Castlevania Dominus Collection Has One Glaring Omission

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Castlevania Dominus Collection Has One Glaring Omission

Key Takeaways

  • Castlevania Dominus Collection will collect important games from the series, but sadly it is missing Symphony of the Night.
  • Symphony of the Night remains absent from Nintendo platforms, causing an imbalance for franchise fans who prefer to play on Nintendo consoles.
  • Though this collection is still promising, Symphony of the Night’s exclusion is undoubtedly disappointing.

As a long-time fan of the Castlevania series and a proud owner of various Nintendo consoles, I find myself both thrilled and disheartened by the release of the Castlevania Dominus Collection. On one hand, it’s fantastic to have three more classic titles from my favorite franchise available on modern platforms. However, the absence of Symphony of the Night, a game that I consider the pinnacle of the series, feels like a cruel jest from the gaming gods.

Among the many exciting unveilings during the August 2024 Nintendo Direct event was the presentation of the long-awaited Castlevania Dominus Collection. This compilation, which includes three games initially exclusive to the Nintendo DS, is a significant addition to both the Castlevania series and Metroidvania genre lore. The Castlevania Dominus Collection marks the final assembly of the “Igavanias” under the guidance or production of series architect Koji Igarashi, who later spearheaded Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Alongside the Castlevania Advance Collection, it brings together nearly all of Igarashi’s contributions to the Castlevania franchise. However, one notable absence remains – 1997’s Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

One half of the Metroidvania portmanteau (along with the game that inspired it, Super Metroid), Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is arguably one of the greatest PlayStation titles and somehow the one game in the franchise that has yet to appear on a Nintendo console. PlayStation owners have the version of the title collected in Castlevania Requiem, but this is an altered release of the game that changes aspects of the original (and not necessarily for the better). Considering how important Igarashi’s work is to both the Metroidvania subgenre of action platformers and the Castlevania franchise, it’s high time that Symphony of the Night joined the rest of the Castlevania series on all platforms.

The Launch of the Castlevania Dominus Collection Is a Big Win for Series Fans, With a Catch

The freeing of the three Nintendo DS-era Castlevania titles from their exclusivity on a dead console is cause for celebration among Metroidvania fans. Not only do these titles represent some of Koji Igarashi’s best work on the franchise (including the highly underrated Order of Ecclesia), they join the rest of the Castlevania series on modern consoles and PC as an important example of game preservation done right. That said, the inclusion of the original Haunted Castle and its remake instead of Symphony of the Night is a bit of a head-scratcher.

Currently, there’s a difference in access to certain Castlevania titles between Xbox/PlayStation users and those on Switch or PC. While all modern Castlevania collections (Anniversary, Advance, and Dominus) are available across major platforms and PC, Xbox users can play the Xbox 360 version of Symphony of the Night, which was originally released on PlayStation (and later ported), whereas PlayStation users have access to the altered version included in Castlevania Requiem. It’s surprising that while all 2D era Castlevania games are now universally available, many consider the best game in the series, Symphony of the Night, to be missing from this collection.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Deserves Better

Many Metroidvania games can be found on both PlayStation and Xbox platforms, but a significant number of players often prefer these games on handheld devices. This preference is evident in the ongoing success of the Metroidvania genre on both the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck. Given that the Castlevania series is now accessible on a handheld device, it seems natural to expect Castlevania: Symphony of the Night to also appear on PC or Switch. However, surprisingly, this game has yet to be released on these platforms.

The three contemporary collections of the “Castlevania” series boast bonuses worthy of legendary status (including original English, PAL, and Japanese versions, museums, galleries, music players, etc.). It’s surprising that “Symphony of the Night,” a game renowned for its excellence within both its franchise and genre, hasn’t been given similar treatment. Even though it might not be included in the “Dominus Collection,” “Castlevania: Symphony of the Night” deserves a standalone release, encompassing the original PlayStation and Saturn versions, every regional edition, and digital collections showcasing its iconic artwork, music, and character models.

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2024-08-31 14:04