Title: Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth
Platform: Wii
ESRB: T
Publisher: Konami
Developer: M2
Rating: 
Review by: Kevin Haverty
Konami keeps the ReBirth line of games alive with Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth. Christopher Belmont was the first Belmont to face Dracula on a handheld system in the aberration that was Castlevania: The Adventure. Konami gives the original an upgrade that looks and plays like it could have been released on a 16-bit system. Thankfully it isn’t a faithful remake. It adds better elements from stages in other Castlevania games in the same manner that Quentin Tarantino borders on plagiarism and calls it homage. For purists and hardcore players, the game includes a Classic Mode in which jumping is less forgiving, and the only secondary weapons are holy water and the cross.
.
Pros: It’s still difficult but not in a cheap way like the original. Multiple paths in each stage add replay value. Retro soundtrack is a good mix of classic Castlevaina songs and new material.
Cons: The game is content with being retro and tries nothing innovative. Walking up and down stairs is annoying with the Wii Remote.
.
For more info, www.konami.com
Pads & Panels received a download of the game courtesy of the publisher for review purposes.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
I notice that you said it’s annoying walking up stairs with the Wii remote. Does that mean that it controls with motion controls?
February 9th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
No motion controls. In the older Castlevania games the d-pad was always tricky when trying to get the diagonal direction right to go up/down stairs. Same thing exists with the Wii Remote. It isn’t deal breaker but it is a minor annoyance. I guess it helps add the retro Castlevania charm.
February 9th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
I might have to check this out. It seems like whenever I say that I haven’t ever been a fan of the series, it is received as blasphemy. However, I haven’t ever played a single title all the way through either. So I still have time to learn of my errs.
February 9th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
This is fine as a gateway to the older Castlevania games. Symphony of the Night (PS1, Xbox Arcade, probably on PS3 too) is probably the pinnacle of the series. The GBA and DS ones are worth checking out too.