that a game is at least somewhat close to being released as a near-final build had to have been submitted to the ratings board. Bloodstained has received a “T” rating for “Blood, Partial Nudity and Violence”. Here’s the ESRB’s rating summary:
This is an action role-playing game in which players assume the role of Miriam, a cursed orphan who must battle her way through a demon-infested castle. As players traverse side-scrolling environments, they use swords, spears, pistols, and whips to battle fantastical creatures (e.g., harpies; spiked armor; demon-like birds, rodents, dogs) in melee-style combat. In one sequence, players encounter a boss character emerging from a bathtub full of blood; her magic attacks can cause blood to rain down on players and stain the walls and ceilings. Another sequence depicts an impaled corpse, with blood flowing heavily into a large fountain pool. The game also depicts a topless female boss creature (no discernible nipples).
Officially, the current release date for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a vague “2019”. In late December last year, Igarashi said that the game’s development “has reached its peak”. Hopefully, a final release date announcement isn’t too far off now.