Here's the news many of us North America-based, Castlevania-obsessed freaks have been desperately waiting for: Castlevania: Rondo of Blood is finally making it Stateside thanks to a Virtual Console release. The ESRB gave us a heads up not long ago, but Hudson has gone on to confirm the good news.

Talking to Siliconera, a representative from Hudson said Rondo of Blood ought to be "released shortly" but not in English. Oh no, whatever will we do? There's so much important text in the older Castlevania games. How the heck will any of us know how to whip skeletons without intense instructions first?

Now that my sarcasm powers have been permanently depleted from overuse, let me say how excited I am to finally play a non-emulated non-shady version of this game on my TV. Anyone else pumped up by this confirmation?

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood Coming Soon, But It Won't Be In English [Siliconera]

Fans of Castlevania, rejoice! It has been revealed that Hudson of all publishers is bringing Castlevania: Rondo of Blood to the Wii's Virtual Console some time soon. The game has been rated by the ESRB, so is ready to hit the Wii at any time. 

Rondo of Blood was the tenth Castlevania game in the series, originally created for Japanese PCs. The game arrived to the West in its current form for the PlayStation Portable in 2007, and the title of the Virtual Console version would indicate that this is the ported version. If you want to know what it plays like, then you don't know much about Castlevania.

So there you are. Fun things happening.

CASTLEVANIA RONDO OF BLOOD [ESRB]

Are you desperate to know things about Mercury Steam and Kojima Production's new Castlevania game, Lords of Shadows? I suggest watching the trailer again, but if you're really desperate then checking out David Cox's Twitter would be a good idea. He's a producer on the game and he's been letting some details leak out about the game's development.

First, and foremost, is that the PS3 is the lead platform for development, but Cox promises it will look and play the same on both systems. This is most likely true, as when games have noticable difference they are usually developed with the 360 as the lead system. Second, and here we're getting into minutia, but Cox says that the camera is going to be fixed in the game, meaning they're probably going for a cinematic feel over a player controlled feel.

Neither of these facts really makes me any more excited for the game. I buy Castlevania games to play a Castlevania game, not an action fighter that looks inspired by God of War and Devil May Cry. Sometimes a game series doesn't need to be "reborn."

New Details On Castlevania: Lords of Shadow [PS3center.net]

A couple of days ago, I posted a review of Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth. I gave the game an 8.5, which means I liked it a lot. I did have a few problems with it, though: it doesn't add anything new to the series, the music isn't that great, and you can't save your progress.

Well, scratch that last one off the list. The game still lacks a traditional save feature, but it does have an incredibly-easy-to-unlock secret stage select option. Just hold to the right on the "start game, options" screen for a few seconds, and there you go: stage select heaven.

You can only select stages you've actually beaten, which dampens the fun a bit, but this is still great news overall. On the other hand, it's bad news for me. I now have to decide if the game deserves a higher score because one of its "flaws" has been sort-of fixed.

What do you think? Did Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth just go from being a 8.5 to an 8.75, or an 8.65?

8.666?

Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth has a stage select feature [GoNintendo]

One of my New Year's resolutions is to cut to the chase, so here goes.

If you like traditional Castlevania games, buy Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth right now. You will enjoy it. Contrary to common assumption, it is not a remake of a crappy old Game Boy Castlevania game. It's also a lot longer and more substantial than the other ReBirth games released thus far. If you like games like Super Castlevania IV and Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, you will like Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth. That said, if you dislike either of those games, you will hate this game too. It makes a few changes to the Castlevania system, but not many, and certainly not enough to please non-fans.

As for the rest of you; those who have never played a Castlevania game or don't have an opinion about them, you guys should hit the jump. That's where I won't cut to the chase, and actually explain what makes traditional Castlevania games what they are, for better and worse, richer and poorer.

How was that? Concise enough?

Of the ten digital games being released across Nintendo's platforms today, one stands out like the bright, popping lights in Eddie Adams' dreams when he saw the name "Dirk Diggler" -- Castlevania The Adventure Rebirth!

