For many Castlevania fans, their introduction to the series was either a Metroidvania entry like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night or the 2017 Netflix series. However, anybody who's played the older titles will already know how drastically different they are from Symphony of the Night. The early entries centered around linear stages and a limited set of weapons rather than the open-ended maps and the vast array of abilities that defined later installments. While most of the classic-era (Pre-SOTN) Castlevania games are excellent in their own right, their restrictive gameplay and unforgiving difficulty rarely appeal to series newcomers. However, with the recent release of Castlevania: Nocturne, fans should see why the game that inspired Netflix's new animated adaptation is the peak of Castlevania's classic era and a must-play for all fans of the series.
Source：https://www.cbr.com/castlevania-rondo-of-blood-must-play/
