The digital delights of Sony’s scrumptious PlayStation Network service know no bounds. Aside from letting punters compete in online gaming, stream films, browse the Internet and more, its premier attraction rests in the copious supply of downloadable games ripe for the picking. From PSN exclusives to PSOne Classics, minis and plain old add-on content, Sony’s online space is chock full of goodies battling it out for your hard-earned digital dollars.
Welcome back to another installment of Inside PlayStation Network, where every Monday – Friday we’ll pluck a PSN release—be it new or old—and put it in the spotlight for a thorough dissection. Fancy getting a new PSN game but don’t know what one to plump for? Perhaps this feature will help. Didn’t realize that a game was available in your region until now? We’ve got you covered. Or, perhaps you were musing over what those lucky Japanese folk were tucking into over in the Land of the Rising Sun? You can be sure our coverage will extend to those rare regional exclusives as much as those firmly embedded on the public consciousness.
Today, we sharpen our stake and go vamp hunting in the classic 2D adventurer, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
——————-
Developer: Konami
Region(s) available: North America
Players: 1
It’s fair to say that Castlevania has been around the block a few times since its inception in the U.S. back in ’87. Indeed, the fact it’s cropped up on nearly all major platforms in one form or another serves as a testament to its ubiquity, a feat that doesn’t look set to stop anytime soon. While hitting a few stumbling blocks in the 3D era – after all, the side-scrolling classic remain very much the cream of the crop among Castlevania aficionados’ – the franchise has at last managed to reinvent itself for the HD-era thanks to the stonking Lords of Shadow.
Still, if there’s one entry you simply have to get your mitts on, then it’s unequivocally the PSOne classic Symphony of the Night. Make no mistake; this is quintessential Castlevania at its very best, a triumphant slice of retro-fused gaming released at a time where 3D was very much the ‘next big thing.’ In a departure from past entries, gamers aren’t controlling one of the legendary Belmonts however, instead hopping into the shoes of Adrian Fahrenheit, who just happens to be one of Dracula’s offspring.
Playing as Fahrenheit, gamers must traverse his old man’s sprawling gaff, which appears only once a century, and uncover the circumstances surrounding former hero Richter Belmont’s disappearance. Fahrenheit doesn’t wield a whip like past heroes though, instead obtaining a host of different weapons and items, all of which are allotted a place on an RPG-esque inventory. In fact, the whiff of RPG-ness extends beyond this area, with SotN offering experience points for vanquishing the various ghouls and other monstrosities you’ll encounter along your journey. This allows Fahrenheit to level up, increasing his attributes as a result.
Furthermore, our hero can also pick up fresh techniques providing you input the correct D-pad movement to save them in the sub-screen. Also new to the proceedings is the map system, which evolves room-by-room and can be accessed at the touch of a button. However, long-time fans will be pleased to know that the meat-and-potatoes of the action pretty much adheres to old-school Castlevania conventions. You’ll explore Dracula’s humble abode, smashing bits of the environment to gobble up hearts and money while slaying hordes of classic creatures and battling hulking bosses. Magic powers are also important, and Fahrenheit can transform into a variety of entities including a Wolf, Bat and Mist. Add this to the finely-tuned difficulty setting and you’ll start to wonder why Konami ever bothered to make the transition to 3D – sink your fangs into this gem asap.
Tune in again same time tomorrow as we once again go gallivanting around Inside PlayStation Network.