Map of inverted castle in 'Castlevania: Symphony of the Night' video game
Gaming
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is a platform-adventure action role-playing game developed and published by Konami on March 20, 1997 for the PlayStation.
It features Dracula's dhampir son Alucard as the protagonist rising from his slumber to explore the Dracula's castle which has re-appeared after Richter Belmont has vanished. It marks a break from previous games in the series, introducing exploration, non-linear level design and role-playing elements.
Initially, the game was unsuccessful – particularly in the United States where it was meagerly publicized – but thanks to praise by critics, it gained sales through word-of-mouth and became a hit. It has been re-released on several consoles and is considered a sleeper hit, a cult classic, and one of the best video games ever made.