Castlevania: Lament of Innocence ships

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence joined the growing horde of horror-themed Q4 releases today, shipping out to stores as scheduled. Exclusive to the PlayStation 2, the new Konami game is the first Castlevania title to come out for a console since 2001's Castlevania Chronicles for the PlayStation. (Three Castlevania titles--Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance, and Aria of Sorrow--have been released for the GameBoy Advance in the interim, as has a PC version of the NES Castlevania.)

Lament of Innocence features 3-D version of many characters and monsters from the original series, as well as a new soundtrack. The plot treads familiar territory, though, involving a blue-blooded hero who must save his ladylove from an undead bloodsucker.

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence is rated "M" for mature (killing vampires make a bit of a bloody mess) and is priced at $49.99.