Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (XBLA)

[Charlie]

Only played it for around an hour so don't have too much to say but first impressions are good. Unfortunately there's no true widescreen mode but the screen can be manually stretched (both vertically and horizontally) in the game settings. Playing in 480P, on a CRT TV in 'enhanced' mode the game looks very nice and a lot better than it does in 'original mode' - though purists will no doubt disagree. Don't have an LCD or plasma screen so can't comment on how it looks in HD.

The game itself plays very well and is quite hard (or maybe I'm crap). I couldn't get past the second level.

It's main pitfall as far as I can tell, and it's a biggun, is the crappy D-pad on the 360 controller. I constantly find myself going back and forth between using the analogue stick (which always feels wrong for these type of games) and the D-pad which is extremely unresponsive and has already lead to a number of deaths out of my control. It's a real pity as the game deserves a decent D-pad.

[Shakey_Jake33]

'enhanced' mode the game looks very nice and a lot better than it does in 'original mode' - though purists will no doubt disagree.
Yes the blurry mess looks very nice :lol:

[Geoff D]

It's main pitfall as far as I can tell, and it's a biggun, is the crappy D-pad on the 360 controller. I constantly find myself going back and forth between using the analogue stick (which always feels wrong for these type of games) and the D-pad which is extremely unresponsive and has already lead to a number of deaths out of my control. It's a real pity as the game deserves a decent D-pad.

I've scraped away some of the plastic 'wall' that surrounds the d-pad on one of my 360 joypads, & it's now a whole lot more responsive. Obviously depends on how keen you are to deface a pad though.

[Charlie]

I've scraped away some of the plastic 'wall' that surrounds the d-pad on one of my 360 joypads, & it's now a whole lot more responsive. Obviously depends on how keen you are to deface a pad though.

I've been wanting to do that but don't have the proper screwdriver to open the 360 controller with. Might be worth investing in one now though.

[Ajay1986]

Well ive been playing it loads today as im a CV nut and im really enjoying it. Stretched the picture a little but not all the way and it looks great. The stick is fine for playing this game, ive got quite far already and ive had no problems so far. Well worth the 800 points.

[Dezm0nd]

Are you supposed to start off fighting that guy? it said FINAL STAGE and then i was having a scrap with a boss...

I havent got the full game yet, but it seems good :)

[Ajay1986]

Yeah thats how the game starts, throws you in to a cool fight to start off with.

[angelx]

I have just tried the demo and the "enhaced graphics are just like any other arcade title in which its smoothed over, so much for the talk of proper enhancement :( Its nearly as frustrating to play this on dpad as it is lumines too, There was talk of a better controller some time ago for football games, well they need something like the classic controller for this! im not sure hit detection is quite right either as i seemed to lose points for no reason standing below the red skeletons. Its also a shame the sound of the voices is still a bit fuzzy, it would have been nice to have them a little clearer.

I'd say seek out the original and play on your ps2 or psp even

BTW you can stretch the screen on this and other games but not move it, which is annoying as its a little off centre for me.

[C']

Are you supposed to start off fighting that guy? it said FINAL STAGE and then i was having a scrap with a boss...

This was explained to me in the announcement of the ROB/SOTN pack for PSP. Apparently the prologue section to SOTN is the final stage from Rondo of Blood as the games are are continuation.

[Golgo]

I've never played this, but enjoyed the GBA and recent DS offerings. Is it really that much superior to all other Castlevanias - as indeed it's cracked up to be?

[Charlie]

BTW you can stretch the screen on this and other games but not move it, which is annoying as its a little off centre for me.

Yeah, it's a little off-centre for me too but, thankfully, I can shift it using my TV's settings.

If you don't stretch the screen and leave the game it in it's native 4:3 aspect ratio then it's not so obvious.

[gossi the dog]

I've never played this, but enjoyed the GBA and recent DS offerings. Is it really that much superior to all other Castlevanias - as indeed it's cracked up to be?

Yes. Although some people prefer the more traditional level based platformers. Definitely the best of the Metroidesque Castlevanias

[Dogg Thang]

I have just tried the demo and the "enhaced graphics are just like any other arcade title in which its smoothed over, so much for the talk of proper enhancement :(

So there are no enhancements? I thought there was a whole load of talk of redoing certain things (clouds were mentioned but more I thought there was more). Is the VO rerecorded? That was another thing mentioned.

[EvilBoris]

So there are no enhancements? I thought there was a whole load of talk of redoing certain things (clouds were mentioned but more I thought there was more). Is the VO rerecorded? That was another thing mentioned.

I think certain sprites were redone , but they only show up if you are playing in enhanced mode.

