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April 8, 2010 at 4:38 pm
i just got symphony of the night it is awsome a littel challenging but good all togeather
April 9, 2010 at 12:01 am
Bloodlines was good, Symphony of The Night is awesome. Haven’t played most of the new ones and I have been itching to play Castlevania – The Arcade if somebody would import it over here or one of the Wii games is it, just renamed.
The WiiWare title “Castlevania the Adventure Rebirth” goes back to the old Linear style we grew up with, but is lacking the eight directional whip style from Super Castlevania IV. There was also a remake for the arcade in 1988 called “Haunted Castle” or “Akuma-Jou Dracula” by Konami themselves, but despite the graphic improvements it didn’t feel like the old-school games we grew up with since we had to pump quarters into the machine.
Thanks James for this awesome coverage.
April 9, 2010 at 7:29 am
aria of sorrow gba its awesome – both ps2 games – all of the ds titles – psp title are ALL GOOD!!! judgment and rebirth are short but great, the Japanese arcade is good its like playing the house of the dead,… the rest are disappointing….
LORDS OF SHADOW is gonna kick some serious butt!!!
rise your drinks and heres for the CASTLEVANIA legacy as we know it! and the director of Saw is working on the new movie…
April 11, 2010 at 12:42 am
im currently playing sotn. cool game.
April 12, 2010 at 4:55 pm
I loved Symphony of the night. downloaded it for the 360 and so far my favorite weapon is the crissegrim. I think that is how it is spelled. With one button press you get 6 hits. It is evil weapon
April 14, 2010 at 12:59 am
You are a master at cinematography. Your passion shows up in every little detail like a supernova. I’ve watched all your films… Mostly drunk, when I needed something to occupy my mind before bed, but I love it. I love when ones passion shines through in the way they express themselves. You, James, are living your dream. You are the: Hitchcock, Cameron, Kramer, of us folk who love just the same that you do. Good artistic merit, and honest, demiurgic avidity, that you are. . . I’ll keep watching, as long as you keep making. Cheers James!
~Scott
April 21, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Hey AVGN, are you wanting a classic style castlevania that was made with updated graphics for the PSOne? Go check out Castlevania: Chronicles in arranged mode and prepare to be blown away!
April 21, 2010 at 4:30 pm
wow. jsut wow. this looks great. now that i have to get.
April 27, 2010 at 3:18 pm
SOTN is available for download on the PS3 ….just an fyi.
May 2, 2010 at 9:46 pm
My favorite episode…PERIOD!
May 4, 2010 at 8:54 pm
wow, best set of videos ever! you made me want to play castlevania… and no apart from a demo of the ps1 version i havent played castlevania…. now ive got my reason and motivation, thank YOU!
May 7, 2010 at 10:46 pm
The end of the video is so nostalgic.Castlevania is Konami best days.Just like megaman for Capcom.
May 9, 2010 at 12:10 am
Dude, you should do a review of the legacy of cain series. They are great games and it would be cool to see what you have to say about them. Seriously.
May 24, 2010 at 5:10 pm
I neeeed that title card. *steals*
May 29, 2010 at 6:50 pm
RE: spike007——
I payed 40 bux for The CHRONICLES arranged version, its nothing more but better music from the original version (simons theme in arranged version is awesome!), and a better designed Simon and Dracula. Collectors Item? YES Indeed, but nothing more. The ending was so lame cause you dont get to see anything else but the castle crumbling. I rather play CAS-4 o the 1st nes title.
————
oh I forgot: PLEASE DO NOT PLAY THE ONES FOR THE ORIGINAL GAMEBOY! UNLESS YOU HAVE AN EMULATOR… SERIOUSLY!!!
-Castlevania Adventure and Castlevania 2 Belmonts Revenge.
I FUCKING HATE THOSE GAMES!! THOSE ARE HARD specially when you fight Drac on both games! and main character Christopher is too slow. He can jump and climb into the rope and shoot balls from the whip but… thats it!
