Got this for Christmas in '94 alongside Donkey Kong Country, and for me SCIV blew it away despite being 3 years older. The music is still the best I've heard in ANY game, so atmospheric, dark and haunting, and back then as a 14 year old it was actually pretty scary! The controls, with the eight way whip in particular, are superb and for me the graphics fit the game perfectly (and for 1991 must have been spectacular, especially the famous mode 7 rotating level). I've downloaded Rondo of Blood and played the original GBA Castlevania but for me this is a far better game than both of those, with greater control over the central protagonist, far better music, and a more direct pathway, with an admittedly easier but also much less frustratingly difficult challenge, whilst still being no cakewalk. Still need to play SOTN (and maybe Castlevania III?) to decide which is the best game in the series but for me this is right up there along with my other favourite SNES games SMW, F-Zero, LOZ:ALTTP, SFIIT, Super Metroid, LOTMN, Super Tennis and SMK. A fantastic game for a fantastic system (and don't be put off by the relatively uninspiring first couple of levels, this builds up to be a true masterpiece by the time you've finished it).