[andrewfee]

So for anyone that has this - does the full game remember your screen size settings or not? I hate the full windowed look, but want to keep it 4:3 - if I have to adjust it every time I might not bother. (as it's a lot of hassle to get it "right" seeing as h/v are adjusted separately)

So there are no enhancements? I thought there was a whole load of talk of redoing certain things (clouds were mentioned but more I thought there was more). Is the VO rerecorded? That was another thing mentioned.
I think you're confusing this with the PSP version on Dracula X Chronicles - this is a straight port.

Has anyone else been noticing some sound glitching and serious compression problems? I might just stick to the PSone version. (I was looking forward to playing it in progressive scan as well)

[Dogg Thang]

I think you're confusing this with the PSP version on Dracula X Chronicles - this is a straight port.

I think you're confusing me with someone who could possibly mix up SotN with Rondo. There was talk of enhancements for this game.

[yesteryeargames]

class just got it, i was wondering if you get the whip back when u level up? and can u save game? to keep ur level up ect?
cheers

[C']

Dracula X Chronicles is the only time I've seen an improved port of SOTN mentioned. The original 1UP article mentioned "improved localisation" for the PSP version (which seems to imply reworked voicetrack) but I don't think that was ever promised for the XBLA.

Would happily admit I'm wrong should a link be provided of course :)

EDIT - for what's it worth I just took a look through the Headlines thread on this and the first video of the XBLA version was available in October last year with the release announced in August. That video had the original voiceover that we have now so if they did announce that it would be reworked, they changed their minds pretty sharpish.

[talizker]

So for anyone that has this - does the full game remember your screen size settings or not? I hate the full windowed look, but want to keep it 4:3 - if I have to adjust it every time I might not bother. (as it's a lot of hassle to get it "right" seeing as h/v are adjusted separately)

Yes, it remembers the screen settings.

[MikeRox]

Has anyone else been noticing some sound glitching and serious compression problems? I might just stick to the PSone version. (I was looking forward to playing it in progressive scan as well)

I havn't noticed any real compression problems or sound glitching, but I have noticed a couple of effects appear to be missing, namely the little boney collapse sound on the red skeletons :(

It's also a shame the much trumpeted enhanced visuals mode is merely an anti aliasing filter or whatever too for the most part, they could have at least redrawn the HUD or whatever.

[talizker]

The only thing I noticed was that the sound option in the ingame (ala PSone) menu is set to mono and changing it to stereo does seems to make a difference to the sounds effect etc.

Very happy with the game so far and great to finally get to play the game in English as I only ever had the JPN version.

[NekoFever]

I played about an hour (got the Jewel of Open) and it seems like a good version. I didn't even try the D-pad and instead went straight for the stick which works fine for me. I'm using the filtered graphics at the moment and it looks nice on my HDTV, but I might switch back to the regular ones since blocky sprites tend to look fine when scaled.

It'd be nice if it was proper 16:9 like the PSP version is supposed to be, but then again that's supposed to have a new translation and voice acting, and I'm not sure it'd be SOTN without "Die, monster!" ;)

In any case, who can complain for 800 points? Bargain, and I'd have put money on it costing as much as Lumines.

[Dogg Thang]

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/adventure/castlevaniasotn/news.html?sid=6163991

"Symphony of the Night is set to feature enhanced graphics and sound, widescreen support, achievements, and leaderboards."

[DarkSavior]

Wow, just put in an hour and am seriously impressed. I currently only have the Japanese copy of Castlevania X on the saturn so its really nice to be able to see what the relics actually do :) Couldnt you choose from three characters on the Saturn version though?

For my money this is one of the best things on Xbox live arcade, full stop. Bravo Konami / foundation 9 / everyone in this thread / the universe :P

[C']

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/adventure/castlevaniasotn/news.html?sid=6163991

"Symphony of the Night is set to feature enhanced graphics and sound, widescreen support, achievements, and leaderboards."

Apart from enhanced sound (which does not necessarily imply reworked voiceover) those things are included. The 'enhanced' graphics are simply the filter.

[Team Andromeda]

Very Happy for the price and its great to pick and play after a game of GRAW II and the lack of loading times make a big diff. That said the Saturn version is the best for me .

[Zero9X]

the saturn version is atrocious. maria is useless and the graphics make me sick. >_<

[SUMIRE]

I think its pretty much spot on, and now ive got easy access to it via the 360. The pad seems fine to me, I'm using the stick and it plays just as good as it did when I had in running through my PS2

By the way...where is the map % complete..cant seem to find it :P I always thought it had a percentage, not just rooms XXX

[MrKirov]

I think its pretty much spot on, and now ive got easy access to it via the 360. The pad seems fine to me, I'm using the stick and it plays just as good as it did when I had in running through my PS2

By the way...where is the map % complete..cant seem to find it :P I always thought it had a percentage, not just rooms XXX


Look at your save game file ;)

[angelx]

So there are no enhancements? I thought there was a whole load of talk of redoing certain things (clouds were mentioned but more I thought there was more). Is the VO rerecorded? That was another thing mentioned.

