XBLA - Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night - 800pts

[Javery]

Great news. I'm looking forward to playing it in "native" widescreen.

[Walt Jay]

Good see it's only 800 points. I was expecting 1,200. Glad to see MS pushing out some great XBL titles. Let's keep this movement moving!

[shieryda]

Whatever the case, it seems prices have gotten much better since the PSN launch.

Still not cheap enough for me. But, I really do want to play this game so I suppose I will have to plunk down the points for it (since Arcade titles will probably never drop in price).

[Logain8955]

Wow, cheaper than I thought. Rock :D

[deadite76]

:applause:

Hopefully Double Dragon comes out on the 28th!

[ryanbph]

after turtles at 400 and this at 800, XBLA has been alot nicer to CAGs lately.

I am wondering if Konami is the one having most of its say on thses since they made both Turtles and this...?... hmmm

all pricing is up to the developers, msft has no say in it...msft will give guidance if asked

[fraggedbylaggers]

Eh, something's different. Maybe Sony takes less of a licensing fee, or MS forces set price levels. Whatever the case, it seems prices have gotten much better since the PSN launch.

They do force set price levels. The guys who created Geometry Wars: RE wanted to release it for free but M$ said no way. They asked what the lowest price was that they could sell it for and M$ said $5.

[Corvin]

Count me as another CAG impressed with the pricing. I thought they would have charged more for this, AH & Worms.

I've never played SOTN. My last trip through 'Vania was Super Castlevania IV which is my favorite. I am currently trying out Dawn of Sorrow though and am liking it. I do miss the whip though. :(

I will definitely be getting this.

[jollydwarf]

Man, for 800 points, people better be ready to download right at four in the morning, EST. At that price, it's bound to sell out quick!

(Rimshot...shrugs, holds open roll of Mentos up to monitor.)

[seanr1221]

Man, for 800 points, people better be ready to download right at four in the morning, EST. At that price, it's bound to sell out quick!

(Rimshot...shrugs, holds open roll of Mentos up to monitor.)

And this was suppose to come out in October right?

[zewone]

And this was suppose to come out in October right?
No, January.

[seanr1221]

No, January.

Hah, no, I said that because Dwarf insisted that this game would get pushed back to a Halloween release.

[SilverPaw750]

SCORE! I can't wait to finally play SotN, at for only $10 to boot.

[RelentlessRolento]

:applause:

Hopefully Double Dragon comes out on the 28th!


amen to that.

it better not be over 400pts.

[KaneRobot]

Sigh.

::sadly walks away to Incredible Hulk piano theme::

[Flyersfan]

I really, really hope that with the recent string of Xbox Live Arcade games that came out (Alien Hominoid, Worms, TMNT, SOTN) that everyone will stop complaining when one or two games come out that they don't want. You CANNOT expect them to put out a game that interests you each week, there will be plenty of old games that no one likes here, but others do.


Thankfully I found an easy way to earn MS points for free, so I'm good to go to buy this ;)

[jollydwarf]

Hah, no, I said that because Dwarf insisted that this game would get pushed back to a Halloween release.


Unlike the overly defensive response you'd get from many others, no, I deserve that. And I figured I'd hear about it sooner than later. But, hey, Wednesday is still a few days away...

...okay, I'll stop.

[terribledeli]

Not true!

Still got Double Dragon, Super Ghouls and Ghosts, Ikaruga, and others to go! Probably in 2008 with Castle Crashers though.

I was refering to the list of 10 that Microsoft issued last month.

Bugs of War looks promising, but can it hold a candle to the last four weeks' releases?

[KaneRobot]

I really, really hope that with the recent string of Xbox Live Arcade games that came out (Alien Hominoid, Worms, TMNT, SOTN) that everyone will stop complaining when one or two games come out that they don't want. You CANNOT expect them to put out a game that interests you each week, there will be plenty of old games that no one likes here, but others do.

This is what is wrong with the game-buying public. They dick you over for months (or years) on end, but then they throw you a bone once in a while, and all of a sudden everyone is back to sucking them off again and saying "ALL YOU PPL NEED TO LEAVE THEM ALONE." I'm not just talking about XBL Arcade, I mean pretty much anything where applicable. The overly dramatic "THIS WILL WIN THE CONSOLE WAR" reaction to Sony's "Home" thing is another good example. Gamers just do not have a spine. There is no backlash that ever matters, because it all goes away when they show you a bright, shiny new toy that will last you a week or three before they start pissing you off all over again and you're back to hating them.

XBLA hasn't done a damn thing to show me they've "changed" yet. We had a good run of releases this month - good, glad to see we finally are getting something. I don't expect every month to be this good, but it should at least not be insulting like the recent "Game from 1984 last week/add-on to an existing game this week/nothing next week" stretch that seemed to go on forever. A solid lineup in March doesn't erase the 12 months prior to that.

After the Canessa/Erickson exodus and the recent string of good games, I'm cautiously optimistic. But that's ALL I am.

[Roufuss]

Bugs of War looks promising, but can it hold a candle to the last four weeks' releases?

Nothing will hold a candle compared to the last 4 weeks worth of releases... whatever comes out next week will just get shit on. It will be either "Oh man, I just spent my points on SOTN / Alien Hominid / TMNT / Worms" or it'll be people just not buying because they have the four games already and are playing those.

Next week is the week MS should offer one of those 1984 retro ports, to kind of cool off, and then release something substanstial the week after... next week's release, no matter what it is I think, will have people going "eh... probably not as good as SOTN / Alien Hominid" espicially if it's 800 points.

[swetooth9]

wow...4 for 4...nice roll so far...i dont really see how much better this can get, so i'm guessing it'll be downhill from here on out after castlevania

[Apossum]

This is what is wrong with the game-buying public. They dick you over for months (or years) on end, but then they throw you a bone once in a while, and all of a sudden everyone is back to sucking them off again and saying "ALL YOU PPL NEED TO LEAVE THEM ALONE." I'm not just talking about XBL Arcade, I mean pretty much anything where applicable. The overly dramatic "THIS WILL WIN THE CONSOLE WAR" reaction to Sony's "Home" thing is another good example. Gamers just do not have a spine. There is no backlash that ever matters, because it all goes away when they show you a bright, shiny new toy that will last you a week or three before they start pissing you off all over again and you're back to hating them.
.


Agreed and you should make your next theme based on Ikaruga. "Hay guys when is IKrugara for the XBL comin out?" then when it does come out "hay guys Ikugrara is too hard"

PSHome is a lot more major than an XBL game though...it's only the most drastic upgrade imaginable for the PS3. but no it won't win any wars ;)

The "console war" hype is a scam-- all three are secretly planning it all out together so that they can all attain a fair chunk of market share. If I revealed the details of this conspiracy, I would surely disappear. It's big. it goes all the way to the president.

[gunm]

Nothing will hold a candle compared to the last 4 weeks worth of releases... whatever comes out next week will just get shit on. It will be either "Oh man, I just spent my points on SOTN / Alien Hominid / TMNT / Worms" or it'll be people just not buying because they have the four games already and are playing those.

Next week is the week MS should offer one of those 1984 retro ports, to kind of cool off, and then release something substanstial the week after... next week's release, no matter what it is I think, will have people going "eh... probably not as good as SOTN / Alien Hominid" espicially if it's 800 points.

Don't worry, I have no doubt after blowing the huge, sticky wad that is SOTN, there will be nothing exciting the week after.

Hell, there could be another months-long drought again.

S'ok, as I won't have enough points left over after Castlevania to buy anything decent anyways. 8-)

[Flyersfan]

This is what is wrong with the game-buying public. They dick you over for months (or years) on end, but then they throw you a bone once in a while, and all of a sudden everyone is back to sucking them off again and saying "ALL YOU PPL NEED TO LEAVE THEM ALONE." I'm not just talking about XBL Arcade, I mean pretty much anything where applicable. The overly dramatic "THIS WILL WIN THE CONSOLE WAR" reaction to Sony's "Home" thing is another good example. Gamers just do not have a spine. There is no backlash that ever matters, because it all goes away when they show you a bright, shiny new toy that will last you a week or three before they start pissing you off all over again and you're back to hating them.

XBLA hasn't done a damn thing to show me they've "changed" yet. We had a good run of releases this month - good, glad to see we finally are getting something. I don't expect every month to be this good, but it should at least not be insulting like the recent "Game from 1984 last week/add-on to an existing game this week/nothing next week" stretch that seemed to go on forever. A solid lineup in March doesn't erase the 12 months prior to that.

After the Canessa/Erickson exodus and the recent string of good games, I'm cautiously optimistic. But that's ALL I am.




Ok.

Did you buy Paperboy? I'm willing to bet that 85% of this board did not. But when I bought it and did bad on it the first day, my rank was in the 70,000 range. Thats at LEAST 70,000 people that bought it, and many more that I can't confirm. 70,000 people obviously wanted the game, or are acheivement whores. Just because you and the majority of this board don't like a game from 1984 doesn't mean the millions on xbox live don't like it as well. I've Never, ever had a problem with XBLA. It isn't something you need every week, i think the people on this board need to realize this. YOU CANNOT expect a new IP or a game you like every week, it's not possible. The only thing I have a problem with is the add-on to games.

