Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

 Game Boy Advance
  • Publisher: Konami
  • Release Date: May 6, 2003
User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 242 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 219 out of 242
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 242
  3. Negative: 10 out of 242
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  1. RyokenI.
    Mar 23, 2008
    10
    Brilliant! If you like super metroid, wonderboy 3- dragons trap, and of course SOTN, you will love this to pieces. Exploration, platform gaming, rpg and collection game (think pokemon) this game should appeal to a broad audience, the only possible fllaw being it''s difficulty level... too easy. But with a bit of creativity, you can even devise a challenge game (try beating it Brilliant! If you like super metroid, wonderboy 3- dragons trap, and of course SOTN, you will love this to pieces. Exploration, platform gaming, rpg and collection game (think pokemon) this game should appeal to a broad audience, the only possible fllaw being it''s difficulty level... too easy. But with a bit of creativity, you can even devise a challenge game (try beating it with one kind of weapon, or no armor!) 38/40… Expand
  2. KevinS.
    Jul 3, 2003
    10
    This is my favorite Castlevania game, and one of my favorite GBA games. The AoS's graphics are some of the best I've seen for GBA. The story is great, the music is awesome and the Action/RPG style cant be beat! This is probably the best Castlevania game ever!
  3. ZeroLayer
    Jul 29, 2003
    10
    It's the first Castlevania game I got. And I'm hooked. Great graphics, tight controls and incredibly addicting.
  4. AZWification
    Dec 16, 2010
    9
    Castlevania was a great franchise and it still a great one!The GBA got so far the best Castlevania games EVER!Aria of Sorrow is a action-side scrolling game where you control Soma Cruz(the hero).The graphics are not very colorful, but they are very realistic for the GBA!The tunes aren't bad either!The gameplay is great, you discover a lot of good things, you unlock endings, is just one ofCastlevania was a great franchise and it still a great one!The GBA got so far the best Castlevania games EVER!Aria of Sorrow is a action-side scrolling game where you control Soma Cruz(the hero).The graphics are not very colorful, but they are very realistic for the GBA!The tunes aren't bad either!The gameplay is great, you discover a lot of good things, you unlock endings, is just one of the best Castlevania games EVER!If you don't like this game, that means you don't like video games!Well, this game is not perfect, but very enjoyable!MUST BUY!… Expand
  5. Matseb2611
    May 18, 2011
    10
    After having played more than a dozen of Castlevania titles, I think Aria of Sorrow is still my favourite. The game takes place in the year 2035, many years after Dracula's defeat, but now Dracula's power is about to be reborn in a new dark lord candidate. You play as Soma Cruz, a student who found himself in the castle and realises that he has the ability to steal the souls of theAfter having played more than a dozen of Castlevania titles, I think Aria of Sorrow is still my favourite. The game takes place in the year 2035, many years after Dracula's defeat, but now Dracula's power is about to be reborn in a new dark lord candidate. You play as Soma Cruz, a student who found himself in the castle and realises that he has the ability to steal the souls of the monsters after defeating them. With this soul system the player gets access to an enormous variety of secondary attacks as well as permanent buffs. Just like with Symphony of the Night, the player is not limited to only one weapon, but can use a lot of different weapons he/she finds throughout the game, ranging from swords, to hammers, to spears, and even to guns. Also just like SOTN, and the other GBA Castlevania games, this is a Metroid style Castlevania, meaning the whole game is like a one huge map, where certain parts can only be reached later in the game after acquiring a certain ability or an item. Aria of Sorrow, despite having rather simple GBA graphics is a very beautiful and stunning looking game. The level design is fantastic, and the soundtrack is just as beautiful, complementing perfectly with visual beauty of the game. The controls are easy, making it convenient to control your character, and the game has just about a perfect level of difficulty, without it seeming too easy or too frustrating. There is literally nothing bad I can say about Aria of Sorrrow. The only thing I think SOTN has over it are the graphics.… Expand
  6. frankzhang2046
    Nov 11, 2019
    10
    My favorite video game of all time. The movement is incredibly responsive, music is amazing, the system is intuitive. Overall the flow of the game is so good that I've played this game at least 20 times in total yet still goes back to revisit it from time to time.
  7. ylnylmn
    Aug 7, 2021
    9
    I can say that I like it more than SOTN. Level design, items, gaining abilities when killing enemies,balance of difficulty, boss fights, dialogues between characters, the value of the money we collect. In many ways I liked it better than SOTN. The playing time was pretty good too. Not as long as SOTN. I was bored at the reverse castle in SOTN. But I was not bored in Aria. The soundtracksI can say that I like it more than SOTN. Level design, items, gaining abilities when killing enemies,balance of difficulty, boss fights, dialogues between characters, the value of the money we collect. In many ways I liked it better than SOTN. The playing time was pretty good too. Not as long as SOTN. I was bored at the reverse castle in SOTN. But I was not bored in Aria. The soundtracks and voiceovers were very good at SOTN. And SOTN was the forerunner of metroidvania. Aria has been a beautiful metroidvania thanks to SOTN.. So I rate Aria and SOTN equally. By the way, you have a way to hell Medusa head!!… Expand
  8. camptownrangers
    Sep 5, 2015
    10
    Far, far superior to Symphony of the Night.

