This is going to be a two-part review. Bloodstained is what happens when a good franchise and good people making them aren't allowed to keep doing what they are good at. The guys making Castlevanias Symphony of the Night and onward went and made a new franchise that played just like Castlevania in every possible way. The end result was Bloodstained. After five years since release, the final Kickstarter goals have been patched in. I took a look at the game and all subsequent content. I was very pleased to see it held up as I remember.

Part 2 will be about the "Classic" or 2D Platformer style shown most notably in Curse of the Moon.

Upcoming Schedule

August 24th: Konohana Kitan

August 31st: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

Sept. 7th: Konosuba Season 3

Sept. 14th: Legaia 2 w/LeighClipse

Sept. 21st: Odd Taxi

Sept. 28th: Metal Gear Solid 3

Oct. 5th: Favorite Anime OPs/EDs

Oct. 12th: Xenosaga 2

Oct. 19th: Sankarea

Oct. 26th: Final Fantasy: Glitches and Translation Errors

Game: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Year: 2019

Developer/Publisher: ArtPlay/NetEase

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Ritual of the Night Logo

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For more Citizen Strife content, here is some socials

Gameplay Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQR4uewfRZttDxzUdkkZ2Lw

Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC59ybzlsnruIOmVwUHirAjQ

Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/citizen_strife

Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/citizenstrife

Patreon Backers

$5 Tier - John Buxton (Butch Weems) (Previous Backer)

This week's anime is about teaching kids how to kill an unkillable test subject. But it also has a heart of gold. This show is about a teacher who believes so much in his students, they become everything they want to be.

Upcoming Schedule

August 17th: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

August 24th: Konohana Kitan

August 31st: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

Sept. 7th: Sailor Moon Crystal (w/LeighClipse)

Sept. 14th: Metal Gear Solid 3

Sept. 21st: Konosuba Season 3

Sept. 28th: Xenosaga 2

Oct. 5th: Odd Taxi

Oct. 12th: Final Fantasy: Glitches and Translation Errors

Oct. 19th: Sankarea

Anime: Assassination Classroom

Year: 2015-2016

Studio/License: Lerche/Crunchyroll

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Assassination Classroom Logo

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For more Citizen Strife content, here is some socials

Gameplay Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQR4uewfRZttDxzUdkkZ2Lw

Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC59ybzlsnruIOmVwUHirAjQ

Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/citizen_strife

Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/citizenstrife

Patreon Backers

$5 Tier - John Buxton (Butch Weems) (Previous Backer)

This week's anime review is about an older show with a dire, desperate tinge. Wolves and humans all searching for Paradise, but going through a hollow world to find it.

Upcoming Schedule

August 10th: Assassination Classroom

August 17th: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

August 24th: Konohana Kitan

August 31st: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

Sept. 7th: Sailor Moon Crystal (w/LeighClipse)

Sept. 14th: Metal Gear Solid 3

Sept. 21st: Konosuba Season 3

Sept. 28th: Xenosaga 2

Oct. 5th: Odd Taxi

Oct. 12th: Final Fantasy: Glitches and Translation Errors

Anime: Wolf's Rain

Year: 2003

Studio/License: Bones/Funimation/Crunchyroll

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Wolf's Rain Logo

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For more Citizen Strife content, here is some socials

Gameplay Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQR4uewfRZttDxzUdkkZ2Lw

Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC59ybzlsnruIOmVwUHirAjQ

Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/citizen_strife

Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/citizenstrife

Patreon Backers

$5 Tier - John Buxton (Butch Weems) (Previous Backer)

It only makes sense to start my fourth year podcasting talking about the game I spent months completing on my main channel. Persona has been my go-to franchise for almost two decades now, and Reload did everything it could to change the original into something more modern, without losing the spirit. Everything about it was enhanced. I loved playing this.

Upcoming Schedule

July 27th: Persona 3 Reload (3rd Anniversary)

August 3rd: Wolf's Rain

August 10th: Assassination Classroom

August 17th: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

August 24th: Konohana Kitan

August 31st: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

Sept. 7th: Sailor Moon Crystal (w/LeighClipse)

Sept. 14th: Metal Gear Solid 3

Sept. 21st: Konosuba Season 3

Sept. 28th: Xenosaga 2

Oct. 5th: Odd Taxi

Game: Persona 3 Reload

Year: 2024

Developer/Publisher: Atlus/Sega

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P3R Logo

https://insider-gaming.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Persona3Reload.jpg

For more Citizen Strife content, here is some socials

Gameplay Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQR4uewfRZttDxzUdkkZ2Lw

Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC59ybzlsnruIOmVwUHirAjQ

Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/citizen_strife

Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/citizenstrife

Patreon Backers

$5 Tier - John Buxton (Butch Weems) (Previous Backer)

Following the first game's events, Nirvana Initiative retools and reintroduces many aspects along with a brand new case. If you liked the first game, chances are the sequel is going to do the same.

Upcoming Schedule

July 27th: Persona 3 Reload (3rd Anniversary)

August 3rd: Wolf's Rain

August 10th: Assassination Classroom

August 17th: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

August 24th: Konohana Kitan

August 31st: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

Sept. 7th: Sailor Moon Crystal (w/LeighClipse)

Sept. 14th: Metal Gear Solid 3

Sept. 21st: Konosuba Season 3

Sept. 28th: Xenosaga 2

Game: AI: The Somnium Files - Nirvana Initiative

Year: 2022

Developer/Publisher: Spike Chunsoft

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Somnium Files Logo

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Gameplay Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQR4uewfRZttDxzUdkkZ2Lw

Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC59ybzlsnruIOmVwUHirAjQ

Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/citizen_strife

Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/citizenstrife

Patreon Backers

$5 Tier - John Buxton (Butch Weems) (Previous Backer)

This week's anime review is about a dark comedy. Yokai, kemono, and other japanese horror/occult things is a fun side genre to dip my toes into from time to time. When done well, it weaves the cool old school traditional stuff with some level of horror or gore I don't often dive into. This show helps bridge that gap by being a good comedy while being dark or weird enough to have its own aura about it too.

Upcoming Schedule

July 20th: AI: The Somnium Files: Nirvana Initiative

July 27th: Persona 3 Reload (3rd Anniversary)

August 3rd: Wolf's Rain

August 10th: Assassination Classroom

August 17th: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

August 24th: Konohana Kitan

August 31st: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

Sept. 7th: Sailor Moon Crystal (w/LeighClipse)

Sept. 14th: Metal Gear Solid 3

Sept. 21st: Konosuba Season 3

Anime: Kemono Jihen

Year: 2021

Studio/License: Ajia-do Animation Works/Crunchyroll

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Kemono Jihen Logo

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For more Citizen Strife content, here is some socials

Gameplay Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQR4uewfRZttDxzUdkkZ2Lw

Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC59ybzlsnruIOmVwUHirAjQ

Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/citizen_strife

Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/citizenstrife

Patreon Backers

$5 Tier - John Buxton (Butch Weems) (Previous Backer)

Having never played the OG Gameboy version, I was floored at how well this game fit my Zelda sensibilities like a glove. I love the simple fun of the 2D Zelda games. However, having not played it, I also ran afoul of the last two dungeons being...rough. It wasn't a complete deal breaker though. This is what old-school Zelda games were like, and I had fun.

Upcoming Schedule

July 13th: Kemono Jihen

July 20th: AI: The Somnium Files: Nirvana Initiative

July 27th: Sailor Moon Crystal w/LeighClipse (3rd Anniversary)

August 3rd: Persona 3 Reload

August 10th: Assassination Classroom

August 17th: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

August 24th: Konohana Kitan

August 31st: Metal Gear Solid 3

September 7th: Wolf's Rain

September 14th: Xenosaga 2

Game: Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

Year: 2019

Developer/Publisher: Nintendo

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For more Citizen Strife content, here is some socials

Gameplay Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQR4uewfRZttDxzUdkkZ2Lw

Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC59ybzlsnruIOmVwUHirAjQ

Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/citizen_strife

Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/citizenstrife

Patreon Backers

$5 Tier - John Buxton (Butch Weems) (Previous Backer)

This week's anime review is one that mixes seedy crime drama with super power insanity. A photographer investigating a secret club is thrust into a fugitive role, when he runs off with a girl who is able to grant people special abilities.

Upcoming Schedule

July 6th: Link's Awakening

July 13th: Kemono Jihen

July 20th: AI: The Somnium Files: Nirvana Initiative

July 27th: Sailor Moon Crystal w/LeighClipse (3rd Anniversary)

August 3rd: Persona 3 Reload

August 10th: Assassination Classroom

August 17th: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

August 24th: Konohana Kitan

August 31st: Metal Gear Solid 3

September 7th: Wolf's Rain

Anime: Speed Grapher

Year: 2005

Studio/License: Gonzo/Crunchyroll

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Speed Grapher Logo

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For more Citizen Strife content, here is some socials

Gameplay Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQR4uewfRZttDxzUdkkZ2Lw

Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC59ybzlsnruIOmVwUHirAjQ

Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/citizen_strife

Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/citizenstrife

Patreon Backers

$5 Tier - John Buxton (Butch Weems) (Previous Backer)

JRPGs love sidequests and minigames. It can usually be a chance to earn rewards, unwind, or just find a change of pace. One of the more prevalent games is fishing. Some do it well, some do it poorly, but I try to run down as many as I can.

Upcoming Schedule

June 29th: Speed Grapher

July 6th: Link's Awakening

July 13th: Kemono Jihen

July 20th: AI: The Somnium Files: Nirvana Initiative

July 27th: Sailor Moon Crystal w/LeighClipse (3rd Anniversary)

August 3rd: Persona 3 Reload

August 10th: Assassination Classroom

August 17th: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

August 24th: Konohana Kitan

August 31st: Metal Gear Solid 3

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For more Citizen Strife content, here is some socials

Gameplay Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQR4uewfRZttDxzUdkkZ2Lw

Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC59ybzlsnruIOmVwUHirAjQ

Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/citizen_strife

Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/citizenstrife

Patreon Backers

$5 Tier - John Buxton (Butch Weems) (Previous Backer)

Final Fantasy is great, Final Fantasy music is great. What happens when you put 400-500 of those songs in a rhythm game? Well, you get a great game.

Upcoming Schedule

June 22nd: Fishing Minigames in JRPGs

June 29th: Speed Grapher

July 6th: Link's Awakening

July 13th: Kemono Jihen

July 20th: AI: The Somnium Files: Nirvana Initiative

July 27th: Sailor Moon Crystal w/LeighClipse (3rd Anniversary)

August 3rd: Persona 3 Reload

August 10th: Assassination Classroom

August 17th: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

August 24th: Konohana Kitan

Game: Theatrhythm Final Bar Line

Year: 2023

Developer/Publisher: indieszero/Square Enix

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Theatrhythm Logo

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For more Citizen Strife content, here is some socials

Gameplay Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQR4uewfRZttDxzUdkkZ2Lw

Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC59ybzlsnruIOmVwUHirAjQ

Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/citizen_strife

Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/citizenstrife

Patreon Backers

$5 Tier - John Buxton (Butch Weems) (Previous Backer)