[Vic Viper]

Though screenshots and information have already appeared in print magazines, Konami's new Castlevania game was officially announced today at the company's E3 Press Conference. Officially titled Lament of Innocence, Castlevania takes place ten centuries in the past (that would be the 11th century) and gives gamers control of the forefather of the Belmont clan, Leon. A nobleman arranged to marry his love Sara, Leon is shocked when he learns that his woman is kidnapped and taken to the mysterious Dracula's Castle. Pissed off and ready to slay some vampires, Leon embarks on a journey to get her back armed only with a dagger.

"Building on a 17 year legacy, Castlevania is reinvented on the PlayStation 2 with stunning graphics, classic gameplay and an epic story," says Jason Enos, product manager at Konami of America, Inc. "Discovering the true origins of Castlevania, Dracula and the Belmont Clan are stories that fans have anticipated since the beginning, and now Koji Igarashi and his talented Castlevania team are going to reveal them for the first time."

Once the game starts, players are faced with five doors -- each leading to a different area of the castle (the cathedral, theatre, garden, alchemist laboratory, and the dungeon). Once you've gone underway, over 35 different enemies will invade Leon's private space in addition to several sub bosses and of course, Dracula himself. Classic Castlevania weapons like the whip, holy water, dagger, cross, axe, and crystal have made the return as well, and seven orbs of power can be combined with 10 action relics to create powerful special attacks.

Due out in November and produced by the Master designer Koji Igarashi himself, Castlevania: Lament of Innocence is definitely one of the hottest tickets of the show. Check back with IGN for more on this super-huge title later this week, and be on the lookout for new videos, impressions, and more.

https://ps2.ign.com/articles/402/402144p1.html

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