Symphony of the Night, still a classic

Post by **ZenLogikos** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 11:09 pm

Great link, Radar. A few titles listed were new to me. Definitely keeping an eye on many of them.

Post by **Gamerforlife** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 11:22 pm

For the record, my opinion of SOTN has nothing to do with nostalgia. I think it's still an impressive game by today's standards. I'm not saying it's BETTER than the newer Castlevania games, because I haven't played them. So I don't know if it is or not, but it's a great game on its own merits and still kicks the crap out of many modern 2-d games in my opinion. It's far better than Odin Sphere for example, and has just as much quality as many 2-d classics that came out years after its release, like Viewtiful Joe, Alien Hominid, Contra:Shattered Soldier and it's far better than the latter Mega Man X games.

Regardless of whether or not the newer Castlevania games are better, doesn't change SOTN's classic status. A great game is a great game. I would not vote for the original Mega Man X as the best in the series, but it's still fun to play. So it's still a classic in my eyes.

Just my opinion

Post by **Ivo** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:19 am

What is it with the hate for handhelds? I like gaming, and I like handhelds. Instead of getting bored on commutes, or waiting somewhere for something, just while away the time doing something you like - gaming. And that is possible thanks to handhelds.

It is not the fault of the existance of handhelds that certain games aren't made for "desktop" consoles.

Ivo.

Post by **Doctor Fugue** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:18 pm

Ivo wrote:What is it with the hate for handhelds? I like gaming, and I like handhelds. Instead of getting bored on commutes, or waiting somewhere for something, just while away the time doing something you like - gaming. And that is possible thanks to handhelds.

It is not the fault of the existance of handhelds that certain games aren't made for "desktop" consoles.

Ivo.

I guess I never feel the need to play something while I'm out and about doing things. I drive myself everywhere so I can't play during travel, either. When I'm going somewhere by plane is pretty much the only time I take something to do. Handhelds' portability just doesn't appeal to me.

It is obviously difficult to say whether or not as many 2D games would still get made (especially before the popularity of things like XBLA) without handhelds existing. I just like to imagine that a company like Treasure would have MORE time to devote to full, big, beautiful games for home consoles/arcades instead of making games like Bangai-O Spirits and Gunstar Super Heroes. I would be much happier if those came to the big screen. I feel forced to buy a handheld just to play them, which is not a good feeling.

I also find handhelds to be extremely uncomfortable to use with my massive hands.

Post by **ott0bot** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:30 pm

Doctor Fugue wrote:
Ivo wrote:What is it with the hate for handhelds? I like gaming, and I like handhelds. Instead of getting bored on commutes, or waiting somewhere for something, just while away the time doing something you like - gaming. And that is possible thanks to handhelds.

It is not the fault of the existance of handhelds that certain games aren't made for "desktop" consoles.

Ivo.
I guess I never feel the need to play something while I'm out and about doing things. I drive myself everywhere so I can't play during travel, either. When I'm going somewhere by plane is pretty much the only time I take something to do. Handhelds' portability just doesn't appeal to me.

It is obviously difficult to say whether or not as many 2D games would still get made (especially before the popularity of things like XBLA) without handhelds existing. I just like to imagine that a company like Treasure would have MORE time to devote to full, big, beautiful games for home consoles/arcades instead of making games like Bangai-O Spirits and Gunstar Super Heroes. I would be much happier if those came to the big screen. I feel forced to buy a handheld just to play them, which is not a good feeling.

I also find handhelds to be extremely uncomfortable to use with my massive hands.

I'm not a fan of handhelds either. I can't stand staring at the little screens...they drive me nuts. I was considering getting a GBA player for my Gamecube and out of all the hand helds I thought the PSP felt most comfortable and had the nicest screen. I have to drive to work and I don't have alot of free time the way it is. Maybe if I travelled alot or took the rail or bus.....but thats not the case. I just can't see investing my time in a hand held at home either when I've got so many systems at my disposal. Plus there's MAME. If they make a system where the hand held games are fully playable on...then I may pick that up. Until then i'll just be missing out on some decent games.

Post by **Majors** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:32 pm

Is it your hands or the fact the handhelds are made for 8-10 year old Japanese school kids?

I have an old school GBA that I re-discovered just to play the two (good) Castlevania games. You know, the ones that play just like SotN. I'm wanting a DS for the three new ones also, but the Doc is right about the hand cramps.

Post by **Gamerforlife** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:04 pm

Yeah, I pretty much agree about what's been said regarding handhelds. I mean, I know there are great games available on portable systems, but I'd be much happier if they were released on bigger consoles, with bigger controls and bigger screen for me to play them on. The smallness of everything annoys me, and like the Doctor said, when I'm out of the house I don't have time for gaming. I only get to game when I'm at home, so portables have little use for me. I do own a Gameboy Advance and a Gameboy SP though, but they just collect dust.

It's great that Treasure has sequels to some of their better games on the portables. I mean it's better than not getting them at all I guess, but I'm told they're not much better than the originals(or even as good as them) so I'd much rather play Guardian Heroes, Gunstar Heroes and Bangaio on a decent size tv with comfortable controls than bother with their pint sized sequels.

