PLAYSTATION STORE: CASTLEVANIA: SYMPHONY OF THE NIGHT

Today’s PlayStation Store update saw the release of Konami’s classic PlayStation title Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for the PlayStation 3 and PSP. While I won’t be grabbing this one myself, at $9.99 it’s worth every penny for those of you who don’t have some way to play the game. (The only reason I won’t be buying this one is that I already own the original game for the PlayStation (Hooray backwards compatibility!) – and because I also bought the Xbox Live Arcade version)

Please note: I believe this version is a straight port of the original game and does not include any of the enhancements made for the Xbox Live Arcade version. Since no demo is available, I can’t confirm whether or not the original CD soundtrack is included either. You have been warned.

XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS: CASTLEVANIA: SYMPHONY OF THE NIGHT

This is one of those times when the fact that my Xbox 360 is currently among the ranks of the dead really hurts. By the time most of you read this, Konami’s Xbox 360 port of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is going to be available for download in the Xbox Live Arcade in all of it’s enhanced glory. Symphony was the game that actually introduced me to the Castlevania series, and I remember not being able to put it down for days. I won’t spoil one of the greatest aspects of the game for those of you who’ve never tried it, suffice to say that truly completing the game is more difficult than how it appears to be.

What more can I say about the game beyond it truly is a masterpiece of the genre and for the 800 points ($10) this one is selling for, you’d have to be crazy to skip it.

Title: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 3/21/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1
Xbox Live: Yes
HDTV Support: 1080i
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: T (Teen) – Animated Blood & Gore, Animated Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

"Recreated and enhanced for Xbox 360™, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is better than before with enhanced graphics, new achievements, and Xbox Live® leaderboards.

Years ago, Richter Belmont faced the nightmare creature Dracula in what was supposed to be the final showdown to rid the world of his evil. Instead, Dracula’s castle has once again risen from the mists to threaten the safety of the world.

Alucard, a mysterious figure with his own motivations, has taken it upon himself to enter the new castle, confront the evil, and attempt to destroy Dracula once and for all. With swords and magic, he must face hordes of undead demons who will attempt to stop him from harming their master. Unknown allies also await Alucard to help him in his journey. Can Alucard uncover the full truth behind the source of Dracula’s power

• Two versions: Play the original version of the game or experience it in enhanced mode with improved graphics and modernized audio and sound effects.
• Non-linear gameplay: Collect items, weapons and armor to defeat the powerful boss monsters that block access to key areas of the castle.
• Xbox 360 enhancements: Earn 12 achievements and 200 Gamerscore points, and check the top players with the online leaderboards." – Xbox.com

As for last week’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I’ve got to say that I really wasn’t overly thrilled with it. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with the game itself, it’s that I forgot just how annoying those boss battles could be from a "constantly dying" perspective. Still, the game controls well and is certain fun when you get a bunch of friends together on Live.

That said, you go pick up Symphony of the Night and I’ll go and sulk in the corner over there. Curse you Red Baron, curse you!

XBLA CASTLEVANIA: SYMPHONY OF THE NIGHT DATED

At long last, Microsoft has revealed the date that Konami’s classic PlayStation title Castlevania: Symphony of the Night will be arriving on Xbox Live Arcade. On March 21st, Alucard will be rising to fight Dracula once more – all for the low cost of 800 points ($10). Thankfully, I have the game on the original PlayStation and can drown my red-ringed sorrows in that version until I’m able to grab the XBLA port.

RONDO OF BLOOD PC PORT PROJECT

The folks over at PCEngineFX.com have unveiled a working build of the classic PCEngine SuperCD game Demon Castle Dracula X: Rondo of Blood. Not to be confused with the lackluster SNES Castlevania: Dracula X, this version aims to recreate all the things that made the original, unreleased in the U.S. game, special. This is the first full public build of the homebrew, so keep in mind there are still a lot of bugs to be worked out. Click here to head on over to PCEngineFX’s Dracula X PC Port page.