If you and everyone else wants a new IP and more than one game a week, it will NOT last the lifetime of the 360, I can guarantee that. There are plenty of games available for them, but they can't have every game out there on the arcade.

[rabbitt]

I picked a good month to send my 360 back to get fixed.

*kicks rock*

[mykevermin]

The funny thing is that now would be like this regardless. There hasn't been enough time since he left for there to be an impact.

I wholly disagree with that.

[HumanSnatcher]

Its about damn time this gets released. I'll need to add 500 more points (TMNT whisked away half of the 800 I had left over that I was planning to use for SotN lol). Ah well, 6/7 bucks ain't gonna break me...

[tiredfornow]

Its about damn time this gets released. I'll need to add 500 more points (TMNT whisked away half of the 800 I had left over that I was planning to use for SotN lol). Ah well, 6/7 bucks ain't gonna break me...

ya no shit considering original copies of the game without achievements and what not are like 25+. 10 bucks for an upgraded version is well worth it :D

[Sporadic]

I hate borders.

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/7915/4231820411299893440ouo2.th.jpg (http://img113.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4231820411299893440ouo2.jpg)

Hopefully it allows you to stretch it out.

[zewone]

I hate borders.

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/7915/4231820411299893440ouo2.th.jpg (http://img113.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4231820411299893440ouo2.jpg)

Hopefully it allows you to stretch it out.
You can.

[Roufuss]

I hate borders.

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/7915/4231820411299893440ouo2.th.jpg (http://img113.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4231820411299893440ouo2.jpg)

Hopefully it allows you to stretch it out.

It mentions native widescreen in the press release.

[HumanSnatcher]

ya no shit considering original copies of the game without achievements and what not are like 25+. 10 bucks for an upgraded version is well worth it :D

I've only played the first one for like a day at friends house when I was a kid. So my first real taste was with DoS. And I played that game to death for weeks. So, when I heard that one of the best ones, SotN, was comming to Arcade I was all over it. Kinda wish I hadn't started shying away from games for a few years around the time it originally came out...

[Brak]

I'm impressed with the price!

Strangely, I'm disappointed that Double Dragon wasn't Wednesday's XBLA title. :-(

[AshesofWake]

10 Bucks?? Holy Shiiiiiiitttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CAG 79]

I'm impressed with the price!

Strangely, I'm disappointed that Double Dragon wasn't Wednesday's XBLA title. :-(

I hoping that it will be released on the 28th of this month but if not then they might delay it until May since it will be the 20th anniversary of Double Dragon then.

[Chacrana]

$10 is a very reasonable price for what is my favorite game of all time. I might buy it... even though I know it's pointless with the PSP version coming out... probably won't be able to hold off for long.

[Brak]

I hoping that it will be released on the 28th of this month but if not then they might delay it until May since it will be the 20th anniversary of Double Dragon then.
NOOO!!! I can't wait that long...

(What the Hell is your gamerpicture?)

[BustaUppa]

I hate borders.

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/7915/4231820411299893440ouo2.th.jpg (http://img113.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4231820411299893440ouo2.jpg)

Hopefully it allows you to stretch it out.The game has been reformatted for widescreen, but they give you the option of 4:3 with borders for a "purist" experience.

[CAG 79]

NOOO!!! I can't wait that long...

(What the Hell is your gamerpicture?)

It's from the St. Patrick's Day picture pack.

[GizmoGC]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pinoy530]

I just might triple dip for this.

[strdr4]

Awesome. I've never played a Castlevania game before, but I'll definitely try this one out.

[KwanzaaTimmy]

Excellent. Thats all I gotta say, work is hectic as of late, but by next week it should die down-- this and GoWII coming to me next week. Good deal :).

[tiredfornow]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hahah, that's all I had to say too.

[GenDV138]

I was excited when I saw SOTN will be 800 points, I'll definitely be picking this up as well!

[Monsta Mack]

Guess I'll be the only one not buying this. I already have it for the PS1. But maybe down the road I'll buy in in the future If I score some real cheap points, or have too much money to spend and don't know what to do with it. lol.

Really good game though, and glad everyone can now enjoy it with a 360. It really is the best castlevania game ever as it stands.

[Liquid 2]

Nice.

Is there any multiplayer functionality?

[BustaUppa]

Nice.

Is there any multiplayer functionality?Nah, I think the only online functionality would be the leaderboards and achievement recognition.

[-Never4ever-]

Ah hell, I was ready to boycot this, but for $10, I probably can't resist.

[lordopus99]

I still have my ps1 version but have such an urge to play it again. I will probably double dip on this.

[seanr1221]

The only thing I hate is that my Wednesdays are packed with class...I think I may wake up extra early to play this.

[RudyPants]

I've been playing Dawn of Sorrow a lot this weekend to prepare for Wednesday. I've never played the PS1 version because of it being so rare/expensive. This should be a great back-to-back week for XBLA.

[defiance_17]

This is great. Like three days after I decide SotN is never going to actually be released on XBLA and blow all the points I had saved, it gets a release date. Now I have to buy more points.

[RollingSkull]

I actually never understood the appeal of SotN, compared to the modern Castletroids, but to each his own.

$10 is not a half bad price though.

[OzCatter]

And put the credit needed for the game on my account tonight, 3 days boys!

[crazyj]

I actually never understood the appeal of SotN, compared to the modern Castletroids, but to each his own.

$10 is not a half bad price though.

I thought that as well but its the father of modern castlevania games. I played all the GBA ones first and after going back I thought I preferred the GBA ones but SOTN is still very good on its own

[Morpheus]

I thought that as well but its the father of modern castlevania games. I played all the GBA ones first and after going back I thought I preferred the GBA ones but SOTN is still very good on its own

Actually, Castlevania II Simon's Quest is the father of modern Castlevania's. Castlevania SOTN was the one that perfected it for the first time. Simon's Quest had metroid style go anywhere world. Also had a level system for health and damage you do with weapons. You could buy weapons, find accessories/weapons, and keep them in your inventory. The part where Simon's Quest really fails is that there is only one boss battle (I don't count that cheesy death as a boss).

Can't wait for SOTN to come. Widescreen SOTN. :D

[daroga]

GameVideos has a 4 minute-ish vid of the 360 version.

http://gamevideos.com/video/id/9766

[KaneRobot]

Actually, Castlevania II Simon's Quest is the father of modern Castlevania's.
That's....a stretch. It's more like the great uncle that had no children. Simon's Quest was something they all but threw away after it was done - Castlevania III and IV, as well as some of the offshoot games, were much closer to the original Castlevania style. Later on when SOTN aped the Metroid style (and had a few general gameplay elements similar to Simon's Quest but hardly exclusive to it), it took off as the de facto Castlevania template.

[elwood731]

That's....a stretch. It's more like the great uncle that had no children. Simon's Quest was something they all but threw away after it was done - Castlevania III and IV, as well as some of the offshoot games, were much closer to the original Castlevania style. Later on when SOTN aped the Metroid style (and had a few general gameplay elements similar to Simon's Quest but hardly exclusive to it), it took off as the de facto Castlevania template.
It isn't too big a stretch. I seem to recall an interview with SOTN's producer saying Simon's Quest was a favorite of his. The fact that there were other game in between doesn't negate that it, along with Metroid, had an influence on SOTN.

[gunm]

This totally reeks of awesomeness: back to back weeks of must-have XBLA titles--and I have the points for it! I'm very glad I didn't shell out for the original PS version.

[Indiana]

Ok.

Did you buy Paperboy? I'm willing to bet that 85% of this board did not. But when I bought it and did bad on it the first day, my rank was in the 70,000 range. Thats at LEAST 70,000 people that bought it, and many more that I can't confirm. 70,000 people obviously wanted the game, or are acheivement whores. Just because you and the majority of this board don't like a game from 1984 doesn't mean the millions on xbox live don't like it as well. I've Never, ever had a problem with XBLA. It isn't something you need every week, i think the people on this board need to realize this. YOU CANNOT expect a new IP or a game you like every week, it's not possible. The only thing I have a problem with is the add-on to games.

If you and everyone else wants a new IP and more than one game a week, it will NOT last the lifetime of the 360, I can guarantee that. There are plenty of games available for them, but they can't have every game out there on the arcade.

70,000 out of 10 Million systems is not a very good sales record if you ask me. 0.7%? ouch But it is understandable why these games get released. Nearly $300,000 for an ancient game. That's a lot of revenue for very little work.

[CaseyRyback]

70,000 out of 10 Million systems is not a very good sales record if you ask me. 0.7%? ouch But it is understandable why these games get released. Nearly $300,000 for an ancient game. That's a lot of revenue for very little work.

You can't take 70K out of 10 million consoles as there are too many other variables that come into play. People need to have live and for the most part a hard drive to play the game which knocks out a significant percentage of people who own the 360. Also it would be smart to take into account the people who buy stuff off the arcade and see how many of those people bought the game.

