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PlayStation’s 25th Anniversary: Five best PS1 games of all-time

By Justin O'Riley

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Attendees walk by the Sony PlayStation booth at the 2019 GDC Game Developers Conference on March 20, 2019 in San Francisco, California. The GDC runs through March 22. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Attendees walk by the Sony PlayStation booth at the 2019 GDC Game Developers Conference on March 20, 2019 in San Francisco, California. The GDC runs through March 22. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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Castlevania: Symphony of the Night – Konami

It’s somewhat ironic that one of the best PS1 games was a 2D action-platformer with some RPG elements. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night was not heavily promoted upon its initial 1997 release due to the gaming market’s 3D craze. However, the game’s positive reception by critics and gamers alike raised its reputation over the years.

Throughout the many games in the series, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is still considered the definitive Castlevania experience. Due to the exploration elements, map layout, and ability upgrades that allowed players to reach previously unreachable areas, the game’s influence contributed to an entire subgenre of action-platforming games known as “Metroidvania” (although game co-director Koji Igarashi stated that the game’s replayability factor was actually more inspired by The Legend of Zelda than the Metroid series).

The game’s story was a semi-sequel to the PC Engine exclusive Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. However, instead of playing as a whip-wielding Belmont, players controlled fan-favorite Alucard (Dracula’s son who was a playable character in Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse).

Unlike earlier Castlevania games, players were able to upgrade Alucard’s weapons, armor, and abilities utilizing RPG staples that included hidden rooms and gaining experience points to level up. The game also featured nearly flawless controls, massive areas to explore, and an iconic musical score.

For those who haven’t played this modern masterpiece, it’s thankfully had several re-releases (including the PS4 compilation Castlevania Requiem). Alucard’s characterization and design in the game became the basis for his animated counterpart in the original Netflix animated Castlevania series. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night isn’t just the best 2D game on the PS1, it also belongs to any conversation when discussing the best all-time video games ever made.

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