Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

[SonicBoom]

While i love SOTN, It's not my favorite Castlevania, Super Castlevania 4 get's that title

[Dire 51]

Question, has anyone here ever been able to get that extra .3% by going down to the aborted Underground Garden screens right at the start?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tw4KE9PaLg

I've done it. It was a long time back right after the trick was discovered and I haven't done it since, but I have done it.

SotN is definitely one of my favorite games. Imported it sometime in early '97 and finished it completely, then picked up the U.S. version on day 1 and finished that.

But as much as I love SotN, though, it saddens me that it was basically the death knell for the series as it had been up to that point, the Castlevania I grew up with as it were. It's hasn't been the same since, the occasional foray back into the "old school vampire killing jam" type of game notwithstanding. Instead it's been portable Metroidvania after portable Metroidvania, halfassed attempts at bringing the series into 3D (including Lords of Shadow, which I am convinced was not a Castlevania game until Konami decided to slap the name on it), experimenting with genres that Castlevania never needed to be a part of and just a general feeling of "where the hell are they going with this now?"

Does anyone else feel the same way? Am I alone in missing the classic Castlevania style of gameplay, or what?

[bb_hood]

This is one of my top 3 favorites.. When it was released I rented it, beat the inverted castle, then later rented it 3 more times. Cant say that about any other game.

Soo much good music on this game, its just unbelievable. I think I own 2 or 3 different soundtracks for this game.

[kupomogli]

halfassed attempts at bringing the series into 3D (including Lords of Shadow, which I am convinced was not a Castlevania game until Konami decided to slap the name on it), experimenting with genres that Castlevania never needed to be a part of and just a general feeling of "where the hell are they going with this now?"

I do have to say that while Lords of Shadow was never going to be a Castlevania title, and for that I don't call it as such, the game is absolutely amazing. In the short time it's been out and even shorter time since I finally purchased and played it, I have to say it's my favorite stylish action game. The progression in the game is perfect, to where you don't have that feel of repetition as you're playing through the game as you're constantly learning new and useful attacks.

The gameplay, the storyline, the graphics. All amazing. The game is truly a work of art and a must own for anyone who owns a PS3 or 360.

Castlevania Lament of Innocence despite the repetitive areas, I loved the game. The combat was excellent I've played through @Crazy repeatedly, even finishing the boss rush on the mode as well.

As for my favorite games, most of them are classic titles, SCV4 being my favorite in the series altogether. CV Circle of the Moon is my favorite exploration type though. I also like the N64 titles which happen to be disliked.

[Dire 51]

I do have to say that while Lords of Shadow was never going to be a Castlevania title, and for that I don't call it as such, the game is absolutely amazing. In the short time it's been out and even shorter time since I finally purchased and played it, I have to say it's my favorite stylish action game. The progression in the game is perfect, to where you don't have that feel of repetition as you're playing through the game as you're constantly learning new and useful attacks.

The gameplay, the storyline, the graphics. All amazing. The game is truly a work of art and a must own for anyone who owns a PS3 or 360.

I wish I could get behind you on that statement, but once the puzzles and fetchquests reared their ugly heads, LoS went from being a fairly enjoyable game to eBay fodder. I haven't been that turned off by a game I initially liked since being forced to go to work (and race fucking forklifts) in Shenmue.

[kainemaxwell]

I've done it. It was a long time back right after the trick was discovered and I haven't done it since, but I have done it.

Now if I can finally do it, I'll be happy.

[Edmond Dantes]

My story is a lot like the OP's... I toughed through the spikey hallway (actually, I think I flew thru it as the bat, changed into mist or else toughed it to get thru the door, then turned back into a bat again. I, too, didn't know about the Spike Buster armor).

This game was my first experience with Castlevania, bought on complete chance when it was brand new, and oh boy. It instantly made me a fan of the entire freakin' franchise, even the ones that play nothing like it. It's THAT good.

For some reason I didn't like the GBA sequels as much. I tried to, but they just somehow lacked the same oomph.

[Lanzo]

I played this game for the first time less than a year ago on XBLA. One of the few games I got all the achievements for including exploring 200.6% of the castle. I thought it was a great game. The inverted castle was a nightmare in a few spots but definetly a solid game. After playing it I ended up purchasing the soundtrack. I had to look up the spike buster armor thing and some of the secret rooms. One room in particular is almost impossible to find without looking online. In involves flying through a cave with a bat and a wall will dissappear. It was to get a sword that increased the chances of finding valuable things I think. lol.