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Using your own PSone games for emulation [Update 1]
That Dark_Alex kid is up to it again. His custom firmware currently cracks the protection that PSone games from the PlayStation Store utilize. However, it looks like the next revision, called 3.02 OE-B, will support the ripping of ISO files and turning them into EBOOT files to launch via XMB. This means almost any PSone game you own can be transferred to your PSP. You'll see Castlevania: Symphony of the Night at work in this YouTube demo. Amazing, isn't it? Hopefully, this will convince Sony to release their PlayStation Store games at a much less craptacular rate.[Thanks, jamie!][Update 1: Now available for download at MAXCONSOLE.]
FFV: PoR in review
A certain blogger may or may not have an extreme obsession with everything Castlevania (cue shifty eyes), but all that aside, there's nothing like a good ol' video review for a Friday afternoon. Especially when it's a review of Portrait of Ruin! Is this your weekend timesink or are you kicking back with another game? Don't forget to stop in and tell us what you're playing.
Playing Dirty: Dracula wears eyeliner, part II
Every other week, Bonnie Ruberg contributes Playing Dirty, a column on sex and gender in video games:Last week we looked at the changing art style -- and heros -- of the Castlevania series. From manly to effeminate, they've run the range. But there's more to consider here than a pretty face.First off, let's take a look at their weapon choice -- or at least their weapons as they're depicted in the official game art. Old-fashioned Castlevania heros, the ones with rippling muscle and leather attire, are almost always depicted with a whip in hand. Later heros, the ones with lacy frills and high cheek bones, seem to prefer other weapons, like swords.Now, sometimes a weapon is just a weapon, but when it comes to the peculiar case of these super-masculine, super-feminine protagonists, the issue bears a little reading into. The obvious cry would be "Phallic symbol!" But really, what weapon isn't? Instead, the interesting question here is what are these phalluses are up to?
A very merry Virtual Console Christmas [update 2]
Hold on to your mistletoe, folks, Nintendo is dropping all kinds of radiological bombs come Christmas morning. Let's skip the preamble and just head right on in: Super Mario Bros. (NES) - Finally, is all we have to say. The defining "retro" title in video gaming history is finally up for grabs, and you might not have a soul if you don't pick it up. Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (SNES) - One of the most influential titles in the 16-bit era, Street Fighter II is revered by millions of angry, violent gamers worldwide. And Chun-Li is still hot. Super Castlevania IV (SNES) - The beginning of the modern Castlevania games, this title features more hot whip action than your mistress on Friday night. And unholy werewolves, too. Toe Jam and Earl (Sega Genesis) - We've been raving about this funkotronic title for weeks, and it's finally here come Christmas morn. Get your groove on and ignore your holiday dinner ... that's what we're doing, anyway. R-Type (TG-16) - An apparently famous shooter that we ourselves have not played. We hear it's quite the hit, though. Any takers? This is gonna be one hell of a Monday. Who said presents needed to be encased in paper and under a tree?[Thanks, Benny!][Update 1: Also, on January 1st, Nintendo will be releasing both Baseball (NES) and Urban Champion (NES). Not that it'll matter. We'll be too busy playing these games to bother.][Update 2: And no, none of these games are free. Cheapskates.]
Playing Dirty: Dracula wears eyeliner
Every other week, Bonnie Ruberg contributes Playing Dirty, a column on sex and gender in video games:For Castlevania fans, it's hardly news that the series has undergone some serious shifts in art direction over the years. But with the recent release of the Castlevania retrospective art book -- a Portrait of Ruin pre-order bonus -- it's gotten easier to track just how much things have changed. From romance novel-esque to stunningly stylized to "Didn't I see this anime on Fox Kids?," Castlevania's art aesthetic, if not its gameplay, has covered a vast range. But it's not just the approach that's different, it's the characters themselves. In the beginning, titles like Castlevania II featured heroes with rippling muscles, loincloths, and virile locks of coarse blond hair. In contrast to these manly men, protagonists from later games, like Symphony of the Night, became thin bishounen, elegantly dressed, with delicate and undeniably feminine features. Most recently though, Castlevania heroes have reclaimed some of their traditional manhood. The protagonist of Portrait of Ruin may have fancier duds than the he-men of earlier titles, but he's grown back his six pack, his unromanticized features, and his save-the-day blond bangs.
