He also reveals a few Bloodstained development secrets

Watching developers play other people’s games is always interesting. Most of the good ones end up looking at the other dev’s work both for what it is while also thinking about how it was made, making for more layered, insightful commentary. It’s even more exciting when they can point out what works about a game’s design and what doesn’t in the middle of a boss fight, though that takes both reflexes and oratory skill that few can muster.

Few are even willing to try this kind of thing on camera, in part because they are afraid to inadvertently insult anyone else’s work in public, but Koji Igarashi (Bloodstained, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night) is an exception. He’s equal parts bold and polite, making him the perfect candidate for the job. Alongside former Capcom producer Ben Judd, he took ten minutes out of his schedule to playMinoria, the latest Metroidvania to hit the market. Along the way, Iga lets loose a few new facts on howBloodstainedwas developed (who knew thatJoJo’s Bizarre Adventurewas an influence on Miriam’s idle animations?) before getting clobbered by a boss.

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This actually isn’t the first time Iga has done Let’s Play with Ben Judd. A few years ago, he and Ben took a crack atSymphony of the Nightwith the help of Double Fine. It’s clear that for this cowboy, getting his butt kicked in a game in front of an audience of thousands is downright relaxing compared to the pressure of making one that will be played by millions.

The ghost at the end of the hallway

Picking up the smiley face post-it off the broken mirror

John and Molly sitting on the park bench

Close up shot of Marissa Marcel starring in Ambrosio

Kukrushka sitting in a meadow

Lightkeeper pointing his firearm overlapped against the lighthouse background

Overseer looking over the balcony in opening cutscene of Funeralopolis

Edited image of Super Imposter looking through window in No I’m not a Human demo cutscene with thin man and FEMA inside the house

Looking at the ghost of Jackie inside the lighthouse