Perhaps the finest game in the Castlevania canon and the unique use of the Nintendo DS touch screen, while certainly som
What video game series has something to do with Dracula?
I would venture to guess that the majority of people in the room would cry out Castlevania without taking the time to think. Some people might shout out something more obscure or obtuse such as Imagic's aptly titled Dracula, but those people make up a small minority of gamers who feel the need to assert themselves in ways that make them seem more knowledgeable than their peers. Logically speaking, there is a reason that this answer manifests itself above all others - Castlevania is the most popular franchise ever devised around the Prince of Darkness (please, leave all Hammer comments at the door). Since its inception in 1986, Castlevania has been a staple in the diet of many a gamer, featuring action and adventure that would satiate even then hungriest of gamers. With the advent of 1997's Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, fans of the series found what they have oftentimes branded as being the best Castlevania title ever created, a game that had more in common with Super Metroid than it did previous entries in the series. Exploration and RPG-styled leveling up were a new and welcome addition to the series, which led to much rejoicing. Since that time, most titles in the growing franchise have followed the same road, producing a number of fantastic 2D titles for the Game Boy Advance. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow is a direct sequel to the third game in the Game Boy Advance line of Castlevania games and promises to be the greatest of all. With the power of the DS behind it and the potential for touch screen use, I was sure the game would be fantastic, but would it really be the greatest game in the series? Only time would tell!
So beautiful, yet so deadly!
So beautiful, yet so deadly!
"The moon hangs like a shimmering pearl in the night sky, its brilliance casting a radiant blanket upon the ground. Gazing attentively, I observe as the silhouette of a withered tree becomes warped and grotesque, a trick of light that is allows the tree to become nothing more than a pale imitation of its true physical form. Though this is nothing more than an illusion created by the glow, I feel a sense of dread rising within me that can fully relate to the gnarled imagery I now bear witness to. It was a year ago that I discovered that I harbored something sinister and monstrous within myself, a facet of my being that in no way reflected the true person I am. It was a year ago that I wrestled with a component of my very soul in an effort to keep this evil element contained. It was a year ago that all was revealed to me; my body played host to the most malevolent being known to mankind -- Dracula. Staring out into the midnight sky, I notice the cloud cover obscuring the moon. My attention turns once more to the tree I had observed, the luminosity no longer altering my perception. Just as I had managed to shrug off the influence of Dracula, so too did the clouds return this tree to its former glory. Something is amiss, however, and I sense a dread within me that I can't quite place. My time with Dracula is not over, perhaps. In any case, should the need arise, I will fight and do whatever it takes to keep the Prince of Darkness from rising again."
Soma Cruz is back in this action packed sequel to Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow. Having come to terms with his fate and finally controlling the power of Dracula that flows through his body, Soma has returned to life as usual (or as usual as you can get). However, a mysterious cult has surfaced with the sole intention of bringing Dracula's power back to speed. Unfortunately, this means you'll have to kill or be killed and without thinking twice, Soma is once more on the offensive.
Unlike most other games in the Castlevania series, DoS doesn't give you the opportunity to fight within the confines of Dracula's home turf. Instead, you'll be infiltrating the cult's hideout, a place which (if you didn't know it was their hideout) would be just another version of Dracula's castle. In terms of similarity, the gameplay remains very much the same as that found in previous incarnations. You'll wander through several unique areas, equip a number of unique items, as well as fight the occasional boss battle. However, the similarity to past Game Boy iterations ends there.
"Unlike most other games in the Castlevania series, DoS doesn't give you the opportunity to fight within the confines of Dracula's home turf."
OW! You booted me in the head!
OW! You booted me in the head!
DoS attempts to add a few new game mechanics into the mix in an effort to create a genuinely fresh experience. While the gameplay itself remains blissfully intact (if it's not broken, don't fix it), there are new features that help the game along. First of all, you'll find that the game supports the touch screen. This should be a given, considering that the game was designed for the Nintendo DS, but many people were worried about what it would be used for. The action of the game takes place on the lower screen, while the map or information screen (whichever you choose to view at that specific moment in time) is hosted above. During the course of your adventure, you'll learn special magical seals, sigils that must be drawn on the touch screen during boss battles in an effort to seal the evil away. These seals start out rather easily, a series of three lines that must be drawn in a specific order and in an allotted period of time, but the cult catches wind of the fact that someone is using these seals and updates them periodically. Nearer to the end of the game, you'll find yourself having drawn more lines than you can count in an almost impossible period of time! If you don't finish the sigil in time or simply draw the line out of order, the boss battle will continue and you will have to whittle the boss down again in order to attempt a seal. Don't be surprised if you die a few times due to this. The bosses in the game aren't really pushovers and screwing up a seal will often lead to Soma's untimely demise. Thankfully, you can practice these seals as often as you like and I highly recommend you do. You'll learn them as you play, so make a habit of learning new seals and performing them a few times before you even attempt to take on a boss. People might harp on the lack of innovation, but most people will find sealing a boss to be a very fulfilling task and one that suits the touch screen quite well.
