Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance

GMR Magazine

One of the best reasons to own a Game Boy Advance. [Feb 2003, p.97]

GameNow

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]

G4 TV

A title that further refines the portable "Castlevania" lineup to perfection.

Play Magazine

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]

Electronic Gaming Monthly

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]

Pocket Games

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]

Game Informer

Harmony isn't a title any GBA owner should miss. [Oct 2002, p.94]

Game Over Online

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.

GamingTrend

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.

IGN

This game trounces the original in almost every way, making the adventure a much more fun and ultimately more satisfying adventure.

Into Liquid Sky

The best game for the GameBoy Advance? Absolutely.

TotalGames.net

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.

Yahoo! Games

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.

All Game Guide

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.

Nintendojo

Valid proof that "coming up short" can still translate into "a hell of a lot of fun."

GameSpy

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.

Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

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]

netjak

Plays like a second rate Symphony of the Night unfortunately. Still a must though!

Nintendo Power

The system is simpler, but the action is just as exciting and the areas are even larger. [Sept 2002, p.168]

GameSpot

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.

Cincinnati Enquirer

Beautiful graphics, special effects and a compelling storyline inspire the latest "Castlevania" adventure for the Game Boy Advance.

My Gamer

A worthy successor.

Nintendophiles

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."

GamerWeb Nintendo

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.

GamePro

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.

Thunderbolt

Falters where others have persevered, the weak link in the trio that make up the Castlevania GBA series.

N-Insanity

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.