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Konami never should have made this game

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 6 / 80
Date: February 09, 2004
Author: Amazon User

It doesn't make any sense. How can this game be considered a classic? It has WAY too many flaws for people to continue naming it "best game of all-time" or "best Castlevania game you'll ever play".

I don't think so. If you want a "real" Castlevania game, go play Castlevania 64 for the N64. That's how a Castlevania game should be done. Not like Symphony Of The Night, which is basically a complete disaster with its many inexplicable problems.

Don't believe me? You will soon enough. First and foremost, Konami must think all Castlevania fans are forgetful and dumb. You see, the game begins with you playing as Richter, and you're back in the final stage of the previous Castlevania game fighting Dracula. This is ridiculous. I don't want to play THAT game, I want to play Symphony Of The Night. You don't have to redo the final fight with Wart in the beginning of Super Mario Bros. 3. So you shouldn't have to start off Symphony Of The Night by going back and fighting the final boss in the previous game. What the hell is wrong with Konami? This whole Richter/Dracula thing should have been removed.

After that's over, the REAL game begins, but unfortunately that's not true. It doesn't begin yet. Immediately a screen is shown of Alucard running to the castle (which you unfortunately have no control over). Once he's inside and the gate closes, you can now play as him, but wait a minute. There's no music playing in the background. A game can't really start if there's no music, because the absence of music makes a game feel empty and unexciting.

Luckily, my worst fear didn't come true (that Konami forgot to put music in the game) and you just have to move forward a few steps and battle a few more foes before the music kicks in. It's about time! You had me worried there!

But then more problems arise. In the same little area where the music kicks in, you encounter these zombies that come out of the ground and walk towards you, and many times you never see these zombies coming until it's too late and you take a hit. Pesky little things like this are just one of many reasons this game is almost completely unbearable.

Eventually you meet up with a young lady named Maria. She's extremely attractive, and knows just how to push the right flirting buttons. And that's a big problem. The way she seems to come on to Alucard and practically drool all over him is such a turn-on to the player that it's very difficult to move forward and continue on with the quest. After a Maria encounter, you can't stop thinking about her beautiful pale face, those big beautiful eyes, that smooth relaxing voice, and so then what happens after that is, when you are in the middle of a serious battle, you almost always die because you can't stop thinking about Maria's beautiful face.

Konami must not understand that mostly boys play video games. I shouldn't have to say it, but I think it's obvious that the creators of Maria are disappointed in themselves for creating such a good-looking woman, because one look at Maria distracts boys everywhere. They shouldn't have made her look so pretty. Because of this, only the strongest male gamers will be able to complete this Castlevania adventure. Had she been less attractive, guys would be able to better concentrate on the game.

You're probably thinking by now "Alright, talk about the actual GAME!" Okay, I will, but you won't like what I have to say. It's just really painful for me to pick out all the problems in this supposed classic. Basically, it all boils down to one thing. The fact that some weapons in this game are incredibly slow, weak and almost useless. Yes, I'm talking about the Jewel Sword and the Sword Of Hador. Konami never should have put these two weapons in the game. But because they did, we have no choice but to put up with them, and I have no choice but to complain. These two weapons really drag the game down.

I could go on and on about the many problems you will see in this game. Twice in the game you will have to fight a guy who looks exactly like you, which if you ask me, lacks creativity. Konami wasted a good opportunity right there to come up with new and exciting bosses to fight, but no, they had to go with the old predictable mirror match.

Many enemies have blood fiercely squirting out of their bodies when you attack them, forcing me and my children to look away from the TV screen. Because me and my children understand that if we look at the screen and see this violence, we will throw up all over ourselves and even worse, we might even have trouble making it through the day without screaming in fear that the same brutal treatment might happen to us if we're not careful. A little bit of blood is fine, but some of the blood in Symphony Of The Night is a bit too graphic and plentiful. It's enough to terrorize you. So the best thing to do would be to try and jump over these bloody enemies so you won't have to attack them, though in many places, avoiding enemies won't be easy.

Finally, the biggest problem. The second castle in the game is just the first castle turned upside down, so it's not really a new castle. Now that's what I call clumsy. Between the smutty actions of Maria and the blood all over the place, it feels like I'm watching a porno blood fest. Not a pretty thought, is it? So as you can see, many problems prevent this game from being a classic. Don't even think about buying it.

An unbelievably overhyped game

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 29
Date: December 25, 1999
Author: Amazon User

I find it amazing that people believe this is one of the best games of all time. I've also heard people say that if you're not absolutely glued to your controller playing it for 100 hours straight, then you're not a "true" gamer. Give me a break! As 2D games go, Castlevania: SOTN is a very good looking and sounding game. I'll give it that. But the game, even with all its graphic splendor, is just not that much fun after the first few hours. It's just incredibly repetitive. Run into a room, kill some baddies, repeat. And the voice acting can be best described as "laughably lame." THIS is a classic? I had TONS more fun with Diablo. I'm not going to trash anyone who wants to spend dozens of hours playing this game, but I think your time is much better spent on one of the many incredible RPG's available on the Playstation, like Final Fantasy VII or VIII. For diehard Castlevania fans only.

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.

gift to grandson

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 16
Date: September 18, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I can only tell you that he was happy with the game It was a gift for his birthday.

