I want to feel your PS2 inside me.

You have no idea how hard it was for me to get my hands on a 60GB PlayStation 3 today. It is for that reason that I will enlighten you. But first, some explanation.

Why buy a used 60GB PS3 rather than one of the other models, new or whatever? It all boils down to reverse-compatibility. I almost skipped last generation’s Sony offerings altogether. I owned a PS2 for as long as it took me to complete the excellent Castlevania: Lament of Innocence and my wife to associate her time with Dark Cloud 2 with the 24-hour “morning” sickness that she was experiencing at the time.

I was happy with my Gamecube and Game Boy Advance, but Sony got all Konami’s love that generation, and most of it’s there this time around, too. While the newest 80GB PS3s do have some software reverse-compatibility, the only PS3s that actually have PS2 hardware compatibility are the first two they made: the 20GB model (now impossible to find) or the 60GB model (which you have to get used as it’s no longer made).

So here I am with a 60GB PS3 that required contact with and visits to a total of four Gamestops today, with both Castlevanias on order, Dark Cloud 2 a tentative buy (seems a little expensive for such an old game) and a pile of options in the Dance Dance Revolution franchise that I can’t distinguish. Which one do I get? Will any of them work on my PS3? I have so many questions.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons.

Quartermann dishes platform details on a trio of new Castlevanias.

It’s been a whirlwind of new data that we’ve seen on the upcoming Castlevania games, first with information on the third DS episode, Order of Ecclesia, and later on the not yet specified Castlevania Judgment. The newest issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly, which arrived in my inbox today, has another chunk of info in the micro-rumor sidebar “Q-Tips” in Quartermann’s rumor column as follows.

• Castlevania’s coming back in a big way, with at least three new games on tap: One for DS, a Wii version, and another stab at 3D on PS3 and XB360.

So that would imply two things: The Wii version of the game will be 2D, and either that or the PS3/360 version would be Judgment. It will be interesting to watch how this develops. Castlevania: Lament of Innocence sold me a PS2, this has the potential to sell me a PS3… at which point I could replace my lost copy of Lament of Innocence and finally pick up Curse of Darkness as well… hmm…

Source: EGM 229, Page 48

Castlevania: Judgment joins Order of Ecclesia in USPTO.

Boy, for a Castlevania junkie, I sure am behind on this stuff.

I posted an article yesterday which I knew was a little old about an article on Siliconera about a trademark for a new Castlevania item, called Order of Ecclesia. Now they’re showing Castlevania Judgment. Now, both this mark and the Order of Ecclesia mark are indicated as video game software, meaning neither of these would be referring to a movie or book or something. Further, Siliconera points out that the ESRB confirms Order of Ecclesia as a Nintendo DS game. The date on the Judgment trademark is April 11th, so that one’s pretty fresh, compared to the March 28th one for Ecclesia. I can’t wait to hear more on these, maybe the ESRB will give us a clue on Judgment soon. I’m guessing E3 will be the place.

Source: USPTO via Siliconera.

Konami leaks new Castlevania title as US Trademark?

Those of us itching for the next Castlevania have something more to grasp onto: the appearance at the US Patent and Trademark Office of the phrase, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia. While it is assumed that this would be a DS game, just based on past statements by series master Koji Igarashi, a new Castlevania game has yet to be announced since the mobile release of the disappointing Order of Shadows.

Further, let’s batten down the hatches, because the registration of a trademark does not necessarily mean the use of that trademark, and even if it did, it doesn’t even have to refer to a video game.

Source: US PTO via Siliconera via DS:Life Podcast

Suikoden VI coming to Wii?

It’s been rumored for a little bit that the next Suikoden game might be headed for Wii, but while listening to the most recent 1up Retronauts podcast today, I heard one of the editors ask another offhand whether he was excited about Suikoden VI on Wii, in the context of a discussion of the series. They didn’t spend any time talking about the game after that, and naturally it’s plausible they were joking about the recent rumors, but it didn’t seem to be presented as a joke. If it wasn’t a joke, it was most likely an accident.

Further lending to the idea is Nintendo Power’s recent claim that they are about to cover a major RPG announcement for Wii in their next issue. Any fans of Suikoden have any feelings about this one way or the other?

DDR Dance Pads restocked, extra pads for Hottest Party now available.

Dance Dance Revolution fans take note, as Konami has announced that they’ve restocked their dance pads for their line of DDR games. Additionally, the series’ latest incarnation, Hottest Party on Wii, now has pads available for purchase without the game for those who want to play multiplayer. Previously, I think you could use the DDR Mario Mix pad from the Gamecube era, but don’t take my word for that.

Source: Konami

Dance Dance Revolution Controller (Dance Pad) for Nintendo Wii‚Ñ¢ ($39.99)
Dance Dance Revolution Controller (Dance Pad) for PlayStation®2 ($29.99)
Dance Dance Revolution Controller (Dance Pad) for Xbox 360‚Ñ¢ ($39.99)

First third party assist trophy in Brawl: Gray Fox, from Metal Gear.

Today, what I believe to be the first announced third-party assist trophy in Super Smash Bros Brawl appeared on the developer blog: Gray Fox, from Metal Gear! That’s right, the one, the only… wait, who?

Go go gadget Wikipedia. Oh. I guess my memory fails me on the NES ones, and I never made it far enough to find out that was him in Twin Snakes.

Putting Solid Snake and Gray Fox into Super Smash Bros Brawl was a great idea, because both appeared not only in Twin Snakes on the Gamecube, but in two NES Metal Gear games, so they’ve had some Nintendo presence. But here’s the thing: Nintendo devotees may not recognize this particular assist trophy. I mean, really, I don’t. Here’s what they say on the blog:

Gray Fox, who engaged in a grand battle to the death with Metal Gear REX… To think that he would reappear on Wii, and alongside Mario and Sonic at that!

You never know what might happen in this world.

Now keep in mind that an assist trophy is not a playable character. It’s practically an item. You grab the trophy in-game and in comes the assist character to help you out briefly. Kind of like a tag-team. Neat anyway, because it pretty much guarantees we’ll see one or more assist trophies from Sonic’s universe as well, like Knuckles or something.

Source: Smash Bros Dojo.

Koji Igarashi talks soul candles, wall meat, and what’s next for Castlevania.

It’s always worth keeping an eye out for interviews with Castlevania series director Koji Igarashi. As the man in charge of all things Castlevania, he’s the one to watch when it comes to figuring out what might happen next. Today, there’s an interview with him at Game|Life, one in which Wired News asks him not only why gameplay involves destroying candles to get items but why there are pork chops hidden in the walls. It turns out in Japanese culture there are candles that represent life, so he presumes these are meant to represent the souls of those who’ve been killed my Dracula’s minions. Keep in mind that Koji Igarashi did not work at Konami when the Castlevania series started, so he didn’t start the candle thing. It’s not clear whether he asked the original developers. He didn’t have an answer regarding wall meat. Click through for highlights, then follow the link to the blog to read the whole thing.

Note that the first question I put here seems to be implying a Nintendo DS version of Dracula X Chronicles is next, depending on how you read it. I’m going to assume I’m reading that wrong, and he just means the next Castlevania is coming to the DS.

Interview: Iga Talks Castlevania Everything at Wired’s Game|Life blog.

Read the rest of this entry »

Castlevania Alert: Simon’s Quest materializes in Euro Wii Shop Channel.

While we yanks get our retro gaming fix on the Wii on Mondays, across the pond some of you see your old stuff on Fridays. So, it’s Friday, and time for a Castlevania alert, as Simon’s Quest has appeared in the Wii Shop Channel there. What a horrible night to have a curse.

As with Super Mario Bros and The Legend of Zelda, Castlevania’s sophomore US NES outing was somewhat of a shift in concept. Simon’s Quest kept the sidescrolling wonder of Castlevania but added some moderate role playing elements, with branching paths, collectible weapons and items (things we might now call relics included) to power yourself up, and some of the most famous typos the industry has ever seen. Many of the most important additions to the series were abandoned thereafter until the PS1/Saturn franchise-defining Symphony of the Night.

Simon’s Quest showing up in EU territories does not mean it will show up Monday in the US. Metroid, for example, took almost a month to find its way into the US. The other two games that appeared today, Gate of Thunder and World Heroes, are already live in the US as of this week and last week, respectively.

This will mark the third game in the series to arrive in the Wii Shop Channel. Read up on the game, and watch a video clip, on Nintendo’s site.

Source: N-Philes.

See also:

Simon’s Quest headed to the Wii Virtual Console.

Metal Gear Solid 4 to be at E for All

While the big players are staying away, Konami is rumored to be bringing the big guns with Metal Gear Solid 4 and Silent Hill 5. Now there is no news on whether they will be in any sort of playable form, but this should be good in regards to boosting attendance to the show.

As for me, I am interested in trying out a playable demo of Metal Gear Solid 4. I have never really played a Metal Gear Solid game (I bought MGS2 Subsistance recently and it won’t run), so I am curious as to what the experience is as well as the reaction of the crowd to the event. But if they show the same cinematics again, it, to me, will be a letdown. As for Silent Hill, I would assume this will be more video footage than demo, but I have played Silent Hill 2 and I really do enjoy this series.

via Siliconera