Castlevania set for ReBirth - ESRB

Konami's whip-cracking franchise getting a retro revamp on Wii, according to rating board's Web site.

Twice this year, Konami has used the WiiWare digital distribution service to refresh famous franchises with new installments rendered in endearingly 16-bit-style visuals. Gradius ReBirth kicked things off in March, while Contra ReBirth deployed to gamers earlier this month.

As fitting as a phoenix would be for ReBirth, this shot is from Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles for the PSP.

Konami's going for the trifecta according to a new entry in the Entertainment Software Rating Board's online database. The ESRB has issued a T-for-Teen rating for Konami's Castlevania the Adventure ReBirth on the Wii. Sporting content descriptors of "animated blood" and "fantasy violence," the game will let pit whip-wielding players against a horde of undead dangers in Dracula's castle.

If the downloadable Gradius and Contra games are any indication, Castlevania ReBirth should represent a return to the roots of a franchise that has largely left its original design behind. The original PlayStation game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night incorporated Metroid-style adventure game elements into its design and spawned a litany of similarly styled installments for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS.

As for console editions of Castlevania, Konami has experimented with 3D takes on the formula since the days of the Nintendo 64, most recently with Castlevania: Judgment, a one-on-one fighting game for the Wii. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are set to receive their own 3D versions of the series next year with Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.

61 Comments

  • lannyboy334

    Posted Jan 11, 2010 10:02 pm PT

    @shinwano The newest 3D Castlevania game is being developed by the same guys that brought us MGS4. I am not going to say "excited", but extremely hopeful, sitting white knuckled with bated breath definitely covers my feelings about Kojima making a Castlevania game.

  • shinwano

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 6:52 am PT

    Man,, i wish they stop trying to make 3-D castlevania games..
    No 3D castlevania ever came close to the quality of SOTN.

  • Ed_The_Great

    Posted Dec 30, 2009 2:38 pm PT

    I've been asking for a retro Castklevania remake for years but I can't believe it is not coming to xbox live.

  • jaborwaki22

    Posted Dec 28, 2009 11:10 am PT

    snarple basic> I enjoy the games from the 80's and 90's as well, but Symphony was legend. Some games leave their roots far behind, with Symphony of the Night, Castlevania just impoved a bit to what it should have been originally.
    and to that Halo fan 3 pages into the thread, I can't believe that you are complaining about a game starting off the same way. Why would somebody go hunt dracula if he had not come back yet? the storyline insists that the world needs a hero every time dracula comes back.
    Halo 1 was legend, halo 2 and 3 were lame and only sold because of the name.

  • tremor33

    Posted Dec 17, 2009 2:24 pm PT

    F***ing sweet. I can't wait. I love me some retro Castlevania

  • lewispetty

    Posted Sep 20, 2009 1:27 pm PT

    sounds good

  • isaacmj

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 4:57 pm PT

    Sounds great, let's just hope they don't blow it up

  • leeko_link

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 11:11 am PT

    Good for a Castlevania Rebirth, maybe someday we'l lbe getting Metal Gear Rebirth, Mystical Ninja Rebirth, Yie-Ar Kung Fu Rebirth, Sunset Riders Rebirth, Vic Viper Rebirth, Rocket Knight Rebirth, Vandel Hearts Rebirth, Suikoden Rebirth, and so on. That would be an impressive list of classic titles coming to WiiWare.

  • snarple_basic

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 8:02 am PT

    I'm glad there not going for that metroid feel. I never really cared for Symphony and always thought it was over rated and just boring... Maybe I'm the only one, but I'd rather play part 4 for the SNES over Symphony on the PS.

  • finaleve

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 7:39 pm PT

    odst_trooper117 > This coming from someone who is a Halo fan? While each castlevania follows a similar plot, the rest of it does not. Each game has a something new, both gameplay and story (between characters and scenarios that follow).

    Castlevania is one of those series that doesn't work well with 3d. Hard as they try, they can't exactly pull off a good 3d game. Most of them come out mediocre and well...I remember the N64 versions and while I liked the 2nd game, they both were not that great. Besides, the series has been out for so long now, I'm sure the newcomers would pick up a remake of the original games.

  • Lionhart_basic

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 10:39 am PT

    That's cool. I'm hoping Konami sends those titles to Xbox Arcade and PSN, that would really rock.

  • KoruKinshi

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 8:12 am PT

    Wait, wait....it's Castlevania: The Adventure. That means to me they're remaking the one on Game Boy with Christopher Belmont. That's fine with me either way.

  • player_leo

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 5:16 am PT

    So they are going to remake the original Castlevania, I hope the Grim Reaper and the Clock Tower have been made a little easier.

