30 Best Video Games Of All Time

21. Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night

Hand-in-hand with Super Metroid when it came to further popularising the 'Metroidvania' sense of item-based world progression, Symphony of the Night is a masterclass in atmosphere, character-building and storytelling.

Telling an epic tale that continues on from the various other Castlevanias, the most notable thing back in 1997 was just how excellently Konami blended pixel art and a hyper-detailed game world with occasional 3D elements to bring everything up to date. General animation is exemplary too, with Alucard's various attacks, dodges, defensive stances and powers all coming together far more seamlessly than anything on the NES or SNES.

Famed for perfecting an innovative structure and evolving your character's abilities to really convey a sense of empowerment over time, Castlevania: Sympthony of the Night remains the definitive entry in the franchise.