Die monster. You don't belong in this world!
An all bosses run of Castlevania SotN's Saturn version done in one sitting. I stretched the game's aspect ratio to match 8:7.
I dislike repeating games when there isn't any new content to explore, but games like Castlevania, Mario, Sonic and Mega Man were always exceptions to me. There's just something about replaying a great game that makes me want to replay it even more, which is how I feel about Richter Mode in SotN. The powerful moves and various little things about his general movement and control are what really make me like him, not to mention the great sprite work. The game is really fun to explore with him, even if you already know every nook and cranny of the castle.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night's SEGA Saturn port... Where to even begin? I don't know much about it's development other than hearing that the programmers on the team didn't know what they were doing and that it wasn't under the management that did the same game on the PlayStation 1/PlayStation X. After it's release Igarashi despised it and refused to add any of it's content to the PSP port he later did for Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles. Saturn port is also hammered down with technical difficulties, such as not utilizing the hardware properly and rendering things in wrong ways. There are quite a few graphical oddities in this game, and SEGA Saturn wasn't capable of transparency in 3D, so that was disabled for the port. The audio is also very crusty, but I honestly kind of like it. Despite the rougher graphics and rougher audio, it still has quite a good amount of redeemable qualities, which in my eyes rise it above even the PSP port.
The game was updated with additional content not seen in the original PS1/PSX version of Castlevania SotN, such as the two extra levels, new enemies, a new boss, new items and relics, including one that lets Alucard dash like Richter. But it doesn't stop there since it also added a lot of quality of life improvements. You can select Richter and Maria from the start, without having to unlock them both. Oh, and yeah, you can play as Maria. She has fighting moves that are difficult to pull off but are awesome, and she also has a maximum heart limit of 999. Something not even Alucard can achieve at any point in the game... Talk about overpowered! I can see how she was able to venture through the castle alone, even after her first appearance in Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. Aside from Maria, though, Richter also got a bit of an update. When slide-jumping into an enemy or an object, like a candle, you will automatically backflip, saving yourself from taking damage that you can take from tackling the enemy if they don't immediately die from your attack. His starting health and defense also got a decent boost, allowing him to survive more attacks. But most importantly he got a new costume. Love it or hate it, it's pretty neat they managed to even make one with what little time they had to make the game (which they used to do that instead of upgrading it on a technical level, and for that I appreciate their attempt at expanding the game a bit). You can activate it by holding up on your controller when selecting Richter Belmont before starting a new game.
Some of the new QoL improvements are also small, such as a gameplay consistency with Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, a prequel to SotN. When striking an armored enemy that is strong against cutting weapons with an axe or a knife they will bounce off it, just like in the prequel. Additionally, when playing Richter Mode (at least there I noticed it), you can throw the axe farther if you're moving. Stand still and you'll throw it like normal, throw while walking and it will go a bit further and run while throwing to throw it really far. These minor details make the game feel a lot more refined, even if the Saturn port is a technical disaster.
The run itself was based off my skills as a well-skilled Richter Mode player. I know a lot of quirks that Richter has in his moves and it was no doubt a lot more easier for me than most other players who probably only ever played Alucard Mode, since that's also the only place where you get all the RPG mechanics, the items and story. Despite Richter Mode and Maria Mode lacking all of those you can still upgrade your health using the maximum health potions scattered around the castle. All of the items are turned into hearts and certain sections of the castle are unexplorable due to them requiring a move or an item only Alucard can have. Richter's blade dash and uppercut allow to maneuver around the castle with ease and his sliding and drop kick abilities let him evade and damage foes in easier ways when used right. The backflip from the prequel is also back and it's quite handy too. And of course, he is equipped with the Vampire Killer, a whip that unlike every other move doesn't deal critical damage... Strange.
Game: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (SEGA Saturn version)