Customer Reviews

Castlevania Judgment

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Sometimes, albeit not often, the Wii has decent, if not stellar, third party contributions.

and...

Sometimes reviews can be wrong.

Case in point: Castlevania Judgment. A combination slasher/fighter/action title that is unfortunately destined to be headed to a premature death in the bargain bin due to both the tsunami of software releases over the next few weeks and to its less than stellar review scores. A game that really doesn't know what it's supposed to be, but yet got beaten up in the mainstream press far more than it deserved. A game that, surprisingly, manages to look fairly good graphically for a non-Nintendo title - especially to those that dig its anime-inspired over-the-top art style. A game that controls just fine, provided you toss the waggle-stick aside and put your classic controller or GCN Controller/Wavebird to good use.

Perhaps we'll never know why Iga decided to make this game rather than a true-blue 2D Castlevania title for Wii, and those who were expecting something like that are of course going to be extremely disappointed with Judgment. That being said, though, there's a lot to like here. Far more than the reviews would have you believe. So I suppose the best way to handle a review of this game into the genres which it represents, and then dealing with the typical criteria of graphics, sound, and control.

As a fighter, Castlevania Judgment is: 2.5/5

Unbalanced and toned down for the Wii audience. There are some technical moves to pull off here, but it's a very mash-friendly fighting game with a few exceptionally overpowered characters. The subweapons aren't all that useful, and "super attacks" (that are activated with a push of the X button on the GCN controller when the super meter is full) can drain an opponent of 75%+ of a life bar. There aren't that many characters to choose from, and the hazards in the environments feel like an afterthought (remember Mace: The Dark Age on N64? Yeah, kinda like that). I can't help but feel that this game wasn't meant to be a balanced fighter. All that said, it's still leaps and bounds ahead of Namco's sophomore Wii effort Soulcalibur Legends... then again, just about ANYTHING would have been better than Soulcalibur Legends.

As a third-person action game, Castlevania Judgment is: 3.5/5

More or less, if you liked the 3D titles in the Castlevania series... Lament of Innocence and Curse of Darkness, this game plays like a jacked-up version of the boss fights from those games. The controls are a bit different, and due to the emphasis on 1 on 1 fighting, obviously there are differences in how the game "feels", but its action roots are certainly apparent. I can't help but wonder if the game began life as a new 3D Castlevania on the Wii. Thanks, but no thanks. I actually prefer Judgment's current gameplay when compared to to running through empty corridor after empty corridor with little scenery, stopping to fight some guys, and then do the whole thing over again. Though all of these issues could have been avoided if they would have just released a real 2D Castlevania on the Wii... Judgment isn't bad, it just isn't that great either.

As a Wii game, Castlevania Judgment is: 4/5

I'll be the first to admit - I popped this game into my Wii expecting it to suck hard. Really hard.

After reading the reviews I wanted to remove it from my Gamefly queue to avoid wasting both my time and theirs. I was completely expecting a Castlevania-flavored Soulcalibur Legends style turd to be squeezed out by Konami to capitalize on the waggle craze. Thus I can't help but give it points for being BETTER than completely horrible. And that's a sad thing, but a true one. As a fighting fan, and a Castlevania fan, I'm having a good time with this game. I know it's shallow, and I know I'll probably be returning it in a few days, but for the moment, it's a lot of fun. The online is smooth and doesn't require friend codes, and the graphics are beautiful (especially with the anti-jaggie filter turned on) for a Wii game. Lots of particle effects, very little slowdown. The development team had love for this game. I don't think they had as much time as they would have liked to work on this title, but what's there is solid. And that alone is worth a rating boost, because this is one of the few third-party efforts not in the "Bratz Babiez Partyz Fashionz Dolphinz Happy Fun Ninjabreadz Manz" line of titles that sadly continue to sell to the idiot masses.

Note to the Hardcore:

As I said above, and I can't emphasize this enough: DO NOT PLAY WITH WAGGLE TURNED ON. It's just as broken as Soulcalibur Legends or Bleach, probably moreso. There's nothing I hate more than a Wii fighting game that forces waggle for every attack - it's just stupid, and I know most of you agree.

Treat this as a fanservice game, a "popcorn game" that won't have much longevity but will be fun in short bursts or to pull out at parties. It's very simplistic.

