Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance

 Game Boy Advance
  • Publisher: Konami
  • Release Date: Sep 16, 2002
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
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  1. G4 TV
    100
    A title that further refines the portable "Castlevania" lineup to perfection.
  2. Play Magazine
    100
    The epitome of what a handheld title can aspire to - a game you pray as you play it will never end. [Aug 2002, p.72]
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  3. GameNow
    100
    One of the best handheld Castlevania games ever produced. Enthralling from start to finish, it's easily on par with "Castlevania SotN" for the PSOne. [Oct 2002, p.52]
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  5. GMR Magazine
    100
    One of the best reasons to own a Game Boy Advance. [Feb 2003, p.97]
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  6. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    97
    And I thought "Circle of the Moon" was good. HoD out classes it (and every other GBA game to date). Konami condensed everything that's so great about "Symphony" into a hand-held game. [Oct 2002, p.206]
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  7. Game Informer
    95
    Harmony isn't a title any GBA owner should miss. [Oct 2002, p.94]
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  8. Pocket Games
    95
    If it weren't for the crummy music taking away from the experience, this might be the best 2D Castlevania yet. [Spring 2003, p.26]
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  9. IGN
    92
    This game trounces the original in almost every way, making the adventure a much more fun and ultimately more satisfying adventure.
  10. Game Over Online
    92
    Dissonance, in its detail, execution and style truly transcends its platform and for now, it's the best seat in the house for a trip to eerie Castlevania.
  11. GamingTrend
    92
    You could certainly play through this game again and get a good bit of fun out of a repeat, despite the fact that it takes roughly 12 hours to beat the game.
  12. Into Liquid Sky
    91
    The best game for the GameBoy Advance? Absolutely.
  13. Yahoo!
    90
    Clearer, brighter visual presentation is the biggest difference between Harmony of Dissonance and "Circle of the Moon." Although the graphical quality is pretty much the same, Konami made everything bigger and went with a brighter colour palette.
  14. All Game Guide
    90
    It's like being able to play "Symphony of the Night" in the back seat of your parent's car, but with all new levels and some nifty new features.
  15. TotalGames.net
    90
    The feeling of satisfaction when everything locks together like a giant jigsaw puzzle is enormous. Despite its flaws, this is a fantastic slice of gaming.
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  16. Nintendojo
    89
    Valid proof that "coming up short" can still translate into "a hell of a lot of fun."
  17. GameSpy
    87
    Does a good job of capturing the basic flavor of "SotN's" gameplay. Indeed, almost all of the special moves you can obtain have been lifted directly from Symphony.
  18. Games Radar
    86
    Thankfully, the whole thing is also infinitely better-lit than previous outing Circle of the Moon, which means that playing it without industrial-strength lighting overhead is now an option. [NGC]
  19. netjak
    85
    Plays like a second rate Symphony of the Night unfortunately. Still a must though!
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  20. Nintendo Power
    84
    The system is simpler, but the action is just as exciting and the areas are even larger. [Sept 2002, p.168]
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  21. GameSpot
    82
    Boasting better visuals and lots of gameplay, Harmony of Dissonance is not just a fine Castlevania game--it's also one of the better GBA games to come around in a while.
  22. Cincinnati Enquirer
    80
    Beautiful graphics, special effects and a compelling storyline inspire the latest "Castlevania" adventure for the Game Boy Advance.
  23. My Gamer
    78
    A worthy successor.
  24. Nintendophiles
    75
    A very, very good game and definitely worth a purchase. It's just a disappointment compared to the sheer greatness that was "Circle of the Moon."
  25. GamerWeb Nintendo
    75
    Not as good a game as "Circle of the Moon" when all is said and done. Yes, it's generally easier on the eyes, but the somewhat dull level layouts, constant backtracking, awful music and colorful style hamper the Castlevania experience.
  26. GamePro
    70
    You'll likely beat the game in a matter of hours, and while there are some cool unlockable modes to explore afterwards, the low challenge factor is really kinda disappointing if you're a diehard fan of the series.
  27. Thunderbolt
    70
    Falters where others have persevered, the weak link in the trio that make up the Castlevania GBA series.
  28. N-Insanity
    58
    Konami really put too much effort into "improving" the graphics engine (and ruined it in the process) while ignoring the other, possibly more important aspects of the game.

Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Best Game Boy Advance Game of 2002
7
#7 Most Discussed Game Boy Advance Game of 2002
20
#20 Most Shared Game Boy Advance Game of 2002

User Reviews

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User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 114 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 87 out of 114
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 114
  3. Negative: 4 out of 114
  1. Matseb2611
    May 23, 2011
    7
    Harmony of Dissonance is a good game, but compared to Aria of Sorrow it easily falls down in my opinion. The strongest points perhaps are theHarmony of Dissonance is a good game, but compared to Aria of Sorrow it easily falls down in my opinion. The strongest points perhaps are the really atmospheric feel, a pretty good and intense story, and very easy control of the character. The game also introduces a system of collecting elemental spellbooks, which combined with the usual subweapons (cross, holy water, etc) give an entirely different special attack, depending on what book is equipped, giving a diverse gameplay. Similar system is later used in Castlevania: Lament of Innocence. Also the good ol' flexi-whip from Super Castlevania IV is back. You can hold the attack button and to move the whip in all the directions as opposed to only attacking forwards. The story as I mentioned is fantastic, one of the best in a Castlevania game, because it is mysterious and gets the player gripped. The atmospheric feel of the game certainly adds to that. Now where the game falls down. There are some minor issues, which can be annoying at times but aren't so bad. Those are the low difficulty, a strange glowing aura around the playable character, and also being forced to backtrack through entire stages at some points of the game. However what I disliked the most about Harmony of Dissonance was its soundtrack. Castlevania games usually have fantastic soundtracks, but I felt that this one was a real disappointment. I hardly heard any music in it, it was just a low quality noise, unfortunately. In my opinion slightly better than Circle of the Moon, but is nowhere near as good as Aria of Sorrow.… Full Review »
  2. nitorita
    May 22, 2021
    6
    In a word, Harmony of Dissonance is mundane. It's not bad, but it's not great either. Just don't expect too much.

    Like Symphony of the    In a word, Harmony of Dissonance is mundane. It's not bad, but it's not great either. Just don't expect too much.

    Like Symphony of the Night, this sequel features a dual map system, albeit not as meaningful as the inverse map. You are essentially given more bosses to fight, most of which are not particularly difficult (especially if you abuse potions). Save points are infrequent, which means being forced to play safe so you don't waste time retracing steps. On the plus side, you are provided with a dash ability right from the beginning, which helps quicken the game and offers the player a powerful dodge mechanic.

    The game demands a ridiculous amount of backtracking without providing any indication as to where to go. The insane rarity of the merchant increases the game's overall difficulty, as the game is balanced around you buying potions to survive. The story is practically nonexistent as well, and there are practically no secret rooms to explore, which is disappointing. If you decide to play this game and get stuck, don't hesitate to spoil yourself with a map to get an idea of where to go next, as you will more than likely end up wasting hours revisiting the same areas.

    Overall, not a memorable experience. Go ahead and skip this game as you will not miss out on anything.    … Full Review »
  3. tiberiotavareze
    Jan 9, 2021
    7
    My rate for this game: 7.5


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