Author Topic: I think I've decided what the best game ever is (Read 5720 times)

gpw11 · « **on:** Saturday, January 13, 2007, 06:24:54 PM »

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

I stumbled across a used PSX version of this back when I was in first year university or grade 12 and picked it up for $20 or so. The guy at the checkstand was telling me how awesome it is, and how I really lucked out. I played it quite a bit, but probably only got a 70% or so completion score, and finished the game. Good stuff, but I never played through it again and eventually sold it or gave it away.

A few weeks ago I remembered hearing about the second castle and how the full game actually consists of a 200%+ completion rating. So, I decided to download it and give it another go. I forgot how awesome it is. This time I totally took my time and really explored every aspect of the castle. I missed a lot the first time, and I've been having a blast with it. I just entered the second castle, and I'm still going strong whereas I'd usually lose interest by this point.

I strongly recommend anyone with a 360 to buy this when it hits the marketplace in a few months, and for those of you with a psp; there is a torrent of a psp version out there, so if you don't find it morally reprehensible you may want to try that out.

We really need more games like this.

Quemaqua · « **Reply #1 on:** Saturday, January 13, 2007, 06:35:59 PM »

What the fuck? A PSP version? Why have I not heard of this?!

gpw11 · « **Reply #2 on:** Saturday, January 13, 2007, 06:37:39 PM »

I don't think it's official or anything.

Edit: looking at some of these torrents most of them say 'ripped for psp' or something like that...so I have no idea what that means. Maybe it's already converted if you have whatever it is that allows you to play psx games on the psp.

Cobra951 · « **Reply #3 on:** Saturday, January 13, 2007, 06:44:24 PM »

I think someone cracked the PSP's official PS1 emulation software, which is said to be very good.

I loved SotN, and the music is unbelievable. (Soundtrack available all over.) I played this on the PS1 back in its day.

Quemaqua · « **Reply #4 on:** Saturday, January 13, 2007, 06:53:31 PM »

I'm downloading a torrent now. I absolutely love this game and would be thrilled as all get out if I could play it on the go. Thrilled nearly as much as when I got Seiken Densetsu 3 going on the PSP. Man, this little thing is worth its weight in gold and then some.

TheOtherBelmont · « **Reply #5 on:** Saturday, January 13, 2007, 08:00:56 PM »

I've probably played through the game at least 5 times now, hell I still have my save file for it on my PS1 memory card. Probably my favorite Castlevania title. Sadly, my copy of it was stolen, hopefully I'll be replacing it soon, a guy at my work is thinking about selling it to me for $30.

sirean_syan · « **Reply #6 on:** Sunday, January 14, 2007, 02:38:23 AM »

It's become of of those games I break out every couple of years and go through. Hell, I'd probably play it at least once a year if I wasn't getting my fix from all the GBA and DS Castlevanias that have been released almost annually at this point. My first couple play throughs were actually on copies that I borrowed from various friends, but like two years ago I managed to find a seal copy and snatched it instantly. Considering that I always thought of it as one of my favorite games (easily top ten), it was strange that it took me so long to actually get into owning it. I'm glad I did get my own coy though because good PSX games are hard to find unless you want to pay too much now.

Quemaqua · « **Reply #7 on:** Sunday, January 14, 2007, 03:02:28 AM »

Yeah, I was very glad that I found it when I did. I'm starting to regret not owning some classics that should be cheap as hell but... aren't.

Quemaqua · « **Reply #8 on:** Sunday, January 14, 2007, 03:38:51 AM »

I am so fucking sad right now. The game, uncompressed, is 505 MB. All I have is a 500MB card. I'm going to kill myself.

EDIT - Wait, isn't it a 512MB card? I wonder how close it is to the full 512. Hmm. Damn it... I want to go look but I can't go get it because my wife is in the room where it's hiding and she's asleep.

EDIT x2 - 468MB. Fuck. I hate digital storage.

PyroMenace · « **Reply #9 on:** Sunday, January 14, 2007, 01:32:20 PM »

Castlevania is one of those series I never got into. Its not that I really wasnt interested, I guess because I was always into something else. I think I played Castlevania III a lot on the NES way back, the one where you could switch characters. That and I think the N64 game really tainted my image of it. But I think I'll check out the DS games, those are supposed to be really cool.

Quemaqua · « **Reply #10 on:** Sunday, January 14, 2007, 03:53:38 PM »

Damn. I caved and got myself a new mem stick anyway because I needed one for other stuff and not just this... but now I realize that in order to run the game (contrary to a readme I have), you need to be running custom firmware built by some dude and it's got to be flashed onto the PSP. I am absolutely in no way willing to do any flashing because if this thing bricks, I am incapable of ever buying another. Henceforth... I am sad again and now even more broke then I was this morning.

Fuck.

