Castlevania The Adventure ReBirth

by: The_King_of_Mars

If video game characters were fast food menu items, then Dracula, without a shadow of a doubt, is the McRib. No matter how many times he goes away, you can be damn well sure the Lord of the Undead is coming back sans onions and a tasty BBQ glaze.

Originally released for the Gameboy in 1989, the game has received a major Joan Rivers-esque face lift. What you get for your $10 is at least six levels complete with skeletons, giant gray baby chicks, minibosses, killer giant clock hands (yes, it killed me...twice), and those flying Medusa heads which will bring the most hardcore of gamers to their knees. In short, all the classic Castlevania goodness you've come to love/hate is here for you to deal with.

So how is the game, you ask?

It's great. It plays and handles like it's classic NES brothers yet looks and sounds like a Super Nintendo title.

Konami, Thank you for:

-Getting rid of the backtracking. The last couple of DS games were good, but all that backtracking slowed down the game for me. If I want backtracking, I'll go to Metroid for that, thank you very much.

-Secrets. The levels are loaded with 'em. Not only will you be replaying this to find all the hidden (and sometimes invisible) money bags, power-ups, and glowing green spheres of power, but there are also hidden paths to the final bosses, some even allowing you to bypass the stage's miniboss. As an added bonus for taking the hidden path, you'll get a look at athe path you would have been put through. More often than not, you'll be thanking any and all gods that you managed to avoid that gauntlet. Level 3, I am looking at you.

-The Soundtrack. The music 'is' Castlevania in every way. Creepy harpsichord music will accompany you throughout your adventure.

Konami, why did you...

-Make it impossible for me to jump from stairs? You'll have instances where you'll have a bird or Medusa head coming right at you as you're climbing or descending the stairs and you won't be able to jump out of the way. Apparently you have the bravery to face the wrath of Dracula's horde, but lack the guts to jump off of steps.

The game has no save system but offers you all the continues you can handle. It's fairly short (six levels, I believe) so I understand why the developers omitted a save feature. But still...

The game IS tough and will easily turn away casuals. Don't get me wrong; it's no Battletoads or Ghouls 'N Ghosts, but if you've dealt with Castlevania before, then you already have an idea of what you're getting yourself into. The boss fights are pretty entertaining but nothing memorable. The real challenge is, of course, getting to them in the first place.

All in all, Castlevania The Advneture ReBirth Part Deux: The Reckoning, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, is well-worth your Wii Points. McRib for the first GN reader to beat it!

The King of Mars