It's definitely influential, but I wouldn't consider it as ground-breaking or relevant as future titles of the franchise (especially Aria of Sorrow). Still, it's a remarkable game that does a lot of things and, more importantly, creates an atmosphere to Dracula's castle that surpasses its condition as a big map with secrets. There are so many hidden things that you can find which make the world breathe, and you can customize Alucard's look in ways that feel very forward-thinking for the time. Still, the game has a little too much stuff than it needs, and by the time you reach the second half, it becomes redundant very fast. Besides, the extra modes are stupid. I would recommend playing it for the influence alone, but I wouldn't hail as a masterpiece.