[GizmoGC]

70,000 out of 10 Million systems is not a very good sales record if you ask me. 0.7%? ouch But it is understandable why these games get released. Nearly $300,000 for an ancient game. That's a lot of revenue for very little work.

Yet if a game like TMNT: The Movie sells 70k copies (sadly, it will sell more) it will be O.K.? There is no packaging to these games, no rotting on store shelves, no pricedrops, no excess inventory, etc. Its EASY money! Let a 16MB game sit on a server and make $500-$1000 a day....easy.

[Morpheus]

That's....a stretch. It's more like the great uncle that had no children. Simon's Quest was something they all but threw away after it was done - Castlevania III and IV, as well as some of the offshoot games, were much closer to the original Castlevania style. Later on when SOTN aped the Metroid style (and had a few general gameplay elements similar to Simon's Quest but hardly exclusive to it), it took off as the de facto Castlevania template.

I disagree and elwood731 brings up some good points. Simon's Quest is the first Catlevania that "aped" the Metroid style (but not perfectly and with a few twists).

[KaneRobot]

It isn't too big a stretch. I seem to recall an interview with SOTN's producer saying Simon's Quest was a favorite of his. The fact that there were other game in between doesn't negate that it, along with Metroid, had an influence on SOTN.
An influence doesn't mean it's the "father of the modern 2D Castlevania." None of those GBA & DS games that have come out over the past few years would exist if it were not for SOTN knocking everyone on their ass. SOTN would very likely exist if Castlevania II was just a souped-up redux of the first game.

Hey, I love Simon's Quest, maybe even more than SOTN depending on how cranky I am, but it's still a stretch. Yeah, it sounds cool on paper to say "man, way back in '88 Simon's Quest groundwork for all those games we're playing 20 years later!" and there are elements of it here and there...but it's hardly the reason that SOTN exists. Please.

Simon's Quest is the first Catlevania that "aped" the Metroid style (but not perfectly and with a few twists).
Uh huh, and Half-Life is Doom "not perfectly and with a few twists."


Whatever. If it gives you guys a boner to envision this strong, deep-rooted connection between the two games, that's your perrogative. I'm not going to argue with you on this anymore, I already feel like a fucking dork discussing the origins of Castlevania titles to this depth, so go nuts.

[elwood731]

Relax buddy, no reason to get so upset over it. He was simply making the point that he feels Simon's Quest is the "father" or spiritual influence for SOTN, and therefore the modern titles. There's a good argument for it, you just happen to disagree. I think the Doom/Half-Life argument is misleading. A better argument is perhaps the Marathon games with Halo.

Regardless, I hope this release sells well and maybe we'll see the remake, or even original, Rodello of Blood get a port to XBLA.

[Indiana]

Yet if a game like TMNT: The Movie sells 70k copies (sadly, it will sell more) it will be O.K.? There is no packaging to these games, no rotting on store shelves, no pricedrops, no excess inventory, etc. Its EASY money! Let a 16MB game sit on a server and make $500-$1000 a day....easy.

My complaint isn't that they release ancient games. My complaint is that they release these crappy games as the game of the week. Release all this old junk you want but I want some quality games. Yes Paperboy is a good game, BUT I already own it on Midway Arcade treasures. Re-releasing games that should already play on my 360 is a pretty lame deal.

[Morpheus]

Elwood731, once again you bring up some good points. Especially the Marathon/Halo point.

When you say Rodello of Blood do you mean Rondo of Blood? Because its very possible that it will come out for XBLA if SOTN does well. Considering that they remade it for the Castlevania collection for PSP in Japan (which I hope comes out here).

[HumanSnatcher]

Well, my plans of going ahead and buying points from my 360 are dashed. Since I lost my wallet and having to get my credit card repalced. Oh well, my roomy has 800 points left and I ran the idea by him that if he doesn't mind me using his last 800 points to get it, I'd buy him 1000 more once I get my new card

[Rei no Otaku]

Considering that they remade it for the Castlevania collection for PSP in Japan (which I hope comes out here).
Already confirmed for the US.

[Chris Dillon]

I do want it but I also have UEFA coming out, graw 2 to beat, and crackdown also to beat.

[msdmoney]

I think I'll pick this up as my next XBLA game, since I really liked the two DS games. How long is the game roughly?

[defiance_17]

I think I'll pick this up as my next XBLA game, since I really liked the two DS games. How long is the game roughly?

I think you could probably "finish" it in 6-8 hours, maybe quicker. That's really only half the game, though. I think my first time through I put a little over 20 in, and I still didn't do everything.

[tayaf69]

I probably spent over 25 hours doing everything. If you don't use any sort of guide, you will probably beat it within 6-10 hours and think it's over. That's all I have to say. ;)

[elwood731]

When you say Rodello of Blood do you mean Rondo of Blood?.
Yes, I did. I forgot the title. We'll see about it getting a port, but I agree it seems a good chance if this one sells well.

[Kendal]

I think I am going to turn in early and wake up close to 5 am as possible and play before I have to drive to school.

[asianxcore]

I can't believe I'm saying this...but I may pass on this release for now.

I already have my copy for PS1 and right now I'm fine with that.

[pimpinc333]

I probably spent over 25 hours doing everything. If you don't use any sort of guide, you will probably beat it within 6-10 hours and think it's over. That's all I have to say. ;)

Just probably like I thought Castlevania PoR was over when I didn't do the "other" thing at what I thought was the end :)

[Z-Saber]

I may have the original, and I may have played the crap out of it, but I'm definitely getting this right when I wake up for work (~ 2AM, coincidently).

[tiredfornow]

I may have the original, and I may have played the crap out of it, but I'm definitely getting this right when I wake up for work (~ 2AM, coincidently).

your avatar gets me in this weird castlevania mood...... don't ask why.

slept as soon as I came home from work just to get enough sleep to stay up for this shit.

[captainfrizo]

I'll be buying this first thing tomorrow when I wake up.

[RelentlessRolento]

wait 3am or 4am? east coast...

[Arikado]

Shitty time for me to be broke.

[RelentlessRolento]

anyone know the time in eastern it'll be out?

[zewone]

Shitty time for me to be broke.
Brokemothafucka, shouldn't have been so quick to quit working for the man.

I read somewhere that this isn't coming out until like 9AM PST. Hope thats not true.

[-Never4ever-]

That would suck.

I'm hoping to dload and play a tiny bit before my morning class.

[RudyPants]

This will definately be a first-thing tomorrow purchase. Looking forward to it.

[-Never4ever-]

Still not up :lol:

I'm going to bed, here's hoping I can even wake up before 7am tommorow aka 5 hours from now.

[Radioactive_Man]

anyone know the time in eastern it'll be out?


Should be 2 am pacific 5 am eastern

[Z-Saber]

your avatar gets me in this weird castlevania mood...... don't ask why.I'm asking. It makes no sense.

That said, fuck Pacific time.

[BustaUppa]

Downloading Now!!!!

[zewone]

I can't believe it's finally up!! 95.32MBs

[Radioactive_Man]

Wow, it's fuking amazing. The enhanced graphics do look nice to me.

$10 for one of the best games ever made. SOLD!

[jer7583]

Yeah, somewhat enjoying the enhanced graphics.. if i was playing on a bigger TV than a 19' LCD, I'd like the enhanced graphics better. I like the original pixely look better so far though. Great game, everyone should get it. Sound is good quality, if a bit quiet, everything seems right so far.

[pimpinc333]

At 5 PM this game will be mine! I'm probably one of the few who haven't played SOTN yet.

[daroga]

At 5 PM this game will be mine! I'm probably one of the few who haven't played SOTN yet.I'm in that boat as well. Downloading now. Skipping my workout this morning to play before work.

Ah, priorities. ;)

[gunm]

This is good stuff (other than the voice acting--blah).

I'm just glad I didn't have to pay ebay prices just to be able to play it. HD + Achievements + 800 pts = Must Buy.

[Detective Thorn]

Sound is good quality, if a bit quiet, everything seems right so far.

If you go to the "Settings" screen that is found under "Help & Options" you can change the volume level. You can set it between 0 and 10 (the default is 4).

[sidr]

Pleasantly surprised to find that the D-Pad did not present the nightmare that I had expected; awesome game.

[hhhdx4]

meh I have DoS (got it for 10 bucks) think ill try and finish that before I move on, not really a fan of all that backtracking.

[Rei no Otaku]

Anyone have pictures of the SOTN gamerpics?

[Z-Saber]

Anyone have pictures of the SOTN gamerpics?Hehe, I was thinking about that too, and I haven't bought a single pack of gamerpics.

[tayaf69]

meh I have DoS (got it for 10 bucks) think ill try and finish that before I move on, not really a fan of all that backtracking.
your loss

[KaneRobot]

Indeed. SOTN is better than DoS. However, if you're in the middle of one you're probably right in not jumping into the other right away. Don't skip this one when you're done with DoS, though.

