Castlevania: SOTN... shortest/easiest game ever?

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So I finally get around to playing this game this weekend after years of hearing how great it is. Many people love this game and it always makes an appearance in the "best PS1 games" lists.

I literally got to play it 3 times, then it was over. I have never read any FAQs or even a single hint about this game. I didn't even know what the gameplay was like. I beat the game without even trying.

I was pleasantly surprised by the RPG elements, although they didn't really affect the gameplay. When the game was over, I had a bunch of weapons and armor, but I had used 5 items. I ended up at level 21 with 67% explored. I did very little backtracking, except after I got the "mist" and "bat" forms, which allowed me to get to new areas. I completely ignored the whole underwater section, but almost fully explored all of the other areas. Most of the game was spent exploring areas that weren't required. All I really needed to do was find the mist relic which allows me to get the bat relic, which allows me to reach the end. If I went straight for those items, I'm sure I could still finish the game without much difficulty.

Around halfway through, the game became extremely easy. I think I died once and even the final battle was so easy I couldn't believe the game was actually over. I never even got to use a familiar (although I had several on hand), so I still have no idea what they do.

I actually expected the game to restart at a higher difficultly after the ending, but no, it just left me with my old save game. I will probably load it up and go explore the underwater section, but after that I can't see myself playing this again. To be honest, if it wasn't a Castlevania game, it would be headed for Ebay.

I must admit, it was very fun. The music is awesome, just like every other Konami game in existance. I think the RPG elements and the huge hype surrounding this game made me expect it to last much longer. In reality, it is just the standard Castlevania length. Maybe if the RPG stuff was left out and more resources spent on new areas... required areas. Not areas comprising 1/3 of the game and completely skippable. ;)

Summary: Great graphics and sound. Fun. Too short. Too easy.
 
I think it is more of an "experience" than a challenge. I love the music, love the artwork, love the weird items that you can discover that are rare...and love trying to find all of the secrets. I agree it is a little bit too easy overall....but still a fantastic title.
 
[quote name='Kain Vincent']Only 67%? I'm guessing you haven't played the "whole" game yet.[/QUOTE]

Well, as I mentioned, I didn't go near the whole bottom half of the map that is underwater. At least it was underwater when I was around it. I had the "basic map" you can buy from the guy in the library and I was able to see everything I missed down there. I guess I didn't miss anything important since all you need is the Mist and Bat forms to win.
 
look for around 200% you got the somewhat "fake" ending.... it wasn't that the game was so easy...it tricked you into thinking it was. hahah
 
[quote name='Theenternal']look for around 200% you got the somewhat "fake" ending.... it wasn't that the game was so easy...it tricked you into thinking it was. hahah[/QUOTE]

indeed. that's why the game is so good, and probably my favorite game of all time. it's not meant to be taken lightly by people looking to just blaze through it. 67% just means you made it from point A to point B, and played a third of the game. go for broke or don't bother.
 
[quote name='Ledhed']Heh, I wish I could get a photo of the OP's face when he reads "200%" and "Second castle."[/QUOTE]

Thing is...I don't think that the OP would care.

If he did, he would have gotten more than 67% before posting here.
 
As I also mentioned, I didn't use any FAQs or strategy guides. I simply played the game as any newbie would, exploring every nook and cranny (except the underwater part). If I really missed that much of the game, then that is sad because I imagine many people out there missed even more than I did.

I am going to load up my save and check out the underwater part. There is also a door far to the left at the end of a tunnel filled with spikes that I was not able to open. I am interested in what the familiars do, but they are leveling up VERY slowly since I only get 1 exp from everything now.
 
Yeah, wait until you get to the second castle. Not that it is that hard, but it definitely kicks it up a notch. I mean there are a couple of cheap tactics that can kill any of the bosses in 2 hits or so, so I won't say it is that challenging but it is still a great time.
 
