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Excellent side-scroller action

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 22 / 22
Date: September 17, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night harkens back to the early and great Castlevanias of the old NES, but with vastly updated graphics, gameplay, and even ambiance. Sure, it's still a 2-D scroller where you roam around and jump around on platforms and what not, but it's at the top of the heap. The game starts somewhat oddly with you as a vampire hunter facing off against Dracula in a fairly wacky fight that always reminds me of a pro wrestling match. You beat Dracula, at which point time warps ahead and you switch to Alucard, Dracula's remorseful son (spell Alucard backwards..yah, clever) who brings the fight to Dracula's vast and labyrinthe castle in an effort to do away with his evil sire for all time. At first I was put off by what I thought was a bizarre and inelegant introduction (the human vampire hunter is a character from one of the mediocre middle Castlevania games, and is very unwieldy) but it turns out the manner in which you use him to defeat Dracula "historically" in the plot affects Alucard's starting abilities. Meaning if you beat up on Drakula with magic, Alucard later favors magic. Ditto for melee combat.

Anyway, the game is lush and filled with endless amounts of loot. Any monster has a chance to drop rare goodies when slain (based on Alucard's Luck stat), fake walls crumble to reveal hidden platemail, accidentally-tripped switches open bookcases or trapdoors, and zillions of types of monsters appear from all over the place. The music is great and quite haunting, and the game's RPG and money system are quite well developed. Alucard has quick "combo" spells you can use while fighting, and many of the weapons, shields, and armors he finds have their own effects which have to be discovered in game play. I've located weapons that let Alucard teleport, summon the undead to fight for him, call lightning, ice, or fire, or even waves of holy light down on his foes. Everything from helms to circlets to rings to boots can be worn, and Alucard eventually even develops the ability to transform into traditional vampire modes. Dissipate into a swirling cloud of mist and waft through a ceiling vent to escape your enemies, turn into a wolf and charge through crowds of zombies, or transform into a bat and fly around breathing fire on everyone. Lastly Alucard collects various magical relics throughout the game, that do everything from let him breathe underwater to have permament familiars that float around with him on screen and help him out (the dancing runesword is not to be missed). As an example of the thought put into this game, your familiars themselves even gain experience and go up levels, growing both stronger and smarter over time. For example, the runesword familiar at first just kinda floats along behind you, lethargically swinging at things long after they took a bite out of you. But after a while it turns into a gleaming heat seeking weapon of vengeance, mercilessly smiting anything the second it shows up on screen. At one point I turned Alucard into mist and just drifted around while the sword familiar took out a boss for me. This game also has more items and secrets in it than your average Final Fantasy, and is more addictive. It is also one of the least frustrating games you can find; you can save as often as you want in save rooms you find on your map (in a coffin, natch), heal yourself easily, and as a vampire you're more than a match for the sluggish beasts you meet early on. The challenge of the game comes from an easy balance of combat and puzzle solving, rather than a heavy reliance on one or the other.

Lastly, and most entertainingly, the bosses in this game are amazing. Unlike earlier side scrollers where the game progressed through 'levels', in Symphony of the Night you simply roam around an enormous, maze-like castle. You never know when suddenly a steel grate will drop behind you and you'll find yourself trapped in a fight with, oh, a grotesque giant mummy suspended on steel hooks that takes up 6 screens worth of animation. That's just the sort of thing that's worth the price of admission.

Amazing! That's all I can say.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 15 / 16
Date: August 25, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This is the first game I wanted to buy when I got my Playstation, sadly, it is super rare and took my 6 months to find used. This is probably the rarest Playstation game, which is sad, because it is also one of the best.

It combines classic Castlevania gameplay with RPG elements, such as the use of magic, and level points system, and a deeper storyline. Also adding to the depth is the use of money, relics that give special abilities, and a wider variety of weapons. The ability to equip weapons of your choice is a first for the series. By far the coolest is the ability to transform, you can be a bat, a wolf, or fog (!). The main character is Alucard (spell it backwards), who older gamers might remember from Castlevania 3 for NES. You meed a wide array of characters, some good, some bad, throughout your journey through Dracula's castle. The object of the game: same as the rest-find and destroy Dracula and end the vampire bloodline.

The graphics are classic 2-D, which might turn off some gamers hoping for something more like Castlevania 64 (which was fully-rendered 3-D). Despite the 2-D, the control and character movement is greatly enhanced thanks to better animation and smooth controls. Castlevania games always had great music, and SOTN is among the best in that department. Each score perfectly matches the given environment, with beautifuly orchestrated melodies. Don't let the old-school look discourage you, this is an amazing game.