LEGENDS its a descent title, but it was removed from the original time-line (you’ll know why after you reached level 5). But I recommend it!
Sonia also shoots balls from “her whip”
Hahahha,,, shoot balls from the whip…. XD
June 20, 2010 at 7:12 am
I watched this 4 episode so many times, I downloaded some of the music and purchased SotN (and I’m about to buy Super Castlevania IV for the virtual console) that I feel I knew this game for a long time. I become to like this series! Thank you, James for sharing your memories it’s like they were mine. I figured out why I was a c64, then an amiga, then a PC games. The real NES and SNES were not really available in my country when it was a great hit and I had to play with other kind of games. Now as an adult I see what I missed… Thank you again, James!
July 1, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Whenever Alucard is mentioned, I can’t help but think of the Alucard from Helsing
July 14, 2010 at 6:41 pm
I think Symphony of the Night is over hyped. I enjoyed it but it was too easy. Bloodlines is a masterpiece like the early ones. A Genesis classic. I’m getting it soon. That’s the only old school one I lack. Finally completing my Genesis collection.
July 14, 2010 at 6:45 pm
There’s a trick you can perform in SOTN to skip the death cutscene and keep the weapons you start with. Lots of fun to play with.
July 20, 2010 at 1:56 am
I never knew you did the forth video! I was so looking forward to your take on SOTN. Yes I played all the games before and had fond memories of them, but SOTN had to be my favorite. Not because of it’s style, but for me it’s kind of a “create your own” Castelvania. Sure you can be ungodly powerful, but you can also be very weak and make a huge challange out of it.
I did like your view for the most part, but I think you should have showed a bit more of the weapons in SOTN. There are TONS. More ways to attack then there are monsters in the game. Dozens of swords, daggers, maces each with normal attacks and special attacks with button combos. Attack items, attack shields, magic attacks, special form attacks, pets, pet levels, pet attack combinations. It’s just madness.
July 24, 2010 at 7:20 am
I agree that Super Castlevania IV is one of the best games the SNES has in it’s Library, but I want to correct something you are a little wrong at..
You said that in the Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Dracula’s Castle emerges from a Solar Eclipse, that happened in it’s Prequel “Aria of Sorrow”
The Dawn of Sorrow plays out in an abandoned Village of some sort, hunting down a cult that wants to ressurrect Dracula through candidates that was born the same day dracula was killed
July 30, 2010 at 2:01 am
See you can review good games and still make funny great videos. Like you I did not have a playstation and stuck with Genisis and Nintendo. So I’m now playing Symphony of the night for the 1st time………..on my 360. Thx Konami. I can’t find dawn of sorrows, one I’ve really wanted to play on my ds.
August 1, 2010 at 12:34 am
I’m completely with you man. Super Castlevania IV was the best of the series.
August 4, 2010 at 5:53 am
As much as i like all the Castlevania games well except the N64 version that if you ask me sucked the one i like the most is Symphony of the night.It takes a new direction and that was a little more fun for me.BTW ill give you a hint on how to beat the first boss.But first you have to find the leather shield.Without it you wont stand a chance against the flying vampire.When you start fighting the boss make sure you kill the one with the spear first because he’s the easier.When he gets hit the flying vampire takes him up and lets him down with him hitting the ground with the spear.And this is where i find the Dash useful.Its easier to dodge the attack after you hit him but you gotta be close to him and then you hit him again.Eventually he will lose his spear and then when you kill him you will level up.After that you just have to defend with the shield from the bat.And strike when you have the chance.Eventually the batpire will turn red and become powerful.But you keep defending with the shield and he will be beaten.BTW in the beggining whatever you do dont equip the red sword.Its the weaker one and it takes x3 times more hits than the short sword.
August 4, 2010 at 2:58 pm
James, you said that since SOTN, Castlevania has taken on the feel of Super Metroid. This is true. However, there is a downloadable Wii game called Castlevania:The Adventure ReBirth. It goes back to the linear style the first games had, you don’t fall into pits quite as much, and it’s extremely challenging. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be a remake, but it’s very good either way.
