Update: The Castlevania Resurrection E3 demo has been uploaded to the web, giving players the chance to experience this lost title for the first time ever. The demo is available in CDi and GDi formats, which means you can run it on original hardware either via a CDR disc or using an Optical Disc Emulator, like the Terraonion MODE.
Please note: Due to the fact that this is copyrighted material, we will not be linking to the download in this post – please do not post download links in the comments. Thanks for your understanding.
Original Story [Tue 6th Apr, 2021 05:05 BST]: There have been a lot of promising games cancelled over the years, fortunately - more of them seem to be returning from the dead. Already this year, GoldenEye 007 XBLA and Dinosaur Planet have been leaked online, and now to add to this, a pre-E3 demo of Castlevania Resurrection has surfaced.
This title was originally announced by Konami in 1999 and was intended to be a Sega Dreamcast release until it was delayed and then cancelled around the year 2000. It's believed the Dreamcast's struggles and the PlayStation 2's success were contributing factors.
Before it was cancelled, it was shown off to the press and now somehow, out of nowhere, a video of the game being played has been uploaded to YouTube, titled "Castlevania Resurrection exists". It's appears to be an early build of the game (pre-dating 1999) and allowed the developer to transport the character to many different areas.
This title was apparently intended to focus on Sonia Belmont and a character called Victor Belmont, and would have taken place in 1666 right before Simon Belmont's original outing.
It's not known yet if the uploader of this footage will be sharing this pre-release build online, but if we hear anything we'll let you know. On a related note, last week, "the absolute worst" Castlevania game joined the Arcade Archives collection on the Nintendo Switch.
What do you think of the above footage of Castlevania Resurrection? Would you have been interested in playing this one back in the day? Share your thoughts down below.
This article was originally published by nintendolife.com on Tue 6th April, 2021.
[source sega-dreamcast-info-games-preservation.com, via nintendoenthusiast.com]
Comments (44)
I feel like Dreamcast would be the perfect fit for its own Castlevania title and in an interview with the art director of the game, it seems some “internal sabotage” was one of the main factors for Resurrection never seeing the light of day which is a shame.
Apparently the game was entirely a Konami America developed title and it seems like the chaps in Japan didn’t want them to succeed.
If only some fans could cobble together what’s there and release their own spiritual project to avoid any legal repercussions?
Looks absolutely fantastic. Would have easily eclipsed the previous best Castlevania game, Castlevania 64.
I want a resurrection of my favorite franchise but I am afraid that someone will butcher it like they did with Resident Evil 5 and 6.
@Wavey84
100%! It’s amazing, the library of games it had. If it would have lasted, I’m sure Shenmue II would have landed stateside, it would have received Super Monkey Ball, Billy Hatcher, Panzer Dragoon Orta, and maybe even Sonic Heroes. I’m sure it also would have received a port of Soul Caliber II.
Honestly, I would have rather had Dreamcast stick around than the arrival of the Xbox.
It looks like an updated version of Castlevania 64, with better frame rate and textures.
Love those leaks. Hopefully there will be more. Kinda resonates with the article about the need of preservation here on NL whether the games were actually released or not.
Victor Belmont was at least sort of interesting in that he wanted nothing to do with his Belmont heritage, but he got dragged into the battle anyway. I'm sure that would only have factored into cutscenes, if it came up at ALL, but at least the intention was there to do something different.
Also, he had a rather slick design. https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/castlevania/images/9/98/Victor.jpg
Sega Megadrive is not succeeded by the 32X or Saturn = Dreamcast is a worldwide success and Sega are so financially well off that we are currently reading this article on SegaLife website prior to the launch of the Dreamcast 8 (AKA Dreamcast Infinite). If only....
this looks insanely goood! and that music... geez!!
Such a shame this got cancelled looks great this is the first time I’ve actually seen footage would have been day one for me absolutely love the Dreamcast even down to its super loud disc access noise maybe things could have been different if it had more high profile 3rd party releases
Konami is dead and hated now but, you have got to admire Konami efforts and applaud them.
Even though Konami found mega success critically and commercial with Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill and Castlevania Symphony of the Night on the PlayStation, they still produce games on many platforms.
I definitely would have got this for DC. It had a "fun" library. I wasn't a massive fan of PS2, but bought one for the Castlevania games and a some of it's other library. For myself, the IP had a good draw back in those days. It's a shame, that era was the decline of Castlevania, when it should have risen up in popularity.
