cj, you can play as maria after unlocking her in the second level I think.
All I know is that unlocking to play Symphony of the Night and the original Rondo of Blood game was pretty hard/annoying, but once you figure out what to do (and get good enough at the controls), it's definitely doable.
The SotN in this game is actually a mix between the Saturn version and the PSX version where it contains two different fairies and has some items moved around in the map. I'm still not sure what the max percentage completion is, I only managed to get 199.4% completion.
ze swift class on
0
cj iwakuraThe Rhythm RegentBears The Name FreedomRegistered Userregular
edited October 2007
I've already unlocked her, but I've seen a lot of hidden/blocked off secrets that I think I need to use her to access.
I managed to unlock SoTN after some gamefaqs advice. What it didn't tell me, however, was how much of a pain in the ass it would turn out being. The sewers are annoying as hell and that special boss is pretty annoying too. It was easy afterwards, but the parts before it were a real pain.
Cilla Black on
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cj iwakuraThe Rhythm RegentBears The Name FreedomRegistered Userregular
edited October 2007
Sounds like this is going to drive casual Castlevanians insane.
"I got Symphony of the Night portable!!
...where is it?"
cj iwakura on
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DVGNo. 1 Honor StudentNether Institute, Evil AcademyRegistered Userregular
edited October 2007
How to Unlock SotN:
Unlock Symphony of the Night
In Stage 2, while the minotaur is chasing Richter, immediately fall into the first hole in the ground. You will not die, but instead be taken into the sewers. Play the level out normally and defeat the boss. Afterwards, you will be taken to Stage 3' (this is different from the normal Stage 3!).
In Stage 3', whenever the path branches, taken the upper route. Make sure you obtain the "axe" subweapon sometime during the stage. Eventually, you will meet a skeletal snake that is attached to a wall. Nearby is a vine-like cage; use the axe to cut it. It now serves as a platform for Richter to jump to the upper ledges. Continue along the upper ledges until you see a breakable tombstone. Inside is the item that unlocks Symphony of the Night. Return to the main menu to play it.
I just realized, playing through SOTN again is going to be a bitch and a half considering the PSP has virtually no diagonal control. Forget casting spells this go around. There's an option to switch controls to the analog stick, but this apparently uses a lot of processing power as they can't just have both mapped at the same time. :roll:
Obviously this problem doesn't apply to slim PSP. Lucky asses.
The Wolfman on
"The sausage of Green Earth explodes with flavor like the cannon of culinary delight."
How do you play this game without a backdash button? I'm all for playing the Classic NES Castlevanias but not having a button that let's you jump back in a hurry seems like a crippling omission.
emnmnme on
0
DVGNo. 1 Honor StudentNether Institute, Evil AcademyRegistered Userregular
How do you play this game without a backdash button? I'm all for playing the Classic NES Castlevanias but not having a button that let's you jump back in a hurry seems like a crippling omission.
You can backflip with Richter by hitting jump twice quickly. It does the job well enough.
The Wolfman on
"The sausage of Green Earth explodes with flavor like the cannon of culinary delight."
I haven't found it to be a big help. Jeebus this game is brutal. I'm only on stage four yet I am dieing repeatedly. Could easily see myself beating the game with over 100 continues. I'm already in the high 10s.
Cilla Black on
0
DVGNo. 1 Honor StudentNether Institute, Evil AcademyRegistered Userregular
edited October 2007
I see now. What appeared to be a ceiling obstacle is actually just in the background.
In Stage 2, while the minotaur is chasing Richter, immediately fall into the first hole in the ground. You will not die, but instead be taken into the sewers. Play the level out normally and defeat the boss. Afterwards, you will be taken to Stage 3' (this is different from the normal Stage 3!).
In Stage 3', whenever the path branches, taken the upper route. Make sure you obtain the "axe" subweapon sometime during the stage. Eventually, you will meet a skeletal snake that is attached to a wall. Nearby is a vine-like cage; use the axe to cut it. It now serves as a platform for Richter to jump to the upper ledges. Continue along the upper ledges until you see a breakable tombstone. Inside is the item that unlocks Symphony of the Night. Return to the main menu to play it.
Wow, I didn't think they were going to make it such an obscure challenge to unlock SOTN.
What about the original Rondo? Just beat the remake?
after playing the new rondo I have a few feelings about it:
1) it's awesome
2) read 1.
my only complaint isn't a complaint with the new Rondo, it's a problem with all games of this type that came from that era of gaming. The difficulty comes moreso from oddly positioned jumps, lack of complete control (like, you get hit and fly back....into a pit. This clearly is not your fault and the pit was put there for the sole purpose of you to get hit and fall into it, thus creating a "harder" game).
