Metareview: Castlevania Judgment
by Alisha Karabinus 
{ Nov 20th 2008 at 10:00AM }
Nintendo Power (70/100) says not to expect Castlevania from this Castlevania: "If you forgo your expectations of what a Castlevania game should be--or are simply looking for a respectable 3-D fighting game--you should have a good time with Judgment."
1UP (16/100) kind of, well, hated it: "Beyond the strange art direction, Judgment suffers from jarring mechanics that disregard established fighting conventions. The uncompromising camera displays the action in a bizarre, disconcerting manner that tracks players in a 3D area filled with environmental hazards. And in combat, the camera's way too difficult to control. "
IGN (75/100), however, did not: "The combat is deep and entertaining, the characters are well balanced and very unique as a full-on roster, and everything from sub-weapons to specials, combo attacks, in-level traps and monsters, and epic super attack animations are well done and true to the source material."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
samfish @ Nov 20th 2008 10:03AM
Gotta love those jackoffs at 1UP.
I doubt this game is great by any stretch of the imagination, but I also HIGHLY doubt it deserves a 16/D-.
bukizzle715 @ Nov 20th 2008 10:31AM
I agree. Is 1UP always this harsh with Nintendo? Or do they just need something to cry about because Castevania wasn't exactly what THEY wanted?
ZaxCG2 @ Nov 20th 2008 10:54AM
They probably weren't too big of Castlevania fans. As a fan, I'd pay just to see this stuff! Also, fighting games are kinda hard to grade because it really depends on how intent you are at learning the mechanics. But who knows- I've never played it, maybe I'll rent it to find out.
samfish @ Nov 20th 2008 10:56AM
1UP and EGM have always been harder on games that show up on Nintendo consoles since the PS1 days. I'm not a huge fan of saying they're biased, but they sort of have this editorial mindset of latching on to a console (360 seemingly to be the current choice) and going easier on it while the other two take their lumps.
I have no proof of that, of course. Just the sense I get from reading them after so many years.
That said, I'm sure they mainly just blew the game's problems out of proportion, a la IGN and Wii Music or God Hand, all while basically deciding right off the bat that they didn't like it.
Scotty @ Nov 20th 2008 11:02AM
The IGN one is just way better written and goes into much more detail about specific likes and dislikes about the game. Whining about the camera for 3 paragraphs and calling it good isn't a review, that's a forum comment. 1up needs to spend a little more time with the games with someone who's willing to give it a more in-depth look...even if they still give it a D-, at least look at every aspect of the game.
ejamer @ Nov 20th 2008 11:14AM
1UP has a lot of smart people working there... but sometimes it seems like their heads are collectively up their asses when it comes to Wii.
The 1UP podcasts are great, but clueless when it comes to insightful Wii commentary. Reviews will often bring sharp criticsm and commentary for other systems; Wii reviews tend to be shorter and sound as if the reviewer felt unfairly burdened to even play the game in question.
The latest example of this comes from 1UP's Holiday Gift Guide. Mostly strong suggestions for 360 and PS3 games... but what happened with the Wii section? Did they forget to finish writing it? Anti-Nintendo fanboys can laugh about a lack of decent Wii games, but I'm curious how Alone in the Dark gets listed as a PS3 recommendation while Mario Kart Wii and many other strong Wii titles get completely ignored.
http://www.1up.com/do/minisite?cId=3171111
Most mainstream gaming media sources aren't representative of the Wii's target market. I understand that, and know that it affects their opinions about the console. But for an industry that tries to take itself seriously, a little neutrality and journalistic integrity (instead of rampant personal bias) would be nice to see once in a while.
/rant
Mr Khan @ Nov 20th 2008 11:32AM
I have respect for 1up for switching their grading system, but i do feel that they've definitely been harder on Nintendo than most, right from the getgo
It's worse with EGM, though, along with GamePro, since E3, the few mentions Nintendo has gotten have generally been angry little asides
MrTyzik @ Nov 20th 2008 10:37AM
I hope this is mostly an engine test. If you made a 2D-ish Castlevania platformer with this sweet 3D engine, I would not be able to resist.
Daryl @ Nov 20th 2008 10:42AM
I don't like how review scores try to quantify opinions as if they are facts.
phenylketonurics @ Nov 20th 2008 5:48PM
Amen brother.
