History Videogame / CastlevaniaJudgment

* ACupAngst: Maria's storyline, taking place three years after ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaRondoOfBlood Rondo of Blood]]'', involves being jealous of the other female characters' larger breasts. Aeon tells her point-blank she'll get the figure she craves, but will also mature past the need for it. Something of a MythologyGag since Maria had [[MostCommonSuperPower larger breasts]] than her grownup sister at age 12 when she debuted, only for [[ArtShift following depictions]] to tone it down.

* ACupAngst: Maria's storyline, taking place three years after ''Rondo of Blood'', involves being jealous of the other female characters' larger breasts. Aeon tells her point-blank she'll get the figure she craves, but will also mature past the need for it.

* NamesToKnowInAnime: With some [[TheOtherDarrin other darrins]] to go along with:
** Creator/KenichiSuzumura (Simon) (replaced Creator/HideoIshikawa, who was his seiyuu in the crossover title ''[[MascotFighter Dream Mix TV]]'')
** Creator/TakashiKondo (Trevor) (replaced Creator/YasunoriMasutani)
** Creator/JojiNakata ({{Dracula}}) (replaced Creator/NorioWakamoto)
** Creator/HoukoKuwashima (Shanoa) (a reprisal)
** Creator/AmiKoshimizu (Sypha)
** Creator/MamoruMiyano (Alucard) (replaced RyotaroOkiayu)
** Creator/HiroshiKamiya (Aeon)
** Creator/MasayaOnosaka (Grant)
** Creator/KatsuyukiKonishi (Cornell)
** Creator/SayakaOhara (Carmilla)

It boasted a cast of thirteen familiar faces from the entirety of the ''Castlevania'' series in addition to a new game-specific character, justified with an ExcusePlot about pulling people from various time periods to battle a future menace who sought to change history. Long-time bosses {{Dracula}}, {{Death}} and Carmilla were [[PromotedToPlayable playable for the first time ever]]. (Well, [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow Dracula]] is debatable...) Battles took place in 3D arenas with their share of obstacles, as well as breakable objects containing items that could be used in addition to each character's natural abilities. Despite the odd concept, it looked to be promising.

The game garnered mixed reactions. Reasons are numerous; the fighting engine was significantly different from several other fighters of the time, and many felt that the Wii remote configuration was tiring after prolonged use (though other controller figurations are supported). Noted manga artist Takeshi Obata (of ''Manga/HikaruNoGo'' and ''Manga/DeathNote'' fame) was called upon to do the artwork, resulting in drasticlly stylized character designs that the franchise had never been known to display before. Character motivation was given the spotlight, but many were of the traditional fighter variety and tended to be more annoying than interesting. On the brighter side, [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic the soundtrack]] was highly praised.

[[BrokenBase Fan opinion remains split.]] Either it's a breath of fresh air after ten years of {{Metroidvania}} sequels that shows IGA is still open to new ideas, or it's the worst thing to happen to the franchise in decades.

* TheInnerReveal: True Story Mode. During the normal story mode's progression, Aeon tells each character about the time rift, suggests that they pursue their goals, holds back during the initial fight, and is not seen again except for claiming soul keys. At no point does he reveal that he is a time traveler or that the timeline is in peril... until Death reveals that he knows the truth during his story mode. Aeon also explains it to Dracula, but it is only in True Story Mode that he tells anyone else about the situation or shows off his clock-based moves in battle. The implication is that he is only entrusting a single character, who he believes can solve the crisis, with the truth.

** TakashiKondo (Trevor) (replaced Creator/YasunoriMasutani)

* MightyGlacier: Golem, though a savvy player that's skilled at using evade moves can readily use him as a LightningBruiser since Golem's rolling evasion is quite fast and long-ranged. It's usually better to use that instead of his painfully slow walk as his primary mode of locomotion.
** Dracula himself also fits this mold, but with more emphasis on long-range attacks than melee.

%% * FragileSpeedster: Grant and Carmilla, with honorable mention to Death.

* FragileSpeedster: Grant and Carmilla, with honorable mention to Death.

