[ Retro Scan ] Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
October 2nd, 2017 by Benj Edwards
Fear has an address: 677 Bluebonnet Ln., Wichita, Kansas 67218
20 years ago today (Oct 2, 1997), Konami released Castlevania: Symphony of the Night in the US. My life has been demonstrably better ever since.
After reading a review of it in EGM, I knew I had to get the game. So I did, and it was awesome. This is probably still my favorite video game — or at least in the top three. This is the game that inspired our beloved Metroidvania term and genre, and it’s still one of my favorite game genres to this day.
Discussion Topic: What’s your favorite Castlevania game?
October 4th, 2017 at 2:03 am
Beloved? I ABHOR the term “metroidvania”. It is ugly on the face of it, and craps on the existence of half of the Castlevania franchise.
Join me in selling the world on “Blaster Mashups”, and give respect to the game that actually defined the genre’s staples while one game was a linear platforming action game and the other was completely unrestricted exploration(a lost in a cave simulator, if you will).
My favorite Castlevania is probably Rondo of Blood, actually. Symphony of the Night is definitely a treat, though(in spite of how ridiculously unbalanced it is, even without the Crissaegrim, which is absurdly overrated.).
October 4th, 2017 at 7:20 am
20 years? Holy cow!
The original is still the best for me.
October 14th, 2017 at 3:49 am
Guaranteed it was that EGM review (reviews?) that did it for me too. On the recommendation and description of that review(s), I rented SOTN from the supermarket’s video rental section, and on the strength of the game, proceeded to go out and buy it so I could continue my save.
If I’m being honest, it’s still been my favorite video game ever since.
October 16th, 2017 at 10:09 am
Castlevania 64! Just kidding, Rondo of Blood was pretty good.
November 16th, 2017 at 5:16 pm
Wow! 20 years, I’m going with Jim’s comment Rondo of Blood on the Turbografx was fantastic.
November 19th, 2017 at 8:43 pm
Just finished ‘Super Castlevania IV’ on the SNES retro mini recently and it’s one of the best that I’ve played, so far. My only other experience with the Castlevania games was with the NES versions. Haven’t tried ‘Rondo Of Blood’ for the Turbografx yet. I’ll have to try that one next.