3 versions of this I have, XBL, PSP and the PSone Classics version on PSN. If the price will go down I'd like the Saturn version as well. I didn't play it when it was new it was at the time a game I had no idea even came out. So I was late to the party and finally got to playing when it came to XBLA. With Bloodstained on the Horizon it's a game I've been thinking about and since last night playing alot of. I'm noticing all the details now beyond just Alucard's amazing how could the PS1 do that walking animation. I'm playing with no walk through either. Since I didn't play it when it was fresh and new I thought I'd seek out stories from those who did.
I first played it when it was new...ish (Around 2000). Being 7 years old, it was a tad confusing for me at the time, but I enjoyed it a lot. Even back then, however, I found it to be one of the most gorgeous games I'd have ever played, and now I'd say it's probably the most beautiful 2D lowres game I've ever seen. (Spoilery gripe about graphics if you care about being spoiled by a nearly 20-year-old game) Spoiler Looking back on it now, though, I really wish they gave Richter Belmont shiny new, fluid graphics to match his new design and the fluidity of Alucard. (Why give him an awesome redesign if you won't give him graphics for it? I understand the intro level, but it's still lazy.)
Weird how the PSX Version looked better than the Saturn version dispite the Saturn being a 2d beast at the time. That said though the Extras in the Saturn version make it a must have. Having Richter and Maria Playable off the bat is a huge plus.
The Saturn doesn't have much to do in terms of how poorly the new graphics were drawn in its port of SotN. It was just laziness on behalf of Konami, 'cuz apparently the Saturn version was a rushed way to get in content cut from the PSX version. (Though I'm still curious as to why the graphics were stretched in the Saturn version.) I do like having Maria + Richter off the bat, although I think I prefer the PSP version of Maria.
The more I grind the better the game gets. Plus I found out my last playthrough I didn't even scratch the surface of the castle.
I had no idea the PSP version of SotN included a playable Maria. I assumed it was a lazy PS1 emulation.
I've never played this, but it's one of those games, like Super Metroid, Shadow of the Colossus, Vampire: The Maquerade, etc (I've played none of those games), that everyone says is fantastic, and is on my one-day-I'll-try-it list. Trouble is my backlog of unplayed games is huge, and since I'm one of those people who loves to endlessly replay his favourite games, my backlog tends to get larger rather than smaller. Anyway, what is SotN like, and what makes it so great? No spoilers please, but what do you like about it, and is it the best Castlevania game? Is it the best game of it's type?
I remember reading on this same forum about why the Saturn version is inferior. It's something that is a port of a PS game that actually is 3D on the background with 2D looks on the front. (like triangles always facing you, with the textured surface, of course) Well, if you like Super Metroid, it's something like that but "medieval". Swords instead of lasers. That alone will be a reason for a large audience. And the game is very well made. Very fun. And very easy in difficult and in learning curve. So it's like a medieval-adult-rpg-ish version of a very well made game like Super Mario World 2. I think that it delivers the same feeling of "wow, people did this with so much love" like playing Yoshi's Island. In this point of view, there's no "best game". It's a game that put togheter a lot of nice things.
Not only that, but she's totally different from her Saturn version (i.e. not a broken OP piece of poop), and has gorgeous, smooth redrawn graphics.
Personally I think Rondo of Blood the game SOTN is a direct sequel too is the better Castlevania. But SOTN is well loved because of how forgiivng it is, it's not impossible if you put the time into, The music is fantastic, The graphics still hold up, The fact they got that level of animation detail in a PS1 one is another feat. Now I have about 83% of the first castle, with only Richter left to fight and that spike hallway in the chapel I have no idea how to cross the spike hall way. I also have no idea how to get/use familiars.
To get through the spikes. Spoiler You need the Spike Breaker Armor to get through there. Familiars have to be turned on in the menu, I think under relics. After you pickup the item for them or if you think you already have you need to just explore the menu and see if any relics are turned off and see what those are. By default when you pick those items up they are disabled/off until you want to use them unlike powerups like morphing into the wolf or mist. I like Dracula X Rondo of Blood because it was the last traditional linear stage based Castlevania and an excellent all around game. CV Chronicles came out after but was a remake. SotN while totally different was great too. I don't think it all the games that copy it's format on the GBA and DS are anywhere near as good as SotN. Part of it is because SotN was the pioneer and also because of the nostalgia. I have played but never completed some of the GBA and DS Castlevania games. They just don't have the appeal of SotN, perhaps because it's totally unrelated to the Castlevania I remember. SotN ties directly into Dracula X which isn't far from the first 4 Castlevania games in relation.
I'm on to the 2nd castle in the inverted library trying to kill Schmoos to get the Crissagrem but the Lions and Scarecrows have other plans. I have all the famiulars now and I think I'm using the sword. I think I may have 100%'d the first castle too.
I thought the Saturn version was worth the 100 dollar asking price. It's a great way to re-experience the game. If only there were a Saturn PS controller adaptor.
For me, the DS games fall short of SotN because a) they all try to be gimmicky as hell in their own ways with varying results (Dawn of Sorrow had touch controls, Portrait of Ruin emphasized the partner system, Order of Ecclesia had the Glyph system) b) the DS isn't quite as powerful as the PSX, so not as much can be done there c) the graphics clash miserably in all 3 DS games (Portrait of Ruin is the biggest offender here); SotN may have reused graphics from X68000, Rondo, and CV4, but at least the new graphics were drawn in a style to COMPLIMENT them
I disagree with that. I think the DS was more powerful than the PS1. Look at games like Nanostray or Phantom Hourglass. Those games wouldn't have been possible on the PS1. Aria of Sorrow for GBA is also a pretty good game. I've never finished it, though.
I agree I don't think any CV after SOTN topped it but I also don't think the 3d Vanias are as bad as people think.
I wasn't too keen on Aria. I played it I liked it for it's time, but it was too red. It didn't feel epic like SOTN does.
Personally, while I think SOTN is a great game, I don't love that the whole series more or less went in that direction for the 2D games. IMO, Rondo of Blood is the best. Takes everything that was great about 3 and 4 and beefs up the graphics, music, and adds branching level paths and hidden characters that are found within the level vs the pick a path between stages system of 3. I would love for another game like that to come out in the series, but it seems that level based progression is a no no these days.
As great as SOTN is it got really lazy once I hit castle 2, Seems like the whole 2nd castle only has 2 pieces of music. I'm tearing through it now that I have the Crissagrim but still. Plus the 2nd castle reeks of laziness, the bosses are cool but I rip right through them. It's a great game and I still love it but that second castle feels lazy. I really hope Bloodstaind fixes all the problems Metroidvanias had. Rondo is amazing. I also like III and IV Those are the best Vanias. I have Harmony of Dissonance as a PS2 classic on my PS3 but I got stuck about an hour in with a door I can't seem to reach.