Yeah this game was wayyyy too short. Took me about 5 minutes to beat it. You walk in at the beginning and defeat Dracula. I didnt even come close to dying. I didnt even bother watching the ending. I just shut the PS2 off and sold the game.

If only there was more.....
 
[quote name='jalu6']Yeah this game was wayyyy too short. Took me about 5 minutes to beat it. You walk in at the beginning and defeat Dracula. I didnt even come close to dying. I didnt even bother watching the ending. I just shut the PS2 off and sold the game.

If only there was more.....[/QUOTE]

:lol:


Seriously, you need to play the upside down castle. They're not joking when they say you need about 200% to finish. I love that game.
 
If you are at 67%, you didn't beat the game yet. As everyone has said you need to beat the second castle. The second castle is where the enemies get tougher and the game has a sharp difficulty curve at the beginning. Damn those medusas in the gear rooms.
 
[quote name='javeryh']They should port this (and other great PS1 games) to the PSP.[/QUOTE]

Well, the DS is getting the next best thing, so yay for that.
 
Actually, some people on gamefaqs got like 207.5% :shock:

But they used bugs to walk outside the castle.
 
Rumor has it that a 20th Annivesary Collection is in the works for Castlevania. Maybe we'll see it on there, but I doubt it. I'm guessing it'll be all the pre-32bit era games. Which is about 12 or so.
 
Yeah man go find the glasses then put them on when you fight Belmont, there something above him you have to kill so you can then do the whole castle backwards and fight dracula at the end. Sorry so vague haven't played it in years.
 
Total percent is 200.6%. Have Fun!
castlevania_full_map.gif
 
Have you ever considered not playing videogames anymore, OP? If you play every game like you did this one, I don't see any reason you should continue.
 
[quote name='Kirin Lemon']Have you ever considered not playing videogames anymore, OP? If you play every game like you did this one, I don't see any reason you should continue.[/QUOTE]

Have these forums really degenerated to crap like this? This makes GameFAQs look like a Mensa meeting.

The fact is, I loaded up the game again today and have 90+% complete and every non-boss still dies in one hit (and has since around 50% complete, or two hours into the game). Not much of a challenge. My total play time is just over 5 hours and some of that was just sitting around while I did stuff around the house. Sure, there may be some upside down/reverse/weightless mode that requires hitting a FAQ to find out every little secret, but I play games to enjoy them, not to sit around reading a cheat sheet.

I still have two hallways to check out and, yes, it is still interesting. My complaint here is not that the game isn't fun, but that I could get 99% in one sitting without trying.

Now that I think about it, it's too bad more games aren't like this. :cool:
 
[quote name='Zing']Have these forums really degenerated to crap like this? This makes GameFAQs look like a Mensa meeting.[/QUOTE]
A little sarcasm never hurt anyone. Suck it up and get back to the true gaming enlightenment that is Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. And this time, do it right.
 
200.2% for me and yeah, OP, you haven't beaten the full game. That's the bad ending. The 2nd castle is a pretty big bitch... though when you get your hands on a certain staff and shield. You're virtually invincible.
 
wow I must really suck at Castlevania...I haven't even beat the first boss (other than dracula)...though I guess I haven't tried a lot...
 
[quote name='Zing']I still have two hallways to check out and, yes, it is still interesting. My complaint here is not that the game isn't fun, but that I could get 99% in one sitting without trying.[/QUOTE]

Just keep fooling around with the game. For example, try Street Fighter-esque moves with most of your weapons. Quarter circles, full circles, charge moves...you will be surprised what you find. Also, it seems tedious, but some enemies have amazing weapon drops (particularly later on) that make things a bit more...interesting, to say the least.

They hid a lot in this game, and there are plenty of even more Easter Eggs if you look around a lot. It makes me a bit sad that they haven't really included all of these tiny, miniscule, yet fascinating bonuses in any of the GBA incarnations as of yet. There's just something thrilling about finding two or three uses to a single weapon that makes it stand out.
 