ZaxCG2 @ Nov 20th 2008 10:48AM
Eh. I was hoping it'd be better.
I think a lot of the joy in this game would come from seeing all your favorite Castlevania characters go at it. Its definitely one for fans just as the Dragon Ball Z, Naruto fighting games would go.
I'd be psyched to see all my favorite Castlevania DS characters... saw Shanoah in there- that's awesome.
deaddays @ Nov 20th 2008 10:50AM
Pass.
WalkingCarpet @ Nov 20th 2008 11:05AM
Overall, reviews seem to be saying that the game is decent, but not amazing or anything. Who knows I might pick it up later when the price does down.
Caliburn @ Nov 20th 2008 11:07AM
The 1UP review score grossly smells of bias.
Regardless, I plan on purchasing the game. Not only am I looking for a decent Wii fighter, it's made more interesting by the fact these are Castlevania characters. Besides, supporting Konami on the gaming platform would be a worthwhile investment.
It's worth checking the launch trailer (linked above) to see more of the in-game cinematics. I'm pleasantly surprised.
Mr Khan @ Nov 20th 2008 11:35AM
"Bad Camera" has never really seemed to bug me. I mean, i'm the guy who has loved every 3D Sonic game
However, fighting games in general are very hit-or-miss for me. Either love 'em or hate 'em. Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat have been in the hate pile for a long time, while Smash Bros and Soul Calibur are in the love pile
The very "Soul Calibur" vibe i got from the launch trailer, though, has given me pause. If i can find someplace willing to rent it, i will give it a shot
Ghaleon @ Nov 20th 2008 11:37AM
Why do sites make up numericals for 1UP's reviews? Just report them as is.
Mr Khan @ Nov 20th 2008 12:18PM
So that the Almighty Metacritic Average can be preserved.
1up should request that all of their scores be removed from the metacritic and gamerankings averages
intro94 @ Nov 20th 2008 12:56PM
when a page gives a score of less than 2 while the rest give nearly 8: the lower scorer usually didnt grasp a very simple mechanic that made him feel stupid and unleashed his frustation on the game.Simple as that.
Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Nov 20th 2008 1:42PM
from 1UP - hardly a review.
Also, unlike other review sites, 1UP rating system is slightly more balanced in a sense that they are tended to give lower ratings to games they personally do not like, while e.g. IGN would give game at least 50% if it has good production values.
I like 1UP for one simple reason: they do not try to be objective, they openly publish their opinions. That makes them different from most other sites.
/.wise, I would rate most 1UP reviews as +1, Insightful (they rarely informative), but this particular one review would get from me -1, Overrated since it is really not worth being called a review.
leonus11 @ Nov 20th 2008 3:59PM
pfffft.... just another site who's ALWAYS harsh on ninty. yet they give alot of love to the xbox360. can we say "xbox360 fanboys"? oh yeah, we definitely can.
Hamster @ Nov 20th 2008 8:14PM
They did give perfect/near perfect scores to the likes of Super Mario Galaxy, Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, etc.
Plus they even gave Wii Music the highest score its received from any site/publication. If it weren't for 1UP's review, Wii Music's Metacritic average score would be even lower than the 63% that it currently is.
Russ Carroll @ Nov 20th 2008 4:40PM
Next up: 1UP rips Skate it
metacritic: 1UP - 25, IGN - 85
http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/skateit
It's really hard to use their reviews when they are so biased...
intro94 @ Dec 14th 2008 4:27PM
well if you give bad scores to galaxy or brawl(despite the horrid online) you will get stoned outside work.But since this isnt a Hyped title, and its for wii, they are like paid to bash on it.
Regardless, i bought this game despite the bias AND IM GLAD i did.Its the best fighting game(after brawl) i have on wii(sadly i got em all), l, and the ONLINE(sucks on brawl, died on tenkaichi3, mk doesnt has it, naruto doesnt has it) that is smooth will keep me playing for MONTHS, something that galaxy or twilight could never do(as good as they are they are good for a week and then to the shelves for good).This game is a super good purchase for the season ,next to COD WOW.
PS:IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU LEARN THE ADVANCED Techs or you will get owned online.