Castlevania symphony of the night

[pvt_awol]

I've said it before and I'll say it again....

I love love LOVE the SoTN style games. I'm actually playing through the sorrow games right now. (In my opinion, it's the reason to own a DS)


And FWIW, I'll be buying a 3DS as soon as the Lords of Shadow 2D game hits. I can't get enough of this style of game!



Dreamcast4ever: without spoiling too much, try to figure out alternate attacks for each weapon. As others have mentioned, some of the weapons can attack in ways other than just pressing the button. Once I figured this out, it was like a whole new game. I especially like the rapier. Just sayin'.

[MrPopo]

Circle of the Moon had some challenge but overall I don't remember having any trouble with it.

I felt like CotM's difficulty mostly came from them still figuring out how it should control on the GBA. The physics and proportions are very different from the rest of the GBA games and the DS games.

[Luke]

I've never played SotN, and I'm a big Castlevania fan. Super Castelvania IV is one of my favorite games of all time, and although I've beaten the xbox and PS2 games, never played the metroidvania style games.

I need to find a copy, cheap, if that is possible.

[MrPopo]

If you have a PS3 it's cheap on the PSN.

[isiolia]

If you have a PSP, the Dracula X Chronicles includes it. It does need to be unlocked, but it's fairly trivial to do so. Plus you get Rondo of Blood in redone and original flavors (original version is also an unlock). Usually $10-15 new on Amazon.

[retrosportsgamer]

If you have a PSP, the Dracula X Chronicles includes it. It does need to be unlocked, but it's fairly trivial to do so. Plus you get Rondo of Blood in redone and original flavors (original version is also an unlock). Usually $10-15 new on Amazon.

You can this for $8 used at GameStop too.

[Hobie-wan]

I need to find a copy, cheap, if that is possible.

Konami Classics Vol 1 for 360 is an option, assuming prices didn't do something stupid since last time I looked.

[pierrot]

I started working through the Castlevania series earlier this year. It's always intrigued me, and a friend of mine in middle school was a huge fan of SOTN, so I knew about the 'twist' before I'd ever even seen the game in action. My progress through the series looks like this, though:

Castlevania (NES)-->Dracula X Chronicles (Rondo remake-->Rondo-->SOTN)-->Order of Ecclesia

While I enjoyed SOTN, and plan to play it again on the Saturn, I really prefer the old school style of Castlevania; my favorite so far being the original Rondo. The old school 'vanias just seem like a much greater accomplishment to beat. They're kind of like bullet-hell shmups in that it feels really rewarding to figure out the patterns of the enemies and bosses, and to finally beat them on a solid strategy and skill. In SOTN, I was able to run rough shot over just about every boss in the game just by running in and rambo-ing them to death. For the one boss that was actually a challenge, all I needed was a ring and boom, instant pansy.

I agree that Order of Ecclesia ramped up the difficult, but somehow I don't feel like it's a challenge, if that makes sense. Also I really hate that you can basically get stun locked to death by the enemies sometimes.

Anyway, I really need to get around to III, super IV and Bloodlines, but I definitely recommend the Dracula X Chronicles on the PSP for anyone who hasn't played Rondo/SOTN. It's a great little Castlevania collection.

[threetoed]

Those Castlevania games (and Dragon Quest) were why I bought a DS. My favorites are Circle of the Moon and Order of Ecclesia, though I believe that puts me in the minority. I also liked Castlevania 64 (it was the first one I played) and the PS2 ones, especially the second one are not as bad as people would have you believe.

How is Dracula X compared to Rondo? I hear Bloodlines is good, but a step back from IV?

[brunoafh]

My favorites are Circle of the Moon and Order of Ecclesia, though I believe that puts me in the minority.

I don't believe so, I've seen many cite those as their favorite GBA and DS Castlevania games, myself included.

How is Dracula X compared to Rondo? I hear Bloodlines is good, but a step back from IV?

Dracula X is a compilation game featuring the first official English translation of the original PC Engine Rondo of Blood game, a 2.5D remake of it, and a port of SotN. The PC Engine port as far as I can tell is spot on, the remake is kind of eh but worth a go, and I barely touched the SotN port. I've heard visually it's not very good and a mixed bag overall, but personally I can't really comment on the quality of it. Either way Dracula X is worth owning for a solid Rondo of Blood localization and a decent remake.