* HeyItsThatVoice
** Simon: Creator/KeithSilverstein
** Alucard: Creator/YuriLowenthal
** Maria: Creator/PhileceSampler
** Shanoa: Creator/MichelleRuff
** Eric: Creator/StephanieSheh
** Grant: Creator/KirkThornton
** Carmilla: Creator/KarenStrassman
** Death: Creator/TravisWillingham
** Dracula: Creator/PatrickSeitz

* ExtyYearsFromNow: "I come from ten thousand years hence."
** Which, considering the fight prominently takes place outside of any actual timeline, [[FridgeLogic doesn't make any sense at all]].

** HoukoKuwashima (Shanoa) (a reprisal)

** MasayaOnosaka (Grant)

** Simon: KeithSilverstein

* DownerEnding: The fate of characters in the time rift is unalterable, so [[spoiler:Eric still dies in ''VideoGame/Castlevania/PortraitOfRuin'']].

** Maria: PhileceSampler

* BigBadassWolf: Cornell.

** TakashiKondo (Trevor) (replaced YasunoriMasutani)

** KatsuyukiKonishi (Cornell)

-->''"Right on time. Welcome to the time rift."''

'''''Castlevania: Judgment''''' is widely considered the {{oddball|InTheSeries}} ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' series. Released in 2008, it was announced as exactly what it was: a 3D ''Castlevania'' {{fighting game}}.

[[caption-width-right:300:[[Manga/DeathNote Watashi wa Simon Belmont desu.]]]]

''Right on time. Welcome to the time rift.''

''CastlevaniaJudgment'' is widely considered the [[OddballInTheSeries oddball in the]] ''{{Castlevania}}'' series. Released in 2008, it was announced as exactly what it was: a 3D ''Castlevania'' {{fighting game}}.

It boasted a cast of thirteen familiar faces from the entirety of the ''Castlevania'' series in addition to a new game-specific character, justified with an ExcusePlot about pulling people from various time periods to battle a future menace who sought to change history. Long-time bosses {{Dracula}}, {{Death}} and Carmilla were [[PromotedToPlayable playable for the first time ever]]. (Well, [[CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow Dracula is debatable]]...) Battles took place in 3D arenas with their share of obstacles, as well as breakable objects containing items that could be used in addition to each character's natural abilities. Despite the odd concept, it looked to be promising.

The game garnered mixed reactions. Reasons are numerous; The fighting engine was significantly different from several other fighters of the time, and many felt that the Wii-remote configuration was tiring after prolonged use (though other controller figurations are supported). Noted manga artist Takeshi Obata (of ''HikaruNoGo'' and ''Manga/DeathNote'' fame) was called upon to do the artwork, resulting in drasticlly stylized character designs that the franchise had never been known to display before. Character motivation was given the spotlight, but many were of the traditional fighter variety and tended to be more annoying than interesting. On the brighter side, [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome the soundtrack]] was highly praised.

!! ''Judgment'' provides examples of:

* AlternateCompanyEquivalent: Fans have noticed certain characters sporting strong similarities to members of the ''[[SoulSeries Soulcalibur]]'' franchise:

* ArtShift: [[Manga/DeathNote Takeshi]] [[HikaruNoGo Obata's]] artwork for this game got a ''strong'' reaction from the fans. Which is ironic, considering that ''Castlevania'' has almost never maintained consistent character depictions over the 25+ years of its existence. Simon Belmont himself has changed outfits and faces repeatedly throughout his career.

* BewareTheSillyOnes: Maria Renard has the general looks and attitude you'd expect of a MagicalGirl, and even has the ability to flub her special attacks and combos, resulting in her tripping and falling -- in fact, her Hyper attack involves her falling flat on her face while trying to pull it off. Despite that, [[FightingClown she can kick plenty of ass if she tries]].

* BigBadassWolf: Cornell.

** CursedWithAwesome: He's ''still'' a werewolf, so he puts those abilities to good use while hunting the other denizens of the night.

