User:TheJoebro64/drafts/SotN

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is a 1997 gothic horror-themed platform-adventure game developed and published by Konami for the PlayStation. It is part of Konami's longrunning Castlevania series and is the sequel to the 1993 game Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. The narrative occurs in 1796, four years after the events of its predecessor, and follows Alucard, the dhampir son of series antagonist Dracula. Richter Belmont, a member of the vampire-hunting Belmont clan, falls under the imprisoned Dracula's curse and disappears in his castle, Castlevania. Alucard awakens from a protracted slumber to explore Castlevania, rescue Richter, and prevent his father's return.

Gameplay
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night has the player assume the role of Alucard. The game saw the introduction of role-playing elements into the series.

Setting and characters
Symphony of the Night is set in Transylvania during the late 18th century. The majority of the game takes place in 1796, although the beginning takes place in 1792, during the events of its predecessor Rondo of Blood (1993). The narrative occurs in Castlevania, the dwelling of the series' antagonist, the vampire Count Dracula, who is loosely based on the title character of Bram Stoker's novel Dracula (1897). Every century, Dracula, his legion of monsters, and Castlevania appear, prompting a member of the Belmont clan—a family of vampire hunters—to venture and defeat him. At the beginning of Symphony of the Night, Richter Belmont defeats Dracula. However, four years later, Castlevania reappears and Richter disappears.

The main protagonist of Symphony of the Night is Alucard, Dracula's dhampir son.

Release

 * Saturn refs:

Reception
According to Metacritic, a video game review aggregator, Symphony of the Night received "universal acclaim".


 * https://web.archive.org/web/20060107204220/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psx/games/reviews/444.shtml
 * https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/10/03/castlevania-symphony-of-the-night
 * https://web.archive.org/web/20031229031124/http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0%2C4364%2C1369566%2C00.asp
 * https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33861-castlevania-symphony-of-the-night-review
 * https://web.archive.org/web/20120606064646/http://www.1up.com/reviews/castlevania-symphony-night
 * https://archive.org/stream/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_192_1997-11_EMAP_Images_GB#page/n75/mode/2up
 * https://ew.com/article/1997/10/24/pc-game-review-nightmare-creatures-and-castlevania-symphony-night/
 * https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/castlevania-symphony-of-the-night-review/1900-2546968/

Development

 * https://archive.fo/20120721130627/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=2&cId=3152109
 * http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2012/09/feature_the_making_of_castlevania_symphony_of_the_night
 * https://www.usgamer.net/articles/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-castlevania-symphony-of-the-night
 * https://web.archive.org/web/20170517100514/http://www.glixel.com/interviews/koji-igarashi-i-honestly-dont-feel-that-im-a-big-deal-w452181
 * https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-21-koji-igarashi-says-castlevania-sotn-was-inspired-by-zelda-not-metroid
 * https://web.archive.org/web/20071103010246/http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20050815/sheffield_01.shtml
 * http://shmuplations.com/symphony/
 * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PxGM1np2hU
 * http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/213706/Father_and_SON_IGA_talks_Metroidvania.php
 * https://web.archive.org/web/20170107062441/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/design-in-action-%7C-castlevania-symphony-of-the-night-and-the-story-of-the-ultimate-sequel
 * https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-03-unfinished-symphony-castlevanias-keeper-speaks

Legacy

 * https://kotaku.com/the-castlevania-game-that-changed-everything-1821969215
 * https://www.polygon.com/2018/10/26/18027418/castlevania-requiem-symphony-of-the-night-ps4-psp
 * https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-03-20-castlevania-symphony-of-the-night-turns-20-today
 * https://web.archive.org/web/20100716113432/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/p-3.html
 * https://www.gamespot.com/articles/castlevania-symphony-of-the-night-on-ps4-wont-have/1100-6462327/