harmony harmony known japan officially translated midnight sun platform adventure video game developed published game boy advance belonging video game series second installment series game boy advance released japan june north_america september europe october game called japan instead occurs fictional universe series premise series centers eternal conflict vampire hunters clan immortal vampire set years curse focuses grandson quest rescue kidnapped childhood friend produced intent ing game similar symphony night critically acclaimed playstation game worked harmony sold units united_states huge hit japan critics praised entertaining game improved graphics compared predecessor circle moon criticized soundtrack january harmony released north_america later europe aria sorrow double pack gameplay makes use scrolling style gameplay similar previous video games objective game lead player character monster filled castle searches kidnapped friend castle consists layers castle structurally castle room layout monster types items aspects vary versions later player use special warp rooms castle rooms castles castles share connection example destruction wall castle cause change game divides castle named areas shrine example relics keys found castle allow reach previously inaccessible areas makes use forward dash causes forward short burst speed unique ability collect furniture bare room finds castle certain circumstances affect ending primarily attacks close quarters series traditional whip weapon vampire killer attacks reminiscent usage weapon super variety ranged sub weapons holy water dagger holy book cross gem axe thunder available carried given time combined spell books hidden castle create magical attack casting spell renders player character invincible moment makes use elements found role playing games defeating minor enemies bosses experience points level statistical requirements met increase statistics hit points damage character receive dying magic points affects cast magical attack strength power physical attack defense reduction damage taken enemy intelligence strength magical attack luck determines rate items dropped enemies certain relics affect statistics increases defense points example equipment form weapon modifications armor accessories found scattered castle contribute statistics occasionally enemy drop item killed items bought game money merchant appears places castle additional modes unlocked game player required complete game fight bosses game order number bosses depending level difficulty selected requires player finish game best ending allows player control maxim unlike maxim equip items use weapon finishing best ending option listen music game plot setting characters takes place years ended curse result battle villagers changed opinion family producer explained simon regarded life people started look hero little little people started gather village formed grew environment childhood friends protagonist primary player character grandson descendant age sixteen gained whip injured best friend sets rescue kidnapped childhood friend exploring castle encounters merchant castle death servant story meets maxim castle held captive brief talk leaves maxim outside begins explore castle castle encounters death confirms castle meets maxim memory slowly returning split cover castle ground castle notices castle different meets maxim times friend change personalities periodically regardless meetings maxim reveals went journey find destroy remains previously collected memory went blank encounters death explains castle split layers accommodate spirits living maxim body original spirit evil created remains suppressed jealousy maxim later confirms admits meets friend layer castle reveals lost memory protect gives help locate castle finds death kidnaps use blood means unite castles destroying maxim spirit defeats death proceeds search maxim way remains scattered castle center castle finds maxim unconscious endings exist maxim possessed maxim defeat escapes collapsing castle inability save friend second maxim struggles possession urges kill final moments thanks killing reveals wished save fate outside castle awakens unharmed tells blame maxim death ending begins fight maxim notices wore possession flees weakened form gathered remains fights planning use blood return power escapes castle maxim bite marks disappear time regains consciousness outside castle resolve return home development produced developed harmony second installment video game series game boy advance predecessor circle moon developed different studio began game development intention making installment series shared similarities previously worked character designs designed characters harmony departs usual structure series resurrected member clan sets defeat favor plot takes place incorporates changes fusion spell system replaced dual card system introduced circle moon graphics controls improved production time aria sorrow result share similar programming engines gameplay elements originally slated mid june release released september released japan june north_america september europe october published october north_america audio june published circle composed soundtrack creating additional stage music later noted quality music sacrifice graphics game notes tracks circle moon tracks harmony reception united_states units sold japan considered huge hit metacritic assigned score gamerankings gave time release received positive reviews english language critics gamespot commended fine game better game boy advance games come gamespy stated despite harmony quality adventure represents best attempt brilliance worrying loss originality franchise noting harmony copies symphony night gamepro called fun action game fine game right improved graphics especially backgrounds effects multi bosses received praise reviewers called plentiful visually stunning notch soundtrack game received critics panned music easily worst soundtrack muddy reminiscent days channel nes soundtracks conversely gamespot found music decent occasionally fitting catchy failed live high expectations series ign felt bad songs aren nearly nice past adventures reviewers disliked lack difficulty gamepro describing game biggest flaw criticism included predictable easy boss battles smaller area somewhat compelling map design retrospective reviews critical game considering harmony disappointing titles series impressive titles retrospective critics cited dull castle design frequent switching castle layers game biggest flaws criticized inclusion possessed ally element previous titles game easier gameplay player character badly animated occasionally environments looking series ign concluded harmony shows decent visuals mid generation game paved way strongest title aria sorrow game informer felt design best despite having worst music series harmony released north_america january aria sorrow games contained single game pack appeared europe later year picked ign game boy game month january
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance