CASTLEVANIA: SYMPHONY OF THE NIGHT
Retro Gamer|Issue 244
A version of Konamis classic was set to terrorise the most unlikely of platforms, but received a stake in the heart before it could draw blood
Nick Thorpe
CASTLEVANIA: SYMPHONY OF THE NIGHT

The Game.com is one of the more intriguing failures in gaming history.  Although the system is now renowned for its poor-quality games and practically unusable display, Tiger’s assessment that there was space for a new handheld in 1997 was actually quite astute. The Game Boy was old and other competitors had left the sector, while the Game.com could boast advanced features including internet connectivity. What’s more, because of its existing business relationships with major publishers, Tiger could boast big names like Duke Nukem, Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil and Sonic.

Tiger was bought by Hasbro Interactive in 1998, and Hasbro had a working relationship with Konami as the two companies had released the PlayStation version of Frogger. While a Game.com version of the classic arcade game did eventually see release, that wasn’t the only Konami game in the works for the ill-fated handheld. Tiger showed off Game.com versions of Metal Gear Solid and Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night at E3 in May 1999, and an October 1999 press release stated that both were due for release in November as part of a holiday season line-up including Holyfield Championship Boxing, Madden Football, WCW Whiplash and Furbyland.

This story is from the Issue 244 edition of Retro Gamer.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the Issue 244 edition of Retro Gamer.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM RETRO GAMERView All
Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2009
Retro Gamer

Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2009

Initially debuting on the PC in 1998,games began appearing on consoles from 2001 with the release of Cabela's Big Game Hunter: Ultimate Challenge for Sony's PlayStation.

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 267
ModRetro Chromatic
Retro Gamer

ModRetro Chromatic

Meet the new handheld aiming to provide the ultimate Game Boy experience

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 267
ULTIMATE GUIDE Project Rub
Retro Gamer

ULTIMATE GUIDE Project Rub

OF ALL THE GAMES THAT LAUNCHED WITH THE NINTENDO DS, NONE WERE AS INVENTIVE, CHARMING, OR OVERLOOKED AS PROJECT RUB. TWENTY YEARS LATER, SONIC TEAM'S DS DEBUT REMAINS ONE OF THE SYSTEM'S MOST ENJOYABLE AND ENDEARING GAMES

time-read
5 mins  |
Issue 267
Wii Balance Board
Retro Gamer

Wii Balance Board

During the era of the DS and Wii, Nintendo didn't just want to sell games consoles - it wanted to sell the dream that self-improvement could be fun, whether you were exercising your mind in Dr Kawashima's Brain Training or your body with Wii Sports.

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 267
THE MAKING OF JACKIE CHAN STUNTMASTER
Retro Gamer

THE MAKING OF JACKIE CHAN STUNTMASTER

MOST GAMES WITH A REAL PERSON'S NAME IN THE TITLE HAVE ACTUALLY VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH THEM. BUT THERE ARE SOME STARS WHOSE INFLUENCE ON A GAME GOES FAR BEYOND THEIR FACE AND VOICE. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE IS THE GREAT ACTION GOD HIMSELF: JACKIE CHAN

time-read
9 mins  |
Issue 267
Future Classic
Retro Gamer

Future Classic

Modern games you'll still be playing in years to come

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 267
SUPER VEHICLE-001 METAL SLUG TACTICS
Retro Gamer

SUPER VEHICLE-001 METAL SLUG TACTICS

SNK'S METAL SLUG SERIES IS ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC RUN-AND-GUNS AROUND WITH A LEGACY AS RICH AS ITS METICULOUS 2D ART. SO WHAT CONVINCED SNK TO GREENLIGHT AN ISOMETRIC TACTICAL RPG? WE SPEAK TO LEIKIR STUDIO'S CREATIVE DIRECTOR AURÉLIEN LOOS TO FIND OUT MORE

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 267
MAGAZINE CRAFT PAUL DAVIES
Retro Gamer

MAGAZINE CRAFT PAUL DAVIES

In the first of a brand-new series, we interview the game journalists behind the most iconic gaming magazines of the past. We kick off by speaking to Paul Davies about his time as editor of CVG. We discuss the videogames that hooked him growing up, his time in the industry, and how he became an unlikely hero in revamping the iconic multiformat mag

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 267
THE MAKING OF Wizardry PROVING GROUNDS OF THE MAD OVERLORD
Retro Gamer

THE MAKING OF Wizardry PROVING GROUNDS OF THE MAD OVERLORD

THE CREATORS OF THE INFLUENTIAL 1981 RPG WHICH WENT ON TO INSPIRE COUNTLESS TITLES, FROM DRAGON QUEST TO FINAL FANTASY EXPLAIN HOW IT HAD ITS ORIGIN IN SOME OF THE EARLIEST ONLINE EXPERIENCES, AND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST COMPUTER GAMES TO COME IN A BOX

time-read
8 mins  |
Issue 267
20 Years of The NINTENDODS
Retro Gamer

20 Years of The NINTENDODS

NINTENDO'S QUIRKY HARDWARE DESIGN MAY HAVE RAISED A FEW EYEBROWS TWO DECADES AGO, BUT THE BRILLIANT GAMES IT ENABLED DREW IN PLAYERS REGARDLESS OF AGE OR GENDER. RETRO GAMER SPEAKS TO THE PEOPLE WHO MADE, SOLD AND DEVELOPED GAMES FOR THE DS AS WE CELEBRATE THE BEST-SELLING HANDHELD EVER

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 267