As far as how it plays (with existing games for reference)... it's two parts Destrega and one part Power Stone, coated with a thin Castlevania shell sprinkled with bits of Mace: The Dark Age. I know Destrega and Mace are pretty obscure games nowadays, but they contained several elements that made their way into Judgment: simple controls, over-the-top moves, half-baked environmental hazards, and 1 on 1 versus gameplay. In fact, Mace and Destrega keep coming up in my mind as I play Judgment. Since I liked both of those games back in the day, I don't have a ton of complaints. It's a light snack of a game in-between rich, calorie-laden first-party Nintendo goodness. That being said, it's also one of the best non-Capcom third-party efforts on the system so far. That's intended as a compliment to Konami... I'm not saying rush out to the store and buy it, but definitely give it a shot. Chances are you'll be pleasantly surprised.

More rants at:
http://angstygaijin.blogspot.com

First off I'm not a fan of Castlevania so I dont have that its a fighting game problem 2nd my favorite type of games are fighters ok for starters the graphic on this game are in the top 10 of the best graphics on wii number 2 I never used the wii-mote to play it I use the gamecube so I cant rate each set of control styles so here are my Pros And Cons

Pros
Good Graphic
Solid online (you can add people to your friend list with out having there code)
It lets you pick your control style- wii remote,classic,orgamecube
easy to pick up add play

Cons
Need more combo/more attacks
camera movement isnt the best
some charcaters are unbalanced

thats all I could really think of I should be working anyway..........

Ok, now I've been playing this game for more than 20 hrs, and while I haven't seen and learn all things this game has to offer, I can safely say this game is a LOT better than expected.

This is NOT a traditional fighter, and I agree with Igarashi (Castlevania creator), sometimes this feels more an action game than a fighter. Why? First of all you have to be aware of the environment, and not only the enemy, something similar to Smash Bros. Also, there are boxes or other object that you can break to grab an item, or you can throw it to your opponent. Some characters can even absorb energy through them and become more powerful, or put traps in them. All of this things give the game a bit more of strategy.

If you're new to the series or to videogames in general, this is a good game to start. You learn about some of the most popular characters in the franchise, and this game is really easy to Pick Up'n Play game. However, like most games, it has some depth in it that will take practice to master.

I admit at first the controls felt weird and I had the feeling the gameplay would be shallow. But after learning and getting used to the mechanics this becomes a very enjoyable game. True, the characters don't have a lot of special movements, but there are many ways you can chain combos, either with special attacks, jumping, guard crushing or subweapons. After training some hours I could do a good 20 hit combo with Simon =)
Just look in youtube, there are some really good videos there and crazy stuff, for example using the clock in the middle of a combo to freeze your opponent in mid-air and continue the combo.

One IMPORTANT thing to mention is that you have 3 different configurations for your control, so if you don't like shaking the WiiMote, there's the option to press a button instead. You can also play with the GameCube or Classic controller if you want. I find it more fun to play it with the WiiMote. If you have played Naruto Clash of Ninja with the WiiMote then you'll not have any problem at all.

As I said earlier, this is Not a traditional fighter, is more like Power Stone, or if you haven't played that game, imagine Smash Bros with Castlevania 3D. The fighting mechanics are really simple, just a few moves per character, but at the same time each character is different, so you have to learn to play with each one. Because of this it reminds me a bit to Street Fighter II, where those days every person could play those games but it had a lot of depth if you put time in it.

Overall, this is a fun and unique game, has an excellent music and some of the best graphics on Wii. The art style is impressive too, I agree it doesn't feel Castlevania at all but still is cool. Has a lot of modes and things to unlock to keep you entertained and has Online too.

Is not perfect though, the game needs more polish in some areas like sound effects and I think some stages could be better. The camera is not as bad as people say, and in most part is the camera that gives the feel of an Action game instead of a fighter (sometimes I felt I was playing Castlevania 64), however it's true is not perfect and needs some work. The online sometimes is laggy, and other times it works fine.

In the end, I really recommend this game. If you like the Castlevania games this has a lot of fan-service. If you like Non-Traditional fighters (Smash Bros or Dragon Ball Tenkaichi) or you are NEW to Fighting games, this is also a good option. And if you only like traditional fighters, this has a good amount of depth and is a completely new experience for you.

Good job Konami! Now, give us a Traditional Castlevania 3D for Wii.... but with Judgment Gameplay and that would be totally AWESOME!!!

It's hard to find fault here, everything it does, it does admirably.
Cool sexy characters, easy to learn - difficult to master gameplay, fun minigames, unlockables, online multiplayer, fan service with a smile...
Check. Check. Checkity-check-check!
It's pretty, silky smooth, and deliciously dark.

