Drac's Back!

by Wootini

Okay, so I wanted something to play on my DS that wasn't cute or pink, so I was thrilled by the release of the latest Castlevania title, Castlevania: Dawn Of Sorrow. And you know what? You can jaw about how lame 2D games look, but if it ain't broke don't fix it. And Castlevania sure ain't broke.

I know some Castlevania fans are all about the story and where each game fits into continuity, but all I care about is that there is a huge castle to explore, and as you defeat monsters, you gain levels and learn new powers and abilities that let you finally get into that section of the castle that was blocked off before. The controls are as tight as ever, and the graphics and sound are still quality, even if it is 2D. The DS touch screen is kind of an afterthought, used only to crush ice blocks in your way or the main use, which is to "seal" the bosses. After you crush their health enough, you must draw a mystical seal on the touch screen to finish them off. It's not as awkward as it sounds, and while the game does give you a little time to whip the stylus off the back of the DS, I usually just use my finger, since it gives you a little leeway with the linework. Of course, the main innovation to the series is that the top screen of the DS is used as a permanent map screen. Which is awesome. I know, it sounds lame-ass, but if you've ever played a Castlevania game, you know how often you switch back and forth between the map to figure out where you are, so it's a major plus.

Regular readers of this website might recall earlier rants of mine about how I hate platformers and I kind of suck at them. But there are two exceptions to that rule. And they are Metroid and Castlevania. I can't explain it, but there it is. There's something about Castlevania games that are just immersive and addictive to me. (Though I've tried a little of the 3D ones, and they're just not the same) If you've got a DS, this purchase is a no-brainer. And if you don't, you might want to consider it!