August 6, 2010 at 1:12 am
IMHO the greatest games ever (even Simon’s Quest haha).
Thanks once again, I’ve enjoyed your videos for years.
August 12, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Epic … *sight* I just can’t get enough of those Castlevania video’s of yours. And then I switch to the Zelda vids ^^ Keep on rocking, dude
August 18, 2010 at 4:25 pm
oh man that was awesome i hope you do one of these on zelda or another long running series
August 24, 2010 at 1:35 pm
This video is why i bought Castlevania SOTN.
August 26, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Hey James!
I would like to hear your thoughts of the new Castlevania game, Lords of Shadow, once it’s out. It looks like the first 3D Castlevania that will be awesome…
September 24, 2010 at 8:30 am
I agree, but it’s the other way around for me. First Symphony, and close second CastleVania 4.
September 26, 2010 at 1:42 pm
There’s also the WiiWare game, Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth. I got it recently and I haven’t gone very far yet but basically it’s a prequel to the first one (again) that revives that side-scrolling timed level feel from the older games, but of course has pretty long levels and very good graphics. I had some trouble with it at first because it uses the up+attack method for throwing weapons and I was using the “nunchuk” controller. It turns out to be way better to go old-school and hold the wiimote sideways. When you do that it’s just like the old NES. A (well 2) to jump, B (1) to attack.
I got SOTN and Chronicles for my Playstation years ago after reading some castlevania nostalgia pages. Set me back a pretty penny because they were more used than they had been new because of collectors. But well worth it.
October 12, 2010 at 9:58 pm
BEAUTIFUL !!!!! AS I PLAYED THE GAME IN MY CHILDHOOD, I LOVE CASTLEVANIA 4
October 14, 2010 at 12:52 am
Can’t wait for your review of Castlevania Lords of Shadow. First time me and my roommate played it and our balls were blown off. My roommate is the master while I just got started. I was impressed.
October 17, 2010 at 4:34 am
I really can’t hate ya for not liking SOTN or Castlevania on the 64. I’m surprised some of you guys like Super C 4 most I heard were bad reviews.
October 22, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Loved the music at the end. Nostalgia, sweet nostalgia.
October 24, 2010 at 4:26 pm
James you know that there is new Castlevania called Caslevania lords of shadow witch is what I think you want I have it and it is the best Castlevania game in my opinion.
October 26, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Great review James! I love your vids and i love the Castlevania series!
Maybe one day you could do the review of Castlevania Lords of Shadow, just like you did with xbox 360 Ghostbusters!
October 27, 2010 at 1:05 am
@PaladinDemo – He won’t review the new one. He play’s the shitty games that suck ass, not the new improved versions of those!!!
@jeager199 – He never said he didn’t like SOTN. He only reviewed it to show how he was looking in the wrong place for new, improved Castlevania, where Nintendo fucked up and Sony got it right, at least shaking if not stiring his (kinda) biased love for Nintendo.
October 27, 2010 at 11:59 pm
Sympathy of the Night DOES look cool, except for Death taking away your weapons and the saved game option.
Analbag. XD
4:46- Dracula’s heads look like ones from xenomorphs (Alien films).
Awesome ending.
November 6, 2010 at 11:26 am
review the new castlevania you wil be pleast ist good game do that cya
November 21, 2010 at 11:31 am
I frigging love your videos james! Watching you got me into retro video games, actually. I never would of played games like mega man, castlevania, the original legend of zelda if it weren’t for you.
On top of that, I know alot about the history of games and the evolution of the industry itself, which helps alot if you want a career in that field.
November 25, 2010 at 5:24 pm
or make review about resident evil series
December 5, 2010 at 8:25 pm
It seems like the older consoles are what made Castlevania god. With Symphony of the Night, Yeah, Alucard was OK, but I like the Belmonts better, cause I’m used to a Whip.
