Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Review

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

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

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

A new hero arises

The centerpiece of most of Castlevania’s adventures was Dracula hunter Simon Belmont. And when you start this game for the first time, you might think you have another Belmont adventure.

However, the beginning of this game is actually the end of another game, Castlevania: Dracula X. Once you pass it, you are introduced to your true protagonist.

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

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

Touch of RPG

The original Castlevania games were platformers. And that is too, but Konami adds a lot of RPG touches that change things.

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 secret of the game’s success.

It is difficult for any game to be of two genres at the same time. But this game adds enough RPG salsa to be interesting without detracting from the platforming fun, making it immensely addictive.