10 Video Game Franchises That Drastically Reinvented Themselves
3. Castlevania
Castlevania, a series which began in 1986, and has since become one of the most iconic franchises in history. In 1999, Castlevania 64 converted the franchise into 3D, implementing a lock-on system in which players manoeuvred themselves around the environment in order to attack enemies. It was a platformer - just like all previous instalments - but the 3D environments made that particular aspects somewhat difficult. Playing the game today, the dated visuals only accentuate the problems, turning the entire experience into a frustrating chore.
Released in 2013, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow attempted something similar, reinventing the classic series once again in an attempt to capitalise on its popularity.
No longer a platformer, the game borrowed extensively from the likes of God of War and Shadow of the Colossus, reinventing the franchise completely and abandoning numerous staples of the series, including the difficulty which had been toned down significantly.
Did they work?
Castlevania 64 was generally considered a success, and was received positively upon released.
Lords of Shadow... not so much. Despite aesthetic similarities, the game is virtually unrecognisable, murdering the charm and originality of the franchise, and turning the once beloved staple into another action-adventure hack-n-slash with zero personality.