Calling Castlevania: SOTN simply a nastalgia trip, while true in my case, would degrade the value of the game. It is an excellent and addictive game that satisfies on almost every level. It ranks among the best games for the Playstation, and you sould expect to pay a hefty price for a copy. It is now super-rare.

The start of the Gameboy games legacy...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: December 04, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game, which started the trend of all those terrific Gameboy Castlevanias, like Dawn of Sorrow, is an awesome play and a top 10 of just about everyones Playstation game list.

First off, this game is huge. You have to play through this game twice to get the entire experience and real ending to this game. It has a second quest, much like the old school Ghosts and Goblins, if you can remember that game... but with its own unique invereted way.

The amount of items you can gather and collect in this game is staggering too. There are numerous swords and spells to pick up and just about every weapon has its own special abilities which adds a lot to this game. Because of that no weapon seems the same.

And the relics just plain old rock. They give you abilities like changing into bats, wolves, mist forms, and allowing you to do super jumps and double jumps to unlock new areas.

Also, the hundreds of different bosses and enemies are all interesting to hunt down and slaughter. Especially the cool looking bosses, which can sometimes span an entire couple of screens...

Though this game is extremely rare to try to get a hold of now, if youre a Playstation gamer or action fan then you owe it to yourself to pick this up. Its one of the most complete and enjoyable action/adventure games of the last ten years.

Amazing, one of the best PSX title, if not...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: November 30, 1999
Author: Amazon User

...one of the best games ever! If you don't buy this you're just not a gamer. The side scrolling 2D graphics lack some parallax, but are very detailed and the color palette is really well chosen. Just remember bosses like Galamoth, or that giant corpse thing surrounded with flies, or the superb Cathedral... The soundtrack is also one of the best (Konami DOES have an incredible musical data), each track save two (including the out of place credits ending, but don't let it cloud your judgment, the game rules) fit each scene perfectly and are very memorable. The gameplay is also sleek, with lots of exploration- and never has a Castlevania character been so playable! Alucard can shift forms, cast spells, slash his sword swiftly and jump in a way so precise it'd make his predecessors squirm. Symphony of the Night is an instant classic, and sadly is probably the last 2D Castlevania... aka, quite possibly the last great Castlevania.

Drac is Back!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: May 01, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is a great game, pure and simple. While many have overlooked this classic to move onto RPGs, one should not forget that this is more than just an action game. It is action and RPG combined. You must guide your character through the maze of Castle Dracula, battling imaginative foes and searching for elusive special powers. The side-scrolling 2D world of Castlevania allows this game superb control, outstanding backgrounds and a level of simplicity that has been lost in many of the newer games available. Don't get me wrong, this game still packs plenty of challenge...it just hasn't been replaced by poor camera angles and complicated controls. The voice talent is good and the musical score is outstanding. This particular installment of the Castlevania series allows your character a few new moves, new weapons and new spells. The map feature is also helpful as you work your way through the castle. I highly recommend this game to any fan of action or RPG.

One of the greats, one last time!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: December 31, 2001
Author: Amazon User

It's nice that all these great games for the original Playstation are being rereleased, especially for Castlevania fans. That's because Symphony of the Night, not only one of the best Castlevania games but also arguably one of the best for the PSX is one of the games being rereleased. Look up any review for the game from websites and magazines and you'll see nothing but praise for this classic. At [amt] from Amazon, how can you lose. Get this game.

Best castlevania game ever (maybe best PSX game too)

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: April 28, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This is one of the most fun games i have ever played. SotN, while a 2-D platformer, is one of the most indepth and epic games for the PSX. The story is a little basic, but it has some wicked twists that add to the fun. Basically, you play as Alucard, son of Dracula, and you try to find out what happened to the vampire-hunter Richter Belmont, who dissapeared when Drac's castle appeared from nowhere. Alucard uses a sword instead to the classic Belmont whips. Also, in addition to weapons, you can equip Alucard with armor, headwear, cloaks, necklaces, etc. that you collect throughout the game. Oh, and there are literally hundreds upon hundreds of items and weapons to collect. Also, Alucard can use a few magic spells which are executed through D-pad combinations. The classic 'heart' weapons are back, along with a few new additions. They include the Cross, spears, lightning, axes, time stopper, holy book, and a couple others. You collect a number of relics throughout the game as well, which adds to the spectacular gameplay. The enemies are well-made, and the bosses are amazing! Some of coolest bosses i've eer seen (the catacombs boss of the upside down castle is incredibly hard if yu don't no how to beat him.) As far as grapics go, they are beautiful and lush. The sounds is superb, especially the incredible scores. Controling Alucard is a charm, from using 'heart' weapons to pulling magic attacks. One of the best games ever made.
Grapics-4.5
Sound-5.0

