Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
News, coverage and analysis tracking Castlevania: Symphony of the Night across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Games Inbox: Is the new Resident Evil the best video game movie ever?
Readers discuss the highly anticipated new Resident Evil movie, praising its critical reception and director Zach Cregger. Other topics include the high cost of next-gen consoles like the PlayStation 6, the value of Game Pass, and the merits of remaking classic games like Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse proves Dead Cells' developers were the right fit for a revival in this blessing for the Belmonts
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, developed by Evil Empire, shows promise as a revival of the classic series, blending Metroidvania exploration with fast-paced action inspired by Dead Cells. The game introduces a new protagonist, Rose, daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, who wields the iconic Vampire Killer whip. The preview highlights the game's beautiful art style, engaging level design, and fluid combat mechanics, suggesting a confident return to form for the Castlevania franchise.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse bears a close resemblance to another Evil Empire throwback
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, a collaboration between Konami, Evil Empire, and Motion Twin, is set to release on October 15 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The game follows Rose Belmont in a Metroidvania setting, featuring 2D combat and traversal mechanics that draw comparisons to Evil Empire's The Rogue Prince of Persia.
Anbernic demos its new Nintendo DS clone, and it punches hard in PS1, N64, and even Dreamcast games
Anbernic has demonstrated its new Nintendo DS clone, the RG DS Plus, showcasing its ability to run games from various retro consoles including PlayStation 1, Nintendo 64, and Dreamcast. While primarily designed for Nintendo DS titles, the handheld's Rockchip RK3568 chipset appears capable of handling emulation for older systems, with a price point expected to be under $100.
Let’s Stop Saying “Metroidvania”
This article argues against the continued use of the term "Metroidvania" to describe video game genres. The author contends that the term is too niche and inaccurate, requiring deep knowledge of two specific, decades-old game series. Instead, the piece suggests using more understandable descriptors for games that share characteristics with Metroid and Castlevania.
The Metroidvania Is Decades Old, But One Year In Particular Is The Undisputed King
The Metroidvania genre, while decades old, experienced its peak in 2018 with a diverse slate of innovative titles. This year saw games like Hollow Knight, Dead Cells, and Yoku's Island Express push the genre's boundaries by incorporating elements from souls-likes, roguelikes, and even pinball, making it an ideal year for both newcomers and veterans.
Hidden Gems of Game Design Vol 51
This article highlights three overlooked games: Phantom 2040, a choose-your-own-adventure Metroidvania with ambitious gameplay for its time; Soukyuu Gurentai, a fast-paced Sega Saturn shooter with a unique lock-on mechanic; and Sky Destroyer, a challenging NES rail shooter with a novel 3D perspective. The pieces celebrate these titles as hidden gems deserving of recognition.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is even more of a throwback as it brings back a PS2 staple – having better box…
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse features different box art in its European and US releases, with the European version showcasing artwork by Katsuya Terada. This regional difference mirrors past Castlevania titles and other PlayStation 2-era games, leading to some fan disappointment over the US edition's more generic art.
Metroidvania Still Feels Like A Niche Genre That Deserves Better
Despite the enduring legacy of Metroid and Castlevania, the Metroidvania genre remains niche, lacking significant AAA support and blockbuster sales. While indie developers have kept the genre alive with titles like Hollow Knight: Silksong, the author argues it deserves more mainstream attention without becoming oversaturated.
The Metroidvania Genre Owes Credit To Much More Than Castlevania And Metroid
This article explores the origins of the Metroidvania genre, arguing that its roots extend beyond Metroid and Castlevania. It highlights early exploration platformers and RPGs like Aztec and Xanadu: Dragon Slayer 2, as well as Sega's Wonder Boy series, as crucial precursors that introduced key mechanics.
Welcome To GameSpot Metroidvania Week
This article celebrates Metroidvania Week, highlighting the genre's growth from a niche category to a prolific force in the industry. It acknowledges the foundational contributions of Metroid and Castlevania, noting their respective release anniversaries as the inspiration for this week-long exploration of the genre.
Castlevania Belmont's Curse developer Evil Empire "honored by how much trust" Konami has put in its vision
Evil Empire, the studio behind Dead Cells, is developing the new Castlevania: Belmont's Curse in partnership with Konami. Producers from both companies expressed honor at the trust Konami has placed in Evil Empire's vision for the game, which aims to blend classic Castlevania elements with modern gameplay. The game is set to release on October 15 and could signal a new era for the franchise if successful.
Castlevania veteran Koji Igarashi delays spiritual successor Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement to 2027 so it can be…
Koji Igarashi, a veteran of the Castlevania series, has announced that Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement has been delayed to 2027. The game, developed by Igarashi's studio ArtPlay, was originally slated for a 2026 release. The delay is intended to ensure the game is the best it can be, with development now entering its final stages.
Konami’s Castlevania relaunch will be delisted and removed before the popular side-scroller gets the chance to…
Konami is delisting Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls from Apple Arcade on September 3, 2026, after which its servers will shut down, rendering the game unplayable. The action-RPG, which launched in September 2021, featured live-service elements like co-op and PvP. The article also briefly mentions the upcoming Castlevania: Belmont's Curse.
If you're not paying attention to retro game recompilations, you're missing the most exciting thing in gaming…
The article argues that retro game recompilations, which involve reverse-engineering and rewriting old game code for modern hardware, represent the most exciting development in gaming. These fan-made projects offer enhanced graphics, accessibility options, and improved performance, often surpassing official preservation efforts. While facing challenges like low-effort AI-generated content, the scene is rapidly growing with numerous notable recompilations and more anticipated.
29 years later, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night gets its second PC port in 4 weeks thanks to fans of the PS1 version
A new PC port of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, based on the original PlayStation 1 version, has been released by fans. This follows a previous fan port derived from the Xbox 360 version. The new port offers features like widescreen support and a built-in randomizer, with potential for further modding and updates.
Evening Patches
The 'Turning Up The Heat' update for PlateUp! has been officially released. Additionally, an unofficial PC port for the PlayStation 1 classic Castlevania: Symphony of the Night has been developed.
The Best Android Metroidvanias
This article highlights the best Metroidvania games available on Android devices, featuring titles that span the genre's spectrum. It includes acclaimed games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Dead Cells, Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition, and Grimvalor, praising their innovative gameplay mechanics and engaging exploration.
Video Game History Foundation releases major new E3 archive collections
The Video Game History Foundation has released new collections documenting the history of the E3 trade show, which ran from 1995 to 2021. These archives include extensive materials from Carolyn Rauch, who oversaw E3 for nearly its entire run, and nearly 12 hours of video footage from the first four E3 events filmed by Anthony Parisi. The additions also feature digitized E3 directory books, E3 Show Daily scans, and previously unreleased footage of the cancelled Rare game Conker's Quest.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse was made to enlighten players who "love Metroidvanias" but have "never…
Konami producer Tsutomu Taniguchi proposed the development of Castlevania: Belmont's Curse after noticing many Metroidvania fans had never played a Castlevania game. To address this, Konami has released several collections of older Castlevania titles, and Belmont's Curse aims to introduce new players to the series.