As close to perfect as a console game has ever been, no Castlevania, before or since, has matched SotN.
Graphics: Simply put, the Playstation seldom sees 2D graphics of this quality. Amazingly animated, SOTN sports many of your favorite Castlevania monsters in ways you could have only dreamed about just a few short years ago. Even from the opening flashback to the end of perhaps the definitive Castlevania title, the PC Engine-only Dracula X, you quickly see just how far the 2D envelope was pushed when Dracula morphs into one of his more 'monstrous' forms. Alucard himself moves extremely fluidly, and with an ethereal quality that simply had to be painstakingly done by Konami's talented art department. 3D objects appear every now and then (the save coffins, the clock tower in the background, etc.), but their existence is only aesthetic, as this is a 2D game through and through (in the case of the coffin, 2D would have looked much cleaner). All-in-all, SOTN is a small miracle in today's 3D-dominated world, and that's a game where its 2D graphics are so fluid, so impressive, that its effect on the onlooker is nothing short of jaw-dropping...
Sound: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night also shines in the aural department. The music is among the best heard in a game, as I personally would rank it among the top ten or so game soundtracks of all time. Ranging from rock guitar renditions of classic Castlevania tunes, the usual moody orchestral music and much, much more (Hey, is that a harpsichord?), the mix is as eclectic as it is mood-setting. Music has always been used to set the mood, to expand upon the environment, and in this case, Konami succeeds brilliantly. Sound effects are also good, as you'd expect them to be. All the slashes, groans, growls, etc. sound like you'd expect them to. The touch of ambience included in some of the music tracks also add to the overall effect and atmosphere. Voice is also used throughout the storyline, and while it is of course of a high level of quality, the voice acting talent itself could have been chosen a bit more carefully. While it's not as bad as say, Resident Evil, it ranges from melodramatic over-acting to wooden with no in-between. That said, that alone is not enough for SOTN to lose a well-deserved perfect score in the sound department.
Gameplay: The first thing you'll notice upon beginning Alucard's quest, is that this is not your usual Castlevania title. More closely resembling Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES), or to be quite honest, Super Metroid (SNES), SOTN sprinkles the tried and true play mechanics with a good many RPG elements. The ability to equip multiple items (weapons, armor, items, etc.), level up to gain strength and the ability to purchase potions, maps and other items, even conversing with the occasional NPC (namely Maria), are all typical to RPG's and their addition to the Castlevania formula results in a game that's very much more than the sum of its parts. Dracula's castle and the catacombs underneath are a huge area to navigate, requiring some time in the early going (you'll soon open warp portals to speed your quest later), and as such, the map is invaluable as far as finding areas you have yet to explore (again, they took it straight out of Super Metroid). The thing is that to unlock certain areas, you'll need to acquire items or abilities. Indeed, the true challenge in SOTN is not only defeating Dracula, but being able to explore the entire castle, both normal and inverted. And lest you think all this will be a tedious chore, let me assure you that controlling Alucard is a small pleasure in itself. While his movement is very fluid, he controls wonderfully, and while it will be second nature to any Castlevania fan within movements, the additions of certain spells to Alucard's repertoire make mastery a bit more involving. And for those who would rather control a belmont, Richter is selectable later on by code, although the going is considerably tougher for him. Konami could not have delivered a more complete experience.
Theme: As I stated previously, few series, let alone games, have as much draw upon the average gamer. Most people grow up with the so-called 'classic monsters,' monsters such as Frankenstein's monster, the mummy, the wolfman and of course Dracula. There are characters immortalized by cinema, and ingrained into our popular culture. What Konami basically does is take these characters, throws in the clan Belmont and weaves them into a gaming experience with a decidedly Japanese flavor. Basically it takes the best of both, puts them in an atmosphere all their own, and makes a game that is second to none in the genre. You would think that the appeal of Castlevania would have died down a bit in 15 years, that Konami would have dropped the ball somewhere in the series, but instead, you get the best that Castlevania has to offer, and indeed, the true sequel to what is arguably the best Castlevania title ever, the PC Engine-only Dracula X (and no, the SNES version is not a direct port of that title...I wish).
Overall: While I refrain from calling Castlevania: Symphony of the Night the Playstation's best game in the face of games like Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid & Xenogears, I must admit that if I was forced to choose but one, it may very well be it. I will say that it is an amazing title in all aspects, and sadly, as things seem to be unfolding, perhaps the last 2D Castlevania title. The latest two Castlevania games, both on N64, have been in 3D, and to be honest, quite lackluster. As fate would have it, the only other known Castlevania title in development is also in 3D, this time for Dreamcast, and while I can only hope it can recapture in some small way the splendor that is SOTN, one has to suspect that the inherent problems with the titles is that they are not 2D, which is the soul of the series. If you want a post 16-bit title that is truly Castlevania, there is only one route to take, and that is Symphony of the Night (or the Saturn import version known as Nocturne in the Moonlight, which actually has a couple of extra areas and a playable Maria).
Final Grade: 96%