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These columns (as well as the 'releases') come from weekly content that we write for the Edmond Sun, out of Edmond, OK (though we live in Chicago). This page contains the archives for said column, many of which are in their pre-published, unedited state. Some titles and editing by Brendan Sinclair.

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Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow Review
Wednesday, October 12, 2005

While the DS has already hit it's stride in puzzle games (Meteos), strategy (Advance Wars: Dual Strike) and even surgery simulators (Trauma Center: Under the Knife), only now do we finally get a truly fantastic action/adventure experience with Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow. Limiting it to one genre seems cruel though, as the most prominent RPG elements in the series really add a lot. You are Soma Cruz, girlyman extreme, trying your darndest to stop an evil cult from resurrecting Dracula. All of the action takes place in the cult's home base, a massive recreation of said dark overlord's castle. I'm not sure where the Vania comes in, but trust me, it's all good.

Over time the series has grown less and less linear, allowing you to explore the castle at your own pace, in whatever order you please. And while it is not completely open from the start, the level of progression and pace of exploration is incredibly satisfying. Similar to Super Metroid, some areas are blocked until you learn certain abilities, such as double-jumping or breathing underwater. You'll be criss-crossing the castle dozens of times as a result, but backtracking never gets old thanks to the great combat and RPG elements. There are dozens of different enemies, probably hundreds, all of which require a slightly different approach if you wish to kill them as quickly as possible without incurring any damage yourself.

You have many options for battle as well - you'll quickly fill your inventory with a wide variety of swords, axes and otherwise, all with different damage, speed and defensive stats to consider. Even more varied and interesting are the myriad spells you will acquire throughout the game, dropped at random by almost every enemy type. Each 'soul' collected grants you an ability, so if you kill the uppercutting pig beast, you'll be able to uppercut yourself. Some spells will even summon a creature to help you for a short time, such as a bat, cat, slime blob or demonic archer. While these elements aren't really new to the series, the way in which you can infuse certain souls to certain weapons is, creating an ever-present, driving force to unlock new powers and roll with the best possible equipment.

Of course, all of the great gameplay would only go so far without