No its still quite tinny/duff like the original, I though they would have gone back to the original recordings, unless theyre actually really bad quality too...

I could have sworn somebody quoted some text saying that the live version was going to be enhanced...

[SUMIRE]

Look at your save game file ;)

Ah yeah, doh :P

[SUMIRE]

I did notice the sounds effects and speech seem higher, and more pronounced. You can tell they improved the sounds effects as they seem clearer, although stuff like the rain on the outside of the castle seems too harsh now.

[andrewfee]

I did notice the sounds effects and speech seem higher, and more pronounced. You can tell they improved the sounds effects as they seem clearer, although stuff like the rain on the outside of the castle seems too harsh now.
The voices were completely ruined - so many compression artefacts right at the start. :(

[Kotatsu Neko]

The voices were completely ruined - so many compression artefacts right at the start. :(

This is the first time I've played this game in English, as I previously had the JP Saturn version and I have to say... the voices are so bad it would take a *lot* to ruin them. The Japanese version had a stellar voice cast, but this one... wow, it's beyond terrible. I really miss Maria's 'Rikutaa, chikara o kashite!'.

It's been ages since I played Nocture in the Moonlight and I find myself lost already. These metroid-vanias really get boring at times. So much backtracking...

[andrewfee]

Yeah, the voice acting itself is terrible - some of the worst I've heard, but the compression is insane. It's one of those cases of so bad it's almost good though, but I forgot you can't skip it on a new game.

The music itself seemed ok, but I'm guessing a lot of the sound effects will have suffered. Might just give it a miss.

[Kotatsu Neko]

The FMV is missing too, right? Unless I just skipped it.

[Dogg Thang]

Aside from the end bit (sort of) with the castle, I can't remember any FMV. Was there FMV at the start?

I downloaded the demo and it seems fine. The sound seems...different. The balance of music to sound effects seems quite skewed towards the effects whereas I remember it being the opposite. I can't help thinking it's a bit of a stretch to call a slight blur over the whole picture an 'enhancement' but that's just me. It's still a great game. Anyone know what the price works out at in real money?

[arcnas]

Around £6.50

[Duddyroar]

There was FMV at the start (just before the Richter/Drac battle) and in the middle (when you access the inverted castle).

[Dogg Thang]

Around £6.50

I'd say SotN is well worth that.

[ne0star]

I'm over the moon with this. I had the original uk playstation version but never completed it so its good to return to it.

I have my 360 set at 1080p through the vga socket on my sony bravaia so I prefer the alleged 'enhanced' look with the screen stretched to fit. Kind of replicates how I remember it on my old crt.

I'm just using the analogue stick for control and it works perfectly well for me. I automatically just started using that so I can't even comment on what the d-pad is like.

As for the sound the Music is excellent and just as atmospheric as it was. The speech is just as cheesy, but i'm glad they left it that way to be honest, its part of how you remember it. Couldn't say I noticed any compression, but to be fair the quality wasn't stellar on the original.

The thing is I played the original on a 14" Sony portable in my bedroom nearly 10 years ago through a coax lead so i'm probably unlikely to notice any issues with the visuals or sound.

Well worth a look in my book.

[ItsThere]

Ha, I paid closer to £90 for my special edition recently well worth every penny even if it is a shoddy pal conversion.
Played it through twice this year so not sure if I am ready to buy it again. Would highly reccomend it to anyone who has not played it though.

[C']

I can't help thinking it's a bit of a stretch to call a slight blur over the whole picture an 'enhancement' but that's just me.

I completely agree.

I'm in 2 minds over this. Part of me thinks this a great opportunity to finally play through this game but on the other hand there is the chance that if the Dracula X Chronicles version is improved that I should wait for that.

[Charlie]

In regards to the speech, I really like it in a "it's so incredibly bad, it's good" kinda way. Dunno about the music though, I mean it's okay, but nowhere near as memorable as that of Castlevania IV - which surely has one of the best videogame soundtracks ever.

Managed to get quite far into the game last night and am beginning to appreciate the RPG elements like levelling up and equipping certain items to take on particular enemies.

Still having a hard time using the D-pad and hate using the analogue stick, I also wish there was an option to remove the background picture and play in 4:3 with nothing but black at the sides. Other than that though, I'm delighted with it.

