Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Demo for Sega Mega Drive & Genesis Playing on Real Hardware & CRT

My Patreon:
/ pigsysretrogamedevtuto...

[@micky8ball]

I am just blown away. Growing up with genesis and playing bloodlines was a cool experience and always thought there will never be another castlevania for genesis but here we are DECADES later. I still can't believe it.

[@greyfox1127]

Just keeps looking better and better! Incredible the results you are getting from the Megadrive. Just looks and sounds amazing. Keep it up - can’t wait to play your latest demo. Great stuff!

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

Thanks! I hope everyone has fun with the demo

[@mikaelandersson1288]

@@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials Will there be a physical release?

[@rustymixer2886]

​@@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorialsI don't see demo rom link

[@jpvalverde85]

Hats off. Gets easy to forget that aint PS1 or Saturn but a Mega Drive, that speaks greatly of the work you are pulling together. Lovely!

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

It's hard work, but also fun to do :)

[@rustymixer2886]

​@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials great job, rom demo link?

[@Sithedd]

I'm liking the creative liberties you're taking. This doesn't need to be 1:1 and that's what I like about it. If we wanted to play PS1 sotn we have that so this is a new experience all on its own.

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

Thanks. I'm trying to maintain a balance of staying fairly closer to the original, while changing enough to make it a fresh and new experience that compliments the original. I hope it works out 🤣

[@Bird_Dog2099]

I couldn't agree more! Hoping that this can b like a twin brother in that it's extremely similar but w some of it's own features etc. Amazing Herculean effort from Pigsy to get it this far! You are truly a dev champion!

[@RGF]

Looking foward to this, i will bring it to my channel 4 sure

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

Looking forward to seeing it!

[@fishactivation5087]

It says a lot about the quality of this project when KZbin confused the Genesis cover of Dracula's Castle for the original PSX version of the song. Can't wait to play this demo!

[@AtariBorn]

It's amazing how far you've come in the last year. At this rate, next year you'll be half way through your expansion pack lock-on cartridge that adds the upside-down castle and Richter! 😉

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

Haha, thanks. Hopefully the pace of development will continue to increase as I get more and more used to programming for the hardware

[@loutre_retro]

I'm impressed by the work done and by the console, which, despite its age, still has plenty under the hood.

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

The console has continually impressed me with it blast processing power :)

[@felix-ve8jk]

The Sega Genesis is the only console I've had since childhood that still works flawlessly. Never had to do anything to it.

[@Retro5k]

This is really cool! It's been a while since I last saw this project, so I'm amazed at the progress that's been made!

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

It's been hard work, but very satisfying to do :)

[@GreyMatterShades]

Awesome as always. I ordered a Mega Everdrive Pro back in November, so hopefully it arrives in time for me to play this! I can't think of a better way to break it in. Keep up the awesome work, and I hope you have a very happy and relaxing holidays!

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

Good choice! there are plenty of great CD game to play too. I'd like to do a CD version of this game eventually

[@WRZ75]

Would love to see a CD version or even just the Mega Drive Rom version that utilizes CD audio from the Mega CD@@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials

[@GreyMatterShades]

@@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials Yeah I'm looking forward to getting to try out some Sega CD games. Really hoping Sega CD gets added to SGDK so that we can start seeing more indie games made for it. That hardware has a ton of untapped potential! If you did a CD version of SotN, would it just be for the enhanced soundtrack, or do you have other features in mind? If your patreon really takes off, maybe you could commission an animated intro complete with QTE's! 😁

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

Just music and sfx to begin with, maybe scaling rotation later. An animated intro would be great, but likely out of reach@@GreyMatterShades

[@Guitario666]

Fantastic work as always. Love the direction you are going with on this.

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

Thanks, I think it's shaping up nicely

[@mlodszyczapnik7684]

Hey, have you ever seen "Mega Turrican" for Mega Drive? This game actually somehow pulled off sprite rotation and scaling! Really impressive game for the system from the technical standpoint!

[@samaeldrakul4191]

need a visual on hit damage of enemies with axe or sword, couldnt tell you were damaging bosses or axe knights, the bloody zombies are superb love his stun lock on hit n death animation 🎉 beautiful! really nice work ❤❤ i like the gargoyles but agree a colour swap to match the stone/statue gargoyles would look better, love this project i cant believe how similar the style is to the 32bit psx version! and arguabley improved upon in some areas, big fan of death mini boss section 🎉🎉 a truly masterful demake 🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

I really like what Pyron did with the death section too. Regarding hit indications, I might add a little sprite later, but there is a "hit" sound (which may be hard to hear in this video)

[@vividimaginer]

I just find it so amazing and encouraging that we're all here chomping at the bit each time there's an update on this project. Thank you for providing that, to say nothing for the eventual game itself

[@GimblyGFR]

This looks amazing. Thank you very much for your work on the game and the videos. I was wondering how it would look on a CRT, and it does not disappoint at all. I really can't wait for the demo. Something that you might consider for a future demo is adding a little palette swap on the sprites to simulate a red flash when a hit is detected. If I recall correctly, in the original game the sprites did turn red for a second when they got hit. Even if this is not the case, the impact of a weapon on a character would have a little more punch with the flash. I'm looking forward to the annual review of incoming games. Once again, thank you very much.

