I could actually take it seriously though. Even later Igavania's are hammy af.
The only thing that's legendary in SotN is its script and voice acting.
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Symphony of the Night is Overrated
- Thread starter SMattera
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The only thing that's legendary in SotN is its script and voice acting.
Silent Chief
Member
It's 20 years old.
I thought it was alright. Played it for the first time around two years ago and whilst I had fun, I really couldn't see why it is so revered on hardcore gaming sites. It doesn't hold a candle to Super Metroid, a game that I played for the first time well after its initial release, and what SOTN was trying to emulate.
ResidentWeevil13
Member
Playing through this right now for the first time. I couldn't disagree more. I love it. I could nit pick some things, sure, but overall I think it's great so far.
angelic
Banned
I much prefer classicvania. SoTN to me has been responsible for some of the worst habits in the genre, and lacks the depth n tighter level design other Metroid-like games have. It certainly doesn't stack up to the majesty that is Super Metroid.
You joke, but that combat is sus. Planescapes dope story beats wouldn't exactly make that a less valid complaint.
Plinko
Wildcard berths that can't beat teams without a winning record should have homefield advantage
I really like Axiom Verge, but this statement is ludicrous.
I play SM almost yearly and Samus in SM asks for mastery. She has low traction but all her jumps are heavily nuanced by button press time, speed and travelled distance, which allows for more flexible jumps. And you can wall jump, wall kick and bomb jump anywhere, which makes an impressive toolset that no other Metroid game has. I struggle to find another game with similar options.
In comparison, Alucard and Samus in subsequent games control more rigidly, with setpieces designed to make the game look good and stylish. Easier to get into, probably. But they also feel restraining.
They're ashes.
DrROBschiz
Member
Yup
What is happening on GAF these days?
Is it cool now to dissect classics decades later? Do we not understand historical contect anymore? And fuck this game is effing timeless even in our current landscape
Its STILL being replicated today
Did you guys see the FFT 20 years topic? Insanity
angelic
Banned
ashes or salt then, which is it.
Ashes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibhuti
Note that it's called Bibuti in the game, but the manual specifically states that they're ashes.
onemanasylum
Banned
Another week..another thread about calling an all-time classic overrated...The used of the word overrated is overrated. You just looking for an echo chamber?
Nocturnowl
Member
It's uneven, the difficulty curve is completely out of whack, the inverted castle is a pain to traverse, the warp rooms are limited and clunky to use and there's a ton of mostly useless loot lying around.
But it's still fantastic, the game shines as a labor of love. They slammed in everything they thought of here to pack it full of secrets. The atmosphere is tremendous, the exploration sprawling and it charted a new course for the franchise despite being the side project in the face of 3D vania attempts.
I don't take issue with people finding this one flawed. But even as someone who got around to it late (in 2010) after playing the DS successors it's still my favorite.
But it's still fantastic, the game shines as a labor of love. They slammed in everything they thought of here to pack it full of secrets. The atmosphere is tremendous, the exploration sprawling and it charted a new course for the franchise despite being the side project in the face of 3D vania attempts.
I don't take issue with people finding this one flawed. But even as someone who got around to it late (in 2010) after playing the DS successors it's still my favorite.
Snkfanatic
Banned
Wha? This is crazy talk....
Fancy Clown
Member
The aesthetics are fantastic, but frankly I find the game to be a pain in the ass to play.
So? There are plenty of games that old or older that are substantially more fun
So? There are plenty of games that old or older that are substantially more fun
PhantomThief
Banned
Crazy talk.
Magicpaint
Member
They're all good to great imo. Fave GBA one for me is Aria of Sorrow. Fave DS one is Order of Ecclesia. But they're all worth playing.
GET2DAACHOPPAAAA
Member
Enough talk! Have at you!
sixteen-bit
Member
I agree
Aside from how finicky some of the special inputs can be I'd say the control are fine. Most of the other issues the OP brought up though? I strongly agree.
Difficulty Curve is entirely borked
Lots of stuff thrown at you (equipment, etc.) that the game gives you no incentive to use - kind of poor game design
The Inverted Castle loses its luster pretty fast
Oddly Cryptic in an often unfun way
It's a game that still holds up years later but it has serious flaws I feel are often overlooked and later Igavanias, while they might have dropped the ball on some non-gameplay aspects compared to SOTN, have certainly improved upon SOTN in key ways.
