Topic: Sega Saturn SotN compared to PSX SotN?

[Fofa]

Symphony on Saturn is a technical mess, and the added content isn't up to the standards of the original game, to say the least.

The problem with the Saturn version of SotN was that it was a direct port from a primarily 3D based engine to a different console engine that was originally supposed to be meant for 2D games and thus had problems with 3D games (the original idea of the Saturn was to be the best 2D console ever, but then 3D became the new and trendy thing, so the developers just slapped on another processor so the Saturn could do 3D). It being a direct port, not much was done to accommodate for the change in console engines and thus the game suffered as a result.

At least that's how I understand it.

[thernz]

But that's still an excuse. It ended up bad, so it's bad. It doesn't matter how technically difficult it was. The whole point of a port is translating the game successfully, and it fails that. Plus, the team was incompetent when it came to the graphical work so that the new sprites are out of resolution with the old ones. It's just a mess full of clear mistakes and shoddy workarounds.

[SerenityinFire]

I did a little reading and found that the Saturn version was not ported by the original SotN guys, but a different team entirely.  Iga reportedly has much disdain for the sloppy half-assed Saturn port, it's technical problems and shoddy sprite work.  That third reason is why Maria has totally different sprites from the Saturn version when she appears as a playable character in the Dracula X Chronicles version.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

Yeah it was KCE Nagoya (the other branch of Konami, back then it was Tokyo KCET, Kobe KCEK, and KCEN).

I have no problems with Castlevania: Nocturne in the Moonlight for SATURN...
...when it's played properly on an actual Saturn.

A lot of the negative comments seem to come from people who are playing it either emulated or through some other means.  When played on a Sega Saturn console on a TV, the differences start to blur rather well... almost as well as the dithering used in the Saturn version when used on a television.

The load time after the rooms (which had the very purpose of seamlessly blend the areas and minimize it) can be somewhat ignored.  It's barely a second or two.  I happen to dig the new areas even if they are quirky.  The Skull Knight Guardian battle is interesting though I was overpowered and took him out way too quickly.

Also, Saturn's Maria is the best Maria.  So wonderfully overpowered, she can wreck the game in no time flat.

[Puwexil]

The only way I've played the Saturn port of Symphony is on a real console, viewed through a real CRT screen. It doesn't mask its flaws to a degree that they would be excusable in the slightest. The transparencies etc. are still as good as broken, and the three-to-five-second pause for loading every time you enter or exit the menu (doubly distressing because the map has been relocated inside the menu screen) makes the game virtually unplayable to anyone who knows there are better alternatives.

[thernz]

Not to George.

[knightmere]

The Saturn version is my favorite. I love the new music, new areas and most of the new enemies. Sure there are some deficiencies, but I think the good outweighs the bad. If run on SSF, the game runs even better than on real hardware.  You can even get some of the transparencies back!  I also agree with Jorge that Saturn Maria is better than the dumbed-down DXC version.  I understand the decision to make her more like the RoB version. But Konami didn't even carry over all her subweapons.  Also that damn glitch with the Dragon is annoying as hell.

[Sumac]

I have played NITM only once and only as Maria. I kind of flew through the game and didn't payed much attention to graphical changes and all that. So, I don't have a definitive opinion, but I plan to play through it soon.
Though, I've heard NITM fixed several minor gameplay problems of SOTN, like giving Alucard "third arm" and adding ability to run in the Second Castle.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

It should be noted (it's 'Jorge' by the way, you'd think people'd get my name right after the years here) that:

-Since I've played through SotN to hell and back, I no longer look at the map.  However, I concede that it is true that it takes way too long AND is annoying to use the map feature.
-Also, since I pretty much play exclusively as Maria when I play this game, I no longer really have use for the pause menu's inventory, as it is not relevant to her game.  Also, I no longer need to look at the map for her game either.
-I'm not saying that the graphical issues aren't there.  What I am saying is that a lot of the people who find these issues more grating than usual, are usually people who are playing the game on an emulator, on a computer monitor, where the issues are even more apparent.  It is an unfair assessment.

I will concede that if I could play the Saturn SotN with the perks of the Playstation version (loading, better menu), I would be pretty happy.  And no, the DraculaXChronicles version is not that.  I want my crappy stages, overpowered Maria, and badly-dressed Richter dammitall.  It's about completeness!

Also, the Saturn version does the audio looping for the tunes properly.  No abrupt 'stop' moments while it reloads the XA Audio Loop.  It's a subtle thing but I notice it.

[beingthehero]

That reminds me. I wish they would've redone Richter's sprite in DXC. The new Maria sprite looked really good. ;_;

[Phoenix7786]

GOD do I miss playing DXC on my PSP. But my model 1 PSP screen cracked and I never got around to soldering on a replacement screen. I lack the money for that anyways.

[knightmere]

DXC feels like a band-aid to me. IGA made it to appease the fans who wanted to experience Saturn features, but it fell way short IMO.

[Dark Nemesis]

DXC feels like a band-aid to me. IGA made it to appease the fans who wanted to experience Saturn features, but it fell way short IMO.

The only Saturn experience was Maria and that was not what has been expected.

[VladCT]

To be honest, while some of you may enjoy the OP-ness of Saturn Maria, I felt that she had reached Mary-Sue levels of game-breaking and unbalancedness compared to the other two playable characters, enough to turn me off. The game was already easy enough with Alucard and Richter, why turn Maria into an "anything you guys can do, I can do way better" character? At least DXC-SotN Maria felt balanced compared to Saturn Maria, even if DXC-SotN Maria was more-or-less a carbon copy of RoB Maria save for a few differences.
Why yes, blatant unbalancedness is one of my pet peeves. Kinda implies creator favoritism, you know?

[Phoenix7786]

I was perfectly fine with DXC Maria too. I'd seen videos of her on the Saturn and I was a bit shocked with how much over-kill she had been designed with.