The DS holiday buyer's guide part 2: the casual player
After our first part in an attempt to help you introduce someone else into the wonderful world of handheld gaming, part two is aimed more at the casual type. Someone who already owns the system, maybe a game or two, and finds themself spending a few spare hours each week hitting the stylus. This part in our three part guide is aimed at helping them expand that small fascination. Read on for some thoughtful ideas on what to buy the casual gamer this holiday season!
WRUP: stake a vamp edition
Out of all the games released this week, only one was really on everyone's radar. So, how many of you are currently stuck in the past, battling vamps and other ghastly ghouls during World War II? We have yet to pick up the game ourselves, with the intention to do so this weekend. So, you know what we're (planning on) playing, but what are you playing?Plan on staking Dracula right in his chest, as well? Or do you not care about the eternal struggle between good and evil, instead looking toward other titles to provide amusement?Past posts: What were you playing?
Metareview - Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Rinse. Wash. Repeat. Castlevania has slipped into a familiar formula on Nintendo's handhelds. As such, Portrait of Ruin doesn't stray far from its forebears' blueprints, but it does lose the gimmicky annoyances found in Dawn of Sorrow in favor of an effective, albeit underused team mechanic.You want refined? Check out Portrait of Ruin. Game Informer (90/100) - "Putting two characters in the player's hands proves to be an ingenious way of expanding on Castlevania's bread-and-butter action ... The exceedingly minor irritation of reused environments is the only negative comment that I have about Portrait of Ruin ... this will quickly become one of the most-beloved titles in your DS library." IGN (89/100) - "The amount of times the two characters will need to partner together can be counted on two hands ... This two-character idea is a neat new way of presenting the Castlevania experience, but it's not explored as deeply as it should ... Even though the sequel's doesn't offer as strong an original design as the initial DS game, it's still immensely fun with a lot of legs thanks to multiple endings, additional unlockable characters, and a focus on multiplayer". GameSpot (83/100) - "It doesn't mess too much with the formula, but the changes it implements are good ones ... The partner mechanic works well, and it's remarkably easy and intuitive to control two characters at once ... [but you] can finish Portrait of Ruin in four or five hours on your first try".
Castlevania: portrait of unboxing [update 1]
If you're a real Castlevania fan, then it's likely the sweet preorder bonus for Portrait of Ruin from GameStop and co. got your blood pumping. There's nothing like teasing the flap on a beautiful box and dipping your fingers inside to stroke the goods. We know you want it. Flickr user and DS fan Gil knows, too, and he photographed his very special unboxing odyssey just for you. The smooth, slim stylus and DS case, the poster with handy timeline and luscious artwork, and the collector's edition music CD -- it's all inside. And even if you couldn't get your hands on one, now you can at least watch as it is undressed, left naked and open for your roving eyeballs.And even if you don't love Castlevania in that special way that we do, it's always nice to see a collector's set with some real goodies ... and any fan knows the music from the series is worth having on disc. [Thanks, Gil!][Update 1: Looks like I've forgotten how to spell.]
Metareview - Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin [update 1]
We've been waiting for this one a long, long time. And, finally, it has arrived. Arrived and been well-received by the critics. Taking over as two heroes in Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, Jonathan Morris the vampire hunter and Charlotte Orlean, his magical sidekick, this latest adventure takes place during World War II. Of course, Dracula comes back into the picture and the ever-familiar conflict once again presents itself. The difference this time around, according to the game's critics, is that the adventure is the best the franchise has ever seen, presenting new gameplay mechanics and touch-screen interaction that lacks that gimmicky feel it did in Dawn of Sorrow. GamePro - 90%: "A game that not only reaffirms the series' greatness, but is easily one of the best handheld games released this year." Game Informer - 93%: "Putting two characters in the player's hands proves to be an ingenious way of expanding on Castlevania's bread-and-butter action. It's been done before, but Portrait of Ruin's system is particularly smooth in execution." Nintendo Power - 90%: "Portrait of Ruin provides a whole lot more of a very good thing, and Castlevania fans won't be disappointed with the results." [Jan. 2007, p.114] [Update: Fixed link in graphic.]