[Vince]

I'm liking the game so far and only played the PS1 version briefly many years ago and basically couldn't be bothered with it. The one problem i have so far is that there seems to be barely any save points, or at least i must be missing them as i've not seen one yet and i played for about 45 minutes or so, died, then had to start right at the beginning which totally sucks. I'm also not that fond of the freedom, i think i prefer the levels stuff Castlevania games personally, but its well worth the download, escpecially compared to some of the other live arcade tat.

[Charlie]

Press the right trigger to bring up the map and look for the red areas - those are save points.

[andrewfee]

Still having a hard time using the D-pad and hate using the analogue stick, I also wish there was an option to remove the background picture and play in 4:3 with nothing but black at the sides. Other than that though, I'm delighted with it.
http://www.ufighterx.com/guides/videogame/360dpadfix/360dpadfix.htm

Works a treat - I did this on Tuesday night and can't believe the difference it made. Sure, it's still not perfect, but it's significantly better. I'm surprised Microsoft haven't changed the pad like this themselves - it wouldn't be hard to do I'm sure.

[Geoff D]

http://www.ufighterx.com/guides/videogame/360dpadfix/360dpadfix.htm

Works a treat - I did this on Tuesday night and can't believe the difference it made. Sure, it's still not perfect, but it's significantly better. I'm surprised Microsoft haven't changed the pad like this themselves - it wouldn't be hard to do I'm sure.

I scraped away some of the 'wall' using a very sharp knife, without taking the pad apart (because I'm lazy) - worked a treat :)

[gozaimas]

Eurogamer review up. (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=74447)

[Mr Fujisawa]

I scraped away some of the 'wall' using a very sharp knife, without taking the pad apart (because I'm lazy) - worked a treat :)

I just did that, worked great!

[Duddyroar]

Taken from the Eurogamer review:

As such, Symphony of the Night, with its dank 2D walls, brooding orchestral soundtrack and Street Fighter-esque special moves stole across videogaming's busy vista mostly unnoticed the first time round. But not completely unnoticed.

Bit misleading, the game was a massive success in the US and Japan. It was just Europe that ignored it.

[Dogg Thang]

But... it's Eurogamer.

[Charlie]

I scraped away some of the 'wall' using a very sharp knife, without taking the pad apart (because I'm lazy) - worked a treat :)
After reading your post I set upon modifying my controller with a stanley knife and, after 15 minutes work, despite it looking like a mad hatchetman had attacked it, it now feels much better. :thumb:

[Duddyroar]

But... it's Eurogamer.

Indeed, but I felt the rather tiresome opening paragraph when too far in attempting to brand the game a retail failure. Worldwide it was a massive success in terms of sales.

[Flabio]

Ha, I paid closer to £90 for my special edition recently well worth every penny even if it is a shoddy pal conversion.
Got mine for 16.99 second hand from Gamestation about a year after it came out. Artbook and soundtrack all present and correct.

Didn't even know it was rare at the time :)

[gozaimas]

Worldwide it was a massive success in terms of sales.

You got any figures to quanitfy 'massive worldwide success'?

Historically, Castlevania games have always done poorly in Japan and I've never heard that SOTN was particularly different.

[MrKirov]

We need more chat about this!

Got to the inverted castle earlier, got the good ending for that part of the game. had fun getting all the screts again. Ended up on 98% completion after about 4 hours. I wanna play more, but im afraid of burning out :(

[Kotatsu Neko]

But... it's Eurogamer.

True, which is why it's factually incorrect biased Edge wannabe second rate rubbish?

Sorry, but Eurogamer is no better than Spong.

[Charlie]

I unlocked the inverted castle last night, which I'm finding quite tough in parts, and am currently up to around 165% complete, 97% of which is for the normal castle.

It's a great little game, very addictive and worthy of the Castelvania name. I've not played the series since Castelvania IV on the SNES and am surprised (pleasantly surprised) how similar SotN it is to Super Metroid in design.

I've 10 achievements so far and, after beating Dracula, am hoping to chase the 200.6% achievement but don't know if I can be bothered doing it all again, including the inverted castle, with Richster for the final achievement.

[Charlie]

Finally 200.6 percent'aged this. Finding the last couple of rooms was a complete bugger, indeed I had to refer to a guide on Gamefaqs for a bit near the entrance of the castle where you must transform into a bat and fly, from right to left, through the secret cave and then tranform back into Alucard for the entrance to a secret room to open. Seriously, how's anyone meant to work that out? :confused:

Started a new game as Richter after that and discovered, when using him, the game becomes an oldschool Castlevania outing (ie no levelling up, no equipping items, no relics, no spells, no familiars, just your trusty whip and secondary weapon). Top stuff. :happy:

[Duddyroar]

You got any figures to quanitfy 'massive worldwide success'?

Historically, Castlevania games have always done poorly in Japan and I've never heard that SOTN was particularly different.

