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[Castlevania References] [Borrowed Elements]

 

DMTV: World Fighters

Date Released
Systems For
CD Size
12/18/03
GameCube & PS2
Unknown
Main Fighters
Box Cover Scan
Manual Scan
Company Mascots
Playable Castlevania Hero: Simon Belmont

Dream Mix TV: World Fighters is another in a long line of Konami's mascot-themed games. However, World Fighters is different in that it's a collaboration between Konami and three other companies (Hudson Soft, Takara and Red Entertainment) for a marriage of convenience: They've pooled together their sources to create a fighting game very much in the vein of Nintendo's mega-hits Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee. The development of the title fell directly on Hudson Soft, which was tasked with the responsibility of collecting and mashing together several distinct elements into one convincing package. Unfortunately, while it seemed ripe for big sales, World Fighters was only released in Japan, mainly due to licensing issues. (Note: Click on screenshots for larger versions.)

          

The rules aren't so simple: One-four players battle it out on a battlefield made up of several platforms. At the bottom of the screen is a meter as shared by all players; present on the meter is each player's icon, which at all times is slowly inching toward the meter's left side. Your objective is to collect hearts and keep your character's icon as far to the right as possible. If your icon slides all the way to the left, your character will be disqualified, ineligible for victory even though allowed to remain in the battle as a miniature version of itself. There are many combatants from which to choose: (1) From Hudson Soft comes Bomberman, Master Higgins, Momotarou, Manjimaru, Hugo and Bimbougami. (2) From Takara comes Optimus Prime (from Transformers), Tyson Granger, Microman, Licca-Chan, Asuka and Megatron. And (3) from Konami comes Power Pro-Kun, Solid Snake, Twinbee, Moai, and, of course, Simon Belmont.

          

The Castlevania Chronicles version of Simon Belmont is yours to control. At Simon's command is the Vampire Killer whip and his cross sub-weapon. Simon can wreak havoc with the whip for basic offense and some crazy combos while using the cross for three different special attacks: He can throw it forward, upward, or in a circular motion. Here's a montage of Simon in training, and here's the official site's Simon-specific page, which in addition to the imagery showcases a quick video that highlights his abilities.

          

Of course, the game wouldn't be complete without a Castlevania-themed stage, as sampled above and mapped out below. The stage is reminiscent of a typical main-hall design, a four-level battlefield of familiarity; the ever-popular Bloody Tears (the "outside" music from Simon's Quest) heightens the atmosphere. Sadly, there's no stage interactivity, since the respective game stages are only cosmetically different. However, there exists another Castlevania-style stage in the game's challenge mode; it's here where you, as Simon, must within forty seconds collect thirty "souls" while fending off the Medusa heads that continue to pour in from either side.

Official Media

Poster #1 size 800x600 or 1024x768. Poster #2 size 800x600 or 1024x768. And a shot of the voice actor who did Simon's voice. (Thanks to Morgoth for images and information.)

The game's rendition of Vampire Killer (MP3).

 

Konami WaiWai Sokoban

Date Released
System For
2007
Cell Phones
Main Heroes
File Size
Konami Mascots
Not Available
Playable Castlevania Hero: Simon Belmont

No company more than Konami has led the charge in bringing to the world of mobile gaming entries from its classic game-franchises, be they direct ports or re-imagined efforts in light of cell-phone limitations. It's not surprising, then, to see Konami take a break from its porting activities and taking inspiration from its past works create an original title garnished in old-school trimmings. The company of legend brings you Konami WaiWai Sokoban, which as its name bluntly states is Konami's take on Sokoban (1980), a puzzle-genre PC title that entailed pushing blocks into designated locations in order to clear a stage. It's a simple concept, really--perfectly at home on the pick-up-and-play mobile scene--but Konami's version has some surprises for longtime fans.

Konami WaiWai Sokoban is indeed another in the line of game-concepts lade upon Konami's array of mascots. It seems that Nihon University, the highly relevant Japanese collegiate institute, has a bit of problem: It has become tremendously indebted to Goemon, who without such income can't contribute to helping the poor and hungry. Goemon, the Robin Hood-inspired ninja and star of the Goemon series, won't stand for such an injustice; he acts upon the university's job-offer for a "part-time cleaning job," acquires the position, and then invites his friends, the heroes of Konami's universe, to join in the efforts to raid the university's depths in search of its hidden treasures, whose value will surely cover the debt. Simon Belmont is of course one of the featured players.

