Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
News, coverage and analysis tracking Castlevania: Symphony of the Night across the outlets.
Summer Games Done Quick 2026: Watch Day 1 hereSummer Games Done Quick 2026 is underway in Minneapolis, Minnesota, raising money for Doctors Without Borders. The week-long speedrunning marathon features a variety of games, including Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Kirby Air Ride, and Absolum, with schedules available for viewers on Twitch and YouTube.
Feature: 10 N64 Games We Played In A Wondrous Alternate TimelineThis article explores a hypothetical alternate timeline where the Nintendo 64 achieved greater market success, imagining 10 games that could have been released. It speculates on potential N64 entries for series like Fire Emblem, Tekken, Metroid, and Final Fantasy, and discusses what might have been if sequels to GoldenEye 007 and Super Mario 64 were prioritized.
Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 638Several IGN staff members share their weekend gaming plans, with titles like Batman: Arkham Knight, Immortals of Aveum, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night being played. The article also touches on the 11-year anniversary of Sony's 2015 E3 press conference.- The Games That Defined Our Childhood: A Generation-by-Generation Guide | TAGThis guide breaks down distinct gaming generations within the millennial demographic, highlighting the defining consoles, cultural moments, and games for those born between 1984 and 1998. It explores the impact of console wars, the rise of online multiplayer, and the unique experiences of growing up with different gaming eras, from the SNES and Genesis to the N64, PlayStation, PS2, and Wii.
- 25 '90s Games That Hold Up Perfectly Today (And Where to Play Them) | TAGThis article identifies 25 video games from the 1990s that remain enjoyable for modern players, distinguishing between titles that hold up with no caveats and those that require specific versions or adjustments. It highlights how 2D pixel art generally ages better than early 3D graphics and provides information on where each game can be legally played today.
- Retro Gaming in 2026: The Complete Guide to Playing Classic Games Legally | TAGThis guide explores legal options for playing retro games in 2026, noting that only 13.27% of classic US games released before 2010 are still commercially available. It details subscription services like Nintendo Switch Online and PlayStation Plus Premium, digital storefronts such as GOG and Steam, and physical collector's options including Analogue and Evercade hardware. The article also addresses the legalities of emulation, emphasizing that while emulators are legal, downloading ROMs for games one does not own is copyright infringement.
Which Handheld Gaming Console Should You Buy in 2026? | TAGThis guide helps consumers choose the right handheld gaming console in 2026 based on their gaming habits rather than specs. It compares the Nintendo Switch 2, Steam Deck OLED, ASUS ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go S, and budget retro handhelds, outlining the ideal user for each device. The article emphasizes simplicity for the Switch 2, Steam library access for the Steam Deck OLED, and performance for Windows handhelds, while recommending retro devices for nostalgia.
PlayStation Vita: Our Love for a Dead ConsoleThe PlayStation Vita, released in 2011, aimed to bring a home console experience to a handheld device with features like dual analog sticks and an OLED screen. Despite a strong library of JRPGs, fighting games, and indie titles, it struggled against mobile gaming and the Nintendo 3DS due to its high price and proprietary memory cards. However, the console gained a dedicated following through modding, enabling emulation, custom themes, and the use of standard Micro SD cards, preserving its legacy as a beloved handheld.
The indie studio reviving Castlevania follows Clair Obscur Expedition 33's lead: "Being a French team, we were…Evil Empire is developing Castlevania: Belmont's Curse with a strong emphasis on French culture, setting the game in Paris and incorporating iconic landmarks. The developers have clarified that the game is not a roguelike, drawing inspiration from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The protagonist is referred to as 'a Belmont,' fueling speculation about the return of Sonia Belmont.- “Whoa, that looks cool!” or… upcoming indie games you may not have heard of – GTOGG’s picks – GTOGGThis article highlights several promising upcoming indie games that may have flown under the radar. Featured titles include Project Shadowglass, a love letter to immersive sims; Silver Pines, a survival horror metroidvania; and HABROMANIA, a quirky point & click adventure with a dark secret. Other notable mentions are Am I Nima, a psychological horror game with a unique premise, and The Bagman, a retro-style stealth horror adventure inspired by Clock Tower.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse developers are trying really, really hard to make sure you know it's a metroidvania without using the word 'metroidvania'Developers of Castlevania: Belmont's Curse are emphasizing its exploration-focused gameplay, drawing inspiration from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, without explicitly using the term 'metroidvania'. The team at Evil Empire confirms the game is not a roguelike and features intricate world design and RPG-lite elements, aligning with the 'metroidvania' tag on Steam.
Looking Back (and Forward) at the Success of Vampire SurvivorsVampire Survivors continues to set the standard for the bullet heaven genre with its rapid progression and consistent rewards, even four years after its initial release. The game's latest DLC, inspired by Castlevania, adds significant content and further solidifies its position as a benchmark for developers in the genre. Despite newer titles offering more technical or RPG elements, Vampire Survivors' core gameplay loop and extensive unlockables maintain its appeal and replayability.
Nothing Beyond This Point Launches With Twisted Metroidvania MechanicsNothing Beyond This Point has launched on PC, introducing a unique Metroidvania mechanic where players spend health to deal damage, with infinite regeneration available. Developer Dieuwt aims to challenge genre conventions by shifting focus from health preservation to aggressive combat and spatial reasoning over traditional platforming. The game also features a unique approach to achievements and optional secret bosses.- Sunday Postmortems/RetrospectivesKonami released Castlevania: Symphony of the Night 29 years ago, a game widely considered one of the greatest and a pioneer of the Metroidvania genre. The article also briefly mentions that PlayStation's Firesprite Studio was in talks to develop a Breaking Bad VR game.
The solution to staleness in modern gaming is cross-pollination - Reader's FeatureA reader proposes that cross-pollination of ideas between different genres and franchises is the key to combating staleness in modern gaming. The article provides numerous examples of successful genre blends, such as Castlevania becoming an RPG or Zelda incorporating rhythm mechanics, suggesting this approach can revitalize long-running series and create fresh experiences.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse isn't a roguelike, says Konami, despite it being made by the 2 studios behind…Konami has clarified that Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, developed by studios behind Dead Cells, is a 2D action-exploration game and not a roguelike. The game will feature vast maps and acrobatic combat mechanics, with the Vampire Killer whip being used for traversal as well as combat.
Castlevania is still coming to the Sega Master System and here's some cool footage and a demo!Xfixium is continuing development on a Sega Master System port of Castlevania, aiming to be faithful to the NES version while incorporating aesthetics from Castlevania Chronicles and potentially Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. New footage and a playable demo have been released for the homebrew project.