I don't have any figures but It sold enough to quality for a re-release in Japan - twice. It also sold enough copies in the US to make it onto the 'Greatest Hits' range.

And might I ask where you've gotten this idea that the series performs poorly in Japan?

[gozaimas]

Well, most recently, Lawrence Wright in last year's (pretty good) book "Character Design for Mobile Devices: Mobile games, icons, and pixel art" talks extensively about Castlevania's poor Japanese performance (just look at the Famitsu sales figures for the last two DS titles) but how it is, relatively speaking, quite successful in America - thus ensuring that sequels keep getting made.

Just because the game secured Japanese re-releases doesn't make it a roaring success (after all, the conversion to Saturn was hardly the labour of love it might have been if the game was going to be a big money spinner for Konami). Sure, it must have achieved some level of success for reprints, but the original print run was probably speculatively small - the reprint designed to satisfy an unexpected demand.

Either way, for the purposes of that review, the game sold poorly in Europe and was overlooked by the vast majority of European gamers because, at the time, the game looked dated and wasn't 3D. It became popular with time (as I remember it, second hand prices didn't really start rising until 98/99 - a couple of years after release - much like with Suikoden) due to word of mouth.

[Duddyroar]

It's my understanding that to qualify for 'greatest hits' (or 'The Best' in Japan) status you have to sell a certain number of units.

All three of the GBA titles (and DoS on the DS) have since been reprinted, too.

I can't find any figures on the net, but I really doubt that Konami would be going to the trouble of printing these games if they weren't selling at least moderately well.

[Big Seany]

For goodness sakes people - who gives a **** about sales figures in Japan anyway?

Let's just discuss this amazing game, which is why the thread was set up I presume, and stop talking about Famitsu and baiting Duddyroar - he will only bore you with loads of gay Vania facts (Tru-fax - he writes homoerotic fan fiction about the Belmonts).

Playing it myself at the moment, am about 120%. Found an excellent way of levelling up without having to fight tricky monsters as well if anyone is interested.

[Dogg Thang]

Well, out with it.

[Charlie]

Found an excellent way of levelling up without having to fight tricky monsters as well if anyone is interested.
What a terrible tease!

[Shakey_Jake33]

My first time playing this - I'm finding it nails!

[Big Seany]

Once you are in the inverted castle, go to the Outer Wall area and climb up to the top, past the floating skulls and Jack O'Bones. near the top there are six Nova Skeletons. As long as you don't get hit with their attack (which will do about 150 damage), you can merrily kill these over and over with one hit each, jumping off the top of the screen to refresh, they give a beezer amount of experience points and you can climb up a level pretty much every 6 or 8 kills.

You read it here first, bitches.

[Brats]

It's my understanding that to qualify for 'greatest hits' (or 'The Best' in Japan) status you have to sell a certain number of units.

Not true for Japan. It used to be, but Sony changed it to accomodate titles that didn't sell so well but Sony thought deserved a second chance (like NITM).

For the US, the required sales target at the time to qualify for a Greatest Hits moniker was only £150,000 units, which isn't that much (it has increased now to 400,000).

But back to the main point, I haven't played this in ages and I'm glued to it. I can remember some of the secret room locations (like the clock tower) but not all of them. It's like returning to an old best friend.

And Alucard is the best game character of all time. So nur.

[danholo]

This game is the only reason I'd get an XBOX360 for now. :D One of the best games for sure... I'd rather find an original Jap version of this for the PS... I only have the "PSOne Books".

[Light]

Completed this on Saturday night. Was thinking of playing it again/going for the 200.6% but think I might as well leave it till I get the PSP version. Dunno why, but the inverted castle really bores me. I just can't get used to the fact that everything is upside down... seems like a cheap way of extending the game.

[Brats]

I must admit that although the inverted castle is a brilliant concept, it is wasted. They could have made much more of the feature and made interesting ceiling architecture in the first castle that becomes obstacles in the inverted castle. The bosses are cool though.

It might be the best Castlevania, but in terms of tight design it is still someway behind Super Metroid.

[Charlie]

Managed to complete it using Richter (which only takes around an hour) and, in doing so, unlocked the final achievement. Feel kinda sad now it's all done and dusted.

[Kotatsu Neko]

How do you unlock Richter and the inverted castle? Ive finished the game with Alucard, and with about 90% of the castle explored...

[Skull Commander]

This is not as good as I remember. The layout doesn't seem as fresh as the latter gba and Dawn of Sorrow. It's still a good game, but I think my rose tinted specs have been on for a few years....

[Brats]

How do you unlock Richter and the inverted castle? Ive finished the game with Alucard, and with about 90% of the castle explored...

Without giving too much away:

You need to fight Richter wearing a special item. You get this from Maria by wearing the gold and silver rings in the room with the giant clock.

