For those of you who don’t know him, he is the man responsible for the release of countless successful Castlevania titles. He dawns a well worn black cowboy-styled hat and carries with him a black leather whip. His name is Koji “Iga” Igarashi.

I recently sat down with Igarashi to ask him some questions regarding the Castlevania franchise and his latest title Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles for the PlayStation® Portable (PSP).

DB: With the huge success of Castlevania on the Nintendo DS why the jump to the PlayStation® Portable (PSP)?

IGA: Several years back when both handhelds were relatively new I was trying to decide on which handheld to go with and eventually I chose the DS. Shortly after the successful release of Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin on the DS I realized that consumers wanted to see Castlevania on the PSP as well, and that they, [the consumers], felt it "fit” the PSP. So I came back thinking, “why not give a challenge to PSP owners.”

DB: The PSP offers both the option for downloadable content and wireless ad-hoc and infrastructure play? Can we expect to see any DLC, wireless or online play for this latest installment to the Castlevania franchise?

IGA: Sorry, I have been so busy with the completion and release of the game that I haven’t been up to working on downloadable content. There is local co-op play available however.

DB: Castlevania is known for its iconic power-ups, secondary weapons, familiars and alternate hero forms, can we expect to see any of these in Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles?

IGA: So, basically Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles’ Rondo of Blood is a remake of a TurboGrafx CD title known as Akumajo Dracula X: Chi No Rondo that was only available in Japan. So what you see in the PSP is what you see in the TurboGrafx CD version. The whip and all the legendary, traditional-style weapons will reappear in this version.

DB: To jump platforms for a minute: the Nintendo Wii’s Virtual Console offers both the original NES version of Castlevania and Castlevania IV for the SNES for download. Will we see any more Castlevania titles hit the Virtual Console?

IGA: Now that Wii Ware has been announced for an early 2008 release I am going to think about something special for Castlevania. I have been working really hard on this PSP remake…but let me think on a possibility for a new Virtual Console title and a Wii Ware item.

DB: Will there be any promo or limited edition items released with the launch of Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles?

IGA: Yes, there will be a gift with purchase. A company called NECA created a limited edition 8-Bit Simon Belmont figure that was originally available at this last year’s San Diego ComiCon; they will re-issuing this as a gift at time of purchase at Gamestop.

DB: Thank you for your time. It was a tremendous pleasure to meet with you.

IGA: Thank you very much.

Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles for the PSP hits store shelves this Tuesday, October 23, 2007.