@echoplex
Yep, would have been nice to have another Castlevania in that Style.
Discovered Castlevania on the N64 last Year and it is a fun Game, it has sometimes a Resident Evil Vibe to it.
The Dreamcast was so ahead of its time it ain't even funny.
Too bad SEGA wasn't able to push it hard enough.
Looks great.....definitely would have added it to my DC collection.
Man, 5th November ‘99, I’d have been in my final year at university and working hard on my final year project. There was always time for a bit of Sega Rally 2 and Soul Calibur though. 😉
@Azuris Yes! The whole levels in the manor feel very RE. Then maybe the maze with the mad chainsaw gardener and the two hounds from hell later inspired Capcom for RE4?
Wow this brings back memories. I remember seeing this game and thinking it looked like a really good entry in the Castlevania series and then being gutted after hearing about it being cancelled. Too bad it's not actually getting resurrected.
Love the DC still have mine, was playing Border down yesterday. Died far to soon it should of easily co existed with ps2.
This is really exciting to see. I never owned a Dreamcast, but if this was released it may have pushed me to get one.
They should bring it back and put it on all consoles digitally.
This actually looks really cool, shame it never saw release. I stilll have a dreamcast I picked up used circa 2003. I occasionally bust it out to play Zombie's Revenge, Dynamite Cop, or MvC2.
Looks like it was going to be a lame 3D platformer just like the N64 games, was hoping it to be a 2D game like Bloodline or Rondo of Blood. That'll be fantastic if it was a beautiful 2D non-Metroidvania Castlevania game.
This cancellation was so upsetting back in the day.
I never forgot about this game. I always hoped it would come back somehow. This is great for preservation l!
@Wavey84 I'd say the PS2 titles weren't terrible to be honest. But at the same time Castlevania on handheld was a juggernaut.
I've never played anything on a Dreamcast. Its always pretty neat to hear that a canceled game, in a beloved franchise is being released.
@echoplex The mention of a maze and chainsaw gardener brings to mind Zombies Ate My Neighbors
I need to try this even if the lead designer himself has described the game as a mess: he'd only ever worked on sports titles, had no idea how to go about designing a 3d action-adventure game, and Konami provided less than zero help
@Chlocean Can't tell if you're being sarcastic. Best 3D Castlevania I assume?
Dreamcast was never part of my childhood, but I have played some of the Dreamcast's library on other platforms (Shenmue, Sonic Adventure 1 and 2) and enjoyed them. I was a PS2 kid, but I remember seeing the Dreamcast displays at the EB's in the mall we always went to and thought it looked cool. The Castlevania game being discussed is certainly interesting. I have wonder what kind of game would have resulted if they could have finished it. At least we now have a decent spiritual successor to Castlevania in Bloodstained (both RotN and the Classicvania inspired CotM series from Inti).
Dreamcast. What a machine. This would have been an excellent addition to my library of games had it seen the light of day!
I would imagine had it been released it would have gotten poor reviews anyway so it was likely cancelled because it was crap to start with.
I hate this kind of footage ! Didn't he have anything to put his camera on in order to play with both hands instead of just roaming around without being able to jump ? What a good video of gameplay !!
Looks awesome. I’ll try and get it for my gdemu
I miss my Dreamcast now. So many good games and memories...
Wouldn't want to link the download link here, Konami would obviously be very mad indeed. You know, for...reasons, I'm sure. The Castlevania IP is such an important IP to them after all, and they cared about this game in particular a ton, obviously! No doubt you avoided the ire of Konami this time Nintendolife, good job!
EDIT: Wait, there was a crazy auction for this disc, too!! Where is that in the article?!
Consider it was never released its a hack
So sad. This game looks so cool, but it was never completed.
It's great to finally see the demo available to everyone though.
I've ALWAYS been a Ninten-fanboy, but the Sega Dreamcast is my favorite system of all time. It had EVERYTHING. The best sports games, Crazy Taxi, Cannon Spike, Bust-A-Move, Seaman, and super sick racing games. I really wish I could have played this.
An interesting article, but not one that belongs here. What's the the deal with all these irrelevant articles anyway?
So many cancelled gems for the Sega Dreamcast. Regardless this is an amazing find for gaming history. Go SEGA!
Removed - unconstructive
Got my copy, and yes it’s a buggy mess- keep falling through the floor. And it’s very hard to do an open environment on the Dreamcast as it doesn’t have the camera controls because no dual sticks.
Looks like total rubbish
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