[Charlie]

How do you unlock Richter and the inverted castle? Ive finished the game with Alucard, and with about 90% of the castle explored...

As Brats says, to unlock the inverted castle requires a special item found by wearing the gold and silver rings in the clock room. To play as Richter, beat the game with 170% or more, then begin a new game and enter RICHTER as your name.

[Kotatsu Neko]

Thanks chaps, I'll give that a try tonight. No wonder I never worked that out back in the day, as I was playing the JP Saturn version...

[Sane]

Also for those who have beaten the game, you can play again in a slightly different way:

If you put X-X!V''Q as name when starting a new game you start the game with 99 luck and all your other stats are dropped. This is fun because with the high luck you can hunt for all the cool weapons and because your other stats are so low the game becomes more challenging (alteast the first half of the game, later on you get really good equipment to makeup for the lack in stats)

[Pookmunki]

Also for those who have beaten the game, you can play again in a slightly different way:

If you put X-X!V''Q as name when starting a new game you start the game with 99 luck and all your other stats are dropped. This is fun because with the high luck you can hunt for all the cool weapons and because your other stats are so low the game becomes more challenging (alteast the first half of the game, later on you get really good equipment to makeup for the lack in stats)

Also, if you put your name in as AXEARMOR you gain the Axelords armour, which changes Alucard into an Axelord, 'tis mostly useless though as its weak and you cant jump well :lol:

I did the Sword Brothers jewel glitch to buy the Duplicator after id done the inverted castle, does this make me a bad man? it is good fun unleashing tons of monster vials though!

[mikewl]

Im not too far into the game but there is a part im really struggling with.

Once you get to the top of the tower on the right side of the map, there is a save point at the top then just under a door which leads to an area with lots of floating skulls and paths that collapse, thing is I cannot make it over the 2nd collapsing floor, using the wolf it seems like it may be possible but something everytime blocks me from making it over, is this actually doable, or is there an easier way?

[Kotatsu Neko]

You need to find the double jump power-up before you can make it over there.

[Zero9X]

im trying to max out my map, but in the inverted castle i can't seem to register parts of the underwater bits. ive tried jumping as much as i could, can anyone help. i should have absolutly everything now.

EDIT: worked it out, didn't know the wolf form could swim >_<

[EvilBoris]

I've been really enjoying playing this, I've never played a castlevania game and it it really good fun. I'm just trying to clear up all the bits I'm missing in the normal castle at the moment. I'm at about 96%

[Brats]

Ther are a couple of secret rooms in the castles that are really hard to find. Think destroyable walls, floors and ceilings with no obvious clue. If you don't want to use a guide, the best way it to wander round the castle firing axes all over the place, but even then they are easy to miss.

And there's one near the start that is completely random. I challenge anyone to unlock it without a guide.

The good thing is that the secret areas repeat. So once you've got to the you know what it becomes easier if you've already found them.

[Zero9X]

And there's one near the start that is completely random. I challenge anyone to unlock it without a guide.


I know the one you mean. most of them are obvious though, its the ones on the ceilings i missed before i went to a guide to find the odd percent.

[EvilBoris]

Ther are a couple of secret rooms in the castles that are really hard to find. Think destroyable walls, floors and ceilings with no obvious clue. If you don't want to use a guide, the best way it to wander round the castle firing axes all over the place, but even then they are easy to miss.

And there's one near the start that is completely random. I challenge anyone to unlock it without a guide.

The good thing is that the secret areas repeat. So once you've got to the you know what it becomes easier if you've already found them.

Well I've got the fairy familiar, it seems to tell me where some walls are.

"These walls look kinda funny"

[Kaladron]

And there's one near the start that is completely random. I challenge anyone to unlock it without a guide.


If you're talking about the one I think you are then I actually found that today by accident. Not sure if the goodies you find actually have any use though.

[wicky]

Well I've got the fairy familiar, it seems to tell me where some walls are.

"These walls look kinda funny"

the bat is my favourite :)

[John Parry]

Slightly off topic:

I'm seriously thinking of getting this but the D Pad is really putting me off! Has anybody played it with that hideous arcade stick thing that Microsoft released? Is it worth buying one?

[Psyduck]

I played it with the analogue stick and it was absolutely fine, honest!

[Atticus]

In my tidy new one console under the TV gaming set-up, it's such a luxury to have SOTN tucked away on my 360 HD.

I only played through it the once on the PS back in the 90s and never got the inverted castle after finishing it, so good to have the tips of how to in this thread.

Loving playing through it again. Even Bioshock is having to share valuable gametime with it.

No problem playing with the stick either.

Top game.