December 11, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Hell yes, PlayStation! True, does have way too much item ‘n stuff to think about, it takes a long time to get the good old whip, and the classic feel of a hero is fading. And yes, the whole game takes place inside a castle, but isn’t that why the game is called “Castle+vania” and not Cemeteryvania or Sewervania?
Anyway, I like this game’s crispy effects and design and it’s step away from the Nintendo games, I mean, it’s for the PlayStation, it’s originality is for the best.
Great marathon, lovely to get a different and clean critic perspective of the games.
December 20, 2010 at 4:52 am
It’s too bad you didn’t get to Circle of the Moon on the GBA. When that came out I was completely blown away by the quality of the music, graphics and game. That prayer-style intro song was unfathomably better than anything I could’ve expected. Furthermore, it’s the only Metroidvania style game to present a solid challenge as you don’t have nearly as many gimmicks and abilities as in others, such as SotN and Dawn of Sorrow.
December 20, 2010 at 4:58 am
Also, just like to add that I love this 4-part series, even if your opinions differ from my own. I’d love to see a similar retrospective detailing the Mega Man or Metroid series. Dare I say, but I think I enjoy the videos of games you love playing more than the games you hate, like Ninja Gaiden and Mario 3 =)
December 27, 2010 at 11:46 pm
James, there needs to be a “Best of AVGN” Quotes spot on your blog. I have an entry: (Castlevania Part 1 minute 6 second 19) The game’s like a test. A test… to the shit.
January 25, 2011 at 11:30 am
That ending stirred my heart, I got goosebumps just listening to the music. All of us that grew up with the video game industry share a bond that the children today sadly won’t be able to grasp. Back when story and gameplay drove video games and graphics were just a bonus.
And the music…god the music…I’ll be hearing the music from my childhood games in my head til the day I die.
February 11, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Yo dawg i heard you like games so i putted game in your game
landed on top gun
Nice videos! good that there is site to play NES games (challenging myself with things that you say
April 11, 2011 at 6:59 pm
Wow, that end montage was beautiful. i actually started to cry…
June 16, 2011 at 2:59 pm
hey avgn, you can keep alucards weapons that death takes…. simply use the back dash ability as soon as you enter the room death is in…. when you re-enter the room he is gone and you get to keep the good equipment
July 13, 2011 at 1:28 pm
so great, love your videos
July 15, 2011 at 6:46 pm
2:00-2:20 gave me a fucking boner. Best AVGN moment
July 24, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Memories that will last forever…. \m/
August 5, 2011 at 11:16 am
2:00-2:20 gave me..like Bulbo said a fucking boner !. Best AVGN moment
August 5, 2011 at 11:06 pm
I don’t see what’s so amazing about 2:00-2:20. It’s cool, I guess. But Johan_77 and Bulbo made it sound so amazing.
August 9, 2011 at 1:43 am
I’m just glad he didn’t criticize alot of castlevania symphony of the night, a game you played on your whole childhood is worth getting a great positive part, while the game over screen scared me as a kid, but you just ran over it was admittingly hilarious, also for a little entertainment, you can actually move the words on the loading screen, what i liked about the game was the music and the fact it had alot of secrets even i don’t even know, but mostly its a game i grew up with, and because he reviewed it in this video, my life is complete.
August 18, 2011 at 10:53 pm
The part of the credits with Ricter fighting Dracula with maria cowering in the corner. Isn’t that the original Dracula X?
August 27, 2011 at 11:16 pm
I’m actually trying to get my hands on a copy of Symphony Of The Night, But damn. It’s really hard to get, and to make it even harder I’ll have to get the PAL version…
September 4, 2011 at 9:11 am
Order of Ecclesia is kind of a return to form. Or at least, it sort of lands on some middle ground.
