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First Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia trailer is awesome, whipless
We've yet to play a DS incarnation of Konami's vamp-slaying franchise that we didn't thoroughly enjoy -- if this debut trailer for the next installment in the handheld series is any indication, that streak appears to show no signs of stopping. This stylish trailer introduces us to the protagonist of Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia -- the raven-haired Shanoa (who looks a bit too similar to Bullet Witch's Alicia for our comfort), and her many, many methods for murdering and dismembering ol' Vlad's minions. Sure, she may not wield the Vampire Killer whip made famous in other Castlevania titles, but she does dispatch a Giant Enemy Crab with a falling elevator, which arguably possesses a bit more panache than the Belmont family's legendary cord.
Castlevania figures- now in color!
NECA is showing off the final (?) painted versions of their Castlevania figures at Comic-Con, and, judging by these pictures, they will soon be stealing fans' souls and making them their slaves. Simon Belmont's face looks a little too tenderized, but we suppose he's a tough guy and has taken countless beatings from undead whatevers.Alucard and Dracula look just awesome. Think you we would buy such a thing? Yes! And they all seem to come with little monster accessories! As cool as the succubus figure is, however, we just ... don't have a place to display it. Oh, and for those of us waiting for the update: the exclusive pixel-Simon is as terrible in production as it was in the early picture.
VC Tuesday: Dead moon over the demon castle
Even though we usually support the more obscure VC releases, we can't help but focus our attention on this week's most mainstream title: Castlevania. Finally making its appearance on the Japanese Virtual Console, Konami's side-scroller is a must-buy. I personally consider "liking Castlevania a lot" as an important component of my personality. What an awesome night to have a curse.Like Castlevania, Power Sports and Dead Moon have both already arrived in the US (Power Sports as World Sports Competition), and Ichidant-R, a Bonanza Bros. spinoff, is the sequel to Tant-R, seen on the Sega Classics Collection. A multiplayer puzzle minigame collection, Ichidant-R is sort of a precursor to Mario Party and Wario Ware.Hajimari no Mori is a graphical text adventure from Nintendo! Let's all hope for a miracle localization for that one. Akumajou Dracula (Famicom Disk System, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) Hajimari no Mori (Super Famicom, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) Ichidant-R (Mega Drive, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points) Power Sports (PC Engine, 1-5 players, 600 Wii Points) Dead Moon (PC Engine, 1 player, 600 Wii Points)
Japanese VC Castlevania is the Famicom Disk System version
This probably doesn't affect any readers here (although, if you're a Japan-local Wii Fanboy, let us know!) but we discovered something interesting while drooling at the Japanese Virtual Console page.Proving their absolute and irrational devotion to historical accuracy, the version of Castlevania going up on the VC this month will not be the same cartridge version that's already been released in the US and Europe. Instead, Japan is getting the original version, which was released for the Famicom Disk System in 1986. The differences include a save state feature and a name entry screen with music unheard in the US version! Which, unfortunately, we can't find. The idea that there's Castlevania music out there that we haven't heard makes us kind of uncomfortable.
Virtually Overlooked: Boku Dracula-kun
Welcome to our weekly feature, Virtually Overlooked, wherein we talk about games that aren't on the Virtual Console yet, but should be. Call it a retro-speculative. Virtually Overlooked readers know that we love Konami, a lot-- Castlevania in particular. We've talked about three Konami games already in our feature's short history, one of which was a Castlevania. Surely you won't mind if we go back to the well? It'll be worth it. Don't worry, it's not another Castlevania 1 remake. Akumajou Special: Boku Dracula-kun for the Famicom is a Mega Man clone-- starring the monster such as whom mankind ill needs a savior.
