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A game so amazing that it created its own genre

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is a landmark title, not just for the series, but for gaming. It is the first game in the series to add exploration and RPG elements to the usual Castlevania formula. As a result, a new genre was born: Metroidvania! It's called this because it takes the exploration (and map) of Super Metroid and combines it with Castlevania, resulting in something truly amazing. Exploration is the perfect fit for Castlevania, and this game proves that fact.

SotN was released for the Playstation in 1997. It was developed and published by Konami. It's the first game in the series to not star a Belmont family member. You play as Alucard, Dracula's son. It's also the first game in which you don't use a whip, but rather, swords and other weapons. And of course, there are no levels, but instead, one huge castle to explore. The Super Metroid-style map is very useful in figuring out where you've been and seeing where you can go.

The game actually starts with the final stage from Castlevania Rondo of Blood; you have to fight Dracula as Richter Belmont. Luckily, Dracula moves very slow and is easy to defeat. The introduction then happens and you are introduced to Alucard (who was actually in Castlevania III as a playable character). The game has voice acting, but it's pretty terrible. Luckily, there's not much of it throughout the course of the game.

Alucard can gain levels by defeating enemies and can also equip weapons and armor. You can set items to the circle button or use a shield. While it can't block everything, the shield is very helpful against simple enemy attacks, such as flying bones or fireballs. As you expolore throughout Dracula's castle, you'll find swords, armor, and items which will be useful to your adventure.

Thankfully, the game does not hold your hand. No tutorial is given. Nothing is explained. You are left to figure everything out for yourself, but if you're familiar with Super Metroid or any other exploration-based game, you won't worry about it. It's simple: you want to explore every inch of the castle. Each location is unique and distinct, and feels very Castlevania-like due to the detailed backgrounds and enriching music.

All of the Castlevania enemies we're familiar with are here: skeletons, medusa heads, knights with spears, ghouls, fish creatures, and tons more. The typical weapons are also in the game, which you can use by pressing attack plus up. Candles and lanterns decorate the halls, waiting for you to break them and grab hearts. So the game still feels like Castlevania, but a lot has been added. You'll want to stay on top of your equipment, making sure Alucard has the best armor and weapons equipped at all times.

In the Ancient Library, there's an old man who will sell you items and weapons. You'll want to come back to him often to buy valuable armor, weapons, and items. Throughout the game, you'll find items called relics, which are objects that can help you by enhancing your abilities or doing something special in the game. You will be unable to access certain areas until you get specific relics, such as the "Jewel of Open," which opens sealed blue doors, or "Leap," which allows you to double jump. You can turn these relics on or off in the menu, but it's best to keep them all on.

You can also learn certain spells and perform them by doing button configurations. For example, "Dark Metamorphosis" will heal your HP a little when you kill enemies. These spells are useful, but are hard to find. With armor, weapons, items, relics, and spells at his disposal, Alucard is one powerful dude!

Be prepared to do a lot of backtracking as you figure out which areas you've yet to explore. The castle is so huge that it's easy to miss a door, but later you can see it on the map and go back. Sometimes you'll reach a certain area only to find it blocked by a wall with a switch on the other side. Later in the game you'll reach that other side and bring the wall down, connecting the areas. There are also a few warp points, which can instantly transport you to the other side of the castle (very helpful).

Save points are scattered throughout the castle and are indicated as such by the red rooms on the map (whereas the rest of the map is blue). Save points are not just valuable for saving your game, but also for restoring your HP to max health. I found myself sometimes being killed by typical enemies as I made my way through the castle, so save points were very important! The bosses in the game are not difficult, and sadly, not very interesting. They can be beaten easily and quickly due to the fact that you have weapons, items, and spells to use.

I loved exploring Dracula's castle! From the Marble Gallery to the Ancient Library to the creepy Cavens beneath the castle, each location was interesting and unique. You just never know what's waiting for you around the corner or in the next room. There's plenty of things to find, including max health bottles (which increase your max health) and powerful weapons. Exploration is king in this game, and that's why it's the best part of the game.

But perhaps there is one thing that's better than the exploration, and that is the music! SotN boasts one of the most impressive soundtracks, using real instruments and incredible melodies. The songs vary to fit the mood of the location. The Ancient Library sounds very regal and scholarly, while other tunes use electric guitars and sound hardcore. The entire soundtrack was composed by Michiru Yamane, which is very impressive for one person to pull off! Castlevania always has awesome music, but SotN may be the best soundtrack in the series.

Final Verdict--5 Stars: Awesome!

SotN is still hailed as the pinnacle of the Castlevania series after all these years, and I can see why. It truly is a masterpiece of a game. Sure, they stole the formula from Super Metroid, but it's a perfect fit for the series, and they made it feel unique in a creepy horror setting. Exploring the large castle is enjoyable and fascinating at the same time, and the music is simply amazing. I could not recommend this game more! It's available on Xbox Live and PSN, so unless you hate Castlevania, this is one game you need to experience. With no major problems, SotN is a flawless game, which ironically, follows in the footsteps of Super Metroid.

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