Some Portrait of Ruin impressions
Cubed3 has received a full copy of the upcoming Portrait of Ruin for the DS, the next in a seemingly endless line of 2-D portable Castlevania games (Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance, Aria of Sorrow, Dawn of Sorrow). Is the best? An excerpt below:"...you will come across Brauner's magical paintings. Each of these portraits acts as a warp through to another location, such as a desert, forest and old-fashioned townscape. This works similar to how the system in Super Mario 64 did, and adds an even greater sense of exploration to the already fantastic series. It certainly does help to break up the play and prevent monotony setting in."Some interesting points of the review are the new two-character control system, and the rather short length of the game (8-10 hours). Check out the full review if you're interested in whip-cracking.
PoR import copy reviewed
The folks over at Gamebrink imported a Japanese copy of Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin and ran it through their gauntlet for review. What did they have to say about the game? Well, mostly good things mixed with great things, obviously! We wouldn't suggest reading the review unless you enjoy having things spoiled for you. Commenting on the new two-player combo aspect of the game, Gamebrink details how fighting and puzzle solving have been changed:"The first most obvious thing is that some enemies are pretty much immune to physical attacks and vice-versa so you'll find yourself making use of both characters' unique fighting abilities. Also, once you manage to collect the required scrolls, you can pull off a combo attack known as "Duel Crush" during battles to inflict some greater than average damage. As you explore Castlevania, you'll find areas that are too high to reach so when this happens, most of the time you'll be summoning your partner to give you a little boost up but sometimes, you'll just have to use the "stay" command. "
In a week of new consoles: some retro video love
With a week that has not one but two major console launches looming, it's nice to get a dose of what brought us here. A glance back at the simple (yet extremely tough to beat) days of only one directional pad and two buttons. The Minibosses perform "Castlevania III" complete with retro graphics and hand-drawn animation, and of course -- music.Check out the video after the jump, and catch your breath before the weekend strikes.[Thanks, Meredith]
Paul W.S. Anderson shepherding Castlevania to film
Not long ago, we told you about some direct-to-DVD business featuring Warren Ellis that was going on with the Castlevania franchise, and to be frank, that was more exciting than the somewhat meh buzz surrounding the news that Paul W.S. Anderson (of Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil and Alien vs. Predator "fame") is preparing to take our beloved whip-cracking Belmonts to the big screen. Though according to Anderson, the film may be more about laying on a little fang than about the generations who've worked to stem the undead tide. "You could almost call this movie Dracula Begins," said Anderson, according to 1UP. Must we? Or can we just go ahead and vomit now to beat the rush?There's a dim light at the end of the tunnel. After all, it could be Uwe Boll. And the first Resident Evil film wasn't the worst thing ever. It had moments. A few moments. If you were drinking. But Anderson's little off-the-cuff remark makes us wonder if he understands the series and what keeps the fans coming back. It's not just the big bad and it's not just the Belmonts. It's a balance. And, y'know, we dig whips and those bouncing Medusa heads.Maybe a good film based on a game franchise is just too much to ask.