[@MegaJimZero]

It's extremely impressive that this is running on real Genesis/Megadrive hardware.

[@airic21]

WOW great job loving the new area and enemies :) thx for all your hard work

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

You'll see more enemies and rooms in the demo next week :)

[@GINTegg]

Extremely impressive work! It's been great to see this project continue to advance every time I check up on it.

[@DezorianGuy]

I think you definitely need to add some sort of hit response to all enemies that move. Good job in general. Keep it up🎉

[@rancyheyglades1751]

Omg, I don't think I've been this excited for Christmas since waiting for Santa… The new elements look great and seeing everything with the enemy AI really just brings this to another level!!! Thanks so much again for everything you’ve poured into this!

[@oraculonerd]

Amigo.. desculpe escrever em português , mas está incrível o trabalho de vocês. Parabéns a todos os envolvidos. Tudo muito perfeito

[@thehumbleone1983]

Agree looks great

[@JMFSpike]

Unbelievable! You've come a very long way. There are obviously limitations with the Genesis, but the graphics to some degree look just as good as in the PS1 version! The size and look of Alucard and the enemies look pretty much identical. Even the music somehow manages to be fantastic despite the downgrade. I would think that the ROM size would gigantic (for a Genesis game) I know this will probably never happen, but it would be amazing if you could get Konami and Sega's approval and release it on cartridge as an officially licensed product. Just imagine, an official Genesis game in 202? (whenever it comes out)!

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

A nice dream, but I don't hold any hope that it'll ever happen. I'm just enjoying the process of making the game, I'm not thinking further than that

[@JMFSpike]

@@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials Makes sense to me. I'd say good luck with the rest of the game, but I honestly don't think you need it. You clearly have all the talent in the world.

[@KaskelotenZebbe]

Great job! It really shows you've done a tremendous amount of work on the game already. Can't wait to try out the demo!

[@PixelCherryNinja]

Great stuff 😮 We're all looking forward to the demo and the game.

[@CamberGreber]

Very Impressive. You really nailed the Handling and Timing of the Moves. WELL DONE.

[@sparkyAR]

fantastic work!

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

🙏

[@igodreamer7096]

Nice callback for the Saturn version, Pigsy brother! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@jbmaru]

Awesome! Thank you and Happy Holidays!

[@erikaleao3012]

wow, this is truly incredible, we are witnessing a great feat, thank you ^_^

[@thommccarthy1139]

Amazing work! I'm a web dev looking to get into some game dev on the side and you're an inspiration. Going to start fiddling with the C dev kit.

[@briancarlton9251]

What you've accomplished is simply mind-boggling, sir. It's inspiring; keep doing what you're doing!

[@Existensmaximum]

Mind-blowing! Count me in as a new patreon, Sir!

[@zeromusura3497]

Looking incredible! I can see the polish from previous post! Keep the awesome work!!!!

[@NostalgiaDigital]

Amazing work, glad to see more, music sounds amazing!

[@augustusvonwatts555]

This is amazing. Thanks for all the videos showing your dev process

[@PrimoHidrux]

Music sounds amazing, cant wait for a soundtrack

[@redrum0127]

nice to see some NITM stuff! this is gonna be a great xmas gift, thanks for all your hard work.

[@truthByFire]

Looking great! Very, very impressive work.

[@BaneKing57]

Thank you for your work

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

You're welcome

[@RickyMcSpanish]

Super impressive!

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

🙏

[@EdgleyGames]

Very cool! Fantastic! AWESOME!!!!

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

🙏

[@lancelnce]

This is looking really amazing. Merry Christmas

[@locadoradaraimundinha2024]

Great Job 🎉Awesome. ❤

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

🥳

[@joesaiditstrue]

looks great, guessing this will never have an actual inventory system or rpg mechanics?

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

No, I want to keep things to the simpler, 16-bit Castlevania style

[@kizzagaming6523]

I'm assuming axes will get more damage and the health of the knights will get lowered and stuff ? Edit : Forgot to compliment you, it looks great :)

[@LosLibrosNosHacenLibres]

This is so amazing! I can't wait to see what you will be able to do in 2024. Keep going with the great job! 💪💪

[@breakpack]

Incredible work! My Mega Everdrive Pro is here and ready for the demo!