  • j03yAsunder

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 7:42 pm PT

    Best news I've heard all day! Can't wait for some more old school goodness!

  • mrklorox

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 6:34 pm PT

    wow... I just got moderated for saying "screwed"

  • hatieshorrer

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 3:07 pm PT

    So Im guessing itll use the classic stage system. Sounds good to me.

  • Zophar87

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 3:04 pm PT

    This is good news. If this Rebirth is anything like the Contra Rebirth then it should be exciting. I can't wait to get my hands on it!

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 2:48 pm PT

    oh boy, here comes a whole line of ReBirth titles.

  • MisterHodam

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 2:22 pm PT

    @re4leonkennedy
    I don't know for sure if Nintendo is going to make a 2d metroid, but the new metroid will not be first person so far as I know

  • KreepLX

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 2:21 pm PT

    Here is a good idea... lets re-release the pong console for a flashback of a good time. They could even send you one of those stupid paper outlines for your television.

  • re4leonkennedy

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 2:06 pm PT

    It's good to see classic series like contra, sonic,megaman and castlevania having new games being made in 2d. There is also new super mario bros wii coming out. Hopefully Nintendo decides to make a new 2d metroid game for the wii or ds.,

  • archvile_78

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 1:40 pm PT

    bleh, i'd prefer this version rather than the 3D one. :/

  • ZippyDSMLee

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 1:34 pm PT

    Ya classic make inyour sleep games is nice and all...but it would be nice to see as much effort in a new 3D title....then again al they do is add crap to it and refuse to change the formula to its correct 3D variant. Square peg through round hole dose not work well people(modern game devs)

  • hashabnelah

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 1:31 pm PT

    I wonder what is with the Japanese trend of developing games in either 8-bit or 16-bit graphics. Megaman 9, Holy Violation of Privacy Badman!, Contra ReBirth, and now Castlevania ReBirth.

  • odst_trooper117

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 1:12 pm PT

    im not sure why this is got everyone exited about this new castlvania game...to me it seems that the series is getting WAY repetitive 'cause every game starts off pretty much the same... every sequel starts off that dracula has returned AGAIN to conquer the world, so your character (whoever that would be...) to go off and defeat him once again... honestly, i dont really care about the new game...

  • RockMan-NEO

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 1:03 pm PT

    aww lucky wii owners be cool if it came to PSN and XBL

  • Geostrike

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 12:35 pm PT

    I can't wait for new Castlevania.

  • Freezezzy

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 12:27 pm PT

    Awesome news, GameSpot. Glad to hear that Castlevania is returning to its roots.

    I was actually thinking about Castlevania the other day, and an idea came to me. What if they made a Castlevania game that was similar in format, and style to Eternal Darkness? Think about it. Multiple chapters, each one telling the story of one person's struggle against evil (in this case, Dracula). They could include practically every character from every game. Every Belmont, Belnades, Morris, maybe even Soma Cruz.

    The last chapter of the game could take place in 1999, and finally show us how Dracula is defeated, once and for all... or at least until the next game.

  • abfackeln

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 12:21 pm PT

    I hope it is like the NES/SNES games and not like the more recent anime style games. I am over the post-SOTN games.

  • Sepewrath

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 11:48 am PT

    Nice, glad to know the old school style is gone but not forgotten with games like Megaman 9, Contra Rebirth and this. I'm also interested in seeing what Mercury Steam and Kojima does with the series.

  • X-Remnant

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 11:43 am PT

    YAY! .n_n.

  • huntervaneg

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 11:36 am PT

    Great, this is a sure download for me! Yep, Castlevania fan here!

  • CoreoVII

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 11:05 am PT

    The explanation under the old PSP picture is doing better gamespot. no more useless videos and pics for every article.

  • Bigbudd0045

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 10:55 am PT

    ive been gaming since the 2600 too (admittedly the NES was out by that time, but i started on a 2600) and Super Metroid is still the best scroller ever, unless you count platforming then i still give it to Super Mario World.

  • Hybridos

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 10:34 am PT

    @StSk8ter29
    SotN ITS THA GAME.
    Im a gamer since atari 2600, I loved the Castlevania with Belmont on them but SotN its to me just the best 2D scroller ever maid, period.

  • burns112233

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 10:34 am PT

    Very nice.

  • BelmontMaster

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 10:30 am PT

    CastleVania the Adventure rebirth? With Christopher? Freakin yes!

