Castlevania symphony of the night

[eretsua]

A bit redundant, I know, but I love SoTN! It?s an awesome game! Personally I like the art-direction style and atmosphere of Super Metroid better but I think there is more to SoTN. The game is so deep and has so much cool little things to amaze you. Really without doubt in my mind the best Castlevania?directly followed by Aria of Sorrow for the gba. Sadly though, the English voice-overs of the European and American version are terrible! I hope that in the Jap version that is better cause boy, it really sucks!

Can you believe the fools at Konami USA, in all gross incompetence, did NOT actually want to release it in America? They didn't like the fact that it was 2D, and not very advanced. Thankfully they were proven wrong. Unfortunately I can't remember where I saw the interview stating that.

Reading that makes me wonder how many totally awesome games are still hidden in Japan?s videogames history. Games that were deemed unsuited (for what ever reason) for the American / European market and subsequently never got any (proper) attention in the west? a depressing thought.

[Duddyroar]

Can you believe the fools at Konami USA, in all gross incompetence, did NOT actually want to release it in America? They didn't like the fact that it was 2D, and not very advanced. Thankfully they were proven wrong

It could have been very different - it could have gotten the same reaction stateside as it did here. SotN sold around 15,000 copies in the UK (hence the rarity of PAL copies). And we got the limited edition CD and artwork book, too! That's a complete and utter failure.

It's amazing that the Yanks took to it like a duck to water and we rejected it. I know reviews in the UK press were lukewarm, but they weren't terrible. I remember CVG going ape**** over it and giving it five stars.

[Big Seany]

The official Playstation mag gave it 7/10 and said that it "lacked sparkle". Meanwhile, they raved over the likes of Colin ****ing Mcrae and give his rally games 10/10.

[brokeback]

personally, I'm quite glad that it didn't get amazing reviews. This is the way it should be. Having spent a lot of time working in game related jobs, I notice that this forum certainly doesn't reflect the opinions of the masses. People who buy games are generally dead-headed ****-ups who enjoy games like FIFA. This applies to the majority of mainstream magazines etc.

When a game as subtle and well crafted as this comes out it's good to know that only a handful of intelligent gamers could truly appreciate it.

http://www.rpgamer.com/games/castlev.../hellhound.jpg

[Sketcz]

Thanks for that example Seany, I like to reconcile myself to the fact that god probably killed a kitten after they did that.

Brokeback, you mean enjoy society's mass ignorance?
I'd rather everyone was up to our level. The gormless product buying public sicken me personally, and I do my best to bring them into the gaming light. Go out and convert a FIFA nut into a SOTN fan. You'll feel good about yourself afterwards.

I hope that doesn't sound snobbish, but disliking a good game because of ignorance isn't good.

[Duddyroar]

I remember the OPM review. Idiots.

EDGE gave it seven out of ten too, but as we all know in their book that means 'good'. Their review was pretty positive, if I recall.

[Geoff D]

Funnily enough, US OPM gave it a maximum score - different strokes & all that. I also remember a year or 2 back, EGM ranked it as the 2nd or 3rd best game of all time.

[brokeback]

Thanks for that example Seany, I like to reconcile myself to the fact that god probably killed a kitten after they did that.

Brokeback, you mean enjoy society's mass ignorance?
I'd rather everyone was up to our level. The gormless product buying public sicken me personally, and I do my best to bring them into the gaming light. Go out and convert a FIFA nut into a SOTN fan. You'll feel good about yourself afterwards.

I hope that doesn't sound snobbish, but disliking a good game because of ignorance isn't good.

Gosh, I wish I was as optimistic as you about the games buying public. Where do you live? happy sunshine land?
The very notion of trying to communicate on any level with a FIFA fan makes me shudder. It's not even possible. It's like the most powerful lion in the universe trying to have a meaningful conversation with the most retarded worm in the world.

[E. Randy Dupre]

Ah, elitism. Such a rare sight in this part of the forum.

[Ady]

SOTN is a superb game. When I first got it many years ago, I played for about five hours on my first go!

The music is also superb. Speaking of which, the soundtrack has an extra song that isn't anywhere in the game. It's a soft, piano-driven piece with female Japanese vocals. Is this from a part of the game that was cut from the western versions or something?

[brokeback]

Ah, elitism. Such a rare sight in this part of the forum.

Psh, this is easily the most elite part of the forum, the only difference is, it's so common place that it goes unnoticed.

[E. Randy Dupre]

It's called sarcasm, dude.

[brokeback]

SOTN is a superb game. When I first got it many years ago, I played for about five hours on my first go!

The music is also superb. Speaking of which, the soundtrack has an extra song that isn't anywhere in the game. It's a soft, piano-driven piece with female Japanese vocals. Is this from a part of the game that was cut from the western versions or something?

wasn't that the tune at the end? the track 'i am the wind'

However, if you put the playstation on with the lid up and then switch down and go to the playstaion music options, you get 3 tracks. one is a secret dialogue by alucard telling you not to bother playing the next track which is just data but the third one is a secret remix track from castlevania x.

****ing sweet man, it's this attention to detail that I love.

[Mr_Sands]

I got the Saturn version a little while back, I really was enjoying it until I got stuck, probably due to language issues. I got fustrated and stopped playing, I must remember to give it another got one day...

[brokeback]

on the subject of amazing extras on this game, when you've beaten the game, If you start a new game with the name 'richter' you get to play through the entire game with all the rpg elements removed and as richter! complete with the vampire killer whip. how awesome is that? it's like a completely different game.

Also, if you start a game with the name 'axarmor' or it might be 'axearmor' you start with a suit of armour thats usually unattainable. when you equip it, you look exacltly like the axe amour monster and you can kill bosses in super quick time but you can't jump very high.

I love this game.