For those looking for games that are likely less punishing (and seriously not as a cool), there's plenty to choose from. The classic Super Nintendo title Pilotwings seems like a decent bet, and Gameloft's updated The Oregon Trail (ported from the iPhone version I previewed awhile back) seems like a solid choice.

WiiWare

• Castlevania The Adventure Rebirth (Konami) - 1,000 Wii Points
• Eat! Eat! Fight! (Tecmo) - 1,000 Wii Points
• Rabbids Lab (Ubisoft) - 500 Wii Points
• The Magic Obelisk (Game Arts Co., Ltd) - 500 Wii Points

Virtual Console

• Pilotwings (Nintendo, SNES) - 800 Wii Points

DSiWare

• The Oregon Trail (Gameloft) - 800 DSi Points
• Sudoku Sensei (Hudson Entertainment) - 500 DSiPoints
• Glow Artisan (Powerhead Games) - 500 DSi Points
• Master of Illusion Express: Psychic Camera (Nintendo) - 200 DSi Points
• Arcade Hoops Basketball (Skyworks Interactive, Inc.) - 200 DSi Point

See anything you like this week? Tell us what you're spending those Wii/DSi Points you got for the holidays on.

... in Australia.

The OLFC ratings board, which rates videogames for the former penal colony, has recently rated the classic Castlevania title for that country. The original game has never been released in North America, except as an unlockable in Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles for the PSP. So, I hope all you Aussies appreciate it.

Konami seems to have all but abandoned the Virtual Console in the United States and I wouldn't expect that to change, even for what's one of the very best games the series ever produced. Still, that PSP port wasn't bad and only takes a few minutes to unlock, so Americans can at least enjoy that version.

Not that I'm bitter or anything.

These days, buying a CD nets you that one radio hit, another "good song" and then several skip tracks. And what's with these 8 and 9-song CDs these days? I want more for my money!

Konami knows you want lots of music when you plunk down cash, so they're bringing Castlevania fans 19 discs of music in their upcoming collection. The Akumajo Dracula Best Music Collections BOX will include goodies such as soundtracks to Castlevania on the MSX2 and Castlevania Legends as well as the new stuff like the music from Order of Ecclesia. Original Sound Version says that disc 18 is an arrange disc, and there will also be a DVD with interviews and recording sessions. Talk about bang for your buck!

Speaking of bucks, this is going to cost 21,000 yen, or just a bit over $230 USD, when it's released in Japan in late March next year.

I want to be excited for MercurySteam and Kojima Production's Castlevania: Lord of Shadows, I really do.

This image of one of the game's vampires, despite his lack of clothing and bathing habits, is helping things a bit. David Cox, a producer at Konami, does point out that it's only a vampire. No, Count Dracula hasn't gotten a disgusting making. I certainly expect him to be a bit more dignified. 

I'll admit that Lord of Shadows keeps falling off my radar, because when you use the words "3D" and "Castlevania" in the same sentence I black ou--adljk;..

Yeah, what was I saying again? Oh yeah, I think what I was trying to say is that I'm "cautiously optimistic." That's what they say, right? What do you think? 

According to Amazon, Konami will be bringing two Xbox LIVE Arcade game complications to retail this month. 

Konami Classics Volume 1 will feature Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Frogger, and Super Contra. The second disc, Konami Classics Volume 2, will feature Contra, Rush'n Attack, and Track and Field. Both volumes will cost $19.99. 

As Gamerbytes points out, the pricing seems a bit lop-sided. While the price of Volume 1 is equal to what you'd pay for the three titles on Xbox LIVE Arcade (and let's face it, twenty-bucks for Symphony of the Night alone would be worth it), the second collection does not. In fact, it means you'll be paying $5 more dollars than you would with the digital downloads. 

Bringing XBLA games to retail on a compilation disc is nothing new, but it usually means it's priced in line with the digital releases. Being able to grab Symphony of the Night is great news for anyone who doesn't have Internet access, but let's be real -- who's going to pay $20 to get the original Contra, Rush'n Attack, and Track and Field?

Yesterday, the Nintendo Week showed us about 12 seconds of the new WiiWare title Castlevania The Adventure Rebirth. Now, less than 24 hours later, someone has played through the entire game and put it on Youtube.

