Akumajo Dracula X: Gekka no Yasokyoku

From Sega Retro

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Akumajo Dracula X: Gekka no Yasokyoku
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Konami
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code

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Akumajou Dracula X: Gekka no Yasoukyoku (悪魔城ドラキュラX ~月下の夜想曲~) is an entry in the Castlevania series released for the Sega Saturn exclusively in Japan in 1998. Western gamers know this game as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - the name the PlayStation 1 version of the game and all successive re-releases. It is a direct sequel to Akumajō Dracula X: Chi no Rondo for the TurboGrafx-CD and the second and final Castlevania game to be released on a Sega system, following Castlevania: Bloodlines.

Though it shares the same name, the Saturn version of this game contains various exclusive features including a new playable character (Maria Renard), new items, new enemies, and two new levels (Cursed Prison and Underground Garden). A third equippable hand is available for equipping usable items such as healing items. A Relic known as "God Speed boots" become available to Alucard halfway through the game and allow the player to move faster. Classic Castlevania music is remixed and a couple new tracks have also been recorded.

Unfortunately, the game was badly ported to the system. The PlayStation does not have a 2D graphics mode, instead relying on programmers to turn the 3D mode into a 2D one through the use of polygons and textures. The Saturn contains both 2D and 3D graphics modes, which can be used in conjunction with each other, however the developers of this game did not take advantage of it, forcing the Saturn to render it in the same method as the PlayStation.

The results of the bad port include, among other things, stretched graphics (The PS1 runs the game with a 256x224 screen resolution, while the Saturn goes for 352x240) and other distortions. There are longer loading times, and transparency effects in the Saturn version are also altered as the Saturn cannot handle alpha transparency while dealing with 3D polygons. It is believed that many of these issues could be fixed had the game been altered to play to the Saturn's strengths.

Physical Scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
85 №25, p81
92 №79, p86/87
70 №63, p95
94 №34, p64/65
Sega Saturn
85
Based on
4 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Ação Games (BR)
95
[1]
Consoles News (FR) NTSC-J
85
[2]
Consoles + (FR) NTSC-J
92
[3]
Edge (UK) NTSC-J
70
[4]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
80
[5]
Gamers' Republic (US) NTSC-J
83
[6]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-J
80
[7]
MAN!AC (DE) NTSC-J
88
[8]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-J
79
[9]
neXt Level (DE) NTSC-J
80
[10]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
77
[11]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
81
[12]
Sega Magazin (DE) NTSC-J
83
[13]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) NTSC-J
94
[14]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
73
[15]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
86
[16]
Sega Saturn
83
Based on
16 reviews

Akumajo Dracula X: Gekka no Yasokyoku

Saturn, JP
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Cover
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Spinecard
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Disc
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Inlay