Genre: Action
Developer: M2
Publisher: Konami
Players: 1
Retail Price: 1000 Wii Points ($10)
Availability: WiiWare
Konami’s Rebirth series has provided a creative way for the company to revisit some of their classic properties. “Classic” in the sense that these games have rabid, though minuscule fanbases clamoring for the company to cater to their interests. To those of you with foaming mouths: Konami has answered your call. Gradius was the first to receive the treatment, followed by the more-popular Contra. Castlevania is the latest series to receive such a reworking, and is arguably the most popular of the three franchises. Anyone who liked the series pre-Symphony of the Night will find something to love in Castlevania The Adventure Rebirth — it stands as an outstanding example of why this series is as highly regarded as it is.
Rebirth is an old-school ‘Vania through and through, as a remake of a 1989 Gameboy classic should be. Your character is a member of the Belmont clan, this time named Christopher, and his mission is to (cue shock and awe) protect humanity by destroying Dracula. He enters the titular castle armed only with a whip and his wits, prepared to meet the denizens who reside there head-on. And just like any other Castlevania not served with a side of Metroid influence, this game will punish relentlessly you for every misstep you make.
Stained glass: a series staple
Controlling the character is as simple as it gets. The main attack is the whip, and it only goes in one direction: straight forward. You can use it while jumping or ducking, but don’t expect the eight-way freedom of Super Castlevania IV. You also have access to sub-weapons, like holy water or the boomerang cross by pressing up and attack. And that’s it, really. You’ll find meat hidden in the walls here or there that will replenish health, or maybe a screen-clearing rosary, but other than that you’re left to navigate the unfriendly corridors of Dracula’s castle on your own.
Since the controls are simple by nature, it’s up to the level design to carry the game to glory or falter and drop it into the abyss of mediocrity. Luckily, M2 seems to have dissected many of the elements that made other Castlevania’s so great and included them here, simultaneously adding a few twists along the way. Jumping across platforms on a waterwheel is a nice compliment to the inevitability of the clocktower level, and the glass platforms creatively inject some platforming challenges with real concequence by shattering after being stepped upon.
Perhaps most importantly, Rebirth revisits the idea of multiple paths. Curious gamers who explore each level thoroughly may occasionally find a key, which can be used to unlock special doors. Some of these doors simply house items, but others grant access to a deviation in the level, opening up an entirely new area in the process. While you’ll eventually end up in the same place no matter which path you take, you may sometimes encounter different minibosses or other assorted challenges. There are other ways to access special paths as well, though, it’s up to the creative player to figure those out for themselves.
Skeleton? Check. Giant clock gears? Check. Medusa heads? A million times, check.
Familiar enemies immediately greet you after pressing “the confirm button” — shambling zombies stumble on the ground as bats fly through the air, but what’s nice about this is that they’re displayed using all new sprites, which is something of a rarity for this series. In fact, nearly all of the enemy sprites are new except for the ectoplasm enemy. Though their patterns may remain familiar — bone-throwing skeleton, I’m looking at you — it’s nice to not instantly recognize them the first time through.
Oddly enough, the difficulty ramps up rather smoothly. The first two levels are pretty easy, the third steps it up slightly, and the fourth and fifth might cost you a new Wii remote before going down, swinging wildly the whole way. Memorization is the name of the game — if you don’t take the time to learn the lay of the land you’re going to end up six feet beneath it. This applies to the boss battles as well. Learning their patterns is the key, especially later on when health becomes scarce and reflex just isn’t enough to overcome the complexity of the attacks.
Castlevania The Adventure Rebirth stands as the best entry in the Rebirth line yet, but it also holds its own as a classic-styled Castlevania title as well. Those sick of the Metroidvania-mania Konami seems to have come down with would do well to check this out — it’s everything you used to love about the series, but in a shiny new package.