Youtube - 1, Nintendo Week - 0.

I'd caution against watching all this footage unless you're extremely forgetful, lest you be spoiled. There are a few spoiler-free points I can share with you though. For starters, the game seems to have little in common with the original Castlevania The Adventure on the Gameboy, which is a relief. Other than the fireball shooting whip and the inclusion of Jonathan Belmont, this "remake" is very much a different game. It's a least five levels long, with bonus levels potentially unlockable. Many levels have branching paths, which leaves the full breadth of the game currently unknown. Fighting more than one boss per a level seems common, which ranging in size from Belmont sized (like the blue naked woman above) to screen filling giants. The graphics sometimes look Rondo of Blood quality, but occasionally jump into Symphony of the Night territory. Perhaps the best thing revealed in these videos is the soundtrack; music from over ten Castlevania games, from the arcade only Haunted Castle to Super Castlevania IV, all get representation.  

I'll have to play it myself to see how the game feels, but after watching these videos, it's easy to see how Castlevania The Adventure Rebirth may be one of the best of the "traditional" Castlavania game ever, right up there with Rondo of Blood and Bloodlines. 

Hit the jump for the spoiler packed videos.

[Update: Youtube went down, but is back up now. All is well]

Look, if Jonathan Holmes can make four little screens of Castlevania Rebirth work, I can do the same with these tiny snippets of video.

Sure, there's only a few seconds of hot new Castlevania Rebirth footage interspersed between Nintendo Weekly's silly flashlight narration, but it's new, and it's worth looking at. I mean, the first WiiWare Castlevania is big news, right? It looks hot, and has big-ass bats and eyeballs to whip up. 

I have nothing else for you. Really. The closest I have to Tron's equal opportunity sexy borders is the cute blonde in the video, Alison. She says nothing, though, as she peers into our soul and makes you excited for Castlevania: Rebirth. I don't know if it's working, Allison, but call me anyway.

So, this is what I do with my life now. I find screenshots of videogames and sexy people, put them together, then post them on the internet.

Why do I do this? Well, the technical reasons are still there (I didn't want to these screens to auto-stretch too much, so they all needed borders of some kind) but I think it may be a bit deeper than that. Perhaps it has something to do with a deep subconscious desire to be accepted, or less-than-subtle interest in making people horny. Regardless, this stuff seemed to go over well last time, so I guess I'll go at it again.

As you gaze upon these "enhanced" screenshots, please keep in mind the sacrifice that I am making for you. Thanks to posts like these, I will never be able to run for any elected office in the United States. All it takes now is a quick Google search for "Jonathan Holmes" and "sex" to reveal to the voting public excatly how I spent my early 30's; spreading the gospel about boobs, butts, and videogames.

You're welcome.

[via Nintendo.co.jp]

Forgive the less-than-classy use of space up there. I didn't want to stretch the above screenshot to fit Destructoid's header size requirements, and other than decorating the borders with as many pictures of my own face as I possibly could (which I was too lazy to do), Japanese girls with big boobs is all I could come up with. Of course, that made me feel like a jerk for leaving out the other 50% of the population, so I threw an alternate version of the image in our gallery.

Anyway, Castlevania The Adventure Rebirth comes out in Japan in less that a week, and all we get is this one lousy screenshot. All the mystery surrounding the game will be squashed soon enough, but right now, all we know for sure is that the game is coming to WiiWare, that Iga was at least partially involved, and that its based of the first Castlevania game for the original Gameboy.

I was just playing the original Castlevania Chronicles on PSN the other day, and it stuck me that Castlevania The Adventure Rebirth may end up being another Castlevania Chronicles game in a Rebirth disguise. So far, Iga has used the Chronicles series to refine and re-present Castlevania games that sees as deserving of more attention. I could see how the original Castlevania The Adventure could fit into that category. It's a fine game in theory, but the shabby controls and 4-bit graphics really hold it back. 

As long as the controls are tight, I know this game will be worth my $8-$10, but what about you? Are you sold on this method of bringing sprite based Castlevania back to home consoles? 

[Via Konami.jp]