Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Review

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night faced a lot of competition when it came out all the way back in 1997. Not only would it inevitably be compared to previous Castlevania games, but it would also be compared to each and every entry in the crowded field of 2D sidescrollers.

However, its developer Konami needn’t have feared. When it came out, many crowned it the best of the Castlevania games, and possibly even the best of the 2D sidescrollers.

But, does the game still hold up over 20 years later? Let’s break it down.

A New Hero Rises

The focus of most Castlevania adventures has been on the Dracula-hunting Simon Belmont. And when you first boot up this game, you might think you’re getting another Belmont adventure.

However, the beginning of this game is actually the end of another game, Castlevania: Dracula X. Once you get past that, you are introduced to your actual protagonist.

His name is Alucard. If you’re bad at palindromes, I’ll spell it our for you: “Alucard” is “Dracula” backwards. This character is actually Dracula’s son.

This means you get different powers and abilities than Simon Belmont ever had. Overall, this helps the game feel fresh even to experienced Castlevania fans.

Touch of RPG

The original Castlevania games were platformers. And this one is, too, but Konami throws in many RPG touches that change things up.

You actually have a level system, inventory management, and the ability to transform into different creatures as you progress through the game. And this synthesis is part of the game’s secret to success.

It’s difficult for any game to be two genres at once. But this game adds just enough RPG sauce to be interesting without detracting from the platforming fun, making it immensely engaging.