IGA: 2D WiiWare Castlevania Is The Right Approach

I would love for Castlevania or Metroid to come to Wiiware/VC (more). Please make it happen, awesome Japanese guy!

I wish I enjoyed Castlevania games as much as everyone else.
But I think everyone has a certain franchise they don't enjoy as much as others.

Awesome, i love Castlevania! I have all of them off the virtual console and play them still to today.

@ x.SuperMario.x - I agree. I can't stand the Super Smash Bros. series yet I love Castlevania. I guess it's just a personal preference. You either like something or you don't.

I think every major franchise should have a new retro game.
Hopefully Metroid is next. I love em' in 2-D but hate em' in #-D.

I hate castlevania....... I dont know why i just dont find it fun.

This is a bit of a deja vu moment. Wasn't there another article where IGA said he was thinking about a new Castlevania game? It looked almost exactly like this, and the whole 2D thing was pretty speculative, and it still is.

Can he have it out by Christmas?

@Mickeymac (7)

Before it was, "I'll think about it." Now its probably like, "This might be a good idea."

I am very moot with the Castlevania games; I did bought the first on the Virtual Console and have played the first N64 title which I liked (surprising!). So in short; I still have a feast of Castlevania games I am awaiting on the VC like the third (Skipping 2, I didn't liked that one), Rondo of Blood, and (yes) the second N64 title.

If they do make a Castlevania 5 it should more like the NES ones instead of the SNES. Also, they should let you be able to get a longer whip, instead only letting you do it twice with power-ups. Vertical whipping would also be cool too.

I think there's a huge market for newer versions of these classic 2D franchises. I can understand why companies won't make $50 full retail versions, but in the wii-ware market I believe they'd rake it in. Ever since games went 3D it seems they went from being challanging games into interactive stories with pretty graphics and lackluster gameplay.

YES!!!!! First Mega Man 9 then Gradius Rebirth now CASTLEVANIA!!! WOO HOO!!!!! Now all they have to do is make Shantae for wiiware

Can we please get a REAL Castlevania game for once, instead of this Metroidvania crap?

Agree with Adamant 100%. Give us castlevania straight up like it should be.

@Adamant
I like Metroidvania ones more. It gives the series depth. But I'm also a sucker for RPG elements in non-RPG games. You are free to disagree.

Yeah, I know what SuperMario means. I'm not big on Castlevania either. Though my uncle might make me buy it if it were to come out. >_<

Can they please stop with this retro stuff...I'm all for the 2-D gameplay and what not, but retro gameplay, graphics, and everything? No, I'm against this stuff...there's a reason we have current generation technology...

Just my opinion, but I don't like how this trend is catching on...

@19: I agree, I'd much rather have 2D revivals but with modern graphics, gameplay, etc. A game with the ability to switch between modern/retro graphics and gameplay would be awesome, though I doubt that would happen.

Personally, I see graphics the way I see art: Just because it's new, doesn't mean it's good. I prefer the retro graphics.

As for the gameplay, I personally prefer the freeroaming gameplay from the newer ones, but a more straight-forward action game would be nice too.

Yes.. Yes.. YES, I love you Koji along with Castlevania for wiiware and rondo of blood on either snes or turbo cd, theres a short metre that i might have an orgy

So there is a God...

Here's hoping, if it does happen, it's old-school Castlevania. We have loads of Metroidvanias, and more to come, and what with the limitations of WiiWare, it would make sense to keep it simple.

Actually for Castlevania I would rather see the visuals and sound upgraded. I would really like to see a new game that has the look of Order of Ecclesia. That game looks phenomenal! I guess if I had to choose I would like the Metriodvania style game. But I will take anything!

But right now I am hoping for Bloodlines or Drac X

My hopes are on a Castlevania III style game. It would feel kind of fresh since we already have a lot of similair DS games.

Still, unlike Mega Mans Ifune, Iga didn´t produce the NES games. Hopefully he can make a good actiontitle anyway.

"I might buy a Castlevania game to see what's so great about them."

Casltevania was clearly inspired by the Bram Stoker book, but it takes the Dracula to a whole new level. I played the original Castlevania when I was in 5th grade back in 1987. Up till that time you had tons of Mario type games on the NES unitl Castlevania came with a dark, gothic, and moody look to it. It was a groundbreaking game and still does so today. Oh and its a tad on the impossible side. What is great about current Castlevania games is they use so many creatures from not only classic hollywood, but from greek and asian mythology. Some enemies are even inspired by religous text (such as using legion as a boss character) and others like Elizabeth Barkley(Bloodlines) were even supposed to be real people.

@Damo: Yeah, I know. I can see why a lot of people are happy with these retro revivals. But for me they're not really all that appealing, namely because they bring back the reason I don't like playing the old games: the archaic gameplay. I can live with the old school graphics ( and I actually like the music quite a bit) but the gameplay is just too hard for me to enjoy. That's just my two cents.

The only Castlevania I ever played was 3D and it was Lament of Innocence, and I thought that was actually a pretty decent game. Rondo of Blood looks worth trying, but I don't have a PSP. I was thinking of downloading Super Castlevania IV, but I don't know, I always hold off on it for some reason. Although I guess, I could also download Symphony of the Night since they have it on the PSN..... What should I download Super Castlevania IV or Symphony of the Night or should I just wait for Rondo of Blood to hit the VC?

Bring it on!! Also, IGA, we need to get Rondo of Blood for Virtual Console outside of Japan, please. I mean like THIS year!

