Dracula starts an unholy brawl; Castlevania: Judgment confirmed for Wii
Friday, June 27th, 2008 at 1:17am by Derek
GoNintendo posted information yesterday from the latest issue of Nintendo Power confirming long-standing rumors that Konami is bringing a new Castlevania game subtitled “Judgment” to Wii.
However, the game shares little in common with prior entries in the fabled series. Konami has thrown enthusiasts of its vampire-slaying franchise a curveball; Castlevania: Judgment is a 3D fighter.
According to Nintendo Power, confirmed characters for Castlevania: Judgment include Dracula, Simon Belmont, Alucard, Shanoa and Maria Renard. Classic Castlevania subweapons including holy water, magic spells, daggers and boomerangs will be usable.
Players will be able to set traps for opponents amidst destructible environments while dealing with enemy monsters who interfere during battle. Few details in regard to the game’s controls have been revealed, but players will control their character with the nunchuck and utilize motion controls with the Wii Remote for attacks.
Konami has also taken advantage of DS to Wii connectivity for Castlevania: Judgment, through which Maria Renard is unlockable. The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection will also be used in some capacity.
In addition, Castlevania: Judgment utilizes a gauge that slowly builds during battle and allows players to unleash a special move, much like a “final smash,” when filled. Horrific brutality ensues, I’m sure.
GoNintendo posted this quote from series producer Koji Igarashi addressing early concerns in regard to the game being a spin-off:
“I guess some fans may worry about the game quality, but I am confident that we can achieve a very high-quality game. I think that fans…will see that it stays true to the Castlevania series. Even though this is a fighting game, I can guarantee that it will be fun.”
I expect Castlevania faithful to hold him to that. Expect more news on Super Castlevania Bros. Brawl…err, Castlevania: Judgment at E3.
June 27th, 2008 at 2:50 am
I think this could work if done right - like the recent Res Evil games. I know some gamers will be put off by the shift to 3D but I’m looking forward to a new Castlevania franchise.
June 27th, 2008 at 3:16 am
Interesting idea, I’ll at least give it a shot. But what I REALLY want still is a full 2d retail game.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:40 am
:facepalm: Sigh, first we get Soul Caliber going adventure mode now we get Castlevania going fighter mode. -.-
June 27th, 2008 at 7:52 am
@Atlantis1982: I agree entirely. It may not be as bad, granted, but it stinks of stunts like Mortal Kombat or WWE trying to do a kart racing game. Maybe this will be the best cross-genre game since Mario starred in his own RPG, but I can’t help but be skeptical.
June 27th, 2008 at 8:33 am
its big developers taking risks, and I’m all for it. may turn out bad or good, but either way, we dont get the same thing recycled over and over again.
June 27th, 2008 at 9:07 am
should just turn it into a Konami Brawl Bros, type game. add the guys from contra and metal gear
June 27th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Needs moar headtracking.
June 27th, 2008 at 10:55 am
This is not that far removed from the 2d game which was jump swing whip use magic whip whio whip. Maybe thy can evolve that fighting systems a little. If they really want to make us happy make this a parallel story so we can fight fan favorite bosses also! Like the skull from the SNES! It has motion controls and I’m hoping it has organic fighting as well. What does that mean your strike depends totally on skill and the game become less of a button masher then. I mean just imagine the whip by it self!
June 27th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Ah man…they just lost a sale from me. Castlevania should remain what it always has been…an adventure. Why don’t they wise up and redo the best game from the series…Super Castlevania IV. Instead we get another knockoff. Learn from Soul Caliber, going in reverse is not going to help.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
And something inside all Castlevania fans died a little.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Any exictement I had for this game was sucked out when I heard it was a 3D Fighter. What an absolute kick in the nuts and I can’t stress what a stupid idea it is. This isn’t taking a risk, it’s setting up for an epic fail.
So what’s going to happen is because of Konami’s idiotic decision is this game will fail miserably and they’ll “conclude” that a CV game on the Wii can’t sell.
My lord….seriously what’s next, the rumored Kid Icarus game is a chess game?
June 27th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
My lord….seriously what’s next, the rumored Kid Icarus game is a chess game?
hahahahahha
June 27th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
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June 27th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I was just wondering why Konami doesn’t have a fighting franchise. Namco, Capcom, Nintendo, and even Sega all have multi-title fighting games. Why not Konami?
I was also wondering where all the fighting games for the Wii had gone. We got MK:A, Guilty Gear XXAC, and Brawl and then nothing else…
Well now I have no worries!
June 28th, 2008 at 1:49 am
It’s not the transition to 3D that scares me…it’s the transition to a fighting game.
June 28th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Perhaps this could end up being a fun fighting game but I’m really disappointed.
I admit that I love fighting people in Smash games and fighting games can be pretty fun if you play them with others but I would much rather have had a new Castlevania game then this.
I can understand the decision though since he’s likely to be craving to try something new.
June 29th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Any day now, they’ll announce a new “proper” Castlevania game for the 360 and PS3. Just you wait…
July 8th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
i’m with the masses this sounds like a crappy idea. i’m all for taking risks as it were, but there is a difference between a calculated risk and retarded. only little kids who’ve never played any of the originals will like this game. i would have been all for a 3d action/adventure game close to Castlevania II, but this is just a slap in the face. good job guys at ruining castlevania.