Love at first bite!
This game is up there with the best of them. I did not get to play it originally on the tg16 cd when it was released, but I did later play the SNES version through the magic of emulators.
The graphics on this remake are great. The levels look fantabulous. The animation is smooth and without framerate issues. The music is classic castlevania, aka @#$@# awesome.
The new character Maria is cool, her special attacks are especially effective, but for me, you can't keep a good Belmont down. Richter is the man. I could've actually done without his new backflip move when you tap jump twice. When you're in the middle of some especially tense platforming it was all too easy to accidentally backflip your a$$ right to death. Still once you get used to it, it occasionally comes in handy and you can usually keep from doing it when you don't mean to.
Unlocking Symphony of the Night was a bit of a let down since I already purchased it on PSN and the version on the disk doesn't give you the option of full screen (there is a border around the edge of the screen). Having the original Rondo of Blood though was great. The SNES version that I was acquainted with was great, but I love the nostalgia value of the original. And if you think the remake is tough, I found the original to be even harder, I have not completed it yet.
If you like Castlevania I am probably just preaching to the choir, but if you don't, give it a chance! In fact, first go back and play the one where it all started and see if you don't fall in love at first bite!