September 9, 2011 at 12:04 pm
Wow..memories man..memories..those games really had an impact on our youths didnt it? The good old days of gaming,well mostly lol
September 10, 2011 at 6:06 pm
I have been playing through the Castlevania series and I find my favorite to be Super Castlevania IV, but the original Castlevania is a close second. I absolutely hate Bloodlines though, I am probably a minority on that one.
September 12, 2011 at 8:00 pm
I’m pretty sure Castlevania Rebirth on the WiiWare shop takes a more classic approach, and is supposed to be pretty good. You should give it a look man.
September 16, 2011 at 5:10 pm
And again, the end nearly makes me cry…
September 18, 2011 at 8:01 pm
Symphony was really my first Castlevania game on the XBLA…I missed out on a lot. I was around during the NES era, but I never got into Castlevania, thinking it was one of those games everyone else played, or that I was too young for it. I REALLY regret that.
I like how a lot of the arguments James made were expanded upon by Egoraptor. The idea that making a simple linear game meant that challenges could be placed based on a predicted path the player could take, rather than non-linear where enemies are just obsticles in the way.
October 10, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Playstation 1 also has a game called Castlevania Chronicles, I have never played it, but im sure you can get your hands on it.
October 14, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Man, Ive probably watched these videos 10 times apiece but they never get old. Ever since they first came out in 09 Ive watched them every Halloween to get in the spirit. 2011 is no exception.
October 15, 2011 at 5:11 am
You can skip the Game Over screen by tapping the X button a few times, but nonetheless it still takes forever to get back to the main menu
November 27, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Awwwww. The ending was lovely.
December 11, 2011 at 3:48 am
sotn is an awesome game but honestly too big for me, will probably never beat it I get bored after a while. it’s too complicated really.
December 12, 2011 at 8:50 am
He didn’t actually review the three Castlevanias on the Game Boy…
I think he should someday make some follow ups to the castlevania serie, such as he did for the Back to the Future Game. Even if it take’s him several years between each review sequel
Something like:
Castlevania Part V: The Game Boy
*Castlevania Adventure
*Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge
*Castlevania Legends
Castlevania Part VI: The GBA
*Circle of the Moon
*Harmony of Dissonance
*Aria of Sorrow
Castlevania Part VII: the DS (for this one, he should wait a couple of years untill the DS becomes a retro console)
*Dawn of Sorrow
*Portrait of Ruin
*Order of Ecclesia
Castlevania Part VIII: A Follow up in the 3D games
*Lament of Innocence on the PS2
*Curse of Darkness on the PS2
*And eventually, sticking at the end the Lords of Shadow on the PS3/Xbox360
Castlevania Part IX: Castlevania 1 Remakes:
*Vampire Killer on the MSX
*Haunted Castle on Arcade
*Castlevania Chronicles (both on the Sharp X68000 and PS1)
*And finaly concluding with the fact that Super Castlevania was definitely the best C1 remake.
Castlevania Part X: Other remakes
*The Dracula X Chronicles (remake of the Rondo of Bloo)
*Legacy of Darkness (remake of Castlevania 64)
*Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth (remake of Castlevania Adventure)
Castlevania Part XI: Japanese exclusive games and spin-offs
*Rondo of Blood on the PC-Engine
*Kid Dracula on the Game Boy
*Castlevania Judgement on the Wii
*Harmony of Despair on the current dowloadable Platforms
And if the nerd can possibly manage to get his hand on those:
*Akumajō Special: Boku Dracula-kun on the Famicom
*Castlevania The Arcade (a japanese exclusive arcade game)
*Order of Shadows on the mobile phones. (I know, mobile phones games shouldn’t exist)
That would be the ultimate Castlevania review ever made!
February 13, 2012 at 4:38 am
nah that’s not a good idea. @Nintendo_Frog _
December 15, 2011 at 11:59 pm
i remember sotn, i was so excited when i first played it, and when i beat it.
January 3, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Actually Storyline of castlevania originally count Stoker’s novel, and Morris (both of them) was relative to the Belmont bloodline – that why they can kill Dracula, but not as effective as true Belmont can.