I have frequently ALMOST order SOTN, but I've just never done it... Is it THAT much better than the GBA series or is it about on par?
 
[quote name='Machikunas']I have frequently ALMOST order SOTN, but I've just never done it... Is it THAT much better than the GBA series or is it about on par?[/QUOTE]

Aria of Sorrow and SotN are tied for the best in the series in my head, if that's any indication. If you can find it cheaper than $15, there's no reason you shouldn't get it, especially if you're a Castlevania fan.
 
[quote name='Ledhed']Aria of Sorrow and SotN are tied for the best in the series in my head, if that's any indication. If you can find it cheaper than $15, there's no reason you shouldn't get it, especially if you're a Castlevania fan.[/QUOTE]


Yeah, I've never seen it for less than $25 or I'd have probably already picked it up... it just feels weird to think of paying $25 for a ps1 game... I'm too cheap I guess. Maybe I'll buy one on ebay, play it, and then sell it on ebay for the same price... essentially renting it for the cost of shipping.

AoS is great so I'll have to think about it.
 
[quote name='Machikunas']Yeah, I've never seen it for less than $25 or I'd have probably already picked it up... it just feels weird to think of paying $25 for a ps1 game... I'm too cheap I guess. Maybe I'll buy one on ebay, play it, and then sell it on ebay for the same price... essentially renting it for the cost of shipping.

AoS is great so I'll have to think about it.[/QUOTE]

If you're a Castlevania fan, $25 is nothing for this game. I paid $30 for my copy, and don't regret it one bit. But, as others have mentioned, if you have a GameRush in the area the game can be had for about $6.
 
[quote name='Zing']Sure, there may be some upside down/reverse/weightless mode that requires hitting a FAQ to find out every little secret...[/QUOTE]I get what you're trying to say, but you shouldn't really look at it as a "bonus mode." It really is the second half of game... Konami just made it semi-hidden in order to be different and piss people off (and I think they are geniuses for it).
 
lol, I got about 50% done in a few hours and definitely put it back, thinking I'd beat it in another 2 hours some other time. This whole 200% thing is news to me.

btw, Blockbuster has it for $6.99, if you can find it.
 
[quote name='Zing']I still have two hallways to check out and, yes, it is still interesting. My complaint here is not that the game isn't fun, but that I could get 99% in one sitting without trying.[/QUOTE]

Just to clarify, as I'm not sure you know this: YOU AREN'T EVEN HALFWAY DONE WITH THE GAME. After you "beat" it, the entire map gets turned upside down, and you have to work through it again. See how you're not as gaming L33T as you thought? But that's a good thing, as you have 2x the gaming than you thought.

Remember Super Mario Bros.? You can use warp pipes and beat that in about 15 minutes. That doesn't mean you've "conquered" the game, or even come close to seeing everything it has to offer. It's like reading a book and reading every third chapter.

[quote name='jalu6']Yeah this game was wayyyy too short. Took me about 5 minutes to beat it. You walk in at the beginning and defeat Dracula. I didnt even come close to dying. I didnt even bother watching the ending. I just shut the PS2 off and sold the game.

If only there was more.....[/QUOTE]

If you're joking, I tip my hat to your humor. If you're serious, I would donate my brain to science if I were you (because you couldn't get anything selling it). This is a message board, so anything is possible, but I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt, and a nice golf clap.
 
I feel sorry for the topic creator. Just a bit, though. It seems at this point that there's more than just a little thickheadedness to his misunderstanding about the other 100+% of this game. Dude, it's not just the same castle upside-down, it's a whole new slew of harder enemies and bosses. Play it again, this time without the condescending attitude. It's still my favorite game ever. The fact that a game like this (including the GBA Castlevanias) probably will never be made again in our 3D-crazy gaming world still haunts me. I just want something I can never have, I guess.

I literally could not put this game down back in '97. Only the occasional class, work, or an exploding bladder had a chance.
 
