On Reflection

This is totally brilliant. It was totally brilliant when we reviewed it, and it’s totally brilliant now and to be honest, there’s nothing else like it and even if there was, it would most likely be smelly old tramp pants when compared to this. Just do yourself a favour; download it, bathe in its retro beauty and enjoy its sublime role-playing, platformish wonderment.

The Score

You’ve got to laugh really. Microsoft’s 360 allows you to download a classic PlayStation hit, before Sony’s PS3 has even had a chance to offer it on its own download service.

Still, we’re not going to laugh at Sony’s misfortune for two reasons: 1) It’s probably still smarting from loosing the exclusive on Devil May Cry 4, and 2) we’re having way too much fun slaying weird and wicked beasties in this superb arcade adventure.

Granted, it lacks the immediacy of other Xbox Live titles, but by goodness is Symphony Of The Night good. Beautifully paced and with the sort of gothic visuals that would scare Marilyn Manson, this is yet another superb conversion from Digital Eclipse and is a bargain at just 800 paltry points.

Taking on the role of Alucard (if you can’t work out what that’s an anagram of then you shouldn’t be allowed to breath) your aim is to defeat Dracula before he can plunge the world into darkness. You’ve an insane amount of weapons to use, spells, and even the ability to change form in order to achieve your seemingly impossible goal and you’ll love every second of it. It not your traditional Live Arcade title, but that just makes the experience all the sweeter. Buy it, erase your GamerTag and then buy it again. It’s the only way to ensure that future titles like this get a chance of reaching the masses.

9 out of 10