[@govir1979]

First of all I want to congratulate you for the incredible work you are doing. It fills me with pride and emotion because of the love that many of us have towards pixels and retro things.Especially for SEGA, you already have my respect, I have been following the project since you started it and I can't wait for you to finish it. I'm looking forward to it, and in its cartridge format.Which by the way will be glory and my best wishes. Check who is in charge of the music? Anyway, I wanted to emphasize these words to you, the truth is that I am becoming more and more surprised. Greetings from Argentina 🇦🇷

[@mikewiat]

Very nice, really like to see a final build of this. I'll play it for sure, (even the demos) Symphony of the night a true classic! So for it to be on a Genesis/Mega Drive it'll even be more classic.

[@SCIN]

está ficando incrivel parabens Pigsy's, quero fazer uma pergunta, muitos inimigos parece faltar reação ao ser atacado ou morto ou é impessão minha? aos 6:37 apos derrotar o inimigo de armadura ficou algumas coisas estranhas na tela, isso é o que?

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

For many of the enemies we haven't had a chance to implement the death animations yet, that will come later. 6:37 is just the result of a VRAM bug which I will try to fix.

[@SCIN]

Thanks for the answer@@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials

[@felix-ve8jk]

This is going to be so insane, man. Well done so far

[@di380]

The graphics, music, sound effects, animations and background all look great and very faithful to the original.. one thing I alike to point out that I noticed is some of the enemies when hit lack impact effects even if you successfully hit the enemy there is no way of knowing

[@garshanarny]

Have you thought about trying to include some kind of interpretation of Alucard's personal quarters at the top of the Outer Wall? I've read it was a feature excluded from the released game, but intended to be a room that the player could sort of decorate by collecting items, or something like that.

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

I read about that too, but I'm not sure if I will do that or not. The original content is already so much to handle!

[@garshanarny]

@@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials oh so there is a limit to your ambition! 😀

[@rustymixer2886]

​@@garshanarnyhe probably will do it xmas 2024

[@Bird_Dog2099]

Alucard's Man Cave lol

[@rustymixer2886]

@@Bird_Dog2099 😆

[@mikaeldannenberger6]

Just...wow...what an amazing job and dedication, truly impressive work man 💪👍👍👍👍 Hope you'll be able to deliver the "full experience" one day...We hardly strive for it ;)!

[@ConsoleCombat]

If a candle drops a sub weapon that’s the same as your current one, the games will typically drop a large heart. Looks great btw

[@simonissad]

Keep up the great work! Its insane how much progress you have made!

[@eduardovinicius2302]

Magnificent!

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

Thanks!

[@traashghost]

god this is amazing! you've already made so much

[@malvessidrums]

Such cool project

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

Cheers!

[@JinzoCrash]

Wow. Knew about the guy enhancing a version for PC, but didn't know someone was doing a Genesis one as well lol. Nicely done!

[@nobresenhor6228]

Looks great

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

👍

[@raycastello2532]

Impressive 🤩

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

🤩

[@squidjam]

Whoa! My best guess is that if you could swap your assets for original ones and create an all original map (you and the team with you have the talent for it) you could sell your game, and I think many of us would be... interested in this 😉

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

I actually already have an idea for a brand new game similar to SotN. Once the work on SotN and GG Shinobi both get to a more advanced stage then I'll begin to do some serious work on it.

[@RedLP5000S]

Magnificent work. So much progress. ✌🏻🇺🇸

[@Alianger]

Can you talk a bit more about your plans for handling character and level progression next time? Gear, abilities and transformations, leveling (I think you said it won't have that), order of the areas visited and if there will be branching paths like in CV3 for example. Great to see the boss fight and the more advanced green knight behavior especially!

[@joaoclodoaudo5385]

Thank you for doing it! You have some serious skills!

[@analog_ape]

Superb!

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

🙏

[@lagartoconruedas1169]

Impresionante como progreso este proyecto, sigue así !!!

[@kawamikazecheant]

Amazing work and nice choice of console as this one got a great palette like seen with Bloodlines, this game was so beautiful, I did play a very little to SofN due to the fact it was a Metroidvania, but I would definitely check your demake 🔥

[@kawamikazecheant]

SotN*

[@skins4thewin]

This is quite amazing! What exactly is going on w the screen transitions tho? The character isn't even fully walking thru the entrances/exits to rooms before appearing in another room. It's a bit jarring. How come he's not fully walking out of a room to transition to another? Just a little strange is all. But man, this really looks to be shaping up to be something special! Amazing work my guy!