    This game nails down every aspect of good design, from the great design of the castle to the unparalleled soul collection system that keeps the game perpetually fresh and damn fun.
  9. Michael
    Mar 11, 2008
    10
    This is by far the best platforming 2D adventure game I've ever played. I'm shocked that Circle of the Moon has a comparable score to this game since by comparison, Circle of the Moon is a bit of a mess. I'd recommend this game to anyone with a DS or a GBA.
  10. Lucif3r
    Oct 3, 2019
    10
    My favorite Castlevania and GBA game ever made.
    The soul system gives good replay value and the castle layout is very good. Very well made game.
  11. QuatokyTonberry
    Feb 21, 2019
    6
    Gameplay: - Normal
    Story: - Very Bad
    Visual: - Normal
    Music and sound: - Good
    Average time: -6 H
    Score: - 6
  12. [Anonymous]
    Apr 4, 2004
    10
    This game is incredible. Live and die by that saying, "Third times a charm".
  13. Death
    Nov 19, 2004
    10
    It is the best of all GBA titles.
  14. RobertL.
    May 31, 2004
    10
    This title is easily worth twice the purchase price. Awesome powers+awesome weapons+challenging baddies=Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow.
  15. AbdullahA.
    Jun 1, 2003
    10
    The game is so good....i can't stop myself in collecting spirits and increasing the level....but there is still places i didn't discover so far...but in general the game worth a deep play.
  16. RaphaelR.
    Jun 29, 2003
    10
    The first time i finished it the ending was bad but i found out that this game has 3 endings beating chaos is the best ending and having the chaos ring equipped. note:graham is not the last boss.
  17. JohnL.
    Jul 9, 2003
    10
    This is way better than other Castlevania games.
  18. RobertB.
    Aug 12, 2003
    10
    Aria of Sorrow is one of my favorite games on the GBA because you can get a bunch of abilities through souls from monsters you defeat, the graphics are better than HOD, and it's real fun to play. AOS overall is fun game that you'll keep playing for years on end.
  19. AzizK.
    Sep 22, 2003
    10
    I Think It Has To Be One Of The Best Ever Games On A Nintendo Console!
  20. Max
    May 1, 2004
    10
    I was proud to get a sore neck from staring at the little screen for hours playing this supurb game.
  21. NathanI.
    Apr 28, 2003
    10
    Tight game.
  22. D.J.
    Jun 26, 2003
    10
    The only bad part is totally finishing it.
  23. ChrisR.
    Mar 13, 2004
    10
    Just as good as Symphony of the Night and my favorite GBA game. It is truly a great game.
  24. Manny
    Mar 17, 2004
    10
    The best of the gba castlevanias and thats saying a lot. An A class game all the way.
  25. Soma
    Sep 29, 2004
    10
    A true classic that combines the best of gaming, and the best of sound. Amazingly addicting as well. Buy it now.
  26. ShawnC.
    Jan 23, 2006
    10
    I love it! It has great game play and amazing graphics!
  27. RidleayRomero
    Nov 30, 2018
    10
    I love Aria of Sorrow. The game is so much fun to go through that it's almost impossible to get everything in just one single run of the game. Great music, great gameplay, great boss fights. The game is practically flawless.
  28. AD421
    Aug 27, 2011
    8
    Aria of Sorrow offers players gameplay that will never go stale. It's honestly just a fun game. The only downside is story but when has Castlevania ever been about story? The bosses are fun and the soul collection was a nice addition to the series. It's very friendly for newcomers to the series as its a pretty easy game. New Game+ offer more hours of fun and keeps replayability pretty high.
  29. Redreal
    Sep 17, 2012
    8
    Best Castlevania I've personally played since SOTN. The soul system is really fun and creative. Graphics and music were ok...couple of catchy tracks, nothing like SOTN but this was made for gameboy so meh Story was hella cheesy though, although major twist at the end if you "equip the right souls.
  30. celtqy
    Jun 18, 2013
    8
    Really good game for GBA. Really good tight controls. Really stupid story. Really nice and fleshed out animated style. Really overkilling on the amounts of weapons and spells. Always fun to carry this one around.
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best Game Boy Advance Game of 2003
8
#8 Most Discussed Game Boy Advance Game of 2003
2
#2 Most Shared Game Boy Advance Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. eToychest
    100
    With all of its unique features and amounts of item/soul collection, Aria could be considered second to only one other game in the Castlevania series – the masterpiece, "Symphony of the Night."
    Read full review
  2. GamePro
    90
    A superior GBA adventure in every respect and a marked improvement on "Harmony of Dissonance." Still, it is another "Symphony of the Night" clone—if you’re feeling a little sick of the same ol’ thing, this game may be the breaking point.
    Read full review
  3. Play Magazine
    90
    As transfixing and hand-drawn inspired as any Castlevania before it, or any game for that matter, even if it does lost some of its hold on the handheld platform. [June 2003, p.56]
See all critic reviews »