Top notch 2-D

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 11
Date: May 13, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This is an interesting one being A fan of Mega Man, Metroid and Castlevania searies games probibley over all others in that it is like all of them in one to an extent. Getting around is much like super metroid, wear changing of weapons and using sertain relic sources to get around resemble, mega man, yet has all the classic features of the origional castlevania searies ( minus the whip ) aulterd in to an apatizing fashion made for the .32 bit system.Charictor can use diferent rings, shields, swords and armor to increase, decrease or aulter your charictors abilitys. Use headbands that make what woud normaley poison you, restore your life, rings that increase rare item appearence from defeted enamys, aromr that increases defense, rings that aulter defense, offense, and fight with anywear from your fists, to buck knives, to brass nickles, to the enchanted holey sword that has one-sided affects, the great sword that is the most powerful sword n he game blow for blow but generaley useless, the Mourning Blaade which restores HP every time you hit something weather you hert it or not and even the Crissaegrim which while it isn't the most powerful sword blow for blow, is like A machine gun sword that covers your whole charictor like A shield and inables you to plow through just about any enamy on the game ( even A few bosses ) non stop and the conveniances ( like being able to swing it without stopping ) prove it by far the most affective weapon in the game and sofourth.Also find relic cards to summon to your assistance A nomber of spirits who follow you around and help you out. An excelent game and although it is the least chalanging of all, it is definatley the funest and longest. Also has A final ending ( why fight Dracula whe he becomes your alie ) in which Alucard converts him at the moment of his death.

Prodigal son...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 12
Date: June 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Castlevania is a darkly digital adventure into the Gothic world of the Dracula legend.

There's the ubiquitous Vampire Hunter, this one's name is "Richter Belmont", a 23 - year old mortal hunting the Lord of The Undead, estimated to be over 400 years old.

Richter's 17-year old girlfriend, "Maria Renard" goes looking for him, & is, of course, captured by Count Vlad Tepes Dracula {sic}; so she ends up presenting an additional problem / obstacle for Richter.

These magnificent creatures so easily beaten by inexperienced & pathetic mortals? Please.

Obviously, the philosphical theme is that of the "Good vs. Evil" simplicity, but remember, it is just a game, after all. There are some idealistic disturbances, such as werewolves being slaughtered, & of course, there's no real choice of actually being Dracula Himself, or a demon, for that matter, but the player does get an opportunity to battle, & even kill them.

Alucard, Dracula's confused & ingrate son, is an option, however, he has the same type of mentality besetting 'Nick Knight'; that is to say, unappreciative of the magnificent being he is, & the Dark Gift bestowal.

'Death' {Thanatos} makes a special appearance, giving Alucard a dire warning, & ends up making off with his weapons... he he he.....

After some brief scathing philosophical arguementation, in which the Dracula character makes a rather good point, the battle begins, amidst the triumphant & haunting strains of an organ.

Castlevania comes off as being a 'cross' between a movie & a videogame.

Castlevania contains magnificent scenery, & some pretty damned good music.

One major warning: Watch out for Demons!

It's Big!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 7
Date: December 26, 2003
Author: Amazon User

"Symphony of the Night" is considered the pinnacle of the Castlevania series, and with good reason. At a time when side-scrollers were falling to full 3-D games, Konami proved that there was still room for a good 2-D game in the gaming industry.

"Symphony" boasts impressive environments, huge bosses, multiple endings, creepy music, and more weapons and items than you can shake a stick at. My only problem is that it's just too much for me to remember--when I'm being mauled by Beezlebub is not the time to look up the "Dark Metamorphosis" spell. If you take the time to learn all your spells, as well as the ins-and-outs of all the Familiars, though, you won't have that big a problem.

I have just a few picks about the game:
1.) As stated before, the inventory/spell system is HUGE and can be intimidating.
2.) Voice acting. Aughh. Wish there was an option to turn the original Japanese voice acting on, like you can in "Lament of Innocence."
3.) Bosses. Bosses are typically easy, provided you have enough health-restore items. However, I frequntly found myself being turned into a bloody pulp (literally) by the sheer numbers and strength of ordinary enemies--isn't it suppossed to be the BOSSES who kill you over and over again?

Don't get me wrong, "Symphony" is one of the best Castlevania titles to date--but if you're looking for a more user-friendly Castlevania game, I suggest "Aria of Sorrow" for the Game Boy Advance.

Best New Castlevania

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: July 10, 2000
Author: Amazon User

There have been a few new Castlevania titles that have come out since the original series on NES and SNES, but the best one is definitely this game. It sticks with the original gameplay that the series started out with. It's story stays with the basics of any Castlevania game. You are a vampire hunter who must hunt down and slay Dracula by adventuring through his castle. The things I like most about the game, is the character you take control of. You are Alucard, half vampire, half human. You can use many vampire powers that you've never been able to use before. And it mixes a little bit of RPG flavor into the game by letting you use equiping options like shields, weapons, armor, and relics. The story line is also very cool. You learn the story of the connection between Alucard and Dracula(who strangly has Alucard's name backwards), and many other characters that you interact with throughout the game. I'd say it is definitely a must-have for the Playstation.

A must for Castlevania fans!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: November 12, 1999
Author: Amazon User

This game is large enough to keep you busy. It is not exactly easy but it's not impossible either. The music and graphics set the scene well. Anyone who is a fan of the old versions of Castlevania will love this game, too.

The Best in the Series

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 20, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The game turned me on to the Castlevania series. You think you're done when you beat the game, but you are NOT. It will take a hundred hours to unlock the game to its core: finding all of the hidden items, extra characters, secret passages, and familiar helpers. My only complaint is that once your character collected a certain couple of hidden items, the boss of the game (the real one) seemed too easy.
However, don't let this deter you from one of the most visually stunning 2D platformers ever. Music is elegant and haunting, and a myriad of monsters and bosses roam the absolutely gigantic castle. An excellant buy!

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