Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night
Konami’s Castlevania series had always been a solid collection of action games, but they had rarely made major waves in the industry. That all changed with Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night, as this return to Dracula’s castle was a landmark in game design. While it felt like every game under the sun was chasing the 3D craze that new console hardware allowed for, SOTN instead sunk its fangs into substance over style. That’s not to say that the game wasn’t stylish thanks to its smooth animation, Gothic influences, and hints of anime in the art department, but those positives played second fiddle to SOTN’s RPG elements, non-linear exploration, and the part it played in establishing the metroidvania genre.
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