!['Symphony of the Night' helped birth a new genre. [Image via IGN/ Youtube Screenshot]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2021/10/2/660x290/b_502x220x82/symphony-of-the-night-helped-birth-a-new-genre-image-via-ign-youtube-screenshot_2672198.jpg "'Symphony of the Night' helped birth a new genre. [Image via IGN/ Youtube Screenshot]")
Much like Dracula's castle, the "Castlevania" series is a creature of chaos known for taking many incarnations. Most of the classic entries on the NES, SNES, and Genesis consisted of 2D side-scrolling action games that went for a level by level structure. However, the second installment formed the blueprint for what we'll call the "Igavania" entries. While still being a 2D game, "Castlevania II Simon's Quest" gave players a huge interconnected world that would gradually open up as they gained new abilities.
While unrefined, it was a bold experiment that Koji Igarashi would refine when given the keys to the franchise almost a decade later. Noticing how many "Castlevania" games found their way to bargain bins, Igarashi hypothesized that once players beat the game, they'd get tired of it and just sell it. With his debut "Castlevania" title, Igarashi wanted to increase the replay value by giving players a large world with hidden secrets that rewarded exploration while addressing complaints towards "Simon's Quest."
When "Symphony of the Night" was released to the PlayStation to critical acclaim, future entries on handheld platforms such as the Game Boy Advance followed its structure while providing their own spin on it. With the recent release of the "Castlevania Advance Collection" on platforms such as PlayStation4 and XboxOne, I thought I'd make a list of the best "Igavania" "Castlevania" entries.
'Castlevania Portrait of Ruin' is pretty paint by numbers
While not as compelling as Igarashi's other entries, "Portrait of Ruin" does try to mix things up a bit. The game adopts a hubworld structure with paintings that warp you to the next area much like "Mario 64." You also switch between two playable characters who have their own respective abilities that are needed to solve certain puzzles. Though the attempt to innovate is appreciated, it's held back by a generic anime aesthetic and its cardboard cutout heroes.
'Castlevania Order of Ecclesia' manages to overcome a bland hero
"Ecclesia" attempted to innovate further with its overworld map structure and an emphasis on sub-quests. Hidden in each area was a civilian who could be rescued and proceed to give the player side quests that lead to new items and rewards. It also brought back the soul collecting mechanic from the "Sorrow" entries. The game's only blemishes were that collecting glyphs proved to be more tedious and that Shanoa's stoicism made for a very bland protagonist.
'Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow' - Great gameplay held back by sorrowful touch screen gimmicks
"Dawn" had all the makings of the best "Igavania" entry. It refined the soul collecting mechanic from "Aria" and the superior hardware of the DS meant higher quality visuals and sound. However, its bland art style and magic seal system drag it to the number three spot. After beating a boss, players had to draw a pattern on the screen. Failure meant fighting the boss yet again. Not only was it intrusive, it was also imprecise, failing players even when they had drawn the pattern perfectly.
'Castlevania Aria of Sorrow' proves to be the best Game Boy Advance entry
"Aria" added an ingenious new mechanic that took advantage of the series' diverse cast of monsters -- the soul set system. When players vanquished a beast, they'd have the chance to collect their soul which would grant new abilities and open up new areas. It made for the best GBA entry by pushing the limits of the hardware and delivering an intriguing plot twist. It comes close, but just barely misses the number one spot.
'Castlevania Symphony of the Night' is a perfect compisition
While later entries would make admirable attempts to refine the formula, "Symphony" has yet to be eclipsed by any of its follow ups. The atmosphere, the feeling of discovery, and the cathartic gameplay were at their best in this PlayStation installment. Every subsequent entry had noticeable problems holding them back such as "Circle of the Moon's" dark visuals or "Harmony of Dissonance's" awful soundtrack. However, "Symphony" is as close to perfection as you can possibly get.