BMG to distribute Konami's music online
The place may be overrun with deadly monstrosities and the overwhelming powers of darkness, but the tunes that echo throughout the hallways of Dracula's castle usually make the vampire killing ordeal worth it. Sensing that others might share the dark lord's fine taste in orchestral compositions, Konami has announced an agreement with Sony BMG Music to distribute its library of tunes through mobile service providers and online music retailers, including iTunes and Rhapsody. The deal encompasses soundtracks beyond those belonging to the obvious Dance Dance Revolution franchise, even catering to those that find the clanging pipes and grating gears of Silent Hill preferable to the latest Ashlee Simpson squealfest.Konami also promises to make its vast history of music available for purchase on its official website, though specific release dates have yet to be announced. [Via Konami press release]
Warren Ellis blogs about Castlevania animated movie
Comic book legend Warren Ellis has been keeping a production blog to update fans on his script work for Castlevania: Dracula's Curse, an animated adaptation of Konami's Castlevania III for the NES. The Transmetropolitan author has been candid with details about the 80-minute, direct-to-DVD film, discussing characters he will be cutting out of the film (e.g. Grant DaNasty) and plans to make the story a trilogy. Reassuring us that he won't be butchering the franchise with an Uwe Boll approach, Warren made it a point to emphasize Castlevania producer Koji Igarashi's bothersome involvement: "He remains absolutely passionate about Castlevania. After eight rewrites of pre-production material, I remain absolutely passionate about beating the crap out of IGA in a dark alleyway one day."[Via GameSetWatch]
Shakeup for Castlevania film
Rumor is that director Paul W.S. Anderson (of Resident Evil and AVP) is off the Castlevania film slated for 2009. There's no word yet on who might take over in his place. We can only guess what horrors the studio might have in store for us next. We're not too fussed; this blogger, at least, was way more interested in this other project anyway. Movie adaptations of video games are just risky and almost never work out as well as we could hope. Is it too much to dream that perhaps the Castlevania movie will just disappear? Just spend that money on making more games!
Castlevania: Poster of Awesome
Okay, so you think you're cool because you got the preorder bonus package with your copy of Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin. Well, you're right. You are cool, and we are jealous.But here's a Portrait of Ruin promotional item that we can all covet together. This poster comes with the soundtrack CD, and features art from Suikoden character designer Fumi Ishikawa that we wish had been used in the game. Oh, and about the actual item this poster is included with-- did we mention that the actual Portrait of Ruin music is amazing? We almost forgot about that part.This poster is only being included with the first shipment of CDs, and, of course, this package is only available in Japan. We grudgingly accept that; our wallets ill need a drain such as a $21 CD.
ABC News wants your Virtual Console questions
ABC News' "Be Seen Be Heard" is preparing a segment about the Wii, in which they'll be interviewing Amber McCollum, a product tester at Nintendo. In a very lazy Web 2.0 move, they're asking viewers to send in videos containing questions for Ms. McCollum. So if you have any questions about the Virtual Console, please send them in! And if you happen to accidentally, you know, say the name of the site, we wouldn't object.We personally want to know about the development process: are the games basically dumped ROMS or do they have to be reprogrammed for the Wii? If so, why? These are the best questions we can think of, because repeating "RONDO OF BLOOD" over and over again while staring intensely into a camera isn't a question.What kind of questions do you have about the VC?[Via Game|Life]
Import VC games possible: Europe edition [update 1]
We recently brought you the news that Nintendo was still open to the possibility of bringing import Virtual Console games to the American Wii. In an interview with Eurogamer, a Nintendo UK spokesperson indicated that they're open to the possibility in PAL-land, as well. This possibility has added significance for European gamers, because it opens the door not only to Japanese and US games previously unreleased in Europe, but superior, faster NTSC versions of previously released games (PAL versions of which suffer from slowdown even now on the VC).So, European Fanboys, what would you like to see on the Virtual Console? Rondo of Blood? How about Dracula X? Or maybe that Castlevania game that only got released in Japan on the PC Engine Super CD Rom? The possibilities are endless.[Update 1: added a link to previous VC story.][Via Game|Life]
Harker hopes to draw blood
Halloween would be the day to announce your new next-gen survival horror game based on a classic undead character. Harker, from Foundation 9 Entertainmen, draws inspiration from the original Dracula novel while taking us back to the 18th Century to do battle with the famous blood-sucker himself:In the game, players take on the role of a very different Jonathan Harker - hardened and ruthless - who is on a very personal mission to destroy all vampires after his beloved Mina falls prey to Dracula. Gameplay involves a combination of hunting these ferocious killers through tracking and exploration, along with an up-close and personal combat system, brutally-effective in the execution of the vampires; using a variety of weapons and environmental factors.Harker is scheduled for a 2008 release. I'm interested to see how they bastardize the literary work. Fortunately, 1up has some "exclusive" video from the game.[Thanks Scott]
Symphony of the Night to be heard on XBLA
At last, every miserable little pile of secrets that owns an Xbox 360 will be able to experience Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, a game considered by many to be the best in Konami's esteemed franchise. According to the September issue of EGM, the game is scheduled to hit Xbox Live Arcade in early 2007. It'll be a torturously long wait, though it leaves us time to ponder how exactly a Playstation (and Saturn!) classic will slip under XBLA's 50MB Limbo pole. It seems likely that by next year, the size requirement will have been given a significant bump by larger memory cards and hard drives. After all, we doubt fans would be pleased if anything were to happen to the game's wonderful soundtrack in order to cut down on space.But enough talk. Have at you![Thanks soco and doomx24!]