The touch screen also serves to destroy special crystal blocks that you'll find along the way. This is more of an annoyance than a distinctive feature, though it does provide a slightly unique element to your platforming escapades. Thankfully, you won't use these feature nearly as often, though there are areas that require careful planning in order to get through them (or out of them). It's a nice idea on paper, but it really doesn't suit the touch screen and only serves as a gimmick, a wholly different reason to use the otherwise unused touch screen (boss battles aren't incredibly frequent).
Touch screen aside now, DoS integrates a few other gameplay features that are new to the series. For example, as you fight enemies, you may occasionally obtain their soul. Obtaining these souls allows Soma the luxury of utilizing special powers that are exclusive to the soul he just absorbed. There are four types of souls found within the game and each one functions differently.
Tucks Medicated Pads will relieve that burning sensation!
Tucks Medicated Pads will relieve that burning sensation! * Bullet-Type Souls -- These souls consume Magic Points as you use them. By pressing UP and the Y button, Soma will launch some type of projectile, such as a bone or an arrow, or even allow Soma the ability to use a unique attack ability. * Guardian-Type Souls -- Guardian-Type Souls will drain Soma's MP continually while activated. With this type of soul, Soma can create magical shields around him or even summon creatures to do his bidding. Keep an eye on the meter, however, as these souls drain you pretty fast. * Enchant-Type Souls -- These souls generally grant stat bonuses when equipped and DO NOT use up MP. There are a myriad of different stats to be changed and you'll need to figure out which stat will be most beneficial, so use your discretion. * Ability-Type Souls -- These souls are very special, as they grant you abilities once you posses them. They do not cost any MP, nor do they need to be equipped. Using the stylus to destroy crystal blocks, for example, is of this type.
You can collect a total of nine tactical souls from every enemy you face during the game. The more souls you have, the more powerful the benefit of owning that soul will be throughout the course of the game. Some enemies drop them regularly, while others will be hard to obtain. It will take time, patience and repetition if you plan on obtaining a complete set of nine souls from each and every enemy!
There are a number of multi-player facets to be found as well. You can trade souls with your friends, as well as race through special enemy courses in versus mode! More of an afterthought, the multi-player modes are only moderately entertaining with the versus mode being fun for only a short period of time. I found more use for the soul trade mode, in all honesty. It?s nice to have wireless functionality, but I would have like to have seen something with a bit more depth.
As with all Castlevania games, there is more than one ending and a plethora of secrets to be found within the game. Getting all the endings and bonuses will be a long and drawn out process, though the game itself can be beaten in ten hours on average. However, the game is blissfully entertaining and you'll most likely be happy playing it again.
Examining the graphics, players will be pleased to know that this is perhaps the best looking game in the series to date. The animations are incredibly fluid, the overall attention to detail is jarring in more ways than I can possibly mention and the level of artistic merit is above and beyond what I would have expected. I knew this was going to be on a handheld and perhaps my judgment was clouded by that fact, but to my surprise this is easily the best looking Castlevania game to date. The game also features a nifty full motion introduction which is pretty damn impressive. All in all, I hadn't anticipated such a high level of creative flair, but DoS offers up graphic stylings in such a way that you can't help but be impressed.
The sound is also incredible, featuring an incredible score that augments the on-screen action quite well. There are a number of unique musical musings each one tastefully written to suit the area in which you fight. While the game is often symphonic, presented with an attention for orchestral scores, it still manages to cover a large musical spectrum with the inclusion of rock, jazz and other styles of music. It's a cornucopia of musical pieces that will impress. Sound effects are equally entertaining and do their job admirably.
Without a doubt, this is easily the best Castlevania title to date. I know some people feel this titles is still in the hands of the Playstation classic Symphony of the Night, the simple fact remains that Dawn of Sorrow seems to one up it every chance it gets. An incredible attention to presentation, a glorious musical score and some truly incredible game play additions really make Dawn of Sorrow stand out from other games in the series. If you buy ONE action/adventure title for your DS this year, this is the game it should be. It may not be perfect and the touch screen may only be a flighty novelty, but it is still a fantastic game whose design is near perfect in most every other way.