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The GREATEST Castlevania game ever

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: June 27, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This game is like that one book you can always seem to read over and over and it never gets old. I don't know how many times I've beaten it! I think the edge this game has over all the others in the series is the items. There are HUNDREDS of weapons, armor, shields, relics, you name it. You're not limited to a whip like the Belmont clan of earlier games, Alucard uses swords, maces, his fists, and magic spells to fight his way through the ENORMOUS castle. Plus, as if it weren't big enough, there's a way to play through the whole game again as a secret character for an added challenge. It is almost universally hailed as the greatest CV game, and has even been called the best Playstation 1 game ever! It is definately a must buy for fans of the series, and well worth paying a fair amount for even though its an older game. Don't miss out on this classic game.... One more thing, the music and graphics of this game are GORGEOUS!

A masterpiece, in every sense of the word.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Castlevania has a legacy of releasing the top-notch quality games that gamers have come to love and enjoy. All of the Castlevania games have had high replay value, well-composed music, lush graphics and outstanding gameplay. Yet "Symphony of the Night" managed to take everything up another level. (or six)

Those who know Castlevania know that you explore a large castle, you're out to kill Dracula, you often level-up using RPG elements and gaining experience by killing monsters and bosses, and have a whip or variety of swords to defeat your enemies. For newbies to Castlevania, there's your 101. Now for the review.

To boot, we have the outstanding graphics. Everything looks like it was created at the hands of a master. Not too flashy or complicated, yet not too simplistic. The graphics were just right, easy on the eyes, and nothing looked out of place.

Then there's the music. Oh, how I long for a soundtrack to this game. The only game that would rival this one for a great soundtrack is "Quest 64" on the N64 (A sleeper hit, regardless of what anyone make joke about it!) What's great about the music is how it fits the scenery around you and brings a cinematic feel to everything. It doesn't seem randomly placed in the least. At the Long Library (a section of the castle you explore in the game) there is a sound test mode, which allows you to play all 20+ of the game's stunning tracks...

The gameplay is top-notch! Alucard, the main character, is easy to control, walks around efficiently and smoothly. There are also 3 transformations: Wolf, Bat, and Mist, each with a variety of moves (that consume magic power) and they all play like a charm too. The nicest features though? The backdash (get around quickly) and the Gravity Jump (hi-jump...with a special item that is)

The difficulty is the perfect medium at which it's nto too easy but not too hard. And that adds to the 100% replay value. Whenever I finish a file on this, I simply start a new one. It's that good, it never gets old.

Problems? Cheesy voice acting on some characters' parts (Succubus was pure cheese) and many pointless items. But that I can set aside.

BOTTOM LINE: Should be in every gamers' collection.
GRADE: A+

Not what I expected

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 19
Date: November 20, 1999
Author: Amazon User

After reading dozens of highly favorable reviews for SOTN, I was ready to go out and buy it. I decided to rent it first, and I'm glad I did.

Anyone who has played a Castlevania game will be familiar with the theme. Walk and jump around in a 2D side-scrolling platform while incurring minimal damage from creepy looking enemies. And then there's the RPG-ish aspect of managing an inventory of magic, weapons, shields, etc.

I was disappointed with the graphics. To be fair, I got tired of the game quickly, so I'm sure I missed a lot of the later levels. But what I saw was pure vanilla; it reminded me a LOT of Castlevania IV for the SNES visually. And since the SNES version came out 7 or 8 years ago...well, let's just say I expected a lot more from the Playstation version.

Nothing exceptional about the controls. Character movements are responsive, and the item inventory screen is fairly intuitive.

Of course, there are cinematic scenes to help with the story, but it's pretty crude stuff. And the story doesn't make much sense at all. Don't get me started on the BAD, BAD voice acting!

The music is quite good, and helped establish a spooky ambiance. Some of the sound-effects are great, but others are lousy -- low sampling rates...and just plain cheesy.

