Castlevania: !Chronicles/Symphony of the Night! Timeless Playstation Gems!

Castlevania: Chronicles - Sony Playstation / SHARP Computer

An essential remastering to the 1986 Konami Classic: Castlevania.

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I am pleased to announce that I recently got my hands on a collection of great vampire style games for the Sony Playstation 1.  *PSone*

The entire collection included:

• The Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen
• Dracula: Sanctuary
• Dracula: The Last Resurrection (yeah, right)
• Excalibur
• Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Black Label, complete)
• Castlevania: Chronicles (Disc Only)

Triple WOW and a few unknowns

Castlevania: Chronicles (PSone) -

I'm always up for trying new things, but right off the bat, I see three games in the bundle that I know I'm gonna go hog wild over.  Of course, those games are the "Castlevania" games and "Blood Omen".

Up until plugging the disc into my nicely refurbished Playstation 2 system, I really had no idea what the contents of this elusive Castlevania disc entailed.  Obviously, it was some incarnation of a "Castlevania" game, but without research or first hand experience, I really had no idea. 

But WOWZAS.  As it turns out, "Castlevania: Chronicles" is a remastering of the original "Castlevania" game released in 1986...Now I'm not sure if the 1986 release of "Castlevania" was the Nintendo NES release or the apple computer release ( I think it was on Apple II).  But it is definitely a BRILLIANT reincarnation of the original "Castlevania" game.

Features and History of the "Castlevania: Chronicles" re-release.

This game originally debuted for the "SHARP X-1600 something or other" home computer as a graphical redux of the original game.  Based off of the readings I've been doing regarding this game, it was later ported to the Sony Playstation *PSone*.  With this port came the inclusion of FMV videos and entirely NEW stages to explore.

Namely, the NES original second stage that took place on the staircases is replaced with a spelunking romp through the catacombs of the castle.  It is an isolating exploration.
There are new types of enemies and obstacles to encounter, including long, gooey, ectoplasm type ghouls that block the way through the corridors of the caves, requiring up to ten whip hits or multiple attacks from a special weapon (knife, axe, etc.) to break through and continue journeying.  

The goal of this "Castlevania" game is the same as always.  Get the hell through that castle and bust up on some "Dracula" Ass.  

That poor Belmont clan, their strength against the undead was a blessing for all of mankind but a curse on their family lineage.
I am grateful for that bittersweet blessing however, as for without it, I would not be afforded such tantalizing adventures through..."the castle...but not as I remember it."

Something else really cool to note about this game is the "SAVE FEATURE".
Remember how in the original "Castlevania" you'd have to start ALL over again once you ran out of lives/continues?
Well, that will not be the case in "Castlevania: Chronicles", "uh-huh gurl".
Just save.  Turn the game off.  Go play a round of Bubsy...turn "Castlevania" back on.  BAM.  Right where you left off.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Damn!  What a bad boy!

The jewel case says it all.

"A huge game...If you think you've seen it all, you haven't."  - GAMEFAN MAGAZINE Apr. '97
"An expertly flowing; nightmarish romp through yet another reincarnation of Dracula's Castle." -                            SD/LO Mar. '13

 I currently have 3 copies of this game.  One Black Label PSone case/disc, a Greatest Hits Disc, and an XBOX LIVE: Arcade download.  The picture you're seeing below is from the XBLA Port.  

"A huge, nightmarishly flowing game".
Truer statements have naught been uttered.  

This game gives the player a different perspective through that castle.  Where previous games led the player directly to face Dracula in the end, "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night" allows players the freedom and flexibility to explore the castle at their own paces; to gain experience and upgraded armor only as the player was capable of.
Set in 1796, 5 years after Richter Belmont defeated Dracula, "Symphony of the Night" takes a lot of exploration to complete, although there is no mystery about the length of the game as the map completion %percentage% is listed in the Start Menu.  If you're facing Dracula and you have only completed 45% of the map's exploration...you might want to take a second look at your inventory and some of the areas that may have left a question mark over your head when passing through previously.  It's all about time...and how much time you spend with this game.  (Clock Tower) (Gold Ring & Silver Ring)

An "in-tune" symphony orchestra.  The control is beyond smooth.  The "Alucard" character handles like a hot knife through butter.  Butter that grew wings and has been flying for years.