[@drakonolus7922]

Gorgeous, i can't believe it. ..... Still a lot of working to do i guess, but it's looking phenomenal !!!!!

[@DjDreamcastle]

Big strides! Very happy to see this project coming along.

[@guillaumenunes9319]

Oustanding, I can't watch everything because I don't want to be spoil about the demo ^^ Many congrats, fantastic !

[@michaeldougherty6036]

Amazing work in squeezing this down to something that runs (and runs well) on the Genesis. I wonder how much headroom you'd gain for things like memory if you were targeting hardware like the Sega-CD or 32-X, or even the full "Tower of Power"?

[@jessicarie-tp6ti]

"festival of servants" sounds so good.

[@TwistedIdentity]

I would have absolutely lost. my. marbles. if this was on the Genesis back in the day. Holy shit.

[@flink1231]

What a great update! Thanks for sharing and for keeping the project going! One curiosity: does the original and/or the ms version implement that little stop when either player or enemy is hit? I can't for the life of me remember on the original and on md there seems to be a either a very small one or none?

[@erinbuck129]

Time for me to buy a Mega SD cart for my Genesis. Impressive!

[@w4lsh]

Looking excellent, and fwiw, I like the gargoyles coloured orange.

[@chrisbrannigan6210]

Amazing. Looking forward to loading this up on the everdrive on the CRT!

[@ronch550]

Wow this is awesome. I hope it gets completed someday, maybe next year.

[@PlumbDrumb]

Even muffled as it is, via this footage, the music sounds top notch!

[@bravo1oh1]

dude amazing! you are wizard status!

[@HitrisonMusic]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

🔥🔥🔥🧯🧯🧯🤣

[@Fesaru75]

Work in progress my friend ! I aprechiate this result, i m waiting for more ! You have a Link for a playable demo ? Thx !!

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

Next week's video

[@icuric4077]

Excellent level design.

[@HugeVar]

Amazing, one of the best games ever, and now on one of the best consoles ever. Great and awesome job guys.

[@cherokeefit4248]

I’m not a sega fan but this is pretty cool. It’s hard to envision sega’s ability for the whole soundtrack

[@BocaRetroGames]

Its just incredible 🎉

[@brunch1572]

Pigsy, I love the project. I have always watched your update videos on it and I always will. I also follow along on your SGDK tutorial videos which are also great. I don't want to be a source of any discouragement to you but I really must say this. I wish you would try to more faithfully recreate the original work. Symphony of the Night is a masterpiece, it is the Mona Lisa. There is nothing wrong with adding all the changes you want to make to an optional alternate mode. But I thing the true appeal of this project is seeing how close the Genesis version can get to the original version, along with hearing the great FM synth versions of the songs. Please don't be offended.

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

No problem, I understand where you are coming from. Unfortunately, for me personally, doing a straightforward demake which tries to follow the original doesn't hold much appeal to me. The original already exists and is great, so trying to imitate that as closely as possible just doesn't interest me too much. I'm a huge fan of both the 16-bit action style Castlevanias as well as the later metroidvania ones, but a metroidvania version of SotN obviously already exists, so I don't see the need for another. While there are plenty of hardcore Mega Drive fans out there who might even prefer a version on that console, most people would just prefer to play the PS1 version. Creating a Rondo of Blood style one on the other hand will act as a nice compliment to the original game. Thanks for the support in spite our differences in the direction of the project, it's much appreciated :)

[@xtlm]

3:43 Just a warning for headphone users. The TV whine or something comes through very high/loud pitch.

[@sb6482]

wow. after all that work that it looks like a megadrive game. mind blowing.

[@phillipfaile3122]

Yes!!!! You did add elements from the Saturn version! I love that! I asked. But, I don't think you responded

[@hadesmcc]

This is looking awesome!

[@jogadorrabugento2509]

Awesome. This is incredible. 😍😍😍

[@firstdegreehurrdurr9532]

Awesome. No disrespect to anyone working on the game, and Inglebard in particular, but when this eventually comes out I can't wait for an MD+ patched version so the original Michiru Yamane soundtrack can be used with this port.

[@tayloroc1]

When someone asks me what game I am looking forward to the most, I tell them Castlevania: SotN on Sega Genesis/MegaDrive.

[@G-zeus_M]

Me: This castle is different than I remember it. Pigsy : ......... This castle is a creature of Chaos. It may take many incarnations. Me: So I can't trust my memories, huh? Oh well, I'll do my best. Good luck.

[@tursilion]

Astounding work. Genesis does, it seems! ;)

[@nintendo4life132]

Amazing progress so far. There's a little bit of glitch in the game