Castlevania Judgment

Infobox VG
title=Castlevania Judgment


caption =
developer = Konami
publisher = Konami
series = Castlevania
designer = Koji Igarashi ("producer")cite web|date = 2008-07-01|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/885/885501p1.html|title="Konami Announces "Castlevania Judgment" for Wii.|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-07-11]
Takeshi Obata ("character designer")
engine =
picture format=
released = Vgrelease|NA|November 18, 2008cite web|date = 2008-07-31|url=http://wii.ign.com/objects/142/14262760.html|title=Release date at IGN|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-07-31]
Vgrelease|EU|1st half 2009cite web|date = 2008-07-09|url=http://www.voltagepr.com/product.asp?i=1048|title="Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH" brings its legendary Castlevania® series to Nintendo Wii in all-new action guise.|publisher=Voltage PR|accessdate=2008-07-17]
Vgrelease|JP|January 15, 2009
genre = Fighting game
modes = Single-player, Multi-player
ratings = vgratings|CERO=B|ESRB=Teen
resolution = 480p
platforms = Wii
media = Wii optical disc
requirements =
input = Wii Remote and Nunchuk

"Castlevania Judgment" is a 3D fighting video game currently in development by Konami exclusively for the Wii console. The game is based on the "Castlevania" series of games, and will be the series' first fighting game.cite web|date = 2008-07-01|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/885/885501p1.html|title="Konami Announces "Castlevania Judgment" for Wii.|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-07-11]

Gameplay

The game will feature 3D environments, and will utilize the motion-sensing controls of the Wii's two part controller.cite web|date = 2008-07-01|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/885/885501p1.html|title="Konami Announces "Castlevania Judgment" for Wii.|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-07-11] The Wii remote will be utilized for all attacks, including basic attacks, "sub-weapons" and weapon attacks, by swinging the remote, and the Nunchuck will be used to move the character around the stage and for defensive moves. Players will move freely around a stage, similar to the game "Power Stone".

Each character will utilize different weapons and different types of weapons that will be available depending on the stage and interactive environment of the stage; also, they can set traps or use monsters in the stage to attack one another.cite web|date = 2008-07-01|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/885/885501p1.html|title="Konami Announces "Castlevania Judgment" for Wii.|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-07-11] Summons will be available in combat, some of which can be caused by items. It is not official whether items such as armor can be equipped to characters. Players will be able to make use of the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection to play against each other, and can connect with the Nintendo DS game to unlock bonus content in both games.cite web|date = 2008-07-01|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/885/885501p1.html|title="Konami Announces "Castlevania Judgment" for Wii.|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-07-11] Announced stages included "throne room" and "old monastery", but others will include a village full of undead, caves, a torture chamber of some kind, and a port. Players will have to pick an "alignment" color when they choose their character, but is of undetermined purpose at the moment.

Plot

Like most traditional fighting games, there will be a story surrounding each character.

Characters

* Simon Belmont
* Dracula
* Death
* Alucard
* Eric Lecarde
* Carmilla
* Maria
*
* Aeon

The characters will span the Castlevania franchise's history.cite web|date = 2008-07-01|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/885/885501p1.html|title="Konami Announces "Castlevania Judgment" for Wii.|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-07-11] There are currently 9 known characters. As of the game's announcement, six were confirmed: Simon Belmont, Dracula, Death, Alucard, Maria and Shanoa.cite web|author=Bryn Williams|date = 2008-07-15|url=http://wii.gamespy.com/wii/castlevania-judgment/887591p1.html|title=GameSpy: Castlevania Judgement preview|publisher=GameSpy|accessdate=2008-07-20] Other playable characters include recurring enemies and bosses of the "Castlevania" franchise, and a new exclusive character named Aeon.Fact|date=September 2008

Development

Konami registered a game called "Castlevania Judgement" with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on April 11th, 2008. [cite web|author=|date = 2008-07-01|url=http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=77446112|title=Latest Status Info|publisher=United States Patent and Trademark Office|accessdate=2008-07-11] The games lead designer, Koji Igarashi, began planning to bring a Castlevania game to the Wii, and wanted to utilize the motion sensing controllers. To do so in a prolonged adventure story, however, would have been very tiring, since much of the game involves whipping and swinging. But in an action setting, the swinging motion would be broken up with resting intervals and be more enjoyable.cite web|author=Bozon|date = 2008-07-11|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/888/888661p1.html|title=Pre-E3 2008: Interview With Iga|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-07-11] The games focus and theme of the game is creating the Gothic feel of the franchise. Igarashi has described the process of developing multiplayer combat as a somewhat challenging task.The design team has worked on the games graphics, especially in-game textures, with some of the designers of Elebits and Dewy's Adventure, who have joined Igarashi's development team.

Reception

Initial reaction to the announcement that the game would be a fighting game was received by some with shock and skepticism. IGNs initial viewing of the pre-E3 build of the game made their reviewers conclude the game has promise.cite web|author=Bozon|date = 2008-07-11|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/888/888655p1.html|title=Pre-E3 2008: Hands-on Castlevania Judgment|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-07-13] However, a point harshly criticised by an editor of gaming website Kombo.com was Takeshi Obata's character design; Obata's work was perceived as derivative and inadequate, as the characters looked more similar to those from Obata's work on "Death Note" than their previous appearances in the "Castlevania" series.cite web|author=David Oxford|date = 2008-06-27|url=http://wii.kombo.com/article.php?artid=12149|title=Passing Judgment on Wii's Castlevania |publisher=Kombo|accessdate=2008-07-17]

References

External links

* [http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/dracula_wii Official Japanese Site]
* [http://wii.ign.com/objects/142/14262760.html Castlevania Judgment] at IGN.com
* [http://wii.gamespy.com/wii/castlevania-judgment/ Castlevania Judgment] at GameSpy.com
* [http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=54067 Castlevania Judgment Preview] at WorthPlaying.com