I know some defend handhelds as the last bastion of old school 2-d gaming, but a lot of the games on the Xbox 360's Live Arcade service tell a different story. Part of me also hates handhelds because Nintendo has used their success with the handheld market as an excuse to not try harder to make their last two consoles more successful. Without that crutch, I bet we would have seen them do a whole lot more with the N64 and the Cube

Post by **RyaNtheSlayA** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:54 pm

Majors wrote:Is it your hands or the fact the handhelds are made for 8-10 year old Japanese school kids?

I have an old school GBA that I re-discovered just to play the two (good) Castlevania games. You know, the ones that play just like SotN. I'm wanting a DS for the three new ones also, but the Doc is right about the hand cramps.

just to put it out their if you ask me i think most handhelds are uncomfortable but their were/are some better ones out their. IMO the Neo Geo Pocket/Color has the best design, fallowed most likely by the PSP or PSP Slim, the Slim is odly comfortable despite the fact that i have large hands. On subject though their have only been a couple Castlevanias ive really gotten into which are 1. Portrait of Ruin (DS), 2. SOTN (PSone), 3. Dracula X Chronicals (PSP). The DS games are probably the closest thing ive played to SOTN but Portrait of Ruin really stood out for me. Also how does the Japanese SATURN SOTN compare to the USA PSone version?

Post by **Gamerforlife** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:58 pm

RyaNtheSlayA wrote:
Majors wrote:Is it your hands or the fact the handhelds are made for 8-10 year old Japanese school kids?

I have an old school GBA that I re-discovered just to play the two (good) Castlevania games. You know, the ones that play just like SotN. I'm wanting a DS for the three new ones also, but the Doc is right about the hand cramps.
just to put it out their if you ask me i think most handhelds are uncomfortable but their were/are some better ones out their. IMO the Neo Geo Pocket/Color has the best design, fallowed most likely by the PSP or PSP Slim, the Slim is odly comfortable despite the fact that i have large hands. On subject though their have only been a couple Castlevanias ive really gotten into which are 1. Portrait of Ruin (DS), 2. SOTN (PSone), 3. Dracula X Chronicals (PSP). The DS games are probably the closest thing ive played to SOTN but Portrait of Ruin really stood out for me. Also how does the Japanese SATURN SOTN compare to the USA PSone version?

Saturn version has more content, yet surprisingly doesn't perform as well as the USA PSone version. This sort of makes the Saturn version something of a black sheep in its library in my opinion. I mean, how the hell do you let the PS1 outperform you in 2d!? According to wikipedia(which actually covers this in detail), Igarashi has expressed his disdain for the Sega Saturn version. The PS1 version is the basis of the both the PSP port and the 360 one, so it seems to be the favorite. Personally, with the Saturn version's performance issues, the 360 version's removal of the castle cutscenes, and the annoying glitches that the PSP version supposedly has, I still say the PS1 version is the definitive one. Anyway, here's where I got my info from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlevani ... _the_Night

Frankly, I'm amazed at how many versions of this game there are now. I mean the PS1 version, the Saturn version, the 360 version and the PSP version are all different in some way. A hardcore Castlevania fan would have to own them all.

Post by **RyaNtheSlayA** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:36 pm

Gamerforlife wrote:
RyaNtheSlayA wrote:
Majors wrote:Is it your hands or the fact the handhelds are made for 8-10 year old Japanese school kids?

I have an old school GBA that I re-discovered just to play the two (good) Castlevania games. You know, the ones that play just like SotN. I'm wanting a DS for the three new ones also, but the Doc is right about the hand cramps.
just to put it out their if you ask me i think most handhelds are uncomfortable but their were/are some better ones out their. IMO the Neo Geo Pocket/Color has the best design, fallowed most likely by the PSP or PSP Slim, the Slim is odly comfortable despite the fact that i have large hands. On subject though their have only been a couple Castlevanias ive really gotten into which are 1. Portrait of Ruin (DS), 2. SOTN (PSone), 3. Dracula X Chronicals (PSP). The DS games are probably the closest thing ive played to SOTN but Portrait of Ruin really stood out for me. Also how does the Japanese SATURN SOTN compare to the USA PSone version?
Saturn version has more content, yet surprisingly doesn't perform as well as the USA PSone version. This sort of makes the Saturn version something of a black sheep in its library in my opinion. I mean, how the hell do you let the PS1 outperform you in 2d!? According to wikipedia(which actually covers this in detail), Igarashi has expressed his disdain for the Sega Saturn version. The PS1 version is the basis of the both the PSP port and the 360 one, so it seems to be the favorite. Personally, with the Saturn version's performance issues, the 360 version's removal of the castle cutscenes, and the annoying glitches that the PSP version supposedly has, I still say the PS1 version is the definitive one. Anyway, here's where I got my info from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlevani ... _the_Night

Frankly, I'm amazed at how many versions of this game there are now. I mean the PS1 version, the Saturn version, the 360 version and the PSP version are all different in some way. A hardcore Castlevania fan would have to own them all.

The PSP version is nice but i went ahead and spent the money to get the original off of PSN. 10 bux versus 40 for what i wanted to play, i mean Dracula X Chronicals is great but the original SOTN is the only reason i would buy it.