I only had a very brief period of time this morning to look at it, but I love the presentation on it, it looks like they actually spent some time on it - look at, say, TMNT or Ultimate MK3...cookie cutter menus. Wallpaper for the background, no audio, gameplay clip in a small area on the right.

The fact they put the title screen music on the main menu and have a background that looks like it was made for this game specifically gives it a CLASSIER feel.

[BustaUppa]

This is good stuff (other than the voice acting--blah).Haaaahahahahah the voice acting is BRILLIANT. The intro dialogue is in that legendary "so bad it's awesome" category. DIE MONSTER!!!! I'd be seriously pissed if they changed that.

[mykevermin]

Sweet. Got the "Bloodlines" Achievement.

[elsnow77]

i tried the demo, and don't get what all the hype about this is.

[psychobrawler]

So does this actually fill your screen with gameplay graphics, or does it have another of those horrible wallpapers around the game screen. I hate those stagnant images. Not good on a big plasma where burn in and image retention are a concern...

[Setzer]

So does this actually fill your screen with gameplay graphics, or does it have another of those horrible wallpapers around the game screen. I hate those stagnant images. Not good on a big plasma where burn in and image retention are a concern...

You can go into the Options and adjust the game screen size to fill the screen if you want.

[Supercake]

Got it around 8:30 this morning, can't wait to get back home and play some more. I own 2 copies on PS, but this game is still a blast to play through again.

Also, I honestly like the voice acting, Alucard's voice is one of my all time favs for a game, just fits the character really well.

[Darkside Hazuki]

X-X!V''Q still works. Combine that with enough skill to get past Dracula without taking damage and NOT picking up/using a special weapon and you've got a GAME.

Stupid hard at the beginning (24 hits on a Bloody Zombie?!) but when the awesome goods start dropping from everywhere, you'll be crusin'.

Try it for a challenge.

[OzCatter]

I forgot how much this game kicks major ass! Well worth the $10!

[guyver2077]

i really wish they would make these arcade games widesceen. stupid borders suck and i hate having to mess with options stretch the image

[Jimbo Slice]

i really wish they would make these arcade games widesceen. stupid borders suck and i hate having to mess with options stretch the image


No offense, but it's not exactly rocket science....

[fathamburger]

Question, how do you equip stuff? is there an inventory? if so I'm unable to find it. I'm level 15 ish and Im still running around punching things. I've picked up short swords, bought shields and havent been able to use any of it. Or is it just a stat thing?

[CoffeeEdge]

Okay, can someone please explain to/show me exactly how the graphics are "enhanced"? I'm curious to know what's different.

And can it be played natively in widescreen, with the playfield actually expanded to fill up the 16:9 picture, or does it just stretch the 4:3 picture to 16:9?

[Darkside Hazuki]

Question, how do you equip stuff? is there an inventory? if so I'm unable to find it. I'm level 15 ish and Im still running around punching things. I've picked up short swords, bought shields and havent been able to use any of it. Or is it just a stat thing?

Um...

Press the Back button.

I still haven't been able to break the habit of pressing back(select) to look at my map.

[Supercake]

Okay, can someone please explain to/show me exactly how the graphics are "enhanced"? I'm curious to know what's different.

And can it be played natively in widescreen, with the playfield actually expanded to fill up the 16:9 picture, or does it just stretch the 4:3 picture to 16:9?

I don't use HD or anything fancy, but I could tell Alucard is smoothed out some. I think that's as far as the enhanced graphics go, sprite smoothing. (Kinda similar to improved graphics in SNES emulation, like ZSnes.)

[ViolentLee]

Also, I honestly like the voice acting, Alucard's voice is one of my all time favs for a game, just fits the character really well.
"Hehe...thank you!" (shopkeeper)

I don't use HD or anything fancy, but I could tell Alucard is smoothed out some. I think that's as far as the enhanced graphics go, sprite smoothing. (Kinda similar to improved graphics in SNES emulation, like ZSnes.)In the hour that I played, the only thing I noticed were the diagonal lines along the border of the save rooms being smoothed out. And to see that, I had to keep switching back and forth, enhanced and original.

[delirium266]

I never played a Castlevania game since Castlevania IV (I try to forget Castlevania 64 ever existed), but have always liked the series. I'm super psyched to play SotN for the first time today after work.

[CaseyRyback]

I started playing SOTN, but I think I am going to wait until I finish DoS before I keep playing it. It is a lot of fun and since I never beat it I do want to, but keeping track of one castle is enough.

[RudyPants]

I started playing SOTN, but I think I am going to wait until I finish DoS before I keep playing it. It is a lot of fun and since I never beat it I do want to, but keeping track of one castle is enough.

I'm in the same boat as you. But I couldn't help but start a new SOTN game this morning before work. I thought that they promised this game would be in widescreen (not just being able to adjust it manually). That's frustrating, but the game itself is killer.

[Javery]

I thought that they promised this game would be in widescreen (not just being able to adjust it manually). That's frustrating, but the game itself is killer.

I also thought that - I hate playing games in "stretch" mode but I don't want to damage my TV otherwise. I'm probably going to pick this up. I played it on PS1 and I recently got 1/2 way through on my PSP but deleted my save file like an idiot so I'll probably play it again on XBLA.

The voice acting is some of the best ever, IMO. So bad it's really really really bad and then it comes around to good and then great.

[rodeojones903]

Just finished downloading. :D

[jer7583]

To those who didn't notice a difference in Enhanced mode, are you playing on standard def or high def? The regular mode in high def looks very sharp and pixely, enhanced mode seems to just smooth out the pixel edges, ZSNES Eagle Engine style.

What a great game. Was trying to get the bloodlines achievement this morning.. I was one hit away and got hit by a fireball. ugh.

[KaneRobot]

i tried the demo, and don't get what all the hype about this is.
I almost wish they hadn't done a demo for this. The appeal of the game is how much there is to get and do, a demo isn't going to let you get to the point where you realize that.

If you like Metroid-style games or any of the new DS Castlevanias, get this.

[mtxbass1]

Absolutely fantastic port. I bought this without hesitation. Brings back a lot of memories.

[Supercake]

What a great game. Was trying to get the bloodlines achievement this morning.. I was one hit away and got hit by a fireball. ugh.

Haha, at first I restarted the game trying to get it, but then realized I could just try it much later, it can wait.

Wish the achievements were alot harder to get, or more obscure. Even so, having some kind of Collection menu for weapons and enemy data would've been great. But, I shouldn't complain, having SOTN on arcade is good enough.

[strdr4]

Great game, but I think a manual would help. I just got the wolf form and I guess you can run faster and make bigger jumps, but what else? Is there some hidden button presses like with Alucard's qcf motion? (hadoken) -.-


I got a huge surprise when I went all the way back to the beginning of the level and there' a big armored freak awaiting outside the castle. Little did I know, I was no match for his Falcon, less him. lol. I was speechless that i didn't even get a slash off.

Definitely liking the rpg elements

[SteveMcQ]

Ok, I was playing this in a half-daze this morning. Is there some Metroid element early in the beginning, when Alucard first meets Death? 'Cause all I remember was a bunch of icons showing up around Alucard and I was stripped off all my stuff. Is that basically what happened in that cut scene, or did I miss anything else important?

[strdr4]

Ok, I was playing this in a half-daze this morning. Is there some Metroid element early in the beginning, when Alucard first meets Death? 'Cause all I remember was a bunch of icons showing up around Alucard and I was stripped off all my stuff. Is that basically what happened in that cut scene, or did I miss anything else important?



No, That's what happened.

[Z-Saber]

Well, having played it virtually all day, I have come to a conclusion. It was a hasty purchase.

I am most certainly having fun with it, but I was under the impression that there would be something more to it. Basically, I payed 10 bucks for something I already have, except the graphics are slightly smoothed out, the music/effects volumes are way off (and not adjustable), achievements have been added, and the sound is sketchy and very compressed. They also removed the FMVs, though they weren't anything special anyway.

My biggest gripe though? No surround sound. And the way my receiver works, I have to change the 360's audio configuration to Digital Stereo just to get fake/matrixed surround (PLII Game and all that).

Basically, If you've never played the original, get it. If you've played it but don't have own it anymore, get it. If you still have it, consider not getting this.

All that said, I'm still playing through and having a blast.

[spoo]

Well, having played it virtually all day, I have come to a conclusion. It was a hasty purchase.

I am most certainly having fun with it, but I was under the impression that there would be something more to it. Basically, I payed 10 bucks for something I already have, except the graphics are slightly smoothed out, the music/effects volumes are way off (and not adjustable), achievements have been added, and the sound is sketchy and very compressed. They also removed the FMVs, though they weren't anything special anyway.

My biggest gripe though? No surround sound. And the way my receiver works, I have to change the 360's audio configuration to Digital Stereo just to get fake/matrixed surround (PLII Game and all that).

Basically, If you've never played the original, get it. If you've played it but don't have own it anymore, get it. If you still have it, consider not getting this.

All that said, I'm still playing through and having a blast.

I am also in the same boat on buying it for many of the same reasons. I'm also upset that the press release said it had "native widescreen" support but it only stretched screen support.

