News: E3 2006 News | No Castlevania Nintendo Wii?! Page 1

E3 2006 News | No Castlevania Nintendo Wii?!

13.05.2006

Those looking at the wonderful Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow on the Nintendo DS and its absolutely gorgeous looking follow-up, Portrait of Ruin, may be eagerly awaiting what seems like a natural announcement for the series on the Nintendo Wii.

However, in an interview with IGN, legendary creator of the series Koji Igarashi aired his concerns about the platform and how Castlevania does not seem suited to its new control set-up:

IGN: It seems that with the Castlevania series that the Nintendo Wii might be a perfect fit, with the whip, and I'm wondering if that might be something you're approaching.

Koji Igarashi: Can you workout for an hour, and keep on whipping? I'm very interested in the Wii hardware, and I'm attending a Nintendo presentation in Japan, as well as a Nintendo press conference this week. I realize that the Wii market is casual gamers, that are looking forward to a short game experience and I hardly doubt that with the Castlevania style, they'll all sit down and want to play for multiple hours or even a day. Also, I just really can't think of any good ideas. My thought is that a Castlevania game doesn't fit very well with it unfortunately. But maybe when I go back to Japan I might come up with some brilliant idea, and I'll try to think of the possibilities.

He also confirms that Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin will feature online play via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection for two players to battle it out over a brand new, unlockable stage.

Read the full interview here: IGN Interviews Koji Igarashi

Keep it locked to Cubed3 for further updates...

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jb 13.05.2006#1

I realize that the Wii market is casual gamers, that are looking forward to a short game experience

Hmm, that's just one side of the market - Nintendo seem to be moving into this area, but definitely not leaving out the ground they've covered. Shame though, Castlevania could really be cool on the Wii.

Cubed3 Admin/Founder & Designer

Azuardo 13.05.2006#2

"But maybe when I go back to Japan I might come up with some brilliant idea, and I'll try to think of the possibilities."

Well at least he hasn't completely ruled out the possibility of a Castlevania Wii. And hey, we've got Portrait of Ruin with online play to keep us all happy! If Igarashi does come up with a Wii version though, that would be fantastic.

jesusraz 13.05.2006#3

Also, he's forgetting two things:

1.) Only subtle movements are needed to use the Wii-mote, confirmed;
2.) There's the standard controller if necessary / you can even use GC pads!

Important points that will be drilled home when he goes to those conferences that he mentions, no doubt...

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

Powdered Water 14.05.2006#4

Quite right. There is a myth going around lately that you are meant to run around the room waving your arms to play Wii games.

A lot of criticism has come Wii's way based on that point alone, when in reality that's more of a software issue.

Wiimote just tracks the detected motion and pass on that data to the game code. So it's up to each dev to write a code that interprets the motion and filter them accordingly.

Over a period of time, I think devs will figure out (nearly) nothing is impossible on FHC.

Megadanxzero 14.05.2006#5

*dies*

Then again I have yet to play a 3D Castlevania game, and apparently they all suck...

Still a proud member of the 'omfg amazing water in games' society

Raff 14.05.2006#6

Can't they just use the GC controller like in SSBB?

It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.

Fenton 14.05.2006#7

Nintendo need to drum it into developers heads that they can always utilize the normal pad.

No excuse for missing out of games when there's a perfectly acceptable normal pad availible now is there?

jesusraz 14.05.2006#8

Mega, the N64 Castlevanias were 'okay', but had dodgy cameras. Lament of Innocence of the PS2 is great(ish), but lacks substance and the second PS2 Castlevania (name slipped my mind) is much better, but again not perfect like the handheld 2D games.

A full-on 2D Castlevania Wii would be superb. If Trauma Centre can get away with it, then so can Castlevania!

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

Powdered Water 28.05.2006#9

jesusraz.

On the other hand, there is a possibility that Wiimote may very well overcome awkwardness of 3D gaming on console. Not definite, but possibility.

3D Contra, 3D Bomberman, 3D Castlevania etc haven't gone down well. Some say it's because they are inherently 2D games. But maybe, it's because of the way console user-interface (joypad) handles controls. Maybe, traditional style pad isn't ideal for 3D gaming. Maybe, our addiction to the traditional joypad has 'restricted' the true development of 3D gaming. N64 may have introduced it, but maybe, that was only provisional, and more is yet to come. That MIGHT be Wiimote.

You never know. Wiimote may resolve this issue over a year or two, in which case it will open up a whole new world for 3D gaming.

This is very speculative, but very interesting (and valid).

jesusraz 28.05.2006#10

Yes, very valid PW, but the only thing I worry about is how Nintendo revolutionised gaming by bringing Mario into the 3D realm and created what we all thought was the 'perfect' control system (at the time). Yet Konami had two attempts on the N64 with Castlevania and even tried its hand at 3D gaming in its first N64 Goemon title, but failed to get it right.

Hopefully Nintendo will be offering more guidance with the Wii, because I really don't think just showing off Mario Galaxy will suffice.