First Castlevania game to separate from the "stage-by-stage" gameplay of earlier games, and create a more Metroid-esque play experience, which also featured RPG elements (leveling up, equipping new stuff, item usage, etc.)
Reissued for the Sega Saturn with a new area that wasn't in the Playstation version. This version has never been released in America.
This was not the first Castlevania game to let players play as Alucard, he was previously available as a spiritual helper in Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse.
Available as a download on the Playstation 3 and XBOX 360 download services.
The game's equipment/item use system worked differently than later "Metroidvania" style games. Items had to be equipped to be used, and a piece of equipment could be put in either hand (you could have a shield in one hand a sword in the other, two swords, two shields, etc.) This was not repeated in later installments.