Like I said though, not at all a complaint with Rondo, it's a complaint with all sidescrollers of that style. For example, Ninja Gaiden Sigma or Black were damn difficult, but never did you get hit by something, only to be conveniently hit into something else, and then something else...only to die without having any control over the event. I'm sure someone will come in here and prove me wrong, but needless to say that kind of thing never happened to me, where I had no control over dieing and the very act of it was a conveniently placed pitfall to which a monster spawned the instant I tried to clear it.
Aside from that though, the PSP remake, symphony and the original rondo in 1 package is fucking king. if you have a PSP get this game. seriously.
after playing the new rondo I have a few feelings about it:
1) it's awesome
2) read 1.
my only complaint isn't a complaint with the new Rondo, it's a problem with all games of this type that came from that era of gaming. The difficulty comes moreso from oddly positioned jumps, lack of complete control (like, you get hit and fly back....into a pit. This clearly is not your fault and the pit was put there for the sole purpose of you to get hit and fall into it, thus creating a "harder" game).
Like I said though, not at all a complaint with Rondo, it's a complaint with all sidescrollers of that style. For example, Ninja Gaiden Sigma or Black were damn difficult, but never did you get hit by something, only to be conveniently hit into something else, and then something else...only to die without having any control over the event. I'm sure someone will come in here and prove me wrong, but needless to say that kind of thing never happened to me, where I had no control over dieing and the very act of it was a conveniently placed pitfall to which a monster spawned the instant I tried to clear it.
Aside from that though, the PSP remake, symphony and the original rondo in 1 package is fucking king. if you have a PSP get this game. seriously.
Yeah, this game came out way back in '93, so it is dated in the sense of its cheap difficulty. It's a bit of a shame they just did a 1:1 remake and didn't do some retooling with the mechanics. Richter moves with the agility of a tank. Going back to this from Alucard, Soma, or even SOTN Richter is pretty difficult, but not impossible.
The Wolfman on
"The sausage of Green Earth explodes with flavor like the cannon of culinary delight."
That's been my biggest beef with the last few portable Castlevanias. The level up system really breaks the games in their halfway points. SOTN is one of my alltime favorite titles, but I could plow through that in my sleep.
Of course, part of me originally chalked it up to the Son of Dracula shitting far bigger than the entire Belmont clan put together. but I digress; Rondo is part of the Manvania clique.
Man, I suck at this game. But I don't care. It is too good for me to be mad at it. Well, except for when I fell down that pit at the start of the game. It had water running over it Konami! I thought it was a 2-inch deep trench, not a pit to the bowels of the Earth!
I have Dracula X on the PC Engine. One of my all time favorite games. It's so fucking good... it's classic pre-metroidvania castlevania perfected. There is so much going good in that game.
My favorite level is level 5' (I believe). It's a haunted pirate ship, and it's the hardest level in the game. It took me several game overs to finish that level the first time. So awesome.
Where is this key for Maria? I found her door but I haven't seen a key yet.
When your getting chased in level 2 by the giant undead dog thingie.
while you are jumping over the pits, before the second pit, there are two candles. the first one low, the second one high. The second one drops the key.
Where is this key for Maria? I found her door but I haven't seen a key yet.
When your getting chased in level 2 by the giant undead dog thingie.
while you are jumping over the pits, before the second pit, there are two candles. the first one low, the second one high. The second one drops the key.
Ah, I ignored the candles. Craperoo.
It's so weird that they made SotN locked. It's big time advertised on the package and yet in the instructions they NEVER mention it needs to be unlocked.
in level 2 when your being chased by the undead dog, drop down into the 3rd pit. Then procede to go right past the mermen and fight the golden skeleton.
This leads to the alternate level 3 with the mudmen and tombstones.
Keep going right till you can go up. then go up as much as you can. Eventually you will come to the white dragon with the long bone neck. there is a green pod/sack thing right in front of him. Hit it with a axe or the cross special, and it drops a platform.
Go up the platform, and keep going right till you see a white tombstone. Crush the tombstone, and get the item. This unlocks SotN.
I haven't found it to be a big help. Jeebus this game is brutal. I'm only on stage four yet I am dieing repeatedly. Could easily see myself beating the game with over 100 continues. I'm already in the high 10s.
Heck CV4 is my favorite and I'm finding this one to be a bitch. It took me a lvl or 2 to figure out that I can use the stick but its not much better than the gimpy D pad. I wonder if the PSP slim is much better (the d pad).
Where is this key for Maria? I found her door but I haven't seen a key yet.
When your getting chased in level 2 by the giant undead dog thingie.
while you are jumping over the pits, before the second pit, there are two candles. the first one low, the second one high. The second one drops the key.
Ah, I ignored the candles. Craperoo.
It's so weird that they made SotN locked. It's big time advertised on the package and yet in the instructions they NEVER mention it needs to be unlocked.
