Castlevania: Symphony of the Night launches on iOS and Android

Anytime someone ranks the best video games ever made, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night consistently sits near the top of the pile. Now, gamers can take the PlayStation 1 classic on the go with the new iOS and Android ports of the game.

Both titles are similar in construction and execution. The title retains the gorgeous pixel art aesthetic of the PlayStation original. The gameplay is also carried over from the PSX release with no new additions, areas, or enemies. 

While the iOS and Android version of Symphony of the Night have an option for an on-screen virtual gamepad, the title is compatible with Bluetooth controllers. Keep in mind that iOS 13 brought support for PS4 and Xbox One controllers, so iPhone gamers have more options than the handful of MFi controllers on the market. 

There is a new “continue” feature that will allow gamers to save and load their game as needed, even when away from a save point. Similar features have been incorporated into other retro titles, notably Square Enix’s ports of the original 2D Final Fantasy games. 

Android gamers should note that Konami instructs Pixel 4 users to turn off that phone’s Smooth Display feature. This suggests that the Android port may not work well with high-refresh-rate displays, so other high-refresh-rate phones like the OnePlus 7 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus may experience similar issues. 

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is available on iOS and Android via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, respectively, for US $2.99. At that price, this legendary adventure is an outright steal. 

Curiously, it’s unclear if Symphony of the Night can be installed on Huawei phones, considering the Chinese phone manufacturer is still blacklisted by Google’s Android services.