GBA Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance: Visual Improvement (Hack) GBA

[RageBurner]

A tweak of Piggy-Chan!'s HoD color hack, made with permission.

Author(s): Pemburu Vampir
Version: 1.1
Date: 11th of August, 2025
Status: Complete
Source: https://romhackplaza.org/romhacks/c...ssonance-visual-improvement-game-boy-advance/

Download from Repo​

• Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance (Visual Improvement)

 

[Psxphile]

That nicoZ walk cycle really is quite the improvement (while still using the same number of frames?), hats off to the sprite artist.

 

[Hopper01]

As if it wasn't already confusing enough, with so little information about these variations this guy, Pemburu Vampir, adds even more changes to the animation? Will we see version 9.9.9? He doesn't explain the changes and at this point I have lost track... Is there any original animation option in this patch, changing only the colours (and whip)?

there was. but the walk animation is obsolete. so you won't find version with original sprites. Also I list down every changes in this page: https://romhackplaza.org/romhacks/c...ssonance-visual-improvement-game-boy-advance/

but if you want one with vanilla sprites, I can make one just for you
oh also there's a readme file in the zip in the site above, maybe that'll help.

 

[Moloch]

As if it wasn't already confusing enough, with so little information about these variations this guy, Pemburu Vampir, adds even more changes to the animation? Will we see version 9.9.9? He doesn't explain the changes and at this point I have lost track... Is there any original animation option in this patch, changing only the colours (and whip)?

 

[DrNilsson86]

Wow, damn. Looks great :D

 

[Hopper01]

Which one changes the blood color of the boss Legion (Fallen) from blue to red?
That's the important question right here.

All of the ones I released. it started all the way back in 2011 in my HoD Palette hack.

 

[lalalal]

Which one changes the blood color of the boss Legion (Fallen) from blue to red?
That's the important question right here.

 

[RageBurner]

Update 1.2.3 is live with big improvement

Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance Visual Improvement (Game Boy Advance) Romhack - RomHack Plaza

New visual hack based on Symphony of Dissonance by Piggy Chan! on RHDN (I got his permission of course) which was based on Pemburu Vampir’s previous Palette

romhackplaza.org

That looks excellent!

 

[Hopper01]

Update 1.2.3 is live with big improvement

Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance Visual Improvement (Game Boy Advance) Romhack - RomHack Plaza

New visual hack based on Symphony of Dissonance by Piggy Chan! on RHDN (I got his permission of course) which was based on Pemburu Vampir’s previous Palette

romhackplaza.org

Devilart's is very different, actually. The problem is there are not enough animation frames to make it really smooth.

 

[RageBurner]

Devilart's is very different, actually. The problem is there are not enough animation frames to make it really smooth.

 

[underhandwriter]

Here's Pemburu walking animation (Original):

Here's Devilart walking animation:

They're not much different, but it looks like Devilart's is closer to Alucard's animation in SOTN. I would go with your gut because I didn't even notice the difference until I played these back next to each other.

 

[CHEESE ENJOYER]

I replayed this over the last few days with this hack (updated the hack as the newer vers were released) and 100%'d the game for the first time. I thought that getting all of the merchant-only items was going to be a slog but really you can grind out the 80-90k needed at a 400g candle next to a room transition pretty quick which is the fastest way to make money in the game. The alternative whip graphic (with alternative spiked ball attachment instead of a weird low poly looking platinum block tip) was nice too.

 

[RageBurner]

Thank you for posting my hack here (I'm Pemburu but goes by many names lol). Currently version 1.2.2 is out due to me forgetting to implement some items descriptions from spiffy's Localization hack.

Allow me to say your hack is incredible. I'm not kidding when I say I was physically unable to play Harmony of Dissonance until I came across Piggy's hack and yours.

 

[Hopper01]

View attachment 100213

A tweak of Piggy-Chan!'s HoD color hack, made with permission.

Author(s): Pemburu Vampir
Version: 1.1
Date: 11th of August, 2025
Status: Complete
Source: https://romhackplaza.org/romhacks/c...ssonance-visual-improvement-game-boy-advance/

Download from Repo​

• Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance (Visual Improvement)

Thank you for posting my hack here (I'm Pemburu but goes by many names lol). Currently version 1.2.2 is out due to me forgetting to implement some items descriptions from spiffy's Localization hack.

Post automatically merged: Aug 24, 2025

A gorgeous recolor hack that made me feel compelled to complete this game for the first time, could never get into the original look, but this one was on point. A pretty fun Castlevania game, theres a nice variety of environments and combinations of secondary weapons with different spell books that create new attacks, its fun to experiment, weak sound but solid level design and controls. Not among the best of the saga but worth to play.

I'm glad it made you finish the game finally. congratulations! and thank you!

edit: your last screenshot surprised me with how good the chain can look

 

[Cloudberry]

How this compared to Symphony of Dissonance?

Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance: Symphony Of Dissonance (Hack) GBA ROM - RGT Repository

Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance: Symphony Of Dissonance (Hack) GBA ROM Languages: English. For the GameBoy Advance.

retrogametalk.com

 

[RageBurner]

I am trying to find the positive aspects of that alternative walking cycle. Are there any? Was this new walk cycle necessary? It's all very confusing.

It's all in the eye of the beholder, I guess. There clearly are not enough frames here to get the lavish animation from Aria of Sorrow, but some might prefer the new walk cycle. I personally think it's an improvement but it still doesn't look ideal.

 

[KenShjIN]

My most favourite Castlevania Game.Time to re visit

 

[Alcyone]

So many hacking improvements of this game. I will wait to the definitive edition that includes all-in-one hacks

 

[KeySpirits]

Honestly, the recolor is the definitive way to play this game. But it irks me that everybody seemed to agree that the blue aura surrounding Juste needed to go. Why? it was an amazing touch that made him seem like he was virtually quivering with power.

 

[Moloch]

I am trying to find the positive aspects of that alternative walking cycle. Are there any? Was this new walk cycle necessary? It's all very confusing.

 

[Nelson2001 Nelson2001]

Honestly it looks much better and graphically refined than the original, especially the sprites, scenarios and some others which gives it that great atmospheric touch that characterizes the Franchise itself and for more screenshots of the game there is the user called Goodnightmoon who shows all those differences in the visual section of the game.

 

[Goodnightmoon]

A gorgeous recolor hack that made me feel compelled to complete this game for the first time, could never get into the original look, but this one was on point. A pretty fun Castlevania game, theres a nice variety of environments and combinations of secondary weapons with different spell books that create new attacks, its fun to experiment, weak sound but solid level design and controls. Not among the best of the saga but worth to play.

 

[CHEESE ENJOYER]

Is it right for epileptics? x'd?

I don't think any of the flashing in the original game would be removed by this but the brightness to overcompensate for the original GBA's dark screen, the outlines of a lot of sprites were removed and I think these hacks improve on the "Definitive Edition" HOD hack from years ago which was just visual and not gameplay changes. The biggest ask for this game would probably be expanding the rom and having most of the music redone (the same compositions, just higher quality so they're all in-line with the quality of the entrance area music) with higher quality so it doesn't sound awful, but that's a lot harder than what's done by a recolor/palette hack.

 

[Erik Óptero]

Is it right for epileptics? x'd?

 

[RageBurner]

I prefer Piggy Chan!'s version, but Pemburu's is just as good looking. It really is a matter of personal taste, ultimately.

 

[JPZ]

Has anyone played all of the versions and have an opinion on which was visually the best looking?