So I finally got around to playing Symphony of the Night...

[DemonoidTentacle]

Some backstory.

 

I never played SotN when it was released because I HEARD that it takes place straight after Rondo of Blood, and there's all these story elements to do with Rondo and you won;t understand anything blah, blah, blah.

 

Later on I found this wasn't quite true, but never really sought out the opportunity to play the game.

 

So I finished Rondo the other day (was a great game then, is a great game now) and decided to pop in my copy of SotN that I've had sitting around for a few years now.

 

Disappointed.

 

I don't know what it is. Maybe it's the decade of hype that I've been hearing about the game. I gave it 3 hours, and I'm just not that into it. Maybe it's the difficulty. Of those 3 hours I didn't die once!

 

Anyway, utterly disappointed, maybe I'll just shelve it for a VERY rainy day.

[Asaki]

I played it not too long ago, after not having had played any CV games in a long time, and it was alright. I didn't like it as much as soon of the later titles, but I managed to finish it.

[Reaperman]

I'm a huge fan, but I always liked the Saturn version a little more. Granted I couldn't understand enough japanese to navigate the Alucard menus, but the two extra playable characters available from the start really added to the experience for me. Playing Maria is like rolling over the game in a tank.

 

IIRC some of the music was redone for it as well, and helped make up for it being slightly less pretty than the PSX version.

 

I find SOTN to have a better story than any other CV game I've played, and liked that there was a lot of territory to explore, but the bulk of the game isn't especially difficult. I don't mind, and suspect that bit is borrowed from the Metroid formula.

 

 

Edited December 16, 2011 by Reaperman

[CGQuarterly]

SOTN was great when it came out (and still is in my opinion), but every subsequent Casltevania game has aped SOTN's style and gameplay elements, so it doesn't seem as cool if you're just now playing it for the first time. Also, the game is less about difficulty and more about exploration, with its non-linear, open layout.

 

Chris

[ahuffman]

It's a great game, and one of the Playstation games that I feel is just as good today as it was then. Having said that, I still prefer Super Castlevania IV myself.

[Emehr]

Symphony is to the original Castlevania as Super Mario Bros is to Super Mario 64. If you can come to terms that it is a different game, you may enjoy it more.

[Lastcallhall]

The game itself isn't hard, and it's definitely one of the more accessable "metroid-vania" titles out there (The GBA and DS games just lose my interest), but yeah I can see your disappointment, especially coming off of Rondo. I bought the Castlevania Chronicles for the PSP, and I definitely enjoyed Rondo more than SOTN. That isn't to say it's a bad game - I had lots of fun trying to get to 200.6% on it, and it was neat to play as a non-Belmont for a change (Although I did have fun as Richter after I beat the game), but it just didn't gel like Rondo did. I say give it a shot - it's not hard to beat the first castle, and if you're not into it by then, then walk away before heading to the inverted castle.

[StanJr]

Wow, it's still one of my favorite games of all time and definitely one from that era. I can pretty much play it whenever. The fun for me isn't the difficulty, it is the exploration and trying to find all the weapons and secrets and leveling up the familiars.

 

But, it simply proves to each his own. Like when I say I cannot get into Star Tropics, Earthbound, or Secret of Mana.

[+save2600]

Yeah, I couldn't get into this at all either. Bought it the other month thinking I had lost out all these years when I gave up on the PS1 in the mid 90's. Nope. Not at all. And I especially HATE the ridiculously long re-play sequence the damn game forces you to sit through. Blech.

 

I'd love to sell my copy actually if anyone is interested... mint condition G.H. version)

[mbd30]

I never got into this one either. I got bored. And the difficulty did seem frustrating.

 

I prefer the more linear "arcadey" Castlevania, I guess.

[Pixelboy]

SOTN is more for explorers and completists than players who are looking for a challenge. It's one of my favorite games of all times.

[thegamezmaster]

To each his own I guess. At least if you don't like it they still sell pretty well IIRC.

[guy767]

The easy difficulty ruins an otherwise masterpiece of a game IMO. I haven’t played it in years but I recall breezing through all the bosses and levels; the weapons and powerups just make you ridiculously too powerful.