[mtxbass1]

I am also in the same boat on buying it for many of the same reasons. I'm also upset that the press release said it had "native widescreen" support but it only stretched screen support.

I own both originals on the PS1 (black label, green label) and I'm happy with this purchase. I'm not noticing the sound issues that were reported. I actually think the music sounds better since I last played this, but maybe that's me. Granted the voice acting...is wonky, but I can live with that. For $10, it's really hard to beat the value here, even if you have the old versions. I guess it really depends on how long ago you've played this (or if you have at all) and the nostaglia involved. I'm going through certain parts of the castle right now going, "oh yeah. I remember this. This was great." and it's brining back a lot of good memories.

[mykevermin]

Has the wolf bite/wolf lunge spell changed? I can't pull it off using the old command for it.

[terribledeli]

Has the wolf bite/wolf lunge spell changed? I can't pull it off using the old command for it.

I'm having some difficulty pulling off everything but the fireball spell.

[Kaijufan]

I downloaded and played a little bit of SotN today and I'm really enjoying it. It's been a few years since the last time I've played it, and even though I still own the PSX version I felt that the $10 I spent on the XBLA version was well worth it.

[RelentlessRolento]

probably the best single player XBLA game thus far.

[lurknomore]

I'm happy with my PS1 versions...the demo just didn't sit well with me.

[daroga]

I'm having troubles when using the dpad, and quickly crouching, my thumb tends to slip ever so slightly and get Alucard turned the wrong way. That's annoying. I started using the stick, which, whild more uncomfortable, seems more accurate.

I wish there was a way to use the Wii's Classic Controller for this game. :P

[KaneRobot]

I love this game as much as I did back when it came out. I have zero complaints other than the d-pad being iffy and the SFX being a bit loud, which are minor. I'm already used to using the analog stick anyway.

[Graystone]

$10 is a lot. This game is awesome but I can play this as a MAME rom for free.

[Jimbo Slice]

$10 is a lot. This game is awesome but I can play this as a MAME rom for free.

MAME rom? j00 cr4zy

[richierich]

$10 is a lot. This game is awesome but I can play this as a MAME rom for free.

It may be a lot of $, but I see it as a way of showing Konami that we are willing to support great games if they are going to bring them to the xbox 360 platform. Plus I'm going to buy it since I've never played it on the PSX! So Hah! :D

[KaneRobot]

$10 is a lot. This game is awesome but I can play this as a MAME rom for free.
Hay guyz remembar back in teh day when u used to pour quarterz into the SOTN machien down at th e pizza place


Really - this is the only time I'm ever condoning using the "tell a friend" feature on arcade games. If this sells like crazy, maybe we'll get Rondo of Blood later. Boner.

[-Never4ever-]

the best single player 360 game thus far.

Fixed.

[RelentlessRolento]

Fixed.


:lol: my ass!

Dead Rising was totally worth it.... but yeah, other than that, not much else.

[Sarang01]

Hay guyz remembar back in teh day when u used to pour quarterz into the SOTN machien down at th e pizza place


Really - this is the only time I'm ever condoning using the "tell a friend" feature on arcade games. If this sells like crazy, maybe we'll get Rondo of Blood later. Boner.

I'd rather have a fixed Saturn version of this instead since Rondo is coming to the PSP. We don't know of a Saturn version of this WITHOUT slowdown.

[zewone]

Finally got enough dough for Joseph's Cloak. Pink and black pimped out cape, here I come!

I think the $100,000 achievement is a lot harder than the 200.6% one.

[Jimbo Slice]

I'd rather have a fixed Saturn version of this instead since Rondo is coming to the PSP. We don't know of a Saturn version of this WITHOUT slowdown.

not really missing much besides some tacked on and unnecessary extras w/ the Saturn version. hopefully Rondo comes out on XBLA since the PSP kinda sucks IMO, and I'm not going to re-buy one just to play Rondo

[defiance_17]

This game still kicks ass.

[lilboo]

k, um
how do you save? LOL :(

me <-- never played this game before

I eventually die, but I never saved? ::confused::

[sidr]

k, um
how do you save? LOL :(

me <-- never played this game before

I eventually die, but I never saved? ::confused::
First, you need to find one of those small rooms that has a spinning yellow spheres in it. Then, if you press up when you're in front of one of those spheres you're asked if you would like to save.

[PyroGamer]

This is still the type of game I like to get the nostalgic factor from on a portable console.

How come this isn't out yet for the DS? Certainly it's capable of doing it.


The voice acting is riddiculously bad. They should have re-did it for the updated version.

[CAG 79]

The voice acting is riddiculously bad. They should have re-did it for the updated version.

The bad voice acting is one of the things that makes it a classic. I would've been pissed if they changed it.

[BustaUppa]

Really - this is the only time I'm ever condoning using the "tell a friend" feature on arcade games. If this sells like crazy, maybe we'll get Rondo of Blood later....or maybe even a new 2D CastleVania for a home console! (perhaps directly through XBLA? I'd take it!)

[elwood731]

The bad voice acting is one of the things that makes it a classic. I would've been pissed if they changed it.
Agreed. It's like redoing the voice act9ing in Resident Evil--the game loses a little bit of its charm without the voices.

[zewone]

This is still the type of game I like to get the nostalgic factor from on a portable console.

How come this isn't out yet for the DS? Certainly it's capable of doing it.


The voice acting is riddiculously bad. They should have re-did it for the updated version.
It's being ported to the PSP with Rondo of Blood. It's suppose to have updated voice acting as well (which I think is lame).

[Chacrana]

I ended up downloading the game... I knew I would even with the PSP version coming out. Impressions:

Graphics seem to be spot on for the most part. I ended up turning off the graphical filter... while the "enhanced" graphics do smooth out the rough edges, it also seems to obscure some of the detail. Maybe I need to stretch the screen out more, but it seemed to be fairly useless. The only graphical inconsistancy I noticed was that when you kill a boss and get a power up, the effect where the health power up appears doesn't have the slow-mo effect that's in the PS1 version.

As far as sound... there's a number of sounds that are slightly off. The sound when you're navigating the menu is a bit off, the sound when a health power up appears is off, the sound when you pick up a relic is off, the lightning sound when you first enter the castle is way off, and there's probably others. I only played about 10 or 15 minutes of the game, so I wouldn't be surprised if I'm missing something. Now this is all really minor stuff... I honestly don't care too much about that and I'm just stating what I noticed rather than complaining. The one thing that has bothered me a bit is that it seems the music quality has suffered quite a bit. Most of the songs sound pretty muddy and sound like they're a lot lower fidelity than what we had in the original PS1 release. While that's probably to be expected with the amount of compressions the game had, it's still kinda disappointing.

That said, SOTN is still my favorite game of all time. While I prefer the PS1 version and the PSP version will probably end up being the definitive version of the game, this is still a good port for the most part. And I'm glad to say that I got the bloodlines achievement on my first try... too bad there's no achievement for memorizing the passionate opening dialogue of the game.

[Supercake]

The only graphical inconsistancy I noticed was that when you kill a boss and get a power up, the effect where the health power up appears doesn't have the slow-mo effect that's in the PS1 version.

... too bad there's no achievement for memorizing the passionate opening dialogue of the game.

That's the only thing change that bummed me. It sounds so akward now. It's not a problem, just odd.

I kept laughing during the opening, I forgot how great it was. "Tribute? You steal mens souls, and make them your slaves!" :lol:

I really hope this means more Castlevania coming to 360, or at least shows Konami they can release successful titles.

[LinkinPrime]

So Is this game as good as expected? I can't DL till 3/30 since I'm outta town.

[Chacrana]

So Is this game as good as expected? I can't DL till 3/30 since I'm outta town.

Yes. It's still SOTN. It's not as good as the PS1 version, but it's still better than anything on XBLA... hell, anything on Xbox 360 IMO.

[KaneRobot]

I'd rather have a fixed Saturn version of this instead since Rondo is coming to the PSP.

That's exactly why I want it on XBLA. I'll likely never buy a PSP.

Releasing SOTN again with the Saturn NITM features would be insanely redundant. I can just see people buying it on XBLA thinking it's a new Castlevania game and flipping out when it's the exact same thing as SOTN with an extra character and a few new areas.

[LinkinPrime]

I'm hoping that this sells really well and in return turns on a lightbulb at Konami offices and they release more Castlevania sequels/ports or even original titles.

[zewone]

I'm sure Konami is making some nice profits with TMNT last week and SOTN this week. I believe some shitty ass shooter game by Konami is the release for next Weds. Konami is probably <3ing XBLA right now.

[Z-Saber]

Forgot to mention one other gripe. Maybe it's just me, but when I played SotN back in the day, I changed the buttons around. I had the backdash/special button as L1 and right hand (shield) set to R1. Even though this version has an option to change the buttons in-game, and also updated button icons, it does nothing. I changed the buttons, confirmed, and returned to play with no change in configuration. I also went back to the menu to make sure I had actually set it... and I did. I also saved, quit, and reloaded to find that my configuration was still saved yet not working.

