Castlevania has never been as complete and large and addictive as in Symphony of the Night.
SOTN is one of those rare games that keep you going for a long time because you know you've never really finished it 100% (or, in this case, it's 255%). You'll start the game and immediatly enjoy the cool graphics and the oh-so-amazing-it-brings-tears-to-my-eyes music, including the character's voice.
You start as Richter Belmont in the last level of the previous Castlevania (don't ask me which one is it, I really don't know) and face Dracula right away. After that, the real story begins.
You actually play the whole game as Alucard, Dracula's son (gee, notice the name resemblance?), which I understand had something to do with previous Castlevanias. As a vampire, Alucard has some cool powers that the vampire hunters lack, making the game far more interesting. So now you can become a bat, a wolf and turn into fog. Now don't you drool on the keyboard yet... you have to earn those powers, along with a lot more (some of them you MUST get in order to advance in the game). Alucard gets help of the lovely and extremely pale Maria (she helps you more than you'll know, trust me) and a new set of friends called Companions. Companions are little flying... things, that go around Alucard in the game and help him in many ways. You have the Fairy companion that cures him from wounds and poisons, or the Sword Companion that aids him in battle, etc. etc. Of course, you have to find those Companions through the game.
Alucard levels up in the game, becoming stronger every time he hits enemies. This leveling up is aided by the countless weapons and shields he can find in the game, along with more countless items and throwing weapons. I'm not sure you can do this from the beginning, but almost every weapon has a special attack. For example, if you press down, down-forward, forward+attack, the weapon could do something special that causes more damage. Of course you have to find out what the movement is, because not all weapons react to the same movement.
In addition to the Hit Point Alucard has (that grow every time you level up), Alucard has Magic Points that allow him to perform dark magic. This is new to Castlevania too, I guess. As you can see, Castlevania is absolutely rich in the damage department.
The game is divided in levels, but in an original way. Every new room you enter is a new level, and enemies will be sensibly stronger, thus killing you instantly or, if you're good enough, helping you raise levels quickly. At the end of every level, there will be a Boss waiting for you.
Aaah... bosses... I must say they're a LOT smarter than Megaman bosses, and far more detailed. Maybe the first ones are easy to kill, but as you advance, you'll need some tactic and mind control to beat them.
Music is something that deserves a whole new paragraph. It blows your mind. It is amazing, it helps create a great scenario, and it can make your blood boil and make you charge your character like some transylvanian William Wallace. Every level has its music, and every music suits perfectly to the level. Some of the songs are so cool that I just enter the level and sit back just to listen to it. One of the things that make this Castlevania so addictive is exactly this: the ambient it creates for you.
As I said earlier, it is extremely complicated to finish the 255% of the game, so the replay value of this game is great. Not only because of that; the game is so cool by itself that you'll replay it just because you want to.
WARNING!!!!! TEENIE SPOILER AHEAD!!!!!! (um... it helps you get that 255% and play the whole game, though).
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When, as Alucard, you reach the room where you fought as Richter, you'll face the "final" boss, which I won't say who it is. By beating him, you'll get an ending of the game. This is the worst ending you could possibly get. By doing some other things, you'll get to fight something else rather than that boss and get access to the second half of the game: the Inverted Castle. That's right, a whole new inverted Castlevania with enemies far stronger and new Bosses in almost every level.
I won't tell you what you have to do to get access to this, but I'll give you a couple of hints: it has something to do with two rings that seem to do nothing and the Clock Tower. That's all, everything else you'll have to find for yourself. If you need help with that, though, just send me a message.
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TEENIE SPOILER END...
So there you have it. Castlevania has everything to be a great, addictive game, which you'll be replaying for years. It is awesome in every way I can think of, and has a great value.