Each character has a certain ability that will aid in the moving of objects (boxes, spheres, slimes, etc.) into their designated locations. Simon Belmont, for example, is adept at moving coffins. Lead hero Goemon is your basic push-to-move worker. Vic Viper, a model of ship from the Gradius series, can push capsules. Nyami, from the music-based Pop'n Music series, can move "pop-kun" (colored notes). Siori Fujisaki, from the dating sim Tokimeki Memorial, can move desks. And the unnamed hero from Suikoden can move "seal spheres."

 

Eternal Knights 2

Date Released
System For
2008
Arcade
Main Heroes
File Size
Multiple Heroes
Not Available
Playable Castlevania Hero: Vampire Hunters
    

Eternal Knights is a Konami arcade series, a genre defined as an "arcade-style simulation-RPG 'Medal' game." Players create their own team of clichéd RPG heroes and complete dungeons to earn medals (the equivalent of tokens or tickets found in arcades), which they can then exchange for prizes. Since many arcade machines are usually linked together, players can compete against each other in tournaments in order to earn more medals for their actions. Eternal Knights 2, the most current title, features a bigger helping of the series universe of dungeons, magic and sword-play.

          

While not really what can be described as a classic "cameo," the directors behind the Castlevania series collaborated with the Eternal Knights team and contributed to the effort a set of characters--an archetype not known by name (despite the obvious design similarities) but by the profession "Vampire Hunter." These include two characters who look conspiculously like Richter Belmont and Maria Renard. Strangely, the characters seem to have "avatars" that represent their weapons, and for Richter's whip it's Shanoa, from Order of Ecclesia. Count Dracula is also said to make an appearance as an enemy.

          

Other Media

Official Art:
Vampire Hunter (Avatar)
Wallpaper (1024x768)
Wallpaper (1280x960)
Wallpaper (1600x1200)

 

New International Track and Field

Date Released
System For
Cartridge Size
7/22/2008
Nintendo DS
N/A
Main Heroes
Box Cover Scan
Manual Scan
Konami Mascots
Not Available
Not Available
Playable Castlevania Hero: Simon Belmont

New International Track and Field for the Nintendo DS is Konami's entry into gaming's once-dormant Olympic-sport genre. Following on the heels of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, Konami's is the latest in its own series of mascot mashups dating back to Konami Wai Wai World. Track and Field pits normal competitors and gaming icons against each other in events such as the 100-meter dash, the 110-meter hurdle, bicycling, long-jumping, swimming, archery, the shot put, pole-vaulting, sprinting, gymnastics, javelin-throwing, high-jumping and more.

          

Representing the Castlevania series, naturally, is the redheaded wonder Simon Belmont, who like the other characters is portrayed munchkin-style to create a balance and scale to match him to a cartoon cast, which includes other dignitaries like Parodius' Pentarou and Rumble Roses' Evil Rose. Konami's press release explains Simon's Entry: "Simon is the definitive hero of the Belmont lineage and the most prominent protagonist in the Castlevania game series. His adventures began when Count Dracula awoke in 1691 and started terrorizing the people of Transylvania. They sought out Simon to fulfill the Belmont legacy and to defeat Dracula. However, Dracula was not so easily vanquished and would return to Transylvania to terrorize and terrify the locals. Simon has earned his reputation by appearing in more titles than any other of the series’ hero characters. Typically in each game Simon will use a devastating whip to defeat hordes of evil creatures in Dracula’s haunted castle, however, the enemies in New International Track and Field are time and distance and they will not be so easily bent to his will."

          

Not to trivialize the video-game heroes' participation, Konami includes series-specific challenges. Characters, for instance, take to the archery event, called "Belmont's Challenge," by grabbing hold of a crossbow and infiltrating Dracula's castle, where they must thwart the Dark Lord's spider and projectile attacks. Track and Field demands heavy use of the DS' touch screen, which is used to control character movement and associated actions. Modes include career, training, local wireless and Wi-Fi play plus online rankings; as a bonus, the original Track and Field (which in the 80's appeared in arcades, on computer systems, and on home consoles) can be unlocked.

Other Media

Simon Belmont Official Art

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