Also, although I'd love a new 8-bit Castlevania, I feel the series was at it's prime when it was 16-bit. Super IV, Bloodlines and Rondo of Blood are all the best of the series traditional style games and I think a Wiiware game should adhere to those standards if going with a retro approach.

@Mr Poo

Get Super Castlevania IV if you want some nice arcade action, 90´s SNES style
Get Symphony of the Night if you want free exploration of the castle, Super Metroid in a vampire cape

Both games are good Castlevanias, but they differ quite a lot. Most importantly, don´t hesitate, buy!

Well if they do decide to make a pre-SotN Castlevania, can they use 16 bit instead of 8bit? I mean I love the old games but I think they can do better.

I think that retro 8-bit or 16-bit is preferable to 2.5D. I really don't like much of the 2.5D. New Super Mario Bros just wasn't that appealing to me. Now, having a New Super Mario Bros 3 or New Super Mario World retaining the original graphical styles would be amazing.
I like both 8 and 16 bit so I think that Castlevania (and other series doing retro like Mega Man) should make the first remake in 8-bit and then make a retro sequel in 16-bit.

I loved the 2.5D remake of Rondo of Blood, but I still prefer the PC Engine original. I'd personally like to see a new Castlevania in the vein of Simon's Quest since it's my favorite overall Castlevania title. That being said, at this point I'll take what I can get.

Well I hope none of these games fail, since it would be the end of 'retro'.

What I would like to see is a new IP redone as it had been there before in an 8-Bit / 16-Bit world.

For example: Make a Soul Calibur Game in 16-Bit Graphics in 2D. Like the classic Street Fighter. It would be some kind of "What if we had the idea to create this game in the past, how would it be turning out."

Or Devil May Cry as a Side Scrolling Beat 'em up etc. etc.!

There are plenty of games out there that could be turned into 'retro' without having any roots to go back to.

However I think this is just a matter of time when the first approaches to step back with a game, instead of a "HD Remix" or a "ReArmed" ver. or how the call it alltogether, will be made. :3

I don't think Devil May Cry would work as a 2D brawler, and Soul Caliber would be just plain awful as a 2D fighter, since the 3D movement is the only thing countering the buttonmashing gameplay. I think it's just best if older series are the only ones to go retro, since they have both been proven to work in 2D, and people have fond memories of it in that style.

Well these are just examples, so don't rate on how will they do. Also you would have to look past of 'What does it do in 3D." Moreover, what would a 2D brawler of DMC will let it look it cool and hard enough. etc. etc.

A 2D brawler of DMC (if we just stick with that example) wouldn't be able to copy each and everything from 3D into 2D, that would be a fail by the start, because then you just pretend something. They have to redesign each and everything.

Maybe in the end some IPs would end up in a different genre. DMC as 8 Bit RPG or Fighter or whatsoever.

Sure the nostalgia feeling plays a big role in there, but maybe some company will say "Well, we earned a lot of money out of the franchise and retro is the new way to do it and 'cause of this we could take this risk to maximize our win."

But to step away from the DMC Brawler idea, I think Crash Bandicoot would do very well as a 8-Bit game. I could imagine that and it haven't to be 2D Sidescrolling...

There are plenty enough titles... but as said before, time will tell, however I am really looking forward to this kind of alternate way of presentation of newer series.

well i never played a castlevania game at all that was until i bought the wii in 2007 near 2008 i bought the first castlevania game and it is a good game the only problem for me is that the controls are too strick cuz its hard to dodge the attacks of the boss umm i forgot but i think it was death or something. anyways he was throwing stuff at me and i could dodge soem but theres something else coming at me and i can't jump up in time cuz the controls were too strick. so im hoping the controls are looser so its easier to dodge

@BlackFira

The controls are a lot more fluid after the first one, so even if they do a retro one, the controls probably won't be a problem.

A new 2D Castlevania on a console? Well, with Mega Man 9, Shantae, and Gradius Rebirth among other things over the horizon, it looks like I've got a lot of first-day purchases ahead of me.

I am a huge Castlevania fan. I pre-order them, play them to death, and I even enjoy the 3D ones. This would be the first 2D console game in the series since Symphony of the Night, something many of us have all been pleading for ever since.

Now, being WiiWare, we may not be getting something quite on the same production value as SotN, it may even be a Classicvania and be NES style, but as long as it's not Crystalvania (EGM joke) I'll be happy.

Providing it winds up existing, of course.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
THANK YOU IGA ^^ Cant wait for it

I'm not intrested in a Castlevania game especaily since I never played any of the Castlevania games. (No joking!) At least we got Megaman 9. I got a good game that should return to it's roots too! Sonic! I would call the game "Sonic the Hedgehog 4"! It would feature Megadrive graphics and you would be able to play as Sonic Alone, Tails Alone, Knuckle Alone, Amy Alone, Sonic & Tails, Sonic & Knuckle, Sonic & Amy, Knuckle & Sonic, Amy & Sonic, and Tails & Amy. We know that the series is slipping down to it's grave and if Sonic Unleash don't do well this will be our last & best hope for the series.
Call me crazy but I also want Mario to go to his roots. Why? Some people complain that his game, while fun even now is TOO EASY! It should use graphics from Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World. This would a 3 in 1 game! The first game use only elements from Super Mario Bros. 3 and graphics from Super Mario Bros 3. The second game would use any elements from Super Mario World and the graphics will be use from Super Mario World. But the third game use elements from both Super Mario Bros. 3 & Super Mario World and the graphics from both games are squezze together. I would call the game "Super Mario Bros. World." I hope you like my ideas!