Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Began a Gaming Trend in 1997 That is Still Continuing in 2020 – IGN Southeast Asia

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night was a phenomenal action-adventure for the first PlayStation, the first game in the series that masterfully blends sidescrolling action with RPG elements. This style of games has since become a genre of its own, known as Metroidvania.

Metroidvania is a portmanteau of the words Metroid and Castlevania, due to both games pioneering of this game style, which characteristically has a large interconnected map with non-linear progression, action gameplay with an emphasis on environmental puzzles, and gradual character progression.

The first three Metroid games, in particular, namely the NES original and Super Metroid, definitely set the standard for the genre, with its main characteristics already set in place since 1986. Some might argue that the original Legend of Zelda also has these characteristics, but due to it being a top-down game, its claim as a Metroidvania is still up for debate.

While Castlevania may not have started life with these gameplay mechanics from the get-go, Symphony of the Night successfully integrated them and made it a mainstay throughout the franchises lifespan.

Before The Symphony

The first three Castlevania games on the NES provided the blueprint for the franchise: have a whip-wielding hero from the Belmont family, Dracula and his horror-themed minions will be the main enemies, and the eponymous castle as the backdrop of it all. Typically, Castlevania games were linear affairs, with Castlevania II: Simons Quest taking a departure from the linearity to offer a more open-world RPG experience.

While Simons Quest would form the nucleus of Symphony of the Nights game design, the games that came after it, like Castlevania III, IV, and Rondo of Blood, stuck to the linear level progression of the first game. That doesnt mean it didnt leave an impact on Symphony of the Night though, as the main character Alucard, son of Dracula, actually made his first appearance in Castlevania III and Symphony of the Night is in fact a direct sequel to its predecessor, Rondo of Blood.

The Night That Started It All

With the game beginning with the fall of Richter Belmont at the hands of Dracula, and Alucard running straight into his fathers castle. Players immediately take control of the powerful half-vampire, with his arsenal of spells and weapons wiping enemies out with ease. Though this does not last for long, as Draculas right-hand man, Death, soon drops down and takes away all of Alucards powers and equipment. This has since become a trope within Metroidvanias, showing the players full potential, before taking it all away to set the stage for the rest of the game.

As a complete departure from the whip-wielding vampire hunters of the Belmont clan, Alucard is skilled with all kinds of weapons and is able to use his vampiric powers to summon monsters, turn into different animals, and cast a myriad of spells. Alucard served as a completely customisable RPG character, with each player being able to outfit their version of Alucard with whatever weapons and gear they prefer.

Once players level up and reach the top of Draculas castle, the game isnt over just yet. Symphony of the Night also introduced alternate game modes that include one where you play as Richter Belmont, multiple endings, and a sort of New Game+ that involves a complete inversion of the games map.

Alucards Legacy

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night was not a commercially successful game at the of its release in 1997. For a 2D platformer to come out the same year as the graphical powerhouse that was Final Fantasy VII, it didnt stand a chance. Yet, it somehow became a sleeper hit, a cult classic that stood the test of time. It mainly left a big impression on the Castlevania franchise and its subsequent entries.

From 2001s Castlevania: Circle of the Moon on the Game Boy Advance to 2008s Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia for the Nintendo DS, Konami consistently released games in the same mold as Symphony of the Night. This series of games definitely served as the first wave of the Metroidvania zeitgeist.

It was the advent of indie games that truly laid the foundation for the Metroidvania renaissance. From Cave Story in 2004 to Guacamelee, Hollow Knight, and Ori and the Blind Forest. Odds are, everyone has played some sort of Metroidvania in the past few years. There has since also been games that also elevates the genre further, like Dead Cells and Rogue Legacy that mixes Metroidvania-style gameplay with another popular indie genre, roguelikes.

3D Metroidvanias have also been on the rise, especially with FromSoftwares Dark Souls games and its ilk honouring the legacy of the Metroidvania as well as early Castlevanias brutal difficulty. Other 3D Metroidvanias include Control and some might say, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Even Koji Igarashi, the lead producer of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night has moved on from the series and made his own indie successor with Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Even in 2020, games like Carrion, Rogue Legacy 2, and the upcoming Hollow Knight: Silksong keeps this genre alive and well.

Overall, the video game world would have been a different place without Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and it definitely still holds up after 23 years.

See more here:
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Began a Gaming Trend in 1997 That is Still Continuing in 2020 - IGN Southeast Asia