Konami should be commended, I never would have thought a fighter based on Castlevania would be such a great fit. I want more.

One thing, though. As others have mentioned, use the classic controller, or better yet, the Gamecube controller. This is one you don't want to use the Wiimote on. Trust me.

Ignore the haters who don't even own Wiis. They're disturbed with the success of the system, for some strange reason. If you own a Wii, and even remotely like fighters, or Castlevania, or just dark subject matter in your games, here is your next purchase.

Since the Wii first came out, I had been waiting for Castlevania to be released. This game takes the 13 most popular characters from the series (Dracula, Alucard, Simon, Carmilla, Cornell,Grant, Maria, Trevor, Eric, Golem, Death, Shanoa, and Sypha) and adds a new character, Aeon, to a fighting game. Some people dislike this game because it is a 3D game and isn't a classic travel through the castle and kill dracula kind of game. Others also say its wrong to mix these characters together. Personaly. I think it's good to have a different type of Castlevania. If you can get over the fact that this a completely new style of gameplay, this an amazing addition to the series. Another cool feature to this game is that you can play with friends. This is a first for the Castlevania series that really does enhance the play.
One more thing to say: the Wii remotes are terrible for this game. They are way to hard to maneuver. I found them impossible to use and went back to using the Gamecube controller. Once I figured out to use the old controller, I really loved the game.

First of all you can't compare fighting games from xbox or ps3 to Wii. So, from the perspective of a Wii console owner, this is a great buy if you enjoy fighting games and anime style characters.

Using the wii mote for attacks takes some getting used to, but if you actually do the three tutorials you'll be just fine. I haven't played the game using a classic controller.

The graphics are great (for Wii). Each character is fairly unique to play even though you use the same motions to trigger abilities for all characters. Makes switching around characters easier once you get the basic mechanics down. Each character's special attacks can have different gameplay effects even though they are executed the same on the remote.

My only complaints are sometimes the camera angles briefly get in the way of the action. The AI for some characters seems more difficult than others. And it seems the CPU is able to block super finisher moves rather easily.

That being said, when you pull off a character's super finisher move you'll be smiling that you bought this game!

I'll admit, I scoffed at this game when it was announced. Outlandish new character designs? A fighting game? On the Wii? I love Castlevania, but I dismissed this game outright, and totally ignored it at retail. Later, a friend gave it to me as a gag gift, but I decided to actually play it. At first I couldn't even beat the first match, and was convinced the game was a broken mess, just as it had been (widely) reviewed.
Of course, the next day I made another attempt, this time going through the in-game tutorial. This time was completely different. I found that the game had a unique, and surprisingly deep system. I was intrigued. I played more.
Now, I've played the game to death, and can honestly say that it's one of the most fun fighting games I've played in recent memory, and easily my favorite of the 3D Castlevanias.
It's hard to really call Judgment a fighting game, mostly because it doesn't entirely play like one. If pressed, I'd say that the game plays more like the Boss Rush mode of the ps2 games than anything else. This is actually a good thing, because the biggest problem with previous 3D Castlevania games was never the action; it was the running around aimlessly down featureless hallways to get to the action. Judgment removes that element entirely, and structures the game around fast-paced arcade action, not totally unlike the classic NES roots of the franchise. There are enemies to fight, items to get, hearts and meat to pick up, so in many ways this is classic Castlevania stuff; you can even perform the Item Crash, like in Dracula X! Even the arenas manage to be more evocative of the franchise than the uninspired hallways of the ps2 games; stages are full of interactive elements like traps, pitfalls, and monsters. The prerequisite "crossing the collapsing bridge into the castle" stage appears for the first time since the SNES, and the Clock Tower stage is the most functional incarnation of the classic Castlevania trope to grace home consoles since the N64. Overall, this game manages to capture the feeling of old school Castlevania better any of the recent console games in the franchise.
Despite all the action game style play, Judgment takes on the structure of a fighting game, and as such introduces many of the typical tropes of the genre. Combat is combo heavy, with lots of special moves and even super attacks. The classic sub weapons, cross, axe, knife, etc, are incorporated quite well, and can be chained into any combo or used alone, provided you have the hearts necessary. The combat is easy to learn, but surprisingly deep for a casual fighter. There's a counter to everything, provided the player has the skill to do it, and the game is overall very well balanced. There are no infinite combos, no chip damage, and no stockpiling super combos. Every character has their own unique play style, and the variety here is very impressive; they all move, jump, dodge, attack in their own ways, moreso than in any fighter I've played this generation.
This is where the game really shines, because it makes playing with each character a new experience. You really have to learn what each character is capable of, their subtle nuances, their strategies, strengths and weaknesses. Some are easy to get into, others a bit tricky, but they all have their pros and cons. They also interact in unique ways, as you'll frequently get special intro and win quotes based on who you're playing as and against. It's a nice touch, and will likely bring a smile to old school fans of the series.
To round out the experience, Judgment also features a Castle mode. Players move from level to level on a map of Castlevania, completing special goals or winning battles under certain conditions. Save rooms are scattered throughout the map to restore your health and serve as starting points when you die. Playing through Castle mode unlocks accessories to equip to your characters. They seem to be purely aesthetic, but collecting them is fun, and their descriptions are often quite funny. Overall Castle mode can be a bit daunting, but provides a good challenge for players that have exhausted the Story mode.
Finally, the soundtrack is great, and is composed mostly of remixes and rearrangements of classic Castlevania tunes. Some of the original compositions, like the title track "Darkness of Fear" are really great as well. As a long time fan of the franchise, the music is one of the things I look forward to most in a new Castlevania game, and Judgment did not dissapoint.
Although largely maligned by critics, Castlevania Judgment is by no means a bad game. As an experimental foray into the action/fighting game genre, it takes a bit to get used to, but ultimately pays off as a satisfying and fun game, whether you're looking for single player action or multiplayer fun. It's basically dirt cheap now, unfortunately, so anyone craving some action on their Wii with an open mind shouldn't hesitate to make a purchase.

