Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Saturn)

Only the moon, floating in the darkness, knows the true truth…

JP release: 25th June 1998
NA release: N/A
EU release: N/A
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Sega Saturn Magazine Review: 7.3/10
Platforms: PS1, Saturn, PSP
Version Played: Saturn

While the Saturn version of Symphony of the Night is a port of the PS1 game, it has its own unique features, playable characters and areas. For this review I’m focusing on the key differences this version provides. With the Saturn not being quite as advanced as the PS1, some graphical effects have been downgraded, there are performance issues throughout the game.

There are some nice additions, though, and one that addresses a complaint I have of the original game. Alucard now has a “pocket” inventory slot where you can place consumables, no longer taking up a weapon slot. The downside is that the Saturn version’s menus are so slow that you’ll end up spending more time on them anyway.

You no longer have to unlock the bonus characters in this one, as Richter and Maria are unlocked from the start. I feel like this could lead to someone using the wrong person on their first playthrough, playing the game with no upgrades or story. Ritcher’s version is the same as on PS1 (with an added cutscene of him approaching the castle) so Maria is the key addition

Maria is quite different to both characters and how she played in Rondo of Blood. She has a long range projectile attack, which can be charged up for more damage, as well as kicks. Start to run and then kick and she’ll do an impressive flying kick. She also has a bunch of spells at her disposal, including a handy healing spell.

Her campaign is similar to Richter’s, though. The full map is open and you can fight all the bosses, but you start off fully upgraded and so nothing you find does anything. I messed around a bit and then checked out two new areas. One is just a shortcut between two areas with some sheet ghosts, but the second is at least more interesting.

It’s a secret underground garden that looks really nice, and has interesting enemies like gardening gnomes and a very creepy smiling tree. There’s an area boss with a health increase item (useless for Maria), so it’s not much use, but still a nice little extra. It’s not worth playing this version for due to the performance issues, though, although there is a fan patch that sorts those out.

Great

The only regrettable thing is that the Richter & Maria chapter is composed solely of action. As for the addition of weapons and armor not present in the PS version… to be honest, it might affect the game balance.
Kan, Sega Saturn Magazine #20 (Translated from Japanese)

Remake or remaster?

A good remaster of Symphony of the Night should have these new areas, perhaps with a nice cosmetic item as a reward for the garden. And keep the number of rooms needed for the good ending the same so it eases that a bit. I’d also love to see Richter and Maria getting proper campaigns with levelling up and unlocking abilities, have Richter fight all the way but tricked at the end, while we can have Maria encountering Alucard.

Official Ways to get the game

There’s no official way to get the Saturn version of Symphony of the Night.