Control-5.0
Gameplay-5.0
Replay-4.5
Difficulty-easy to medium

The Best Game Ever. Period.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 13
Date: November 12, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I've been playing games since I can remember. Unlike the current crop of wannabe hard-core gamers, I really am one. I've been playing games before the PSX, before the SNES, ... I still remember when the NES came out. But in all my years of gaming, never have I played a game as amazing and beautiful as Konami's "Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night." The breathtaking graphics, the rich and haunting soundtrack, the perfect control--all of this adds up to nothing compared to the gameplay itself, which is of unrivaled magnitude. After Richter Belmont had defeated Dracula in the last "Castlevania," all seemed pleasant--until now. One night, four years after the supposed demise of Dracula, Richter simply vanished. With no idea as to where to go, Maria Renard, Richter's sister-in-law, went out on her search for him when it happened: Castlevania, home of Dracula, had suddenly appeared. You play as Alucard, the offspring of a human woman and Dracula himself. Then, you enter Castlevania. 3D? Bah. The game mixes both the 2D side-scrolling and RPG genres perfectly. Fans of both genres (and those, like myself, that love both genres) will no doubt cherish this game. This is easily the biggest "Castlevania" game so far. There's over 140 different villians, around a dozen spells, a vast array of weapons and armor, and multiple endings. So take a few days off from work and/or school, because you're gonna need 'em. The graphics are absolutely gorgeous. I still ask myself why everyone's jumping on fancy 3D engines when they could create a game like this. Could you imagine a 2D "Castlevania" on Dreamcast? (drools) Anyways, the graphics on this game are top-notch stuff. Lots of detail on every little character and background. The control is as easy as it gets. Anyone could pick this up and start playing right away. The music though...it just can't be put into words. This is on par with Squaresoft's best work. Yeah, I'm serious. Usually when playing games, I pop in a Dead Can Dance CD or something, but this soundtrack is too epic to miss. Alucard has lots of different spells he can use, all of which are quite effective and beautifully drawn. There's also relics which Alucard collects, and they are needed to beat the game. Some relics tell you the damage you cause to your enemy; one lets you do a double jump; and then there's some that let you transform into a wolf, bat, or mist. The game offers a decent challenge, by now, after all these years of gaming, there isn't much that I have trouble with, but it did offer me a challenge by trying to collect everything in the game. There is a lot of favorite moments for me in this game, but the moment that stuck out the most in my head was the confession booth. It didn't do anything (except hurt you if the curtains close...), but it stuck out in my head. It's as close as I'll ever get to a real one (I'm anti-religous). All I can say is that you have absolutely no excuse as to why you shouldn't own a copy, ...you're not even a real gamer if you don't own this. The "Castlevania" games that followed this one were mediocre at best (and that's when you don't compare them to this one), so I wouldn't recommend those N64 "sequels" at all. I wish Konami had continued the series with direction they were going with for this game. You can go ahead and keep your "Metal Gear Solid," I'll stick with this. "Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night" isn't a masterpiece, it's THE masterpiece. Now go get it if you still don't have it.

Castlevania: SotN - If I could only have one game...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: September 16, 2002
Author: Amazon User

No other series quite conjures the atmosphere associated with Konami's Castlevania series. Hearkening back to the days of the original Castlevania on the NES, the combination of classic monsters, from Frankenstein's monster to the Price of Darkness himself, coupled with a decidedly Japanese feel made for quite the gameplay experience, and luckily for us, the classics just keep coming. The latest in the series (sorry, while the 3D Castlevania games on the N64 are adequate, they just don't carry on the tradition), Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, is the first to not feature a whip- weilding member of the Belmont clan as it's protagonist, but rather the all-too-vampiric son of Dracula, Alucard, last seen helping Trevor Belmont in Castlevania III on the NES. Playing more like Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest, or even Super Metroid on the SNES, Symphony of the Night adds some RPG elements like the ability to gain in strength by levelling up, equipping items and an occasional NPC. While the gameplay is a bit different than previous games, this is a good thing, as it adds depth to the already tried and true play mechanics of the series.