Difficulty Curve is entirely borked
Lots of stuff thrown at you (equipment, etc.) that the game gives you no incentive to use - kind of poor game design
The Inverted Castle loses its luster pretty fast
Oddly Cryptic in an often unfun way
It's a game that still holds up years later but it has serious flaws I feel are often overlooked and later Igavanias, while they might have dropped the ball on some non-gameplay aspects compared to SOTN, have certainly improved upon SOTN in key ways.
purpleblastoise
Banned
It's like Resident Evil 4 in that it's a good game that completely changed what that series was afterwards. Rondo of Blood is my favourite Castlevania and it's disappointing that the series never really returned the traditional formula(outside of that Wiiware remake of Adventure).
Level design, challenging combat and enemy placement became irrelevant in Symphony.
Level design, challenging combat and enemy placement became irrelevant in Symphony.
Waldo Lydecker
Member
OP is a miserable pile of secrets...
D.Lo
Member
All except Harmony of Dissonance. Looks like a dog, sounds like crap and is boring to play with a stupid second castle for no reason.
dsmoke1986
Member
Definitely not overrated; one of my Top 100 of all time; was in college, and we played the heck out of it when it came out.
humansarehorses
Member
Just because he walks slow, it doesn't mean the gameplay is clunky. The game also offers ways to easily get through rooms like the stopwatch sub-weapon and the power of mist.
Yautja_Warrior
Member
Still one of, if not the best Castlevania games and definitely worth the praise it got, far from overrated.
The term "Overrated" is becoming meaningless tbh because every game seems to be overrated according to someone these days.
The term "Overrated" is becoming meaningless tbh because every game seems to be overrated according to someone these days.
FrontalMonk
Banned
I'm tellin you man. It'll be either that or LTTP.
It's as valid a complaint as complaining that Spec Ops: The Line was a bland TPS; it's technically accurate, but it doesn't take away from the quality of the game.
And while it's fine that you prefer classicvanias, I don't really get the "worst habits" criticism. What worst habits? Really the only complaint I have about SotN is its difficulty is too inconsistent. For all the complaints about how easy it was (and most of it was pretty damn easy) I remember running into the Guardians in the reverse castle in the hall near the end boss and getting the shit slapped out of me.
If you are having trouble, this guide will work wonders. Doesn't jerk around & gets straight to the point.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLD28E8507A775366F&v=sRCw1AdwZHg
https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLD28E8507A775366F&v=sRCw1AdwZHg
Ban Puncher
Member
You are wrong OP.
I mean, Rondo of Blood is still the best.
But you are still wrong.
I mean, Rondo of Blood is still the best.
But you are still wrong.
The criticism feels much more like "game doesn't play like this other game therefore it's bad" when it is in fact it's own thing.
OP used the example of Rayman Origins as comparison and I love those games to death but it's not appropriate for use here.
JonnyKtyler
Member
I think your xbox might have a lot of input lag or something because the game controls really really well.
ScriptedReality
Member
I came in this thread expecting to get mad and I was right.
Don't go spreading your lies online man.
Alucard is fluid as hell.
Don't go spreading your lies online man.
Alucard is fluid as hell.
I feel like perhaps this is best addressed by comparing it to bands / recording artists.
In that you can not really care for The Beatles or Michael Jackson or Led Zeppelin. That's fine, different strokes for different folks.
But to act like each of those artists didn't produce masterpieces that massively influenced the art form would be ridiculous.
Each of the purported flaws you mention with SOTN is handled with ease if you take the time to master that aspect of the game. That a game is hard to master doesn't make the controls bad. It makes the game challenging and interesting.
Point is, the game doesn't really click for you. That's fine. But overrated it is not. It's beloved for many valid reasons.
In that you can not really care for The Beatles or Michael Jackson or Led Zeppelin. That's fine, different strokes for different folks.
But to act like each of those artists didn't produce masterpieces that massively influenced the art form would be ridiculous.
Each of the purported flaws you mention with SOTN is handled with ease if you take the time to master that aspect of the game. That a game is hard to master doesn't make the controls bad. It makes the game challenging and interesting.
Point is, the game doesn't really click for you. That's fine. But overrated it is not. It's beloved for many valid reasons.
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