January 9, 2012 at 6:52 am
you castlevania videos made me go back and play them again. LOVE symphony of the night
January 16, 2012 at 6:22 pm
love the 4 episodes it made me pickup my castlevania games and play them agen thnx mr. nerd
January 18, 2012 at 10:27 am
game inside a game – gameception
January 25, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Castlevania should have a movie rendition.
Hey guys, check out “X-Men-A-Thon Part 1: X-Men Movie Review”
@ G-Jays Productions!
More movie reviews and DVD’s @ http://g-jays.blogspot.com/2012/01/x-men-thon-part-1.html
February 3, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Could someone give me a hand with the last song played in this video? it is truly amazing and so the video is ,Thanks.
February 5, 2012 at 8:28 pm
@DanKuno Its the song that plays on the ending of Castlevania IV
February 6, 2012 at 1:05 am
@DanKuno and so are YOU. (castlevania songs are awesome)
February 9, 2012 at 6:56 am
Amazing, really can feel the value that it have to you.
February 11, 2012 at 2:58 pm
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Xbox Live Gold Membership (12 months), Wii, Xbox, PS3, PC, Kinect, and games for all consoles now available at G-Jays.
“Top 10 Video Games of All Time” also available, Visit us at http://g-jays.blogspot.com/2012/02/g-jays-gameone.html
February 12, 2012 at 3:39 pm
I’ve watched nearly all of your reviews, and I have to say this is by far among my favorites, it really does bring back a lot of memories and time spent in my room with countless hours of playing NES. Well done sir.
February 14, 2012 at 12:22 pm
I want to see him play Castlevania Curse of Darkness for the xbox and see how he reacts to that one and the newest Castlevania. I know they aren’t old games and are nothing compared to the originals, but i still want to see his reaction to them.
February 15, 2012 at 1:28 am
I’ve played both IV and SoTN and Symphony is the better game imo. Not sure what it is but I just love it.
March 5, 2012 at 3:11 pm
I’ve been wondering if James ever finished Lords of shadows that he made a brief video for a few years ago. That game has gone by pretty unrecognised but damn is it good! Like he originally said, that game didn’t need to have the label Castlevania but it still delivers far more of the original stuff I’d say.
March 16, 2012 at 2:22 pm
This castlevania mararthon was really fun to watch. James, can you do another one for Super Mario or the The Adventures of Zelda. Or another series. That would be awesome
March 17, 2012 at 7:52 pm
“Holy hot damn; this is fucking good”.
Those were almost my exact words (but in spanish) when i played SOTN for the first time after listening to Dracula’s Castle song.
SOTN is a masterpiece, and a classic on its own merits regardless of personal preferences. I replayed it again last week, and it still endures the test of time. No need to mention the soundtrack; simply the best of all PSX games IMO.
A really solid game indeed (if it wasn’t for Valkyrie Profile, i’d say it’s the best 2D Action RPG on PSX i’ve ever played). ‘sides, with the Richter mode is like having a 2-in-1 game.
This Castlevania in-depth review is awesome. Thanks a lot James!
March 18, 2012 at 3:45 pm
all i can say is cawabunga man cawabunga
March 28, 2012 at 2:13 am
The Belmonts gave the whip to the Morris family cause after Richter went bad at one point, his blood line was tainted, so the Belmonts could not use the whip, so they gave it to the Morris family… That is why John has the Whip.. as for Eric.. his family releases the power of the whip so the Morris family can use it at it’s full power as if they were the Belmonts… THAT is why John has the Whip.
March 28, 2012 at 2:21 am
The Belmonts gave the whip to the Morris family cause after Richter went bad at one point, his blood line was tainted, so the Belmonts could not use the whip, so they gave it to the Morris family… That is why John has the Whip.. as for Eric.. his family releases the power of the whip so the Morris family can use it at it’s full power as if they were the Belmonts… THAT is why John has the Whip.
