Castlevania: SotN

"Castlevania: Symphony of the Night" is a mobile port of the classic console action RPG, where players control Alucard and battle through Dracula's castle. The game features controller compatibility, a new continue feature, and the ability to unlock achievements. It is available in 6 languages and is known for its groundbreaking gameplay and renowned music and graphics.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,029 reviews

gameplay31 positive mentions

stability29 negative mentions

Faithful to the original game with updated graphics and sound.
Well-designed levels and engaging gameplay.
Great nostalgia factor for long-time fans of the series.

Touch controls are unresponsive and poorly laid out, making gameplay frustrating.
Game runs too fast on high refresh rate devices, making it unplayable.
Lack of customization options for controls and inability to use original voice acting.

gameplay
66 mentions
47 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its smoothness and faithful recreation of the classic experience, offering fun and engaging mechanics, especially with the inclusion of multiple characters. However, many users express frustration with the touch controls, which can hinder the experience, and some technical issues related to frame rates and control customization. Overall, while the gameplay remains enjoyable and nostalgic, the control scheme presents challenges that may detract from the experience for some players.
- “Gameplay is smooth, no unwanted glitches.”
- “Overall the gameplay is fun and I'm happy the game has Bluetooth controller support as opposed to only using touch controls.”
- “The gameplay is solid if you can get past the poor PSP-version voice acting.”
- “The gameplay is reliant on being able to press more than one button at a time, and the onscreen buttons just don't allow for that.”
- “There's no way to access all the goodies you collect and put into effect those powers on mobile, thus limiting areas of gameplay and abilities of character.”
- “Gameplay was difficult without physical buttons as the on-screen interface was unresponsive.”
graphics
60 mentions
35 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game evoke strong nostalgia, reflecting the classic 90s style with crisp visuals and vibrant backgrounds, though many users express a desire for modern enhancements such as HD resolution and customizable filters. While some praise the graphics as a faithful port of the original, others criticize the pixelation and lack of options to improve visual quality, noting that the controls detract from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are appreciated for their nostalgic value, but there is a consensus that they could benefit from updates to meet contemporary standards.
- “Graphics and music are perfect.”
- “Truly one of the greatest ports I've ever played, the graphics look incredible and the backgrounds are eerily dark yet vibrant enough to warrant looking at, the enemies are imaginative and actually scary looking at times.”
- “Graphics are beautiful.”
- “This is a two-decade-old game with graphics of the 90's.”
- “Graphics are the same as the PSX release... why is this a paid game when the port is this bad?”
- “Graphics could have been improved in line with the changing times.”
stability
45 mentions
31 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
64 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth gameplay and good performance, numerous bugs and glitches persist, affecting controls and certain game features. Some users experienced game-breaking issues, such as freezing and disappearing maps, while others noted that the controls can be unresponsive or laggy. Despite these problems, many still find the game enjoyable, especially on lower-spec devices, indicating that while it runs well overall, it is marred by inconsistencies.
- “The port is amazing and runs great, especially on my low spec phone.”
- “So far no glitches, the touch screen controls really surprised me.”
- “Gameplay is as expected, everything runs great.”
- “Game map glitched out; can't go to the outer wall or library anymore. The map disappeared completely, warps to those areas do the same. The game completely freezes to a black screen then kicks me out back to my phone home screen. Also, the continue feature is no longer available; can't press it, does nothing.”
- “I also found multiple glitches throughout the game which were very annoying, affected cutscenes, and heavily impacted my experience compared to playing the original on PS2.”
- “There are a few game-breaking glitches - in the initial boss battle with Richter and Dracula, both Richter and Dracula become invincible, stopping progress.”
music
39 mentions
59 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised as a standout feature, with many reviewers highlighting its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. The remastered soundtrack retains the grandeur of the original, making it one of the best in gaming history. While some players noted minor issues, such as music glitches, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “The music is beautiful as well.”
- “The music is perfect and it's a great port.”
- “The music is great and sets the tone for each area of the game.”
- “Only bug I noticed was in the beginning when the music glitched out when I paused.”
- “Maybe some unlockable music player (it really really needs that) or unlockable concept art, or something.”
- “Controls are fine, music is fine, it's a decent port.”
story
25 mentions
32 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for being engaging and non-linear, featuring iconic characters and a rich narrative that resonates well with players, even those new to the series. However, some users noted confusion regarding character selection and navigation, which can detract from the experience. Overall, the story is considered a strong point of the game, with suggestions for further development and additional content to enhance the narrative.
- “Great game mechanics, good story with iconic characters and breathtaking design for its day.”
- “Symphony of the Night is a masterpiece, and this is a great way for people to experience the story; although it can be kind of difficult to control on a phone screen, it's still a very enjoyable and charming game.”
- “Omg this game is amazing, downright one of my all-time favorites. The story, action, customization, everything about this game I remember getting it on the PlayStation and spent so much time filling the map.”
- “My suggestion to Konami is to add more storyline after the death of Dracula to make the game more interesting.”
- “Navigation sucks; why is the player expected to know where they are going at all times without a story guiding them? It's just walk aimlessly at the beginning and hope you're at the right place.”
- “The glitches in the story and characters are confusing, but I found my way around it.”
optimization
16 mentions
31 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
31 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game is mixed; while some users report smooth performance and improved sound issues, others experience significant control delays and frame rate problems, particularly on Android devices. Many appreciate the mobile-friendly features and responsive controls, but the inconsistent performance and bugs detract from the experience for several players.
- “No lag, no stuttering or crashing.”
- “The port meets performance expectations (smooth framerate and responsive control; sounds good, too).”
- “It plays and feels great and the updated menus look fantastic plus it's optimized for mobile gaming so if you need to just turn it off you don't need to worry about saving next time you continue the game you'll start on the beginning of the section you left off.”
- “The worst control optimization ever.”
- “Not optimized for mobile, do not buy.”
- “Poorly optimized port with near constant frame rate problems and a staggering inability to register player inputs even with a Razer Kishi gamepad (though one star given back for included gamepad support — it just isn't very good support) even on top shelf hardware.”
monetization
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is highly praised, with users appreciating the absence of microtransactions, in-app purchases, and ads, allowing for an uninterrupted gaming experience. Players value the premium nature of the game, which enhances its nostalgic appeal.
- “Excellent game, I love Castlevania. The best thing about this is that it's a premium game with no ads or in-app purchases.”
- “Great classic game, love that there's no in-app purchases and it works offline.”
- “No microtransactions, just beautiful old Symphony of the Night.”
- “Great classic game, love that there's no in-app purchases and it works offline, but there's a critical bug.”
- “And not only that, there are also no in-game purchases nor any ads.”
- “No stupid ads either!”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely attributed to its voice acting, which users find hilariously entertaining and a standout feature. Players also note that the game's mechanics, particularly the character abilities, add a layer of comedic absurdity to the gameplay experience. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the enjoyment of the game, despite some technical concerns.
- “The voice acting in the PS1 version made me laugh my ass off.”
- “Hilariously, the game actually feels easier with Richter and harder with Alucard compared to the PS1 version, thanks to Richter getting a shortcut button for his overpowered dash attack.”
- “Voice acting is... hilariously amazing.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to cumbersome on-screen controls that detract from the experience. While nostalgia drives them to play, the time spent farming for resources feels excessive and outdated by modern gaming standards.
- “This game really needs support for an external controller, as the on-screen buttons are less than ideal, which makes the game downright tedious at times.”
- “We play this game again for nostalgia, but we don't want to waste too much time farming to buy the duplicates.”
- “This is just tedious by today's standards.”
replayability
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Users indicate that the game's replayability could be enhanced by allowing location adjustments for individual players, while the introduction of additional characters is seen as a positive factor. Overall, some players believe the game offers endless replay value.
- “Simply being able to adjust the location for each individual player would make the game much more enjoyable.”
- “Not sure about the replayability, but the addition of new characters will definitely enhance it.”
- “Simply being able to adjust the location per individual would make the game much more playable.”
- “Not sure on the replayability, but the additional character will help.”
- “Endless replay value.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its unsettling body horror elements, which create a unique and immersive experience that surpasses previous versions. Reviewers note that the new dub significantly enhances the overall ambiance, correcting the shortcomings of the original translation.
- “I greatly prefer this dub to the hammy PSX original, which was poorly translated and carries almost none of the original atmosphere.”
- “The body horror is downright uncomfortable, and the atmosphere is unmatched by any other series.”
character development
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
While the reviews highlight impressive music, character designs, and gameplay, they do not provide specific insights into character development. Therefore, the aspect of character development remains unaddressed in the feedback.
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting that it evokes strong feelings, including heartbreak, which impacts their overall rating despite its merits.
- “It's actually heartbreaking that I can't, in good conscience, give this game 5 stars.”
- “The emotional depth of the story left me in tears; I felt so connected to the characters.”
- “This game made me experience a rollercoaster of emotions, from joy to deep sadness.”