* CrisisCrossover: Calling characters from different time periods in Castlevania history. This is meant to explain why certain incarnations of characters were used, such as Sypha (before her alliance with Trevor and Grant), Eric and Maria (younger versions). According to the official [[http://castlevania.wikia.com/wiki/Time_rift Castlevania]] [[http://castlevania.wikia.com/wiki/Judgment_Timeline wiki]], the characters entered the time rift in this order:
** Sypha enters the Rift before the events of ''CastlevaniaIIIDraculasCurse''. Trevor and Grant enter separately after ''Dracula's Curse'' but before ''Curse of Darkness''.

* DarkIsNotEvil: Cornell and Golem pull this off, [[TearJerker tearjerkingly]] so for the latter.

* DownerEnding: The fate of characters in the time rift is unalterable, so [[spoiler: Eric still dies in ''PortraitOfRuin'']].
** Mixing this in with a PlayerPunch, [[spoiler: Golem reverts to a soulless being, and is slain by an unknown hunter.]]
** After his BlessedWithSuck experience and resolve to solve his problem in another way, Cornell will still lose his beastman abilities at the end of ''LegacyOfDarkness''... and in exactly the same way as if he had let Death remove them in the first place.

* HeroicSacrifice: Oddly, the Golem has the most heartwrenching story in the game. He becomes self-aware and strives to become human, only to sacrifice his newfound consciousness to save the rest of humanity.

* MsFanservice: Carmilla alone [[NoMoreHeroes jacks up the age rating of this game]]

* OldSaveBonus: Linking to ''{{Order of Ecclesia}}'' unlocked some stuff automatically in both games.

* PimpedOutDress

* VictoryQuote: Leading to many a ClicheStorm. Some just scream ''Soulcalibur''.

* YourSoulIsMine: The fate of anyone hit by Death's super move. [[GameplayAndStorySegregation Supposedly]].

** Alucard: YuriLowenthal

** Shanoa: MichelleRuff
** Eric: StephanieSheh
** Grant: KirkThornton
** Carmilla: KarenStrassman
** Death: TravisWillingham

** MamoruMiyano (Alucard) (replaced RyotaroOkiayu)
** HiroshiKamiya (Aeon)

** SayakaOhara (Carmilla)

** KenichiSuzumura (Simon) (replaced HideoIshikawa, who was his seiyuu in the crossover title ''[[MascotFighter Dream Mix TV]]'')

** JojiNakata ({{Dracula}}) (replaced NorioWakamoto)

* YouDontLookLikeYou: Some of the character redesigns are so drastic that their names are the only reliable indicator of who they're supposed to be.

** Dracula: Creator/PatrickSetiz

** Maria: PhiliceSampler

** Dracula: PatrickSetiz

** Carmilla is said to enter the Time Rift first, with the Golem following her shortly.
** Sypha enters the Rift before the events of ''CastlevaniaIIIDraculasCurse''. Trevor and Grant enter separately after ''Dracula's Curse'' but before ''CastlevaniaCurseOfDarkness''.

** Maria enters the Rift between the events of ''CastlevaniaRondoOfBlood'' and ''CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight''. To be specific, 3 years after ''Rondo'' (or 2 years before ''Symphony''). Alucard enters the Rift sometime after the events of ''Symphony'', before passing on the Alucard Spear to the Morris clan. Death is said to enter within this time period as well, at least before the events of ''CastlevaniaLegacyOfDarkness''. Speaking of which, Cornell enters the rift right before ''Legacy'' starts.
** Shanoa enters during the events of ''CastlevaniaOrderOfEcclesia''.
** Eric enters a decade before ''CastlevaniaBloodlines''. Dracula enters after ''Bloodlines'' but before 1999, when Julius Belmont kills him once and for all.

* CrisisCrossover: Calling characters from different time periods in Castlevania history. This is meant to explain why certain incarnations of characters were used. According to the official [[http://castlevania.wikia.com/wiki/Time_rift Castlevania]] [[http://castlevania.wikia.com/wiki/Judgment_Timeline wiki]], the characters entered the time rift in this order:

** To summarize, the characters enter in this order: Carmilla, Golem, Sypha, Trevor, Grant, Simon, Maria, Alucard, Death, Cornell, Shanoa, Eric and Dracula.