Castlevania film gets Rogue distributor
Rogue Pictures, a sub-sub-division of Universal specializing in low-budget action and horror flicks, has signed on to distribute Paul W.S. Anderson's Castlevania adaptation. Rogue will handle distribution in North American, the U.K., Spain and German-speaking territories. Crystal Sky, co-financers of the (not-so-low-budget) $50 million project, will be responsible for distribution throughout the rest of the world.Anderson is currently scouting out shooting locales in Hungary and Romania for his Blade-meets-Highlander epic. Dracula's castle will be re-imagined in some back lot in Budapest. Shooting starts this spring. Drink your holy water and keep your crosses crossed.[Thanks, Dave]
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin anime intro video
We aren't experts in the fine art that is speaking Japanese, if you hadn't already noticed. On top of that, translated pages aren't exactly the best place to get info either. If you've ever doubted that a sentence in English could not make sense, spend five minutes trying to read one of Google's translated pages. They could make Winnie The Pooh look like a perverted old bear. From what we gathered, this is the intro to Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin. There's lots of ass kicking and no monster gets spared. We were surprised to not hear any voice acting but we are hoping to see that get worked on in the extra months Konami has taken to improve the game. As always, the video is after the break unless you want to wait and see the intro for yourself when the game is released like a sissy. Enjoy! [Via QJ Net]
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin delayed [update 1]
With all the buzz about the newest Castlevania for DS, it was a huge disappointment to hear that it was delayed until February of next year. The good news is that Konami plans on fully utilizing these extra months to make the game better. They are adding a few online features to beef it up. Players will be able to trade spells online, sell their spells in an online shop and engage in battles against bosses in a two-player co-op Wi-Fi mode. We smell friend codes coming! To hold your attention until February, check out the bad ass stuff you get for pre-ordering the game. Not even a moderate Castlevania fan could say no to that beautiful bundle of Belmont joy. [Via News 4 Gamers] [update: Reader Daroga pointed out that this delay is in Europe only. We called our local GameStop and they still have the US release date as December 13. Thanks Daroga!]
Analyzing Medusa in gamer mythology
In his recent Retronauts feature, 1UP's Jeremy Parish examines the disparate interpretations of Medusa throughout early gaming. Discarding most of the intricate histories of the Gorgon sister, most game designers chose instead to focus on the two (obviously most important) aspects of Medusa: her serpentine hairdo and (sometimes) her stone-inducing gaze.Pariah gives a number of examples, with pictures, of Medusa in gaming before transitioning into a discussion on the Castlevania series and its insistence on making Medusa a flying head maneuvering in a sinusoidal pattern.One of the tales of Medusa that we haven't seen game designers capitalize on: when Perseus beheaded Medusa, Pegasus the winged horse and Chrysaor the giant sprang forth, presumably the offspring born of an night of passion between Poseidon and Medusa. [Via Wired]
Warren Ellis to pen Castlevania script
At least, we think Warren Ellis is going to write something about Castlevania for someone. Between the cigarettes and the Red Bull, it looks like the man himself isn't too sure, either. In a post on the 13th, he said, "Apparently I can now tell people that I'm writing a Castlevania animated film for Project 51 Productions," so it follows that at some point he wasn't allowed to disclose that just yet. And then today (or for those of us in still on the 16th, tomorrow), he says -- in time-honored wink, wink fashion -- that he has no idea what the fuss was about, he's not doing anything with Castlevania, no sir. So it seems that Ellis will be scripting some sort of direct-to-DVD animated Castlevania title, with support from illustrator James Jean. For the three of you who don't know who Warren Ellis is, it seems far too simplistic to say that he writes comics. He writes a lot (some of it probably on napkins) -- screenplays, video games, anything that someone will pay him for. And he has a truly electric web presence and a legion of devoted fans who would rend flesh from their neighbors upon his very word. He's been a huge presence on the 'net for years, offering himself and his opinions through several blogs and forums, the latest of which is Die Puny Humans, a "future-tracking" community. On the comics front, he's half responsible for the bold and brilliant titles Transmetropolitan and Planetary, and he's turned his pen to other popular franchises like Hellblazer. He even had a notable cameo in Powers, the brainchild of Brian Michael Bendis, which poked fun (and violence!) at Ellis. Needless to say, if you don't know Ellis, you should be ashamed of yourself. For the rest of you who do, this is exciting news, even if Ellis is telling us not to get too excited just yet. If anyone can make hunting vampires with a whip seem as cool as it should be, he's the man. With his writing chops, appreciation for both video games and anime, and overall brilliance, we can't think of a better guy for the job.
New Portrait of Ruin screens
You said it, Stella. Especially now that there's a nifty preorder bonus, we're also tired of waiting to fight the legions of darkness. Bring on Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin! Thanks to IGN and their giant watermark department, however, we've got some new screenshots to tide us over for a while.Check after the jump for a few more, including some shots of Charlotte bringing the beats, which we rarely get to see.