Anyone encounter this bug?

By the way, for those of you who agree with me (and zew) that the music is lower quality and hard to hear, whip (teehee) out your MP3 player/streaming equipment and use the original soundtrack as background music. It sounds significantly better.

Also, for those who are disappointed by the lack of 5.1/widescreen, you can sort of fix it. For surround, as with just about any other non-surround audio source, you can use Dolby Pro-Logic settings to fake surround. Playing around with it a bit, PLII Music sounds terrific, especially when using the OST's MP3s. The music is so deliciously echo-ey that PLII Music creates a very fulfilling surround image.

For widescreen... well, stretching it is an obvious fix, but the best thing you can really do is just make the screen bigger overall, yet not out of ratio and fat looking. I adjusted vertically as far as it would go and stretched horizontally by approximately the same amount, keeping the original ratio as best as possible while filling more of the screen.

Still having fun, though still missing my $10 since I could have played the same exact thing for free.

[Chacrana]

Forgot to mention one other gripe. Maybe it's just me, but when I played SotN back in the day, I changed the buttons around. I had the backdash/special button as L1 and right hand (shield) set to R1. Even though this version has an option to change the buttons in-game, and also updated button icons, it does nothing. I changed the buttons, confirmed, and returned to play with no change in configuration. I also went back to the menu to make sure I had actually set it... and I did. I also saved, quit, and reloaded to find that my configuration was still saved yet not working.

Anyone encounter this bug?

By the way, for those of you who agree with me (and zew) that the music is lower quality and hard to hear, whip (teehee) out your MP3 player/streaming equipment and use the original soundtrack as background music. It sounds significantly better.

Also, for those who are disappointed by the lack of 5.1/widescreen, you can sort of fix it. For surround, as with just about any other non-surround audio source, you can use Dolby Pro-Logic settings to fake surround. Playing around with it a bit, PLII Music sounds terrific, especially when using the OST's MP3s. The music is so deliciously echo-ey that PLII Music creates a very fulfilling surround image.

For widescreen... well, stretching it is an obvious fix, but the best thing you can really do is just make the screen bigger overall, yet not out of ratio and fat looking. I adjusted vertically as far as it would go and stretched horizontally by approximately the same amount, keeping the original ratio as best as possible while filling more of the screen.

Still having fun, though still missing my $10 since I could have played the same exact thing for free.

So I wasn't the only one who noticed the crappy-ish sound quality?

Oh, and noticed another small issue -- in the side of the Castle (when there's rain), the rain cuts out briefly when you change screens. I don't think that was the case with the PS1 version. Again, small difference. Very small. The audio quality hurts though.

[zewone]

The elevator when you're going down to get the Holy Goggles or whatever sounds like shit. I also noticed the rain cutting out. I'm not an audiophile though, so the music sounds fine to me. I've very satisfied with my purchase, even though I have it for the PS1.

[Jimbo Slice]

The elevator when you're going down to get the Holy Goggles or whatever sounds like shit. I also noticed the rain cutting out. I'm not an audiophile though, so the music sounds fine to me. I've very satisfied with my purchase, even though I have it for the PS1.

Same here man.


hey how did everyone on the leaderboards get to Maria in under a minute? I think the person in first place did it in like 23 seconds or something.... wtf?

[Supercake]

Out of curiousity, can you still get past Death in the beginning with all the "Alucard" equipment still on? I never did it myself on PS, just that some people's times are very fast on the leaderboard.

Jim, that's what I'm talking about, I bet with this glitch you get to Maria that fast. (I posted before I saw your reply)

Damn, looking through all the secrets on gamefaqs, I forgot about alot of em. If these are still intact, it will make the money and Richter achievement easy as hell.

[zewone]

Out of curiousity, can you still get past Death in the beginning with all the "Alucard" equipment still on? I never did it myself on PS, just that some people's times are very fast on the leaderboard.

Jim, that's what I'm talking about, I bet with this glitch you get to Maria that fast. (I posted before I saw your reply)

Damn, looking through all the secrets on gamefaqs, I forgot about alot of em. If these are still intact, it will make the money and Richter achievement easy as hell.
I was going to try it, but I didn't feel like glitching the game. Though I do want to money glitch because $100,000 is ridiculous. What's the moneyz glitch?

[Supercake]

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/psx/code/196885.html

The one with the librarian and sword card, seems easiest to do. I never fooled around with these tricks, I feel like I've missed out now.

[fathamburger]

Okay I've beaten the game but going for 200.6%. Currently 196.6% :(

1) has anyone gotten all the spells yet? I need the bat one, and from what I can see of the faq (hold x, do U, UB, B, DB, D, DF, F, then release x) this doesn't work. I'm one move away from the achivement ;) has anyone gotten this yeT?

2) I have some water areas still covered in the reverse castle on the ceiling. Some FAQ's have mentioned being able to swim in wolf form but haven't been able to get this to work.

3) Is it possible to open the left statue in the clock room in the reverse castle? if so, how? :)

Those 3 I'm guessing are the last things I need to do, seeing as I *think* I've covered all the secret rooms but am still 50 rooms short according to the counter. I guess room means block ;)

[mykevermin]

There's one hidden room in the clock tower in the first castle I can't get to. It looks like there are iron bars where the door should be (in the far left room with all the fucking medusa heads and gears turning). Anyone have an idea how to open that? Thanks for your help, I'm at 99.7% on the first castle.

[fathamburger]

Did you hit the gears? basically there's one of them in each castle. You need to keep hitting the gears in those 3 rooms until they make a clicking sound instead of the usual clanking sound. Rinse and repeat with all 4 gears. Then the door should be open. Otherwise, try mist form ;)

[tayaf69]

Too much talk about this game! I have been at college all week and I won't get this game till tomorrow. Can't wait.

[Jimbo Slice]

Did you hit the gears? basically there's one of them in each castle. You need to keep hitting the gears in those 3 rooms until they make a clicking sound instead of the usual clanking sound. Rinse and repeat with all 4 gears. Then the door should be open. Otherwise, try mist form ;)

To clarify, each of the 2 clocktower rooms have 2 gears. So to clarify, you hit both gears in the two clocktower rooms till they make a different noise. Once you hit all 4 gears, it opens the room.

[RelentlessRolento]

Even though I played this a few years ago, it still hasn't lost its charm.

[fathamburger]

197.6% now, ARGH. Well on the bright side, opened the second statue in the clock tower room. Works the same as the first castle, I forgot. Also found another room, the one you needed the devil to poke the first time and a second room after that.

I'm still stuck with the water on the ceiling and how to get the dog to swim though. Hopefully that's not required and I'm just missing a few more rooms.

[Chacrana]

Man... I ended up playing a lot more of the game than I anticipated. I'm on the inverted castle now and I'm pretty far into it. Other stuff I've noticed... the transformation sound has the wrong pitch and unless I'm mistaken, the familiars actually say shit now... I never had the sword talk to me prior to today.

Oh, and best line of dialogue ever... next to the "What is a man..." business...

"YOR NOT MY MOTHER!!"

[strdr4]

"your words are as empty as your soul!"

[Kapwanil]

I'm still stuck with the water on the ceiling and how to get the dog to swim though. Hopefully that's not required and I'm just missing a few more rooms.
Oh, it's definitely required. What you do for those, if I recall correctly, is super-jump to the ceiling in the Inverted Castle in those tricky underground areas and then immediately hit wolf form. You should propel yourself up to the ceiling that way and trigger the map to show it as a complete block.

It's tricky and it takes some time but if you're leveled up then the enemies around there shouldn't be anywhere near a problem. At that point it's just trial and error until you nab them.

Oh, and if you still need the bat spell, it should be (Hold A) Up, Up-Back, Back, Down-Back, Down, Down-Forward, Forward, Release A. Don't worry, I made that mistake a great deal too by hitting X, which refers to X on the PS1 pad (ie: Jump).

[fathamburger]

Thanks for the help on the bat form, it worked and was a hoot. I took out three things by accident ;)

I didn't know that alucard had a super jump but hey.. if it works for richter.. anyway yup that did it!... up until 199.6% anyway. I covered the water areas and one or two others that could only be marked via super jump. I fought dracula and library carded back to get this far. ARGH 1 more %. I'm also missing one monster in the bestiary so I'm guessing wherever I find him is the missing 1%? so close! the map is completely full now.

[mykevermin]

To clarify, each of the 2 clocktower rooms have 2 gears. So to clarify, you hit both gears in the two clocktower rooms till they make a different noise. Once you hit all 4 gears, it opens the room.

I'll try that out. Thanks, both of you.

[tayaf69]

Thanks for the help on the bat form, it worked and was a hoot. I took out three things by accident ;)

I didn't know that alucard had a super jump but hey.. if it works for richter.. anyway yup that did it!... up until 199.6% anyway. I covered the water areas and one or two others that could only be marked via super jump. I fought dracula and library carded back to get this far. ARGH 1 more %. I'm also missing one monster in the bestiary so I'm guessing wherever I find him is the missing 1%? so close! the map is completely full now.
you could always fly on the outside of the castle to get well over 200.6%....I believe you can get 210%...