It doesn't even make sense if you think about it. The obvious unlock requirement would be the best ending for RoB. Considering, ya know, "direct sequel" and "continuation of the story" and all that jazz. Not as some item found in a random candle.
The Wolfman on
"The sausage of Green Earth explodes with flavor like the cannon of culinary delight."
Just got Maria. Man, she's a scream. I don't see her as a whole lot easier but you do get 2 shots a time versus Richter's one. Unless I'm misjudging his speed.
No Game Over for me yet. This actually seems pretty simple for a CV game. But I spent months mastering Castlevania back on the NES since it was the only game I had for it as a tot.
Where is this key for Maria? I found her door but I haven't seen a key yet.
When your getting chased in level 2 by the giant undead dog thingie.
while you are jumping over the pits, before the second pit, there are two candles. the first one low, the second one high. The second one drops the key.
Ah, I ignored the candles. Craperoo.
It's so weird that they made SotN locked. It's big time advertised on the package and yet in the instructions they NEVER mention it needs to be unlocked.
It doesn't even make sense if you think about it. The obvious unlock requirement would be the best ending for RoB. Considering, ya know, "direct sequel" and "continuation of the story" and all that jazz. Not as some item found in a random candle.
Weird in the sense they don't tell you that, I mean. You think you're buying SotN and it's nowhere to be found in the menu.
I haven't found it to be a big help. Jeebus this game is brutal. I'm only on stage four yet I am dieing repeatedly. Could easily see myself beating the game with over 100 continues. I'm already in the high 10s.
Heck CV4 is my favorite and I'm finding this one to be a bitch. It took me a lvl or 2 to figure out that I can use the stick but its not much better than the gimpy D pad. I wonder if the PSP slim is much better (the d pad).
People continuously sing multi praises for the Slim's D-Pad. I never owned the fat so I can't say if it's better but I'm having no problem.
Magic Pink on
0
cj iwakuraThe Rhythm RegentBears The Name FreedomRegistered Userregular
Just got Maria. Man, she's a scream. I don't see her as a whole lot easier but you do get 2 shots a time versus Richter's one. Unless I'm misjudging his speed.
No Game Over for me yet. This actually seems pretty simple for a CV game. But I spent months mastering Castlevania back on the NES since it was the only game I had for it as a tot.
But, then, I'm only at level 3.
Don't worry, you'll be getting plenty of Game Overs soon.
And if I'm not mistaken, Maria takes a lot more damage than Richter.
Just got Maria. Man, she's a scream. I don't see her as a whole lot easier but you do get 2 shots a time versus Richter's one. Unless I'm misjudging his speed.
No Game Over for me yet. This actually seems pretty simple for a CV game. But I spent months mastering Castlevania back on the NES since it was the only game I had for it as a tot.
But, then, I'm only at level 3.
Don't worry, you'll be getting plenty of Game Overs soon.
And if I'm not mistaken, Maria takes a lot more damage than Richter.
But, double jump. :^:
Richter has a double jump too tho, yes? He just flips backwards as well I thought.
Magic Pink on
0
cj iwakuraThe Rhythm RegentBears The Name FreedomRegistered Userregular
edited October 2007
Richter's doesn't work nearly as well. Maria's lets her practically skip certain obstacles/staircases.
Also, she has a downward slide for accessing hidden items here and there.
also I think the new script for SotN is much better. for nostalgia reasons its amusing to listen to in the original, but it was really quite corny when you were first playing it.
Posts
All I know is that unlocking to play Symphony of the Night and the original Rondo of Blood game was pretty hard/annoying, but once you figure out what to do (and get good enough at the controls), it's definitely doable.
The SotN in this game is actually a mix between the Saturn version and the PSX version where it contains two different fairies and has some items moved around in the map. I'm still not sure what the max percentage completion is, I only managed to get 199.4% completion.
I managed to unlock SoTN after some gamefaqs advice. What it didn't tell me, however, was how much of a pain in the ass it would turn out being. The sewers are annoying as hell and that special boss is pretty annoying too. It was easy afterwards, but the parts before it were a real pain.
"I got Symphony of the Night portable!!
...where is it?"
In Stage 2, while the minotaur is chasing Richter, immediately fall into the first hole in the ground. You will not die, but instead be taken into the sewers. Play the level out normally and defeat the boss. Afterwards, you will be taken to Stage 3' (this is different from the normal Stage 3!).
In Stage 3', whenever the path branches, taken the upper route. Make sure you obtain the "axe" subweapon sometime during the stage. Eventually, you will meet a skeletal snake that is attached to a wall. Nearby is a vine-like cage; use the axe to cut it. It now serves as a platform for Richter to jump to the upper ledges. Continue along the upper ledges until you see a breakable tombstone. Inside is the item that unlocks Symphony of the Night. Return to the main menu to play it.
Obviously this problem doesn't apply to slim PSP. Lucky asses.
