A Miserable Little Pile of Secrets

Die Monster,

Last Wednesday, a game came to Xbox Live Marketplace and it was good. And IGA said unto them, "Play this game, be fruitful and multiply." The lesson here is as follows: If you own a 360 and do not but Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, you are going to have to stop being my friend. For $10 it is a steal, especially because you cannot find it for nearly that much on Amazon or similar sites. Besides, if enough people buy it, we might just convince Konami that a next-gen 2D CV is viable. Here's to hoping!

SotN, as its friends call it, was something of a rogue in its time. The year was 1997. While Sony was pushing 3D games for its fledgling Playstation, spurning two dimensions as a thing of the past, Koji Igarashi dared to make a high quality sidescroller. While the vast majority of PS1 games really show their age today, Symphony is almost as good now as it was then.

The game is turning point for the series; it forgoes the traditional level based structure of its predecessors and offers a large, interconnected castle that can cleared be at will. Much like Super Metroid, whose influence is evident throughout, the game rewards exploration, often with power-ups that allow greater mobility; as you accumulate these abilities, more of the map becomes available.

Symphony also marks the first occasion where a Belmont is not the main character; rather you play as Alucard, son of Dracula and fan-favorite badass with daddy-issues. Al travels to Drac's castle to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Richter Belmont, hero of Rondo of Blood/Dracula X. Along the way you meet Maria, also from Rondo, and assorted other characters who don't really matter all that much. The story is pretty basic, but does feature some of the most memorable voice-acting in all of gaming. It is totally horrible and over-the-top, but in a hilarious, endearing sort of way.

Control is pretty tight, though I have heard bad things about the 360's D-pad. Hopefully it won't pose too much of a problem.

RPG elements are introduced to Castlevania with this title as well. As you play, you gain experience points for defeating enemies and consequently become more powerful as the game progress. This is a welcome edition, but not completely well implemented; as you obtain higher levels, there becomes almost no point to fighting the weaker enemies as they yield little experience. Thankfully this is not too big an issue, especially if you are the collecting type. There are hundreds of items in the game, from health restoratives to projectiles to armor and no matter how much you play there always seem to be more you haven't seen. You can put various equipment for stat bonuses as well. Money is also collected for purchasing maps, spells, weapons and the like from the librarian, giving the game more depth and replay value than previous CVs.

Graphically, the game holds up pretty well. Alucard's animation in particular is very smooth and the different area's of the castle are nicely detailed. There are many great touches like the family of birds near the bottom of the Tower of Mist, or the confessional booth in the Chapel. Effects are also well done for the most part. The sky in the Chapel actually looks pretty bad if I remember; there are some bits through the game that just look crappy but overall it is aesthetically pleasing.

Aurally, the game is amazing. While the sound effects are not particularly spectacular, the game has one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard. Working on a CD-based system, Michiru Yamane has crafted a score of incredible quality and range. From the rocking Clocktower to the mournful Chapel to the stunning piano of Olrox's Quarters, every piece is instantly recognizable and completely awesome. Castlevania is a series known for its great music and this is certainly no exception.

Like most CV games, Symphony is packed full of nostalgia for long-time series fans. Familiar enemies abound and many scenes evoke previous titles. Hell, the entire opening is the end of Rondo of Blood.

There are a couple of surprises in store for intrepid players. The biggest one really artificially extends play time, but it is a nice touch. Not to mention that after beating that part, Richter become playable which is appreciated.

Avoid the Saturn version, though that should be easy because it was never released in America. Apparently the 360 version has a few minor sound issues, but don't let that deter you.

I played Aria of Sorrow (personal favorite CV) and Dawn of Sorrow before I played SotN, both of which follow its formula. I think this gives me a unique perspective on things. While later games certainly do some things better (SOULS!!!), it is impossible to deny Symphony's quality or importance. Very highly recommended.

But Belmont's power is supreme among vampire hunters,
Alucard