[zewone]

The money glitch works. Pretty easy to do. I'm guessing all the glitches from the PS1 version work.

[mykevermin]

To clarify, each of the 2 clocktower rooms have 2 gears. So to clarify, you hit both gears in the two clocktower rooms till they make a different noise. Once you hit all 4 gears, it opens the room.

To clarify, in this area there are two rooms with two gears (in each castle, so there are a total of 8 altogether). In one castle, hit each gear until you hear a "click" sound (and don't hit it again, or you have to start over!); after hitting the four gears total, then the door will open.

Also, an easy way to get money is to use the jewel sword. In the early part of the game (with the bats at top, mermen at the bottom, and the breakable rock in the middle), there is a hidden room in the bottom left corner. Walk through the rock passage (left to right) as the wolf, immediately change to the bat, go back through the passage (right to left) and the passage will open. It has a life apple and the jewel sword, which makes enemies randomly drop salable jewels. Took me about 30 minutes to get 100K, fighting around the librarian area.

[Chacrana]

Why do you guys need the money glitch? I just got way past $100,000 by selling diamonds.

[zewone]

Why do you guys need the money glitch? I just got way past $100,000 by selling diamonds.
I forgot they were worth so much. I kept all my moneyz until I had over $100,000. Can you get the achievement by just having a cumulative total of over 100K throughout the whole game?

[Chacrana]

I forgot they were worth so much. I kept all my moneyz until I had over $100,000. Can you get the achievement by just having a cumulative total of over 100K throughout the whole game?

As far as I know, no.

[fathamburger]

I've gotten 100k twice at least, no need to glitch it. It'll come in time

[zewone]

I'm at 200%. I'm not sure where to knock out the last .6%.

[Chacrana]

I'm also at around 200%... not sure where I still need to go... eh, whatever.

[Supercake]

I'm also at around 200%... not sure where I still need to go... eh, whatever.

Crap, I assumed I'd hit past that just by playing normally, I'll have to be extra sure this time around.

I did the money glitch cause I never tried it before, and I admit I was impatient. Plus, since I've beaten the game before, I can go ahead and cheat a bit if I want to. That's my logic anyway, after you beat a game once normally, you can cheat as much as you want afterwards.

That missing monster could be the Mud Man, You can only fight it during the Lesser Demon boss fight.

[Darkside Hazuki]

I'm also missing one monster in the bestiary so I'm guessing wherever I find him is the missing 1%?

It won't help with your map percentage, but the one monster you're missing is likely the Mudman (#61). It's summoned by the Lesser Demon boss in the Long Library...and that 's it. You only get one shot.

[fathamburger]

Yeah you guys are right, it's the mudman. I'm working on that last % now. I'm getting frustrated enough to try the out of castle glitch soon at this rate.

This is a real solid, old school hardcore game. The stuff to find and the completion bonuses prove that. I totally recommend this as a purchase and the game you show "hardcore gamers" who grew up with Halo and GTA what a real hardcore game is :)

[daroga]

Yeah you guys are right, it's the mudman. I'm working on that last % now. I'm getting frustrated enough to try the out of castle glitch soon at this rate.

This is a real solid, old school hardcore game. The stuff to find and the completion bonuses prove that. I totally recommend this as a purchase and the game you show "hardcore gamers" who grew up with Halo and GTA what a real hardcore game is :)A PS1 game? Really?

Head over to the Virtual Console and get yourself the original Castlevania or Kid Icarus. Now we're talking hardcore. ;)

But, of course, SotN still rocks.

[Supercake]

A PS1 game? Really?

Head over to the Virtual Console and get yourself the original Castlevania or Kid Icarus. Now we're talking hardcore. ;)

But, of course, SotN still rocks.

Haha, yes. SOTN is an absolute cake walk compared to most any game. Sure, there's stuff to do, but it's an easy time. It's one of SOTN's big weaknesses, difficulty.

[elwood731]

Haha, yes. SOTN is an absolute cake walk compared to most any game. Sure, there's stuff to do, but it's an easy time. It's one of SOTN's big weaknesses, difficulty.
I don't know about it being a weakness. I think there's enough content, that at least on a first play through, the difficulty keeps it perfectly enjoyable. The first Castlevania is a frustrating pain-in-the-butt. I'm glad the series isn't exactly like it anymore (i.e. cheap). CV II and III were huge improvements in that area.

[zewone]

I'm stuck at 200.2%. I can't even get the glitch out of the map to work. :cry: I'm never going to get the achievement.

[fathamburger]

200% now, it was a small room with one meal ticket on the left middle of the inverted castle. I knew about it but forgot to go back to it on my last run through last night.

I'm guessing that last .6% is the same part I'm missing with the other guy. If you find it, please post it. Must.. not..cheat :D

Oh yeah, old school NES games were probably hardercore. I never had a NES or master System. Parents wouldn't let me have one, so C64 carried me through :)

Hey Zewone, where was that .2% for you?

[CAG 79]

How do you check the number % of the map??

[zewone]

How do you check the number % of the map??
When you load a save, it'll say in the bottom of info sheet.

[CAG 79]

When you load a save, it'll say in the bottom of info sheet.

I see. Thanks. :)

[fathamburger]

200.1% missed a save room near the alchemy lab in the original castle. 5 rooms left to go.

Also, I never got the elevator working in the reversed castle, is it possible to do this? it shouldn't count on the map but its the last thing I haven't done.

[zewone]

200.5%. The rooms I missed were two stupid ones I overlooked, and the inverted area where you get the sword familiar. Now the hunt for the last .1.

[Supercake]

200.5%. The rooms I missed were two stupid ones I overlooked, and the inverted area where you get the sword familiar. Now the hunt for the last .1.

Geez, I never though this achievement would be such a pain. It's 200.6 right? Good luck, same goes for me when I struggle for this one.

[fathamburger]

200.5% for me too, there was .4% sitting in the inverted castle on the left, a big square room with armored lions and flying heads which looked like an upside down T to me too because when I first got to it I didnt hit the bottom rooms as I was getting my ass kicked.

I used this map. http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/psx/file/196885/13134

There are a couple of errors, there's an inacessible "save room" on the right of the inversted castle, just above the "staircase ceiling" bit. I think that's an error since I haven't gotten into it on either castle and that would be 200.7% if done ;)

yup.. onto the last .1%

[seanr1221]

Just beat the inverted castle...now on to richter mode!!

[fathamburger]

200.6% YES! the final room was in the inverted castle up the top, it was the power of sire room. I could have sworn I'd already picked it up, or maybe I went into it, died, had to come back and forgot about it, but anyway I found it by looking at the map I posted the link to above.

Instead of looking at the rooms, I looked at the shape outlines around them and specifically looked for black where none should be. BOOYAH! god this was a pain in the ass, it may be easy to "beat" but it's challenging to complete. Damn this feels good!

Now for richter mode lol. Im glad I dont have to do this again with him.

[zewone]

I got it! Another stupid overlooked room. That kind of pisses me off because of the time I took to level up my sword familiar to level 99 for no reason.

[zewone]

Wow! The Richter one is incredibly easy. I got it in about 20 minutes play time.

[CAG 79]

Is there a certain percantage of the map that must completed before playing on the inverted castle?

[fathamburger]

Good to hear you finally got it. 20 minutes huh, superjump straight up to the inverted castle?

and no, you need to get the holy glasses, spare Richter and hit only the green orb (Shaft) to open up the inverted castle. If your sword familiar is high level you can just mist form and let it do most of the work, shouldnt take long. The orb has low HP.

[drbutchevil]

200.2%, 1888 rooms (including Dracula room), map is identical to the one above, and I'm stumped. Help?

[zewone]

Is there a certain percantage of the map that must completed before playing on the inverted castle?
No. It's more complicated than that.;) I don't want to ruin it for ya, but pay attention to any rings you find. Check them out in the inventory. Just in case you want to know, I'll spoiler tag the solution.

You have to find the gold and silver ring. Look through a guide/faq. These aren't that easy to find. You have to go out of your way to obtain them. Wear these both in the big clock room. You'll find Maria and she'll give you the Holy Glasses. Wear these when fighting Richter and you'll see a green orb. Don't attack Richter, just the orb.

20 minutes huh, superjump straight up to the inverted castle?

Pretty much. I watched a speed run video in which a guy beat it in 7 minutes with Richter. I'm not that good though. :)

[drbutchevil]

Disregard the above, I'm a fucking moron.

[Chacrana]

Got the seeker achievement... Like I wouldn't have kept playing until I got it. Now to play through as Richter... which is actually pretty fun. Wasn't that difficult last time I did it...

[fathamburger]

Playing through as Richter kicked my ass once I got to the inverted castle. There is a long stretch on the towers where you dont get a save point for ages, but you have to keep double jumping and dealing with the panthers that turn into goo. All you have to do is be patient but after repeated deaths, I was reading to strangle the screen that I couldn't dash through it... consistently lol i.e chance of air dash stopping right at the point you take damage. THEN I decided to go across the spikes, which involved more air dashing and a lot of luck. Maybe I suck because I have difficulty pulling off strings of super jumps and dashes but there were numerous times where I was screaming at Richter to learn to double jump and fly.