Cobra951 · « **Reply #11 on:** Sunday, January 14, 2007, 04:31:11 PM »

Sorry I couldn't remember that. I should have spoken up, because I thought it might involve the new custom firmware. I've been away from the PSP scene for a while, and things change fairly quickly in the fight between Sony and the hackers.

Quemaqua · « **Reply #12 on:** Sunday, January 14, 2007, 04:37:58 PM »

Indeed. If you're interested, I started a new thread on the subject so as to not derail this one any further. =)

EDIT - Yay! I have it working now (see said other thread), so I can officially take SOTN wherever I go. I'm happy enough to drool sunshine right now. Hooray!

PyroMenace · « **Reply #13 on:** Tuesday, January 16, 2007, 03:59:11 PM »

Im just gonna throw this in here. I bought Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin today, I really felt like I could go for a platformer plus this thread has got me thinking of how much Castlevania I missed which I need to put to an end.

TheOtherBelmont · « **Reply #14 on:** Tuesday, January 16, 2007, 04:38:48 PM »

Quote from: PyroMenace on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, 03:59:11 PM

Im just gonna throw this in here. I bought Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin today, I really felt like I could go for a platformer plus this thread has got me thinking of how much Castlevania I missed which I need to put to an end.

I keep having to talk myself out of getting a DS Lite since I have other things I need to use money for, but I really want to play both of the Castlevania DS titles. I played a little bit of Dawn of Sorrow once for about an hour and I liked it. Some guy at work mentioned he had a "fatty" DS sitting around his place that he was thinking about selling, I might cave in and get one if I can get it for around $70-80 when I get my bonus in March.

Cobra951 · « **Reply #15 on:** Tuesday, January 16, 2007, 04:54:13 PM »

I have a DS as well, and Dawn of Sorrow. But as with the PSP, I'm just ignoring it right now. I recently moved back to Cincy, and I'm still in the process of getting settled in and organized. The only place I play games is in my room, which has everything else (Xbox 360, GCN, PC). The new toys are getting all the attention (360, Twilight Princess on GCN). I haven't even set up my gaming-capable PC yet.

I ended up listening to the SotN soundtrack as a result of this thread. The work is truly above and beyond the call of duty.

TheOtherBelmont · « **Reply #16 on:** Tuesday, January 16, 2007, 05:04:08 PM »

Quote from: Cobra951 on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, 04:54:13 PM

I ended up listening to the SotN soundtrack as a result of this thread. The work is truly above and beyond the call of duty.

If you haven't already, try to find the Dracula Perfect Battle Collection album, its a good chunk of all of the 8 and 16 bit Castlevania music, remixed by the original composer, with more up to date technology, no midis, just clean guitars, piano, and other instruments. The remix of the Castlevania 3 theme is my favorite on the album.

The Lament of Innocence and Curse of Darkness soundtracks are also good as well and have some SOTN-ish style tracks.

PyroMenace · « **Reply #17 on:** Tuesday, January 16, 2007, 09:36:02 PM »

PoR is pretty awesome so far. Just went through and took out the first boss and it was a challenge, took a number of attempts but it was mainly just getting used to the controls. Its not that they are difficult, its just that theres a lot of abilities at your disposal so you have to learn a pattern. Visually its completely awesome. I just love all the attention to detail, I'd take this over other DS games that are trying to push too much on polygonal graphics.

sirean_syan · « **Reply #18 on:** Tuesday, January 16, 2007, 10:26:56 PM »

I'm about four or five hours into the game myself and it's panned out pretty well. It's no SotN, but that's sort of unfair. The painting worlds are a nice touch because they finally get out of the Castles and into some new environments, even if the Castle is still the showpiece.

PyroMenace · « **Reply #19 on:** Tuesday, January 16, 2007, 10:50:42 PM »

Theres a number of local game shops here in Cookeville, I'm gonna have to give them a look to see if SotN happens to be in one if Im lucky enough.

sirean_syan · « **Reply #20 on:** Thursday, January 18, 2007, 10:57:27 PM »

IGN actually has a decent (gasp) article on the history of the Castlevania series. It's worth a look for a reminder on how the overall story actually fits together... or doesn't actually fit all that well.

http://ds.ign.com/articles/756/756726p1.html

Edit: Careful with the article, at least with the new DS games section. There is a spoiler in there. It's not really a story one, but it did ruin a suprise I wish I got when I got to the point in the game.

Quemaqua · « **Reply #21 on:** Friday, January 19, 2007, 12:13:41 AM »

Note also that you can now get Super Castlevania IV for your Wii. Sweet.

And yeah, that was an awesome article. I counted a large number of punctuational and grammatical mistakes, but... it was still pretty good. Makes me wish I could have Vagrant Story and SOTN on my PSP at the same time. =(

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Author Topic: I think I've decided what the best game ever is (Read 5720 times)