As a fan of metroidvanias I figured it was about time I actually played through a Castlevania game. I couldn't have chosen a more perfect title to get the experience I was seeking than with Symphony of the Night (SOTN). Where as most earlier games in the series were more traditional side-scrollers this game introduced the idea of greater exploration and back tracking when finding new powers. Created at the end of the pixel art era the visuals are to die for and there is an equally enchanting accompanying soundtrack. I honestly get a little worried playing older titles but SOTN holds up very well both in gameplay and aesthetics. If like me you didn't get the chance to play this game when it came out over twenty years ago there is no time like the present.
In SOTN you start with a playable flashback of the the legendary battle in which Richter Belmont took down Count Dracula. Skip ahead to the present day in which you take control of Alucard, Dracula's son born from a human mother. Alucard returns to pay his dad a visit after the tragic loss of his mother. As you explore the castle you meet Maria Renard who seeks to find out what happened to Richter after his defeat of Dracula. The story is perfectly suitable but doesn't play a major in the experience. Like many games of this era it is the gameplay that takes the spotlight.
SOTN is a fairly traditional side-scroller that sees Alucard going from room to room fighting enemies while navigating various platforms. The controls many not be as instantly intuitive as more modern side-scrollers but you'll fairly quickly adjust and it is a real treat once you get the feel of things. Many rooms will have you jumping from one platform to the next while also taking on a wide array of monsters. You have many different weapons you can find with varying speed and range. Weapons along with armor you find will help improve your stats which also increase as you level up from defeating your foes. The game can get challenging at times but the ability to grind up levels and or search for better gear really helps the game feel very well balanced.
Although the gameplay is great Castlevania SOTN really shines as a complete package. What I mean to say is that it is a combination of the gorgeous 16 bit visuals, the superbly catchy soundtrack, and the fluid gameplay come together to make something magical. Originally released on the original PlayStation which is more well known for bringing 3D visuals to the mainstream SOTN's graphics are quite a contrast. After years and years of 8 and 16 bit games clearly the technique had been mastered and the PlayStation lifted restrictions that may have previously held back on the scope of the color palette. The other star of the show is the rocking soundtrack. The music is wonderfully diverse from dark and heavy rockers to intense classical piano tunes.
I only had a sliver of an idea of what I was getting into but boy was this Castlevania SOTN a real treat. The gameplay is very solid of a challenge without ever feeling too difficult. The visuals take you back to the height of the 16-bit era. The soundtrack delights with a vast array of catchy loops. I will say the the gameplay twist at the halfway of the game does seem a little silly but the remixed enemy placement does help keep the second half of the game from feeling too repetitive. The ability to transform into two different animals helps with navigating the stages but I do wish Alucard could get around a little faster. These small critiques aside this is an experience I would highly encourage fans of this wonderful genre to try so they can better appreciate its delightful origins.