The first thing you'll notice upon beginning Alucard's quest, is that this is not your usual Castlevania title. More closely resembling Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES), or to be quite honest, Super Metroid (SNES), SOTN sprinkles the tried and true play mechanics with a good many RPG elements. The ability to equip multiple items (weapons, armor, items, etc.), level up to gain strength and the ability to purchase potions, maps and other items, even conversing with the occasional NPC (namely Maria), are all typical to RPG's and their addition to the Castlevania formula results in a game that's very much more than the sum of its parts. Dracula's castle and the catacombs underneath are a huge area to navigate, requiring some time in the early going (you'll soon open warp portals to speed your quest later), and as such, the map is invaluable as far as finding areas you have yet to explore (again, they took it straight out of Super Metroid). The thing is that to unlock certain areas, you'll need to acquire items or abilities. Indeed, the true challenge in SOTN is not only defeating Dracula, but being able to explore the entire castle, both normal and inverted. And lest you think all this will be a tedious chore, let me assure you that controlling Alucard is a small pleasure in itself. While his movement is very fluid, he controls wonderfully, and while it will be second nature to any Castlevania fan within movements, the additions of certain spells to Alucard's repertoire make mastery a bit more involving. And for those who would rather control a belmont, Richter is selectable later on by code, although the going is considerably tougher for him. Konami could not have delivered a more complete experience.

While I refrain from calling Castlevania: Symphony of the Night the Playstation's best game in the face of games like Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid & Xenogears, I must admit that if I was forced to choose but one, it may very well be it. I will say that it is an amazing title in all aspects, and sadly, as things seem to be unfolding, perhaps the last 2D Castlevania title. The latest two Castlevania games, both on N64, have been in 3D, and to be honest, quite lackluster. As fate would have it, the only other known Castlevania title in development is also in 3D, this time for Dreamcast, and while I can only hope it can recapture in some small way the splendor that is SOTN, one has to suspect that the inherent problems with the titles is that they are not 2D, which is the soul of the series. If you want a post 16-bit title that is truly Castlevania, there is only one route to take, and that is Symphony of the Night (or the Saturn import version known as Nocturne in the Moonlight, which actually has a couple of extra areas and a playable Maria).

This must be what heaven feels like!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: September 05, 2004
Author: Amazon User

When people talk about the greatest game for the PSX most people will probably tell you Final Fantasy VII or something like that. But I always think of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. By far this is the greatest 2D platformer to ever grace the gaming world, and there is no Castlevania better than Symphony of the Night.

The game begins in 1792 with Richter Belmont going into battle with Dracula. After Richter emerges victorious and banishes Dracula, the mysterious Castle disappears. But a year afterwards Richter suddenly vanishes. Maria, a close friend of his sets out to find him and out of nowhere Castlevania, the home of Dracula appears out of nowhere.

You play as Alucard, the son of Dracula, who rushes into Castlevania when it appears in order to destroy it and prevent Dracula from returning.

It's a very simple story, but its an action/adventure game. The game also throws in some RPG elements. Unlike the past Castlevania games, you're character now levels up and can equip weapons and armor. Alucard also doesn't use the trademark whip like the Belmont's used to. You actually use a Sword in one hand and you can even have a different weapon in another. The game also presents a Super Metroid style map that you will use as you explore the castle looking for bosses to defeat and finding all of your abilities to take on Dracula.

Like the classic games you've got "Sub-weapons" that use hearts. Each weapon has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, the throwing knives can be used for long range attacks but are fairly weak. The Holy Cross does TONS of damage but cost a lot of hearts.

You also have "relics" that you either find lying around or get from defeating bosses. These relics help Alucard out and enhance his abilities. You can use some relics to help you turn into a Wolf, turn into a bat or a cloud of mist. There is also a relic that lets you summon an ally known as a "Familiar" by your side.

You can also use spells to hinder your skills. The spells are done with a D-Pad combination.

The visual look and feel of this game is astonishing. A 2D game has never looked this good. Even so many years later the graphics look really good. Some are a tad bit fuzzy but you'll quickly get over that.

The music is perhaps the best part about Castlevania: SOTN. The tunes are addicting and you'll be humming them for a while. The tunes were so good that I found myself just... standing around in one area just so I could enjoy the music.

The game also throws in a twist halfway through. Once you're done exploring the first castle you'll go to a "Reverse" castle in which everything is upside down. The game also has four different endings.

This is perhaps the best Playstation game of all time. It is the best Castlevania hands down (with the excellent Circle of the Moon coming in second) and is the most breathtaking in the series.

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