Topic: What's with all the hate for Saturn SotN?

[Lumi Kløvstad]

I loved what they tried to do with the Saturn version, but I'll admit to the imperfections in the finished result.
I wished they'd ported the additions in a much more polished fashion to the DXC version.

Maybe we'll get a 20th anniversary version of Symphony of the Night next year that finally brings the best of both the DXC and Saturn versions to a single release.

Not likely, but we can hope.

[zangetsu468]

If it weren't for the high price and exclusivity in Japan, I think more people would be fond of this version. Sure the slowdown and load times would hold it back for ppl, but it's still be loved by more I beleive. Any Saturn owner should add it to their library if they have the money.

I'd like to add the following points:

1) An opinion can't be formed on price because cost is relative to economy and supply and demand. If you buy the unit when either the economy is good or when the supply = high and/ or demand = low, then you won't have this problem. People fucking LOVE RoB but never complain about the fact it costs a lot. People love other CV games yet don't complain they cost a lot. (look them up on Ebay) Get over it people, cost is not a flaw to the game.

2) An opinion can't be formed on Japan exclusivity because RoB is too and people fucking love that game.

3) An opinion can't be formed on the game having more content making it a lesser game. Sotn was unfinished when they released it, no matter how good the game was it did feel slightly incomplete from a design perspective. The new areas do not take away from what is already there, they're giving the player additional content for free plus 2 additional boss fights (the Maria fight being canon) and more music as well as additional items - one of which allows Alucard to run... How is this a bad thing exactly? (Rhetorical) Given that the new areas are also optional having them in the game does not detract from the original game itself should the player choose to ignore those areas. For anyone saying it makes accessing areas of the map too easy etc, that's grade A bs, I've played the game and the player is still restricted to certain areas when playing as Alucard. Additionally the added tracks are a critical part of the soundtrack imo. The new castle entrance for Maria/ Richter as well as the cursed prison add a lot to an already stellar OST.

It can be slammed for lack of polish compared to its predecessor, the map being hard to access, the graphical issues, specifically 3d and transparency, the slowdown also lets the game down considerably.

Obviously by critics and reviews at the time it hasn't lived up to its predecessor in terms of polish, however, that's not necessarily the sentiment I feel among the hardcore fans, specifically not in the CVD.

[Crying Freeman]

I'd like to add the following points:

1) An opinion can't be formed on price because cost is relative to economy and supply and demand. If you buy the unit when either the economy is good or when the supply = high and/ or demand = low, then you won't have this problem. People fucking LOVE RoB but never complain about the fact it costs a lot. People love other CV games yet don't complain they cost a lot. (look them up on Ebay) Get over it people, cost is not a flaw to the game.

2) An opinion can't be formed on Japan exclusivity because RoB is too and people fucking love that game.

3) An opinion can't be formed on the game having more content making it a lesser game. Sotn was unfinished when they released it, no matter how good the game was it did feel slightly incomplete from a design perspective. The new areas do not take away from what is already there, they're giving the player additional content for free plus 2 additional boss fights (the Maria fight being canon) and more music as well as additional items - one of which allows Alucard to run... How is this a bad thing exactly? (Rhetorical) Given that the new areas are also optional having them in the game does not detract from the original game itself should the player choose to ignore those areas. For anyone saying it makes accessing areas of the map too easy etc, that's grade A bs, I've played the game and the player is still restricted to certain areas when playing as Alucard. Additionally the added tracks are a critical part of the soundtrack imo. The new castle entrance for Maria/ Richter as well as the cursed prison add a lot to an already stellar OST.

It can be slammed for lack of polish compared to its predecessor, the map being hard to access, the graphical issues, specifically 3d and transparency, the slowdown also lets the game down considerably.

Obviously by critics and reviews at the time it hasn't lived up to its predecessor in terms of polish, however, that's not necessarily the sentiment I feel among the hardcore fans, specifically not in the CVD.

1.) On the price point, I meant that people might say "I can pay $30 or so for the PS1 version that runs and looks better, or over $100 for this one that runs worse and has load times galore". There are a lot of people nowadays that complain about game prices, saying a game like the Order should've been $15 or so because it was 5 hours long. I'm not saying I agree with that at all (I actually scratch my head when people go crazy about prices of games like the Order because it still has AAA production values).

2.) True, my bad. I was aiming more at maybe if it was released in the US or PAL territories back in the day, but looking at that again, the Saturn wasn't popular outside of Japan anyway. The way I said it technically did mean "It's Japanese only, so that makes it worse", and I don't think that way at all. Tons of people love importing their games and playing games despite being in Japanese only.

3.) My bad  In my head I was thinking more like "Oh, this isn't ported that well, it has slow down and worse graphixez?? This fuckin verziun ain't gud cuz of dose thingz!!", not that more content made it worse. If I actually thought more content equalled worse, I'd need some help lol. I remember HVGN made a SOTN vid where he criticized the Saturn version for it's shortcomings and quickly brushed over the extras as just a few extras. Note to self: Proof read before saying anything online or through text lol

On a side note, some of the lesser known features are things I love: The running with Alucard, the new items and the three hands (makes sense  ), which makes using items WAY better; keep two weapons equipped, but here's a third one for using your items. Beats pausing to select your item, then have one weapon out if you need to keep the item. Honestly, I don't think I could go back to the PS version easily.

[zangetsu468]

@CF Just wanted to point out I wasn't trying to prove you wrong
I also agree that 3 hands = a much easier system.

Also the map being accessed via the menu was only a result of the Saturn not having a select button. Highly customizeable controls could have avoided this not bring at the touch of a button.

[Crying Freeman]

@CF Just wanted to point out I wasn't trying to prove you wrong
I also agree that 3 hands = a much easier system.

Also the map being accessed via the menu was only a result of the Saturn not having a select button. Highly customizeable controls could have avoided this not bring at the touch of a button.

No problems, man! I have to admit the map through pausing does piss me off a bit, but hey, they had little choice on that gamepad

[FeRcHuLeS]

How come, I like it a lot playing with Maria and another Richter's costume and fast Alucard there is no reason to hate it, ahhh I've just figure out why people hated because they couldnt play it since they dont have one you know the Sega Saturn.

[Lumi Kløvstad]

Fast Alucard

I'd almost totally forgotten that. That's like the reason to prefer the Saturn version right there.

[FeRcHuLeS]

The fast boots I mean, among any other items or stages too were great, I mentioned fast Alucard because I hated pressing backdash repeatedly to speedrun the game.

[Shiroi Koumori]

I just came back from my trip to Akihabara and price wise: ROB>Ssotn. But still both games are bloody expensive.