  • Nuk1euz

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 10:30 am PT

    atopp399, i too am waiting for Earthbound. Be it a remake, a port, i prequel, a sequel, i dont care. Just bring the Earthbound franchise back to the consoles, not a Nintendo DS version that never reaches to us Westerners.

  • Dualmask

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 10:26 am PT

    I would love to see Castlevania taken into a new environment...though I believe the series can do no wrong (as long as it stays 2D anyway), I would love to see a Castlevania game with a more modern atmosphere. Aria/Dawn of Sorrow were close (and excellent games) but I'd love to see it taken further. Castlevania in an urban setting with the playable character(s) being descendants of Belmont the way it should be...might be fun.

    That being said, any news of a new Castlevania game is great news to me, especially if it's 2D, and I'm going to be all over it.

    @StSk8ter29, while I agree with your sentiments about the movie, we can't expect to play games as the same character forever. The great thing about the Castlevania series is that, unlike a lot of popular game series, there's actual continuity to follow, a rich history. Trevor Belmont, Juste Belmont, Julius Belmont, Christopher Belmont, not to mention the almighty Richter... and a bunch of peripheral characters who add to the history and storyline as well, like John/Jonathan Morris and Alucard. It's how the storyline grew that makes Castlevania matter so much to so many gamers, and if you're stuck on Simon, you're really missing out on great gameplay AND storyline.

  • atopp399

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 10:11 am PT

    Give us Earthbound... I know it isn't Konami's decision but I have to mention it in any VC thread.

  • Stesilaus

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 10:09 am PT

    Stories like this about new commercial releases of old games always get me wondering about the legality of sites like www.virtualnes.com, where the original NES versions of Castlevania, Contra, Super Mario Bros. etc. can be played for free.

    They have a legal section setting out their case in great detail, but I still can't see Nintendo and 3rd party developers like Konami being very happy that the site is freely giving away games that they're trying to sell through WiiWare digital distribution!

  • nini200

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 10:07 am PT

    Awesome. Gradius ReBirth and Contra ReBirth are totally new games. I was worried that Castlevania ReBirth would be a remake but seeing Konami's trend, this castlevania is totally new as well. Great, Will be picking this up.

  • FLEEBS

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 10:00 am PT

    Sweet. I look forward to every Castlevania.

    @StSk8er29: So how many Castlevania games actually feature Simon Belmont? I think three. There was the original, the second and Castlevania IV as you stated. Of course Super Castlevania IV is really just a remake of the first one, and there are many other remakes of the original game as well. I may be missing a game or two, but not by much. So you are basing your idea of Castlevania from a character that has starred in a very small portion of the game series. Simon Belmont is very important to the series, but he is NOT what defines Castlevania. In that regard, Dracula is. And maybe the Belmont family. Although I love Simon Belmont, you are missing out on some excellent game content. It's your loss.

  • Ovirew

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 9:59 am PT

    I think the newer Castlevanias are better, but the classic ones are good too.

  • StSk8ter29

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 9:27 am PT

    Simon Belmont IS Castlevania, without him the series is dead to me. Symphony of the Night may be good for you younger guys but to me the best Castlevania ever was Super Castlevania 4. This whole new generation of anime inspired Castlevania games isn't Castlevania, it's a mockery. I couldn't believe when i heard the idea for the movie being told as a "combination of eastern culture and western fantasy", I wanted to hurt somebody. The whole eastern anime thing is not Castlevania, once again, it's a mockery. Simon Belmont forever.

  • Idiosyncracy

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 9:12 am PT

    @tremor33 Agreed, the N64 Castlevania games were a huge let down. I haven't played every Castlevania game made but of the ones I have SotN was by far the best.

  • drokmore

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 9:11 am PT

    I love castlevania as it was my first ever video game on the good ol NES.

  • LoveTelephone

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 9:09 am PT

    First off.... Even mentioning Judgement as a Castlevania game is a complete disgrace to the franchise. That game was complete garbage and I'm offended it even has the Castlevania name on it, I'd rather play Castlvania 64 haha ---- that being said, tremor33 hit the nail on the head. All the DS Castlevania games are absolutely amazing, and basically all the Metroidvania games released are all oh so very good. ---- I wonder what this Wii version is going to be like. Will it be a brand new game with new individual levels/maps? Or just a re-creation? hmmmmm. ----- I must say, I have very high hopes for the new 3D Castlevania coming in 2010 for the PS3. Game looks AMAZING. And meanwhile, I'll keep dreaming for another 2D console version of Castlevaina.

  • da_chub

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 9:09 am PT

    some games/IP's should be 2-d....no exceptions.

  • enoslives7

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 9:06 am PT

    Castlevania should stay 2-d. I cant wait to see the new games.

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