What i like most about Blood lines.. was that John Morris was from texas… like me *laughs*
March 28, 2012 at 2:21 am
The Belmonts gave the whip to the Morris family cause after Richter went bad at one point, his blood line was tainted, so the Belmonts could not use the whip, so they gave it to the Morris family… That is why John has the Whip.. as for Eric.. his family releases the power of the whip so the Morris family can use it at it’s full power as if they were the Belmonts… THAT is why John has the Whip.
What i like most about Blood lines.. was that John Morris was from texas… like me *laughs*
March 30, 2012 at 7:59 am
I finally played SOTN for the first time last week (the XBLA version) and man is it awesome. The inverted castle is kind of fun. The only issue, going from what I’ve read, the enemies won’t drop really good stuff until you’ve beaten the game. Kind of pointless really. Anyway, going to try and get the PSX version for my collection.
March 30, 2012 at 8:47 am
You know there was one other Castlevania game on the PS1… it was called Castlevania Chronicles. It’s a good game. It looks a lot like SCV4, only problem is.. Simon can only whip straight out in front… like the other games.
And now that 3D CV games might become more popular.. we won’t see anything like SCV4 again.. sadly.
March 30, 2012 at 9:41 am
@MichaelPonderJr Isn’t that the Original Castlevania remake with enhanced graphics and arranged music?
March 30, 2012 at 11:15 pm
@Sirkrozz
Actually it’s an enhanced port of a game that was only released on a Japanese PC several years before CV4.. one might say it inspired the graphical look of CV4.
March 30, 2012 at 11:34 pm
@Sirkrozz
Actually it’s an enhanced port of a game that was only released on a Japanese PC called the X68000 several years before CV4.. one might say it inspired the graphical look of CV4.
April 6, 2012 at 12:13 am
i really don’t understand why he doesn’t make many references to the metroid series. i think this is the first episode i’ve seen where he does. he mentions the Contra aiming system a lot, which is almost identical to that of super metroid and the following side-scrollers. he does use music from metroid, like item or save rooms, though.
April 6, 2012 at 1:47 am
i dident know shit about about castlevania until i watched theese videos. I picked up the original and super cas 4 right after.
April 8, 2012 at 10:12 pm
Just for the record james, Castlevania Symphony of the night is a sequel to the japanese pc game Rondo of Blood.
P.S.
Thanks for your awsome reviews james, they bring back such nostalgic moments of my childhood.
April 17, 2012 at 2:54 am
no mention of the constant enemy throwback in SOTN? I’m kind of suprised, nearly all the enemies from all the castlevania games make an appearance. SOTN is still one of my favorite games of all time. protip: Crissaegrim is a rare drop in the inverted library and will make the rest of the game a cakewalk
April 19, 2012 at 3:58 pm
A game within a game. . . . . gameception
April 21, 2012 at 1:17 pm
As an RPG nerd, Symphony of the Night looks pretty sweet to me, but it’s a far cry from the original games.
May 7, 2012 at 9:14 pm
I love how he says anal bag so clamly
May 10, 2012 at 1:07 am
So what about the bomb in castlevania for the 64? Never been through it?
May 17, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Symphony of the Night is by far my favorite game…of all time! Seriously, I was impressed by not only the game but inspired by the soundtrack and back when it was fairly new, I decided to learn Castlevania covers on guitar. I love Michiru Yamane, she’s a fantastic composer…..that music is so epic and the game never gets old for me…to this day!
June 4, 2012 at 2:41 pm
I just watched your Castlevania-thon for the thousandth time, and it’s still my favorite of all your reviews. Not only are you at your Nerdy best, but your genuine love of and respect for the Castlevania series shines through magnificently. I’ve always been a fan of the Castlevania games and, in all seriousness, this brings a tear to my eye every time I see it. Great job, James.
