Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Mobile)

The iconic game from the beloved Castlevania series finally comes to mobile.

NA release: 4th March 2020
EU release: 4th March 2020
JP release: 4th March 2020
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Android Central Review: 4/5
Platforms: Android, iOS
Version Played: Android

With Symphony of the Night getting a few ports here and there, but no big multiplatform release, it’s somewhat of a surprise that the £3 mobile phone version of the game is technically the best version of the game. Now, if you were to play it with the touch screen controls, you’ll have a pretty horrid time, but with a controller it feels great.

For the most part, this is a port heavily based on the PSP version of the game, but it’s actually a new port and not an emulated version like in Castlevania Requiem. Which means that it has the new familiars, the PSP version of Maria and the more “correct” dialogue. One small, but nice, change is that the black border is now finally gone.

In order to suit mobile phones and the likelihood of having to stop playing at any time, a checkpoint system has been added, so if you quit (or die), you can carry on from the last door you went through. You keep the amount of health and equipment you had when you entered the door, so you can’t abuse it to regain health. It’s a handy feature, especially for attempting bosses a second time without being sent back to the last save room.

Another change is the menu system, which no longer looks like the PS1 menu. Here, it’s been completely redone to look more modern, which is faster to use and looks nicer on modern screens. It’s easier to change stuff and there’s even a speed run timer, showing how long it took you to reach certain milestones. Unless you’re desperate for the original script, it’s the best version of the game.

Great

As for what’s wrong with Symphony of the Night on Android, there are a few notable things. If you don’t have a controller or a phone mount, then you’ll be stuck with the touchscreen controls. They’re not bad by any means, but their placement is a bit awkward. They block parts of the screen, and they a bit mushed together to me.
Jordan Palmer, Android Central

Remake or remaster?

If not a proper remaster, then port this to PC and consoles.

Official Ways to get the game

This version of Symphony of the Night is available on Android an iOS.