Konami. (1997). Castlevania: Symphony of the Night [Video game]. Konami.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is a 1997 action role-playing game developed and published by Konami for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn. Directed by Toru Hagihara, with Koji Igarashi as assistant director, it serves as a direct sequel to Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, set four years later. The narrative centers on Alucard, Dracula's dhampir son, who awakens to explore Dracula's castle after its mysterious reappearance following Richter Belmont's disappearance.

The game marked a significant departure from previous entries by embracing a non-linear exploration-based design, reintroducing elements first seen in Castlevania II: Simon's Quest. Players navigate a vast, interconnected castle, acquiring abilities and items that grant access to previously unreachable areas. Alucard's shapeshifting abilities—transforming into a bat, wolf, or mist—play a crucial role in traversing the castle's diverse environments. Unlike earlier protagonists who primarily wielded whips, Alucard can equip a variety of weapons, enhancing combat versatility. The game incorporates role-playing elements, including an inventory system, hit points, and magic points, allowing for spellcasting and sub-weapon usage.

A notable feature is the Inverted Castle, an upside-down version of the original castle that becomes accessible upon meeting specific in-game conditions. This design choice effectively doubles the explorable content without necessitating entirely new assets, showcasing innovative level design.

Upon release, Symphony of the Night initially experienced poor sales but gradually became a sleeper hit, selling over 700,000 units in the United States and Japan. It garnered critical acclaim for its gameplay innovations, atmospheric design, visuals, and soundtrack, though its voice acting received some criticism. The game is frequently cited as a pioneer of the Metroidvania genre, inspiring numerous exploration-based action-adventure titles. Its success influenced subsequent entries in the Castlevania series, many of which adopted its exploration-centric gameplay model.