For anyone on the fence, IGN's Mark Bozon's review is one of the best I've read. He does a great job of detailing the game's pros and cons, and I recommend it for anyone considering this purchase.

I felt awkward playing this game at first. The controls were uncomfortable and the gameplay felt like an uninspired Soul Calibur rip-off. I honestly didn't think I'd keep it. But something kept me playing; maybe it was the cheesy but stylish graphics, or the over-the-top special moves; or maybe it was the novelty of having a fighting game with Castlevania characters. But despite ending my first session with a grimaced face, I came back every few days or so to try and figure out why it was still in my collection. After about a half-dozen sessions, I got into 'the groove' and started enjoying the game.
You can either use the Wiimote with nunchuck or GC controller. Personally, I found the best control scheme came from using a PS2 controller via an adapter. Although when I use the Wiimote with nunchuck I feel more involved with the game and it feels more action-packed, my effectiveness declines due to the placement of buttons and limited control schemes available thru the options menu.
One strange thing about this game is that it doesn't automatically make you face your opponent; you can turn your back to them, run away, miss attacks due to being just a degree off, etc. It certainly made things a bit more difficult.
This isn't pick-up-and-play type game. To extract any level of enjoyment, you will probably need to go thru the training mode and manual. Not that it's necessarily a difficult game; it's just that the controls are quite awkward and very different from traditional fighting games and take some getting used to.
'Judgment' is not by any means a groundbreaking game. Compared to contemporary fighters, it is quite average and bland. But if you are a fan of retro games and don't mind 6th gen-type graphics, give CJ some time and you will most likely enjoy it at some level.

As a 3D fighting game, Castlevania: Judgment isn't bad. This is probably the best fighting game that I've seen on the Wii besides Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars (Nintendo Wii).

That said, this is not Castlevania except for the use of character names and traits. I didn't mind the whole manga/anime look in Castlevania Dracula X and Symphony of the Night. However, this game uses the manga/anime look to a far extreme that makes them look more like anime characters cosplaying as Castlevania characters (if that makes sense). This look is good as long as it works for the game like in the PSP title BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger.

Overall, the game is a decent addition to your Wii game library. As a fan of Castlevania, this game feels as though the creators were cashing in on the Castlevania title and franchise.

My one hope is to see the newest Castlevania addition, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow on the Wii as a stand alone game and not a port. We all know this won't happen...not anytime soon.

My son loves this game.We had previously rented it at the local library to test out before purchasing.After he decided he liked it we shopped around at several stores for it.Practically everywhere else it was over $40.The one place that had a price close to Amazon's was selling it used and w/o a manual.He had given up hope of receiving this as a b-day gift.When I found it on Amazon I purchased it along with a few other items and received free shipping and it arrived in time for his birthday.I highly recommend this game for 14 and older as it is a fighting game and there is violence and blood and some of the female characters are scantily clad.