[rmoxon]

im trying to max out my map, but in the inverted castle i can't seem to register parts of the underwater bits. ive tried jumping as much as i could, can anyone help. i should have absolutly everything now.

EDIT: worked it out, didn't know the wolf form could swim >_<

I'm having this same problem... the wolf form cant swim though???, unless im doing somthing wrong it cant anyway. I have a relic that says it gives the wolf a special ability but its not doing anything either (and yes its switched on.

One other place where i cant get is the place where all the cogs and the medusa heads are, theres a door i cant get through. what do i need to do here?

besides those places I think I must have all of the map done so this is annoying me now.

[Charlie]

The wolf can swim. You need to jump into the water sections in human form then quickly morph into wolf before dropping out of the water.

[rmoxon]

ok thanks, so you cant just jump into the water as the wolf then? thats a bit odd, becuase when you do it just changes you back to your normal form. Although Im sure I had tried to change in water before. Guess not. Is this how you get past the waterfall and onto the ledges behind it too?

[rmoxon]

Ok this is making me angry, Ive tried it again and the wolf cant swim, you cant transform in water.... is my game busted or what?

[Sane]

The wolf never could swim in the Saturn version either, what you have to do is jump as high as you can, then morph into wolf form. This will raise you further by a tiny bit. It's fussy, but keep doing it and eventually it will register those last squares on your map.

[Brats]

The wolf can swim, but only once you acquire the Skill of Wolf ability. This is the same in all of the versions.

If you are transforming back, you haven't go Skill of Wolf yet. Once you get it, hold Y and use the D-Pad to swim.

[rmoxon]

Yes i do have the skill of wolf, and no the wolf cant swim.

Like I said everytime I enter the water as the wolf I turn back into human form and you cant even change into a wolf at all when in water.

[Brats]

Are you sure you don't mean you have the Soul of Wolf? The Skill of Wolf does let the Wolf swim. Trust me. I have used it.

If you have the Skill of Wolf and the wolf is changing back when you enter water, then you must have switched it off by accident on the relics screen.

[Brats]

BTW it's not the Power of Wolf either. That's the one that let's the Wolf run fast.

[kernow]

I'm playing this on the ps1/ps3, but I'm lost, about 62% in , and I've just got the mist thing, and I can change into a wolf. theres not many places on the map I can't get to so I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing really, first time round, great game though! :)

[rmoxon]

BTW it's not the Power of Wolf either. That's the one that let's the Wolf run fast.

Its the skill of wolf and its switched on dammit!!! my games just damn broken. maybe its just an xbox live version problem?, maybe there will be an update.... if im lucky, i want the achievment points!

[Pookmunki]

Pardon me if i'm being a little dim here, but surely you can just wait until you get the power that lets you go in water without getting hurt then double jump if you need to?

Can't think of an area in the game that you need to swim in, as all the water based parts are reachable via jumping?

[elkatas]

Pardon me if i'm being a little dim here, but surely you can just wait until you get the power that lets you go in water without getting hurt then double jump if you need to?

Yup. The bonus that makes you immune to water can be found pretty soon in the game, but it isn't required in any place. In fact, when I tried to get full 200 %, I found it in the last rooms I hadn't found yet.

[rmoxon]

Yup. The bonus that makes you immune to water can be found pretty soon in the game, but it isn't required in any place. In fact, when I tried to get full 200 %, I found it in the last rooms I hadn't found yet.

WHERE is it then????????... please tell me, im like shaking and stuff out of it driving me insane. becuase the wolf stuff definitley isnt working for me.

[jim g]

Full guide here for those who are stuck

http://uk.guides.ign.com/guides/846656/

[Brats]

You're missing the Holy Symbol. This is the one tht let's you enter water without damage.

As I said, the wolf can swim :p .

[rmoxon]

ok finally sorted this out...

two other questions though, in the underground cave bit theres like a wall that looks like it has passageway behind it and there is somthing that looks like a switch above it, what do i do here?

oh yeah and the achievements... alucard only has 5 spells, so how come one the achievements asks you to find all 8 of them?

Edit: ok I just figured out to use the familar to push the switch. im still only 197% complete though, and im completely lost for ideas of where to look now.

[Charlie]

I think it's moments like this that you're experiencing now when it's okay to visit Gamefaqs and get a little help. The plethora of guides there will explain what you need to do far clearer than any of us here.

[rmoxon]

I think it's moments like this that you're experiencing now when it's okay to visit Gamefaqs and get a little help. The plethora of guides there will explain what you need to do far clearer than any of us here.

well im asking becuase all the guides say that there are 5 spells actually, but the achievemnt says you need 8, and as for the fact that ive only found 197% of the castle, well even if i wanted to use a guide i think id still be better off aimslessly scoruring the castle and hacking at every wall i see incase ive missed a secret or somthing, as finding them in a guide would be probabaly harder to do.

