10 Video Games That Are Even Better Than You Remember
4. CastleVania: Symphony of the Night
Imitation is the best form of flattery, and CastleVania: Symphony of the Night (alongside Super Metroid) spawned a whole new genre, but none are as good as the 1997 pioneer.
The gameplay is perfect, with Alucard moving with grace and poise, and the progression is suitably paced through the adventure. Aside from some resolution advancements that happen over time, it would be near-impossible to tell that Symphony of the Night is 25 years old, as games like Axiom Verge, The Messenger and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night all still look up to Konami's classic side-scroller for inspiration.
In 2022, Symphony of the Night is still the best recommendation for player looking for something to play after the aforementioned titles, but one of the things that makes it even better than all those years ago is the way it looks.
Symphony of the Night deploys stunning pixel art aesthetics that make even the most inconsequential areas feel iconic. The game is even prettier than you remember, especially as pixel art is increasingly rare in games today. It's unique enough to be truly memorable, which wasn't necessarily the case in the late 1990s.