 

The incredible art design and superb music is what makes the game legendary and unforgettable; it will always have a special place in my collection that's for certain. It's just a shame the game is so unbalanced IMO

Edited December 23, 2011 by guy767

[Austin]

Anyone who complains about this game being too easy needs to take a day to speed run this game (to the best of your ability). It will be much more challenging when you get to bosses and are not leveled-up properly. It's fun.

[guy767]

I believe I did try speed running the game; several times in fact and I still found it too easy. The game simply is unbalanced and easily exploitable IMO.

 

What makes this so conspicuous is the difficulty of the other Castlevania games that came before it; SOtN is cakewalk compared to the previous installments.

 

SOtN is a true classic because of the remarkable art design and incredible music; one can easily forgive the easy difficulty because of them. It’s a true masterpiece indeed but there’s no denying that the game is unbalanced and way too easy IMO

[Asaki]

I didn't think the game was that easy...not as difficult as Circle of the Moon or Rondo of Blood, but still not that easy, especially after reaching the inverted castle.

 

But maybe that's because I don't know much about the game, so I don't end up "exploiting" it and using the best weapons/armor etc. like everyone else does. In fact, most of the time I end up favoring fast weapons over the more powerful weapons.

[Reaperman]

But maybe that's because I don't know much about the game, so I don't end up "exploiting" it and using the best weapons/armor etc. like everyone else does. In fact, most of the time I end up favoring fast weapons over the more powerful weapons.

Those who find the 'transform into invincible poison mist' button tend to use it--at least I do. Edited December 27, 2011 by Reaperman

[retrorussell]

I haven't played all the other CV games because I didn't have those consoles (Super NES, N64, etc.) so I didn't know what to compare it to other than the original CV games. But I always loved SOTN and liked exploring the levels, finding all the items the enemies drop, getting all the weapons, and especially exploring the glitched areas outside the castle to up my percentage. I really enjoy getting ridiculous mileage out of games, and SOTN really delivered for me. The only real downers with this game for me was some of the voice acting (Alucard sounds like Bill Walton!) and you can easily get stuck when exploring outside.. plus, when you play as Richter, some areas you simply can't pass (or are bat-sh*t hard!). Still, I really enjoy this game. Up there with FF7, Resident Evil, Wild Arms, etc., IMO.

[Eltigro]

I bought this one when it first came out. Loved it and played it a lot. I've always liked the Castlevania series, and this was great. (only 3D one I've ever played is the latest one for 360 though)

 

But I got this on XBLA and played it some. It just doesn't hold my interest like it used to. I still think it's a fun game, but the Metroid-vania style of the game has been refined so much since this one, that I just got bored with it this time around.

 

I still think it is/was a great game and deserving of its accolades, but, for me at least, it hasn't withstood the test of time.

[Emehr]

It makes me wonder why the term "Metroid-vania" caught on and not "Castle-roid".

[Eltigro]

I think Castle-roid is an actual medical malady in Romania...

[+Cobra Kai]

I loved the game when it was released, got the 204% and put the game away. Years after I began to really hate it though, I simply cannot find enjoyment with SotN anymore, as I find it particularly annoying that gameplay consists of running back and forth through the same pathways over and over again. Backtracking sucks, and it was annoying when it was employed in Simon's Quest. It's what ruined the series for me after it was all said and done with. The beauty of the Castlevania games was the linear path IMHO, with Castlevania III offering us the branching paths, that is truly the best game of the series. It's too bad we'll never see another classic linear style Castlevania game, since the guy (Iga) who runs that show doesn't like the classic games.

[cimerians]

SOTN was one of the finest games to come out in the 90's. I also got over 200% in it.

 

Today I really don't have the patience for any type of 'roid games.

[Emehr]

I think Castle-roid is an actual medical malady in Romania...

Yes, it's from sitting on the throne for too long.

[Rex Dart]

...I find it particularly annoying that gameplay consists of running back and forth through the same pathways over and over again...

 

Funny to hear coming from a guy who named himself after Pacman.

Edited December 28, 2011 by Rex Dart