Review: Castlevania Judgment for the Wii
Those very hazards and targeting distractions contribute greatly to that “Castlevania” feel, consisting of boxes loaded with recognizable sub-weapons (throwable dagger, cross, etc.), hearts to accumulate sub-weapon totals, and the occasional meat-on-a-stick in specific game modes. Though I appreciate the idea and the added action element this instills, these ‘extras’ are really a necessity with the limited attack options characters possess.
Zombies are serious advocates against child abuse.
Even counting the effort made to actually hit your target as a ‘move,’ the base attacks and available combos in Judgment are sorely lacking. Which, as a series like Smash Brothers has shown us, is not always a terrible thing. Except when you only have fourteen available characters, and a number of these share move sets (as with Ken and Ryu, a few minor changes does not equal a new fighting style). There was certainly opportunity to include more, considering the canon available to Konami. And the exclusion of Soma—star of two games and with a potentially devastating soul-suck fighting style at his disposal—was merely one of many oversights.
Even considering the variety the player does have available, (I really enjoyed Voldo Grant’s drunken-boxer style), the characters start to blend together fairly quickly. Everyone’s “super special”—which can be unleashed once the skill gauge is full—takes off about half a health bar, with minor exceptions. Alucard’s special seems to be slightly more powerful. They all offer a unique and drawn-out cut scene a la Final Fantasy summons, and also get old after the third viewing (also a la FF).
A slightly less creepy Voldo. A Soul Calibur II Voldo.
Judgment does offer a fair amount in terms of gameplay modes—after the typical 2P Versus and straight-through Story modes, there are also Survival, Castle, and Online modes. I actually enjoyed Castle quite a bit—it takes you through a variety of rooms with varying requirements for completion, from “defeat all the zombies” to “ring out your opponent.” You’re rewarded throughout Castle mode with accessories for characters to wear in other instances—a nice bonus, but not worth grinding for.
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Tags: Castlevania Judgment, Review