[quote name='Ledhed']Heh, I wish I could get a photo of the OP's face when he reads "200%" and "Second castle."[/QUOTE]

I'm sorry, Mario, but our princess is in another castle. :)
 
[quote name='JSweeney']I'm sorry, Mario, but our princess is in another castle. :)[/QUOTE]

That said, I'm surprised you didn't check a faq after you thought you beat the game, OP. With such a lackluster ending (the fake one), it would seem that the hype around the game was much ado about nothing... but if I play a game that I'm actually enjoying, I go a look at a faq after I've beaten the game just to see if I missed out on anything interesting.
 
I have to say, SOTN is one of my all-time favorite games. I think I've beaten it like 8 times total. Thats the most I've EVER replayed a game. Fantastic game. I can't wait for Dawn of Sorrow!
 
[quote name='jollydwarf']The fact that a game like this (including the GBA Castlevanias) probably will never be made again in our 3D-crazy gaming world still haunts me. I just want something I can never have, I guess.
[/QUOTE]

You do know a new 2D Castlevania game comes out next week, right?
 
[quote name='Roufuss']You do know a new 2D Castlevania game comes out next week, right?[/QUOTE]


Yeah, I'm well aware. But I don't expect it to measure up to "Symphony's" impossibly high standards. 'Very good' doesn't quite cut it here.

Played all three GBA Castlevanias, don't have a DS, by the way. If this game has the depth, the length, and the sheer touch of genius that SotN did, then that may change. I really wanted a 2-D original Castlevania for the PS2*, though. That would've been the game to end all games for me.


*--And yes, it would've sold Shaqloads. Maybe not GTA or Madden-level Shaqloads, but Shaqloads nonetheless. I won't hear anything to the contrary.
 
[quote name='Ledhed']Aria of Sorrow and SotN are tied for the best in the series in my head, if that's any indication. If you can find it cheaper than $15, there's no reason you shouldn't get it, especially if you're a Castlevania fan.[/QUOTE]

I got mine at blockbuster months ago for $10 new (GH of course).


I've yet to touch it. :oops: :lol:
 
[quote name='sblymnlcrymnl']I got mine at blockbuster months ago for $10 new (GH of course).


I've yet to touch it. :oops: :lol:[/QUOTE]

Fix that. Now.

Please? :cry:

Anyhoo...
I remember playing this what one could say "all the way" through (@ around 30 hrs.). It was a quick run. Played one of the extra modes after that (just recently, in fact), and the extra challenge was completely gratifying. I spent 3 times as much time on this latest run through than my original, just because I was having a blast with all the odds and ends I was discovering.

There's so many different ways to play this game and quirks to enjoy, it's baffling people don't appreciate this game more.
 
[quote name='sadunclesnugglez']I have to say, SOTN is one of my all-time favorite games. I think I've beaten it like 8 times total. Thats the most I've EVER replayed a game. Fantastic game. I can't wait for Dawn of Sorrow![/QUOTE]]

I think I got ya beat there ;)
 
[quote name='rabidmonkeys']If you are at 67%, you didn't beat the game yet. As everyone has said you need to beat the second castle. The second castle is where the enemies get tougher and the game has a sharp difficulty curve at the beginning. Damn those medusas in the gear rooms.[/QUOTE]

Damn the medusa? Damn the Azaghals. They kick my ass.

[quote name='Kayden']Actually, some people on gamefaqs got like 207.5% :shock:

But they used bugs to walk outside the castle.[/QUOTE]

Yes, there is a trick with thw sword familiar, and also with the Heart Refreshes.
 
This is the best thread ever. Its like a inside joke that everyone gets except for the OP, and HE was the one that made the joke. :)

Zing, pause the game and look at what relics you have. Notice more then half of those spaces are still blank? That's how much of the game your still missing. If you enjoyed the game so far but thought it too easy then you owe it to yourself to play the upside down castle. Its 3x more difficult and has completely new enemies. It more then doubles the length of the game.
 
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