Castlevania celebrates 20th year of vampire violence
Aside from usually being an absolute blast to play, the Castlevania games can have the strange effect of prompting one to engage in rather dubious debates regarding some of its more colorful traditions. Certainly, the startling presence of gold coins inside candles and chandeliers is a popular topic, as is the nebulous gender of whatever whip-wielding protagonist winds up exploring Dracula's anarchic abode. There's also the more obvious question as to whether or not Castlevania works in 3D, a question which once lured me into the following (and very real) conversation:"Hey what did you think about Castlevania: Lament of Innocence? I thought it was a bit crap.""Well, the level design was far too repetitive, but the atmosphere was really true to the series. As an action game, it works pretty well -- I must admit, it has an ace combat system.""It has an Ace Combat system?""That's what I just said.""Meaning you fly your Belmont around and shoot down vampires?"Luckily (?), that particular version of Lament of Innocence never saw the light of day, though if it did, it would likely be mentioned in 1UP's great series retrospective. To celebrate Castlevania's 20th year of existence, the article delves into the pivotal points, the exacerbating enemies and the obscure oddities that litter Dracula's castle. It's well worth a read, especially if you enjoy masterfully written subtitles. Castlevania: Waltz of Discontentedness -- where are you?
New Castlevania called Portrait of Ruin? [Update 1]
A while back, we all assumed that Konami was on the brink of announcing a brand new Castlevania adventure for the DS. It was a fairly solid assumption based on the evidence at hand, but information since then has been scarce or, worse yet, completely fake. That's why we're a little dubious about an article on Orange Lounge Radio (who?) that claims the game in question will be called Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin and will be released in November.As great a title as that is (certainly three steps up from Waltz of Discontentedness), the article raises a few suspicions and references no sources. It states that Konami has "quietly announced a few titles" that are meant to be released this year. What an excellent strategy to employ--by quietly announcing new entries in popular franchises to a select number of obscure websites, Konami will minimize the danger of people actually finding out about these games, becoming interested and possibly purchasing them. Yeah.I also happen to be on Konami's press release mailing list, and the spot reserved for them in my inbox is currently as empty as a cinema showing Bloodrayne. The article also mentions a DS Death Jr. game, one which has been previously rumored but never confirmed. Am I right in being cautious, or am I being overly paranoid? And how stupid will I look if this turns out to be true? (You don't have to answer that one.)[Via 4cr][Update: 1up is reporting that the same list of titles and release dates were leaked (and not quietly released) to retailers. Portrait of Ruin on 15 November it is, then! Thanks Mike!]
Top 10 most memorable villains
IGN has posted a list that is sure to generate some grumbling. But that's what's to be expected anytime you try to cram the baddest evildoers into a list of ten. Here goes: #10 - Bowser (Super Mario) #9 - Dr. Robotnik (Sonic) #8 - Dracula (Castlevania) #7 - Evil Otto (Berzerk) #6 - Psycho Mantis (MGS) #5 - Kerrigan (Starcraft) #4 - SHODAN (System Shock) #3 - Wesker (Resident Evil) #2 - Sephiroth (FFVII) #1 - The Nazis ("too many games to count") What?! No Ganondorf? Blasphemy. So how does your list compare?