LOS ANGELES – Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) Booth #800 – May 17, 2005 – Konami Digital Entertainment - America, a division of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., announced today that the Castlevania franchise will make its debut on the the Xbox®  video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in fall 2005 with Castlevania®: Curse of Darkness.  While past Castlevania® games have focused on the struggle between Dracula and the Belmont clan, Curse of Darkness introduces players to an entirely new storyline and main character – Hector, a Devil Forgemaster, and former Lieutenant of Dracula. Told in true Castlevania style by award winning producer Koji Igarashi, this action-packed tale of betrayal and revenge takes players on a journey through an expansive world filled with formidable foes and beautifully rendered environments to the ruins of Dracula’s castle.
 
“Castlevania: Curse of Darkness takes the series in a fresh new direction – complete with new heroes and villains,” says Matt Knoles, Product Manager at Konami Digital Entertainment – America. “And with the title being available on both the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Xbox, a much wider audience of gamers will be able to enjoy this new Castlevania adventure.”
 
Disillusioned with the ideals of his mentor, Hector fled Vallachia to pursue a more normal life, leaving Dracula vulnerable to the Belmonts. Now, three years after Dracula was defeated in battle, the magic power of the curse released upon his death has infected all of Europe. Fueled by revenge for the death of his girlfriend, Hector must battle his way back to the ruins of Dracula’s castle, and uncover an intricate web of deception, unaware of the sinister plan that has been orchestrated to lure him home.
 
Armed with the unique new abilities of Devil Forgery, gamers will be able to call upon trusty allies – “Innocent Devils” – who will help defeat a variety of powerful enemies.  More than 30 evolving allies will develop unique abilities ranging from those that can open heavy doors, to those that can help Hector fly. They will aid players in conquering various enemies, avoiding perilous traps and solving challenging puzzles. Curse of Darkness will also feature stronger RPG and adventure game elements. As players progress through the game and gain experience points, their character’s strength will increase, reminiscent of the gameplay found in the critically acclaimed Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
 
Gamers will have access to a wide range of powerful weaponry that will allow them to perform unparalleled combo attacks on the deadliest of enemies. As players progress in the game they will uncover an immersive storyline and explore beautifully rendered and expansive environments. Curse of Darkness also features an increased number of unlockable features that are sure to draw players deeper into the Castlevania universe. An entirely new musical sound track scored by Michiru Yamane rounds out this engrossing new chapter to the Castlevania series.

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness will be available for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox in the fall. Check out the game at Konami’s E3 booth May 18 – 20 or for more information on Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, please visit http://www.konami.com/gs

Konami Corporation is a leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of electronic entertainment properties, specializing in the home video game market. Konami Corporation’s action and adventure titles include the popular franchises Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill and Castlevania, among other top sellers. The latest information about Konami can be found on the Web at www.konami.com   . Konami Corporation is a publicly traded company based in Tokyo, Japan with subsidiary offices, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. in the US and Konami of Europe in Frankfurt, Germany. Konami Corporation, the parent company of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. is traded in the United States on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol KNM. Details of the products published by Konami Digital Entertainment - America can be found at www.konami.com/gs

© 1986 2005 KONAMI

“CASTLEVANIA” and “KONAMI” are registered trademarks of KONAMI CORPORATION. “CASTLEVANIA Curse of Darkness” is a trademark of KONAMI CORPORATION.

"PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Xbox is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

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