Tag: Castlevania - Page 3
Feature Castlevania Season 1 Review: Plenty Of Blood, Bad Language And Bite
And better than we could possibly have hoped for, to boot
Out of all of Konami's illustrious back catalogue, Castlevania holds a very special place in the hearts of gamers. From its humble beginnings as an 8-bit take on Bram Stoker's famous Dracula story, it has gone on to create a self-contained world which uses the vampire legend as its foundation...
News Netflix Renews Castlevania Series For A Second, Longer Season
8 episodes, up from 4
Netflix's animated take on Konami's Castlevania series went live on Friday, and we're sure a great many of you will already have basked in its blood-soaked, foul-mouthed brilliance. Penned by author and comic book legend Warren Ellis and featuring some impressive vocal talent, it's a surprisingly effective take on
Reminder The Castlevania Netflix Series is Available Now
In the UK and US, at least
For those of you excited about the Castlevania Netflix series, the wait is over (though may vary per territory). US viewer and site regular Rjejr highlighted to us that it's out now in the US, and we've confirmed it's also live in the UK. There are four episodes of between 23-25 minutes each, which may not sound much but...
Video Off-Screen Footage Of Netflix's Castlevania Series Surfaces Online
Sink your teeth in
Netflix's Castlevania animated series premiers this week, and off-screen footage has emerged showing the introduction sequence and two key scenes. The quality of the footage isn't great and those of you wanting to feel the full impact of the production might be advised to wait until it launches officially on the 7th July, but for...
News The Cast For Netflix's Castlevania Series Includes A Few Famous Faces
Or should that be voices?
Netflix's promising Castlevania animated series isn't far away now, and producer Adi Shankar has revealed some of the voice talent signed up for the show. He's joined in the video above by Scottish actor Graham McTavish (Erik the Viking, The Hobbit) - who plays the role of Dracula
News This New Artwork For Netflix's Castlevania Series Sure Does Look Familiar
Fangs a lot
The more we see of the new Castlevania Netflix series, the harder it is to contain our excitement. Last week we were given the first taste of this animated epic and now we've got this awesome artwork, which is a neat tribute to the cover of the very first NES game. While the series will t
Video Check Out the First Teaser Trailer for the Netflix Castlevania Show
What a horrible night to have a teaser
We’ve known for a while that a short Castlevania show has been in development for Netflix for a little while now, but not much has been seen of the project until now. The first season will only be four episodes long—each one being thirty minutes long—and will more or less be based on Castlevania III:...
News The Castlevania Netflix Series Will Be Based on Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Also, will be a hard 'R'
Just yesterday, it finally came to light that the long rumoured film adaptation of Castlevania would be making its appearance as a Netflix series, due to make its season 1 debut later on this year. Not much else was revealed, aside from who would be producing and writing for the show, but now a few more details have been...
News The Long-Rumoured Castlevania Series is Happening, Starts on Netflix This Year
Written by Warren Ellis
Plenty of video game franchises go through the rumour mill when it comes to TV and movie adaptations, but Castlevania has been an ever-present and persuasive possibility for quite a while. The talk reached a peak in 2015 when producer Adi Shankar said he was working on "a super violent Castlevania mini-series with my homies...
Rumour Frederator Studios Could Be Working on a Castlevania Animated Series or Film
12 years in the making
About a week ago, we reported on the rumour that Fred Seibert (of Fairly Oddparents and Adventure Time fame), along with his production company 'Frederator Studios', would be animating a Nintendo property. However, some believe this referenced project might actually be an adaptation of a renowned third-party Nintendo classic,...
News Mondo Music Releasing Super Castlevania IV Vinyl Soundtrack Next Year
"What music they make!"
Pop culture reissue company Mondo has revealed that it is releasing a limited edition vinyl soundtrack for Konami's legendary SNES hit Super Castlevania IV next year. Mondo - which creates limited edition posters, vinyl soundtracks, collectibles and clothing "inspired by our favorite movies, TV shows, comics and more" - has...
Video Fan Remakes NES Castlevania Using Unreal Engine 4
While Konami sleeps...
We've already seen a few Nintendo properties remade using the powerful Unreal Engine but this latest project is of interest because it aims to remake one of the NES' most beloved third-party titles: Konami's Castlevania. Dejawolfs has spent the past four months working on the demo shown above, which recreates the first two...