Konami's "Castlevania" is notorious for having very precise, challenging controls.  "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night" however, makes the player feel as if he is floating on air while controlling Alucard.

The attacks are varied as well.  The player is no longer contained to just a whip attack.  There is a whole ARSENAL of weapons to choose from.  Swords, Rods, Staffs, even your bare fists!  Being able to set up both hands to carry items is also helpful,

 a la "Right Hand - Short Sword", Left Hand - Leather Shield"

Another example of the fluidity of the game's control.  Attacking and parrying come very naturally, and are a pleasure to watch.  The animations are highly detailed and don't miss a frame.

This game also institutes a very important concept of familiars.  These familiars consist of a trained collection of creatures, available for aid on call via summoning.
  The list of familiars include a faerie, a bat, an imp/demon, and a ghost.  They all have their unique advantages over one another.  However, with fast implementation of the menu system, you can play to all of their advantages with the click of a few buttons.
     "Health-bar running low?"  No problem.  Equip your faerie familiar and let her give you a potion.  She can even bring you back to life with her "regeneration" spell.
     "Need a wise ghoul, familiar with the castle to show you secrets and hidden switches?"  Again, the Demon familiar is a vocal familiar.  He will use his pitchfork to interact with small, otherwise unreachable switches and buttons.
     The ghost is a little lame.  I haven't found much use for him really, other than to just bite his "skull jaw" down on some skeletons.  But...skeletons munching on skeletons?  That just sounds like some, "afterlife porno shit".
     The bat is like calling on a weaker version of Alucard's own bat transformation relic.  It's like double trouble on the offensive team.  Alucard and his pet bat.  (a bat he is friendly with Alucard assumes his bat form.

There are clearly other familiars available in this game.  To date, (Mar. 1, 2013), I have only unlocked the four aforementioned familiars.  It's also important to note that these familiars appear throughout Alucard's progress in the ever-shifting "Dracula's Castle".  They also gain experience as Alucard does, as long as they are equipped.  

XBOX LIVE: "Arcade Port"

I am pleased to report that the port to the XBOX LIVE, downloadable Arcade content is definitely a big improvement.  It fixes small shortcomings with the original game, and make it more accessible.  Namely in the "Game Over" section of the screen.  

     The original Playstation version gave you a long 60-90 second waiting period before returning to the main menu of the game.  The XBOX LIVE: "Arcade Port" gives you the option to stop all game processes and return to the main menu.  A good option when you took too much damage right off the bat (say for instance, you hadn't played the game in a while, and lost your rhythm).  The XBOX LIVE port is somewhat forgiving in that aspect.  Although, once you start it, you won't want to put it back down, or revert back to the start menu.  

     The graphical uphaul of the XBLA (XBOX LIVE: Arcade) version of this game is sizable.

Technical Issues with this game are too hard to even mention.  I am mostly overwhelmed by the game's avant garde presentation to even notice something as petty as, "framerate slow down".  It may exist, but, when I see that in older games, that just means, "shit is going down and you better get ready."  This however, has a tremendous decrease in probability on the XBLA port.

Miscellaneous Vampire-Based Games

This "wonder-bundle" of games came shipped to me from Belmont, CA...How ironic, I must note.

In addition to the "Castlevania" games previously mentioned, the bundle also included 

• "Exclibur: 2555AD"
• "Dracula: The Last Sanctuary"
• "Dracula: The Resurrection"
• "Blood Omen: The Legacy of Kain"

With the exception of "Blood Omen", these are all games that I have otherwise not really heard of.  

I hope to play them before I sell them off in my seller store on eBay.  But sometimes, I just need to let items go to make room for the gem games, (listed previously in the post).  

I would be delighted to report back with a status on any progress I make with these games, whether I sell them or not, and if they are worth the money to buy.  

Thanks!

I'm always very happy and grateful to anyone who has taken the time to read my posts.  Please feel free to comment and add your thoughts on some of your favorite vampire games!  I love discussions, so please feel free!  

Most of these games are also for sale on my eBay seller page, User ID: sdlogamesngear

I am always up for a good deal if you are passionate about your video games the way that I am.

Thanks again for reading!

-Christopher S.