Let’s just get this out of the way right now: Castlevania Judgment is going to be a tremendous failure. I can say that, under the premise of it being nothing more than my opinion, but it is fact. Or will be, once the game is on shelves. Maybe the game itself will be a miraculous marvel of gaming engineering. The unfortunate truth is that no one will know, because no one will bother to buy or play the game.

Igarashi has already pointed out that he doesn’t think ‘core’ third-party games do well on the Wii. That would presumably also include his OWN ‘core’ third-party game. Why would he put forth any semblance of effort into making this game if he already believes it doomed to failure? Especially when he can just re-skin the levels and characters from his last couple of DS Castlevania games and make a brand new DS Castlevania game that will sell tremendously well at next to no cost.

Also, I’m finding it difficult to recall–or even Google search–ANY fighting games in Konami’s prestigious history. There probably is at least one, but the fact that no one seems to know about it does not bode well for that title–or Castlevania Judgment.

The inevitable fallout from Judgment’s eventual fall from grace will be that Igarashi and Capcom will–in unison–point at the failure and proclaim boldly “SEE! This PROVES that ‘core’ third-party games don’t perform well on the Wii! We told you!” And then they’ll sneak away, cackling with glee, and plan the fourth and fifth DS Castlevania games, which will be near-identical re-creations of the first DS Castlevania game, but labeled as BLUE VERSION and WHITE VERSION.

Can you hear that sound? It’s me; crying.