June 10, 2012 at 7:35 am
I just watched these reviews again and really you did an excellent job here James. My only wish is that you had actually done a review of the PC Engine “Rondo of Blood” as it is an excellent game. I remember hearing about that title years ago and finally purchased it on a trip to Japan. I never had a TurboGrafx but I played the CD using Magic Engine (an emulator) and to me it was better than SOTN.
But excellent review. I did have hope for Castlevania with the Lords of Shadow reboot but they really screwed up the DC packs and failed to follow up on what I thought was a fresh ending (I won’t post it here for anyone who has yet to play that game).
June 21, 2012 at 12:34 pm
@ Ralfmxl
Not sure if you watched the video or not, but he actually said SotN was a sequel to Dracula X. Most people consider it a similar enough game that if you only played that, it’s fine to say Symphony is a follow up.
July 25, 2012 at 1:07 am
I agree SC4 is the definitive game of the series. It captures all the elements needed to create that perfect Castlevania atmosphere. One in particular I would like to point out is how it had a “haunted mansion” feel to it, and not a “Demon ridden Anime-Fest Castle”, like you would see in SYON and it’s successors.
Having the elements of gothic horror is one of the big parts that put the Castlevania series on the map. SYON did have allot these elements, but put them on steroids and let loose craziest and the most COLORFUL looking demons they could find to rampage the castle.
That right there, is a big difference between the SC4 and SYON; the color palettes. SC4 has a much more drab looking, although at times colorful, but many times a monochromatic pallette. Perfect for the feel of an old haunted castle. Where as SOYN went a different direction with it’s color by simply having a much wider variety of it and definitely brighter.(Though The Abandon Mine accomplishes the monochromatic feel I mentioned earlier very well!)
Don’t get me wrong however, I love both of these game equally, SYON rules and has so many cool and kickass things that SC4 doesn’t. But In the end though, I believe SC4 did it the best for a true Castlevania experience.
Last but not least. Although Alucard in SYON is totally a 1000 sword slashing/ poison mist killing/ ultimate head of evil summoning badass, he just isn’t fucking Simon Belmont.
And That’s That!
July 31, 2012 at 2:58 pm
I loved ur castlevaniathon, Im a huge fan of the series. did u ever try castlevania harmony of despair its like sotn but with alot of characters to choose from over the series? and it has levels from some of the series as well. i loved it and played the hell out of it. theres a single player and multi player mode for it as well. check it out on xbox arcade when u can.
August 20, 2012 at 10:53 pm
order of ecclesia for the DS is another metroidvania style castlevania. Actually with the rpg elements that are in it it feels more like a modern day simon’s quest, but I like these modern castlevania metroidvania type games. But one thing that sets it apart is it definately does not take place exclusively in the castle, for what its worth. Lots of spooky scenery like the old ones, in case anyone hasn’t played it and is interested
October 27, 2012 at 6:52 pm
The ending is absolutly amazing.
January 21, 2013 at 12:35 am
Best fucking game in the series, in my opinion, best game on the playstation without a doubt
February 4, 2013 at 12:06 am
That last part brought a tear to my eyes…nostalgia.
March 5, 2013 at 7:43 pm
“This game is fucking good”
(spends the rest of the review saying “This game sucks it’s not Castlevania IV”)
Anyone else find his attempt at “praise” a bit odd?
I was in the same boat as Rolfe; I skipped the PSX like a dummy, only to finally buy one in 2000 during high school junior year. The end product was a lot of nostalgia for Symphony of the Night, the kind I had for Castlevania III at the time.
March 29, 2013 at 3:37 pm
The end-words so touched my heart…
May 2, 2013 at 12:22 am
I got Bloodlines and Symphony of the Night thanks to this review. Like em both, but Bloodlines is a pain thanks to limited continues. I mean, it has a password, but if you use it you start with the same amount of lives and continues. Symphony was epic, but I give a slight edge to four myself.
May 18, 2013 at 5:53 pm
Symphony of the Night was better on the Saturn. It wasn’t in English though.