Overall, I don't even think it was worth $5 for the rental, but at least I didn't end up buying it. Fans of the series obviously like this game, but as always, I'd recommend renting before buying.

A Castle With A Mad Soundtrack

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: October 04, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is the best...I mean the very best Castlevania game you can buy. If you want great gameplay you must buy this game. If you want a game with a high replay value, you must but this game. If you want a game with a soundtrack so raw, that it will make you wanna blast the volume on your TV set, buy this game. If you want a game so good you'll have to buy it twice: one to play it and one to place in a trophy case, buy this game!

The Greatest 2D Game Ever!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: October 11, 2001
Author: Amazon User

BEHOLD THE GREATEST CASTLEVANIA GAME EVER!
Go out and buy it now!
NEED I SAY MORE!

Now available on Xbox Live Arcade! No need for the price gouging any more!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: February 25, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I love Castlevania and this is the best 2D Castlevania ever made. Unfortunately I didn't buy a copy 10 years ago so I guess I'll have to download it on Xbox Live Arcade since price gouging has come to the PlayStation version, I traded in my old PlayStation and I heard that it isn't compatible with the PS2s backwards compatability mode (a shame).
If it was less than $15 I would definitely pick up the PlayStation version and a used PlayStation, but $60 is outrageous when it is available for less than 1/6 that price on Xbox Live Arcade!! Classic all the way!

You must own this.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: January 21, 2004
Author: Amazon User

If you own a PlayStation or a PS2, GET THIS GAME, whatever it takes, whatever it costs. Good games stand out above the rank-and-file, but every now and then a game comes along that redefines the standard and makes even the good games look second-rate. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is one of those.

Awesome action will keep you pushing buttons until long after your bedtime. The difficulty ascends perfectly as you progress; you will always feel challenged, but never overwhelmed. Extremely unusual for a side-scroller is the completely nonlinear play. You will backtrack, uptrack, downtrack, and sidetrack as new paths open and you gain new abilities that help you in old areas. Abundant secrets reward the obsessive treasure hunter, but you don't need to find them to finish the game. While undeniably dated, SOTN's graphics are still excellent, good enough to compare favorably with games years its junior. As if that wasn't enough, you get to hear one of the best and most atmospheric soundtracks I have ever encountered in a game. The only caveat I will give you is that SOTN is strictly two-dimensional. If you've gotta have 3D, pass on this game.

The bottom line: Despite being years behind the cutting edge, Symphony of the Night remains one of the all-time best video games you could ever own.

Easter Egg... MONSTER MASH!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 5
Date: November 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

No use telling you that this is the greatest game of all time. See the hundred or so reviews below for that.

After you've gotten every single weapon/item, the duplicator, and covered 206% of the map, try sticking the disc in a cd player for a refreshing swig of new blood. Track 1 gives a bunch of white noise, and track two... well, have fun. But don't get too carried away, boils and ghouls!

BLEH!

Long live side scrollers!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: June 28, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Wow, I've had this game for years and I still can't get enough of it. First of all, the music in this game is incredible. The tunes, with styles from harpsichord-Baroque to harder guitar riffs, match their respective stages (or parts of the Castle) in terms of mood and visual elements. These are tracks that you will remember for a while. The stages are beautifully rendered. Character and enemy animations are done well. The gameplay itself is top-notch... with Alucard wielding his many, MANY swords, clubs, and other weapons, each with different special attacks. The "RPG-elements" are a nice addition to a successful tradition - Stat.enhancing items, magical abilities, transformations... This game is extremely fun, and will keep the gamer hooked until you beat it with Richter too!

wholly addictive

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 12, 1999
Author: Amazon User

Ignore the cheesy voice-overs at the beginning, and the highly confusing intro. This game has incredible gameplay (a la Dark Castle for the Mac), great music, and set design. I spent many, many hours on it. It just keeps getting better as you play it.

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