Was it really that simple? My memory is failing me then, it's been a couple of months since I played.
According to GameFAQs at least. I haven't been able to accomplish it yet, because there is a seemingly impossible jump involved.
You can backflip with Richter by hitting jump twice quickly. It does the job well enough.
Wow, I didn't think they were going to make it such an obscure challenge to unlock SOTN.
What about the original Rondo? Just beat the remake?
Blog||Tumblr|Steam|Twitter|FFXIV|Twitch|YouTube|Podcast|PSN|XBL|DarkZero
I'm getting my ass thrashed here.
Her Game Over is made of colored blocks, and her health restorative is ice cream.
Has anyone figured out how to keep the red zombie gates open yet?
1) it's awesome
2) read 1.
my only complaint isn't a complaint with the new Rondo, it's a problem with all games of this type that came from that era of gaming. The difficulty comes moreso from oddly positioned jumps, lack of complete control (like, you get hit and fly back....into a pit. This clearly is not your fault and the pit was put there for the sole purpose of you to get hit and fall into it, thus creating a "harder" game).
Like I said though, not at all a complaint with Rondo, it's a complaint with all sidescrollers of that style. For example, Ninja Gaiden Sigma or Black were damn difficult, but never did you get hit by something, only to be conveniently hit into something else, and then something else...only to die without having any control over the event. I'm sure someone will come in here and prove me wrong, but needless to say that kind of thing never happened to me, where I had no control over dieing and the very act of it was a conveniently placed pitfall to which a monster spawned the instant I tried to clear it.
Aside from that though, the PSP remake, symphony and the original rondo in 1 package is fucking king. if you have a PSP get this game. seriously.
Yeah, this game came out way back in '93, so it is dated in the sense of its cheap difficulty. It's a bit of a shame they just did a 1:1 remake and didn't do some retooling with the mechanics. Richter moves with the agility of a tank. Going back to this from Alucard, Soma, or even SOTN Richter is pretty difficult, but not impossible.
That's been my biggest beef with the last few portable Castlevanias. The level up system really breaks the games in their halfway points. SOTN is one of my alltime favorite titles, but I could plow through that in my sleep.
Of course, part of me originally chalked it up to the Son of Dracula shitting far bigger than the entire Belmont clan put together. but I digress; Rondo is part of the Manvania clique.
Blog||Tumblr|Steam|Twitter|FFXIV|Twitch|YouTube|Podcast|PSN|XBL|DarkZero
My favorite level is level 5' (I believe). It's a haunted pirate ship, and it's the hardest level in the game. It took me several game overs to finish that level the first time. So awesome.
When your getting chased in level 2 by the giant undead dog thingie.
while you are jumping over the pits, before the second pit, there are two candles. the first one low, the second one high. The second one drops the key.
Ah, I ignored the candles. Craperoo.
It's so weird that they made SotN locked. It's big time advertised on the package and yet in the instructions they NEVER mention it needs to be unlocked.
in level 2 when your being chased by the undead dog, drop down into the 3rd pit. Then procede to go right past the mermen and fight the golden skeleton.
This leads to the alternate level 3 with the mudmen and tombstones.
Keep going right till you can go up. then go up as much as you can. Eventually you will come to the white dragon with the long bone neck. there is a green pod/sack thing right in front of him. Hit it with a axe or the cross special, and it drops a platform.
Go up the platform, and keep going right till you see a white tombstone. Crush the tombstone, and get the item. This unlocks SotN.
Enjoy.
Heck CV4 is my favorite and I'm finding this one to be a bitch. It took me a lvl or 2 to figure out that I can use the stick but its not much better than the gimpy D pad. I wonder if the PSP slim is much better (the d pad).
It doesn't even make sense if you think about it. The obvious unlock requirement would be the best ending for RoB. Considering, ya know, "direct sequel" and "continuation of the story" and all that jazz. Not as some item found in a random candle.
No Game Over for me yet. This actually seems pretty simple for a CV game. But I spent months mastering Castlevania back on the NES since it was the only game I had for it as a tot.
But, then, I'm only at level 3.
Weird in the sense they don't tell you that, I mean. You think you're buying SotN and it's nowhere to be found in the menu.
People continuously sing multi praises for the Slim's D-Pad. I never owned the fat so I can't say if it's better but I'm having no problem.
Don't worry, you'll be getting plenty of Game Overs soon.
And if I'm not mistaken, Maria takes a lot more damage than Richter.
But, double jump. :^:
Also, she has a downward slide for accessing hidden items here and there.
How is Maria unlocked in SotN anyway?
Same as Richter I imagine. After X% completed, you can just punch her name in on a new game and away you go.
also I think the new script for SotN is much better. for nostalgia reasons its amusing to listen to in the original, but it was really quite corny when you were first playing it.