Feature NES Mini Classics - Castlevania
Dracul-argh
With the upcoming release of the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition (NA) / Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System (EU), we're going to provide short profiles of all 30 games included on the system. Now we turn our attention to Castlevania; don't forget to check out the first two entries in this series, in...
News Fangs For The Memories Castlevania, You're Now 30 Years Old
Three decades of miserable secrets
Want to feel old? Konami's Castlevania series has now been going for 30 years. The franchise began life on the Japan-only Famicom Disk System as Akumajou Dracula. This title was released in North America as Castlevania in May the next year and was followed by two NES sequels - 1987's Castlevania II: Simon's Quest...
News MercurySteam Reunites With Castlevania Producer Dave Cox For New Secret Project
"I'm extremely excited about this very ambitious work they're undertaking"
Spanish developer MercurySteam - which created the Castlevania: Lords of Shadow sub-series and produced Mirror of Fate for the 3DS - has revealed that it has reunited with Dave Cox, the former Konami producer who worked with the studio on those titles. Cox enjoyed 17 years...
Video Learn About the Intriguing History of Castlevania
Including the glory years
Castlevania is a classic franchise, and we're not simply talking about the entries from the NES and SNES era. It's easy to look at the current status of the series and bemoan the loss of the 'good old days', but the IP was still receiving wonderful releases not so many years ago. The six games across GBA and DS are...
News Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Will Be Bigger Than Your Average Castlevania-esque Romp
Over 1,600 rooms to explore
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, widely regarded as a Castlevania successor and led by Koji Igarashi, was a phenomenon on Kickstarter. It's become the most successful game project ever on the platform, and its success brought plenty of stretch goals and a
News Summer Video Game StoryBundle Features Some Awesome Nintendo-Related Reads
Castlevania! Untold History of Japanese developers! Bible Adventures!
The Summer Video Game StoryBundle is now available, and might be of particular interest to Nintendo fans thanks to the inclusion of some riveting reads. Hardcore Gaming 101's superb Castlevania retrospective is in there, as is John Szczepaniak's indispensable Untold History of...
News Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Gets a Wii U Stretch Goal
Wii U port will be handled by Armature Studio if the goal is reached
A couple weeks ago, industry veteran Koji Igarashi revealed his latest project to the world, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. The hotly anticipated game will follow the adventure of a character named Miriam as she explores a dark, gothic castle infested with a vast array of...
What a horrible night to have a Wii U
Former Castlevania Producer (and possible vampire) Koji Igarashi has been creating some sinister headlines recently, as word of a new project whipped fans up into a frenzy of speculation. The prophetic Kickstarter reveal on Monday has indeed come to pass, but alas this new project won't be coming to Nintendo...
News Koji Igarashi's Castlevania Successor Teased by Comcept, Set for 11th May Reveal
The moon rises
The past week was rather exciting for fans of Castlevania and Koji Igarashi's work, as Igarashi-san launched a teaser site teasing a spiritual successor, allowing curious fans to choose between a pixelated sword or whip - if this isn't a Castlevania-style project, we'll be amazed. Expected to arrive on Kickstarter - retro-themed...
News Teaser Site For Koji Igarashi's Castlevania Successor Lets You Have Your Say
Sword or whip - which will you choose?
Yesterday, we reported on a rumour which seemed to suggest that Koji Igarashi - he of Castlevania fame - was about to launch a Kickstarter campaign for his next game. The rumblings appear to have been true, as Igarashi has just launched a teaser site for his next venture - and it allows fans to have some...
News Rumour: Koji Igarashi's Castlevania Successor Could Rise From The Grave This Week
"The first sign rises with the full moon. Soon, I will return"
Long-time Castlevania producer Koji "IGA" Igarashi left Konami a while back to move into indie development, but aside from a cryptic double-page PAX flyer, we've heard very little about what he's up to. However, this week could change all of that, if rumours swirling around the dark and...
News Konami Demands That Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: Castlevania Book Be Removed From Sale
"Their qualm is that it's unlicensed, but it doesn't need to be"
At the request of Konami, the review-packed book Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: Castlevania by Kurt Kalata has been removed from sale. The full colour book was only released two months ago on September 13th, and not only includes overviews of nearly every Castlevania title, but also...
Review Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (Wii U eShop / GBA)
The best for last?
Konami's Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is the third and final Castlevania title for the GBA, and arguably the strongest. A departure from the typical period drama involving the extended and ever-complicated Belmont clan, Aria of Sorrow introduces new characters and mythology into the series while also building on what has made...