Maybe taking the left path is easier lol.

[Chacrana]

Playing through as Richter kicked my ass once I got to the inverted castle. There is a long stretch on the towers where you dont get a save point for ages, but you have to keep double jumping and dealing with the panthers that turn into goo. All you have to do is be patient but after repeated deaths, I was reading to strangle the screen that I couldn't dash through it... consistently lol i.e chance of air dash stopping right at the point you take damage. THEN I decided to go across the spikes, which involved more air dashing and a lot of luck. Maybe I suck because I have difficulty pulling off strings of super jumps and dashes but there were numerous times where I was screaming at Richter to learn to double jump and fly.

Maybe taking the left path is easier lol.

It's been 4 years since the last time I played SOTN and I played through with both Alucard and Richter then... and I remember that it was a pain with Richter until I really started grabbing those health ups like crazy.

[CAG 79]

Damn I just beat the game on accident I think. I did not even got the sword familiar yet. Time to reload that last checkpoint.

[Chacrana]

Finished with Richter... so I got all the achievements.... this is the first 360 game I've gotten all the achievements in and it's my favorite game on the system... which is a little sad considering this game is a decade old. 2 odd things I noticed though: 1) Those knights you kill in the clock tower... their swords don't attack you like they did in the PS1 version unless I somehow missed that every single time. 2) Scylla and Charybdis (the first bosses) had their names changed for some reason...

Anyway, overall, my impressions were:

Pro:
+ Achievement points are kinda cool in this game
+ Ridiculous voice acting left in
+ Enhanced graphics are kinda nice

Con:
- Audio quality took a hit
- The Xbox D-pad proves again that it's useless
- Lots of weird audio changes

Overall... definitely get this version if you don't have the PS1 version.

[zewone]

Con:
- Audio quality took a hit
Did you change the sound to stereo? For some very odd reason, the default is mono.

[fathamburger]

Did you change the sound to stereo? For some very odd reason, the default is mono.

I wondered if that was just me. I thought maybe they had to lower the bitrate to get it to "fit" within 50mb initially and forgot about it.

They didnt use up the full 150mb either which makes me wonder why they didn't include the CGI's (as bad as they were back then) but compressed with divx or something.

[Chacrana]

Did you change the sound to stereo? For some very odd reason, the default is mono.

Yeah, I had it on stereo... it still seemed like it was lower fidelity than what the PS1 version had.

Oh, and I forgot the worst thing: No loading screen. Meaning, you can't play with the "Now Loading" text. Why even bother playing now?

[tayaf69]

Haha, yes. SOTN is an absolute cake walk compared to most any game. Sure, there's stuff to do, but it's an easy time. It's one of SOTN's big weaknesses, difficulty.
Simon's Quest was the hardest Castlevania to me, but to be honest, there were some parts of that game that didn't even seem possible (summon a tornado anyone?) without some sort of walkthrough.

[strdr4]

After seeing Angry video game nerd on screw attack reviewing Simon's Quest, I don't ever want to touch that game. It looks annoyingly obscure.

[Chris in Cali]

Simon's Quest was awesome. Especially the music.

[Trakan]

Why does Richter have to be so terrible? I can get to the colosseum, but I get raped in there every time. No save spot even near that point doesn't help either. Of course I have the cross, and not the holy rain, so that makes the shit even harder.

[seanr1221]

Yea I'm having trouble trying to do a speed run with Richter too. I can get slightly past Medusa but then I get killed in like...two hits.

I'm so used to dominating with Alucard this is quite the change of pace.

[Jimbo Slice]

Why does Richter have to be so terrible? I can get to the colosseum, but I get raped in there every time. No save spot even near that point doesn't help either. Of course I have the cross, and not the holy rain, so that makes the shit even harder.

If you're just looking for the achievement, why not just skip the Colosseum all together? That shit is so hard w/o Hydro Storm.

[seanr1221]

If you're just looking for the achievement, why not just skip the Colosseum all together? That shit is so hard w/o Hydro Storm.

Any speed video I've seen shows that you have to go through the inverted castle colosseum to get to the center clock.

[Kapwanil]

Simon's Quest was the hardest Castlevania to me, but to be honest, there were some parts of that game that didn't even seem possible (summon a tornado anyone?) without some sort of walkthrough.
The one thing about Simon's Quest is that reading the manual proved to be highly important since you learned that not all of the townspeople are going to be helpful, let alone tell you the truth. Second of all, it let you know that the Holy Water could destroy false walls, which was absolutely necessary in order to find some pivotal items and townspeople with info. Lastly, by making you talk to all of the NPCs that you can find, the first run through was basically trial-and-error.

In the end you play through the game the first time and, if you're lucky, you just beat it in around 12 to 15 hours and get the worst ending. The only problem is that the game never really mentioned multiple endings so most people missed out on the fact that if they kept running through the game they could get a wholly satisfying ending eventually.

Hard as hell game, really, but I still love it for what it tried to do. Frustrating at parts, moderately frustrating, and filled with hidden areas and secrets. It was one of those old-school $40 purchases that was well worth the money since it really offered a lot of content and replayability, sort of like Legend of Zelda and Clash at Demonhead.

[mykevermin]

Simon's Quest was awesome. Especially the music.
I wholeheartedly agree with that; I don't think any of those tracks were remixed for later CV games, were they?

OT, 199.7%. NOW comes the part that sucks.

[fathamburger]

I got raped in the colloseum too (with the cross), even after being patient and flawlessing past the towers. So I skipped it. That's why I eventually went through the big room with the karasumen, got the save pooint but ended up dashing through the spikes which I'm not sure the designers ever intended. If you can get through the spikes, it's pretty easy after that with a direct route to the clock tower.

[Trakan]

If you're just looking for the achievement, why not just skip the Colosseum all together? That shit is so hard w/o Hydro Storm.
I was just going according to the video I have. If there's an easier path, please post it.

[seanr1221]

I was just going according to the video I have. If there's an easier path, please post it.

Same..someone help us?

[Trakan]

Same..someone help us?

Well, I went a different way. I headed left until I hit the clocktower and one of the enemies dropped the holy water, so I could use hydro storm. Luckily I got through that and got to the outer wall. Saved there, and it probably took me another 15+ tries to eventually get to Shaft.

Finally got the achievement.

[Jimbo Slice]

Well, I went a different way. I headed left until I hit the clocktower and one of the enemies dropped the holy water, so I could use hydro storm. Luckily I got through that and got to the outer wall. Saved there, and it probably took me another 15+ tries to eventually get to Shaft.

Finally got the achievement.

That's what I was going to suggest. It's not easy, but if you don't have the Holy Water it's the best way to go.

[MorbidAngel4Life]

200.5% with Alucard in 7 hours.....WHERE THE fuck IS THE OTHER .1%!?

[zewone]

It's in your butt.

[Supercake]

I used this FAQ for Richter.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/psx/file/196885/8168

Helped me out bigtime. It doesn't really meniotn saving, since that's not the point of the FAQ, but since there's a save right before Dracula's Room, you should be fine, plus another save in the "Elevator Tower" (forget the name). Just be sure to have holy water.

[RelentlessRolento]

I may sound stupid, but where the hell do you find the percentage of the map covered? I can't find it in any of the menus... I'm guessing you have to beat the game to find out.

[Trakan]

I may sound stupid, but where the hell do you find the percentage of the map covered? I can't find it in any of the menus... I'm guessing you have to beat the game to find out.

Nope, it's when you first load up the save. It shows the percentage.

[richierich]

Dagnabbit, I am missing 2 stinking rooms! (Minus last Dracula room + Library card)....BAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RelentlessRolento]

Nope, it's when you first load up the save. It shows the percentage.


huge thx. I load up my games so fast I forget to look.

[LinkinPrime]

God this game is hard....I've been lost in the outer walls for 2 days...Trying to jump over the falling platforms as a wolf and not being successful at getting through the other side, once I got to the otherside, I got killed quick. I finally checked out gamefaqs and found out about the wolf glitch where as a wolf, you jump, change back to Alucard and press D+Jump and it bounces off candles and stuff on the walls. I haven't found anywhere to go, so I sorta cheated, I went to this clock room where you meet Maria and I managed to climb up to the Colusseum, and now I got a pretty powerful weapon and shield so I get like 1 damage everytime...Now I can finally continue on and see if I can finish this puppy.

Just frustrating how there's no sense of direction of where you need to be at any point in the game. Its confusing. The GBA and DS versions were better than this. I love the fact that changing capes changes the appearance of Alucard though.

[zewone]

SOTN is considered really easy, also, I'm having a much harder time figuring out where to go in DoS and PoR. Maybe because I've beat SOTN so many times?

[RelentlessRolento]

fuck... at 198.0 %....??? i may have to use the sword wall technique to get the rest >_<