⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)

You need orchestral audio or don’t enjoy “what-if” fan projects.

If you somehow got your hands on a mysterious, unlabeled black cartridge claiming to be Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for the Sega Genesis, don’t question it — just play it.

The only real downside is the missing Maria mode and some cut content (RIP the intro voice clip), but for a Sega Genesis “demake” that shouldn’t exist, this is a masterpiece of retro imagination. If you love Symphony of the Night and also love the aggressive sound and feel of 16-bit Sega hardware, track down this impossible gem.