Review Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (Wii U eShop / GBA)
A perfect harmony?
The Wii U eShop is becoming an embarrassment of riches, with a robust library of indie titles complemented by a growing lineup of strong Virtual Console games. Konami's Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance is the second of three Castlevania titles released on the Game Boy Advance, and while it controls and plays similarly to its...
Book Review Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: Castlevania
A bloody good read
Castlevania is one of those franchises which will always be inexorably linked with Nintendo. The series became a household name thanks to its well-received NES outings, and in the days of the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS it strengthened this connection with six excellent "Metroidvania" releases. Although its future may well...
Review Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Over the moon
Konami's Castlevania has changed directions in recent years, with the Lords of Shadow titles polarizing fans of the long-running series. That's why fans of the "Metroidvania" outings should flock to the Wii U eShop and download the Game Boy Advance Castlevania titles, which feature the series' signature exploration-based, semi-linear...
Review Castlevania: Dracula X (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Tainted blood
When you think of the definitive side-scrolling Castlevania experience, we imagine for most people it’s imagery of Symphony of the Night or Super Castlevania IV that first creeps into the ol’ noggin. But while those might be the most popular of responses, there’s a slightly more obscure game in the franchise that many die-hards...
News Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow to Complete GBA Trilogy on Wii U Virtual Console
Scarily good
The Game Boy Advance enjoyed a terrific trilogy of 2D Castlevania titles — as did its successor, the DS — which set impressive standards for portable entries in the franchise. With GBA games on the Wii U, the prospect of playing them on the GamePad — or the TV if you like enormous pixels — must have come to the minds of Konami...
News This Castlevania Super NES May Be The Spookiest Console Yet
We want one
The eagle-eyed among you have no doubt noticed that we like some modded retro consoles here at Nintendo Life; giving a new design and style to a lovely old system can be a fine thing indeed. This latest effort is also perfect for the upcoming Halloween festivities. It's the work of Vadu Amka, who we've featured before with some stylish...
News New Hardcore Gaming 101 Book Takes On Konami's Classic Castlevania Series
Physical and digital versions available now
Remember Sega Arcade Classics Volume 1? Well Hardcore Gaming 101 founder Kurt Kalata is taking a break before starting Volume 2 and has put together another fine tome in the form of Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: Castlevania. Kalata will be famous among seasoned Castlevania fans as the man behind The...
Rumour PAX Prime Flyer Teases Potential 2D Castlevania Successor
Could this be Koji "Iga" Igarashi's next project?
Last week, Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune hosted a panel at PAX Prime, and during the event flyers appeared which seemed to hint at a new Castlevania-style adventure. The rumour is that Koji "Iga" Igarashi — who oversaw the Castlevania series and recently parted company with Konami to make games on...
Review Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (Wii U eShop / NES)
Blood relative
After the success of the original Castlevania title on the NES system, Konami decided to change things up quite a bit for Castlevania II: Simon's Quest. Gone was the straight-ahead platforming action of the original, replaced with a much more rpg-flavored approach that placed more emphasis on item collection and exploration. While...
Review Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (3DS eShop / NES)
Join the fang club
Looking back, it's incredible to think that Konami took such a risk with the Castlevania series during its formative years. Having tasted critical and commercial success with the original NES outing, the Japanese company decided to give its direct sequel a different spin. The result was Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, a game which...
News Animal Crossing and Metroidvania GDC Talks Now Available For Your Viewing Pleasure
New Leaf and Castlevania devs discuss the intricacies of game development
Many of the presentations at last month's Game Developers Conference are now available to view for free on the GDC Vault website, including Animal Crossing: New Leaf producer Katsuya Eguchi and co-director Aya Kyogoku's "How to Turn a New Leaf at the Animal Crossing" and...
News Castlevania: Dracula X And Mega Man 5 Hitting The Japanese Wii U Virtual Console Next Week
Scream bloody murder
Next week's Japanese Wii U Virtual Console titles have been confirmed, and fans of Konami and Capcom should be pretty pleased with what's on offer. Arguably the most notable release is Castlevania: Dracula X (known as Akumajou Dracula XX in Japan and Castlevania: Vampire's Kiss in Europe), the SNES port of the PC Engine classic...
Feature The Castlevania That Konami Doesn't Want You To Know About
A chilling look at the 1988 arcade release Haunted Castle
Despite the critical mauling Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 received at the hands of the gaming press, Konami's gothic franchise has arguably never been in better health. After years of dismal sales and underexposure, the mainstream appeal of the series was emphatically restored by 2011's...
News Dracula Is Cursing The Japanese Wii U Virtual Console Next Week In Castlevania III
Mystic Quest, Gradius and Neutopia also coming along for the ride
Castlevania fans will be pleased to know that NES classic Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse — one of the best entries in the entire lineage — is hitting the Japanese Wii U Virtual Console next week, which means a western release shouldn't be far behind. Originally released in...
News Castlevania Composer Michiru Yamane Joins Flying Hamster II Team
Aiming for a campaign boost
Composer Michiru Yamane, best known for her work on music for the Castlevania series, has joined forces with Parisian indie studio Game Atelier for its upcoming Kickstarter-funded title, Flying Hamster II. Check out Game Atelier's reveal video for the composer below: Flying Hamster II is currently in development for...
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow and F-Zero: GP Legend appear eShop-bound
The Australian government's Classification Board is infamous for its censorship of violence in games, hindering the release of dozens of highly-anticipated titles over the years. But sometimes its ratings bring us good news: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow and
"When you turn Zelda into a 2D platformer, it resembles Metroid"
We reported yesterday on the news that Koji "IGA" Igarashi has parted company with Konami after 24 years of service. Igarashi-san is perhaps best known for his work on the Castlevania series, an association which began with the seminal Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The game...
News Koji Igarashi, Best Known for the Castlevania Series, Departs from Konami
"I've decided to break out on my own"
It's possible that gamers relatively fresh to Nintendo hardware won't know much of Koji Igarashi's work, but Castlevania fans that enjoyed the terrific series entries on the Game Boy Advance and DS — in particular — may mourn the formal passing of an era today, even if it's been on the cards for a...
Soapbox A Case For The Defence: Castlevania 64
The only things that suck are the vampires
Castlevania 64, which is how we shall refer to the original Nintendo 64 vampire-killing game to avoid confusion with the other Castlevania, is a game that’s been unjustly left on the series' scrapheap for far too long, and I’m going to tell you why. Now that doesn’t mean I’m here to excuse the...
Review Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (3DS eShop / NES)
What a horrible night to play this game
Sequels of the present day are almost an inevitability; a safe way for a developer to earn some extra revenue by expanding their previous game, slightly tweaking gameplay nuances and throwing in additional levels and enemies. However, in the late '80s, things were different – sequels could vary wildly from...
Review Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (Wii U eShop / NES)
Should've put a stake in it
With 1987's Castlevania on the NES, Konami created a classic. The vampire hunting action game was a whip-roaring success, kicking off one of gaming's most iconic series and introducing a generation of gamers to the adventures of Simon Belmont, the joy of whip-based combat, and the explosive properties of holy water. The...
News MercurySteam's New Next-Gen Title Isn't Coming To Wii U
No love for Nintendo
It has already been confirmed that Spanish studio MercurySteam is moving away from the Castlevania franchise once work is completed on Lords of Shadow 2, but producer Dave Cox has now announced that company's as-yet-unnamed new project won't be hitting the Wii U. Speaking at a round table event attended by GameSpot, Cox...
Talking Point Is The Castlevania Series Finished With Nintendo?
Fangs for the memories, but is it time to move on?
Ever since it began in 1986, Konami's Castlevania series has been closely associated with Nintendo. The vampire-slaying lineage started life on the Famicom Disk System in Japan and shortly afterwards found worldwide fame on the NES. Since then, the franchise has seen some of its most famous and...
Review Castlevania (Wii U eShop / NES)
Just like Dracula, it keeps coming back to life...
Konami, admittedly following the lead of others such as Nintendo and Capcom, sure likes to remind us it was making awesome games way back in the 1980s. "Hey", it says, "remember how great Castlevania was on the NES?" We sure do, Konami and, oh look, now we can buy it again on the Wii U! It's one of...
Review Super Castlevania IV (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Fangs for the memories
The Castlevania series is enjoying something of a renaissance at the moment, thanks largely to MercurySteam's commercially successful Lords of Shadow sub-series. However, as many hardcore Castlevania fans will repeatedly tell you until they are blue in the face and you are deeply, deeply bored, the God of War-style gameplay...