[Charlie]

Clicky: http://db.gamefaqs.com/console/saturn/file/castlevania_full_map.gif

Tsk, can't get it to work for some reason, but check the maps on Gamefaqs for the full 200%.

[wheelaa]

well im asking becuase all the guides say that there are 5 spells actually, but the achievemnt says you need 8, and as for the fact that ive only found 197% of the castle, well even if i wanted to use a guide i think id still be better off aimslessly scoruring the castle and hacking at every wall i see incase ive missed a secret or somthing, as finding them in a guide would be probabaly harder to do.

There are defo 8 spells..

http://www.geocities.com/adrianbelmont/cvsotnspells1.html

[rmoxon]

There are defo 8 spells..

http://www.geocities.com/adrianbelmont/cvsotnspells1.html


well how exactly do you get them then? they arent avaliable in the shop

[wheelaa]

You just do the moves. For 2 you need to be in that form, and for the Sword Brothers i think you need the sword card equipped.

Edit

Good map here too
http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/xbox360/file/937723/13134
If you're stuck on the odd hidden bit drop me a pm if you like..there are a couple where you have to do specific things I think I can remember most, sort of.

[AllYourBase]

I'm only about 3 hours into this but I can't seem to get any further. On the map screen I only really seem to have two routes open to me to progress further in the castle:

1) Top-left hand side of the castle - A place with lots of steps with several skulls spitting out fire. (When you kill one of them the other rolls down the stairs at you) - Once I get past these I get to a baddy comprises of loads of swords spinning around. Past this is a wall I can't get past with a switch at the other side of the wall.

2) Top-right hand side of the castle - this is the bit where the giant skull heads are. I want to get across the castle wall but the wall crumbles on me and then I have to fight big skull heads.

I need the ability to do a super jump or wall through walls or something!

Can anyone help this SOTN noob make progress? :)

[Brats]

In the big room where the flying swords are, there are two spiral staircases on either side that lead up to new parts of the castle. They are easy to miss, but you can use them as platforms to jump up.

Eventually you'll get the item that allows you to progress where the giant skulls are.

[AllYourBase]

In the big room where the flying swords are, there are two spiral staircases on either side that lead up to new parts of the castle. They are easy to miss, but you can use them as platforms to jump up.

Eventually you'll get the item that allows you to progress where the giant skulls are.

Platforms!! How could I have missed them! :confused:

Thanks for the heads up!

I will have another try tonight before I cave in and start reading guides! hehe

[Brats]

http://castlevania.free.fr/v2006_bin/jeux/sotn/snap_block_chap_03.jpg

Here's that room. You can see the platforms to the left of the screen.

[AllYourBase]

http://castlevania.free.fr/v2006_bin/jeux/sotn/snap_block_chap_03.jpg

Here's that room. You can see the platforms to the left of the screen.

What a fool I was. I got thrown off by trying to go to the far right! I am now at the Castle Keep having acquired the power of double-jump! Two fiendish mini boss battles nearly screwed me up around various save points but I rinsed them and am still in the game! lol

As long as things keep opening up this game is a joy to play. I hate the feeling of being stuck even if it is due to my own crapness! :lol:

[stainboy]

My 360's been little more than a video player for a while, I'd lost interest in games for a bit but I bought this a few days ago and have been absolutely loving it. Shame my 360 has chosen now to keep overheating. Still, despite this I'm in the inverted castle now. I only have 3 spells and 3 familiars, should I have any more than that by now? And you know the room with the big clock face? Do I have to wait in there for a specific time on the clock for the top right passage to open up?

Apart from a couple quick goes through emulators I've never really played any Castlevnanias before, I understand they're not all Metroidy like this one? Is it the portable ones that are most like this?

[toythatkills]

To open the room in the clock tower you have to stop time.

I played through this last week despite having it since release, and it's easily the best game on Arcade. I think you're OK for familiars, you might be missing one, just have a check of the map in the normal castle to see if there's any obvious gaps

[erhgiez]

My 360's been little more than a video player for a while, I'd lost interest in games for a bit but I bought this a few days ago and have been absolutely loving it. Shame my 360 has chosen now to keep overheating. Still, despite this I'm in the inverted castle now. I only have 3 spells and 3 familiars, should I have any more than that by now? And you know the room with the big clock face? Do I have to wait in there for a specific time on the clock for the top right passage to open up?

Apart from a couple quick goes through emulators I've never really played any Castlevnanias before, I understand they're not all Metroidy like this one? Is it the portable ones that are most like this?

You have access to all the spells, you only buy the information on how to perform them, plus I think there are some ones that you cant buy the info for, just faq it. The most useful one is the absorb health one