10 Video Games That Won By Destroying EVERYTHING

Symphony of the Night isn't just considered Castlevania at its best, but one of the greatest video games ever made. It had the same side-scrolling structure as its predecessors, but placed a heavier emphasis on exploration, puzzles, and secrets. With Castlevania's popularity at an all-time high after Symphony's release, it would've been sensible for Konami to implement Metroidvania style in future instalments.

But with many 2D games at the time switching to 3D, Konami decided to follow suit, which led to Castlevania 64. Sadly, the action-adventure title was bland, imprecise, and dull. It was followed by an "improved" version called Legacy of Darkness, which was noticeably worse. 

Due to the negative feedback, Konami reverted to 2D for the next instalment, Circle of the Moon. When the Game Boy Advance platformer received universal praise, Konami made the wise decision to stick with the old-school formula, releasing half a dozen titles that maintained the Metroidvania structure and gameplay.

The Dracula-staking saga has dipped its toes into the 3D realm on several occasions since (with mixed results), but all evidence shows Castlevania works better when it keeps with tradition. Symphony of the Night may be the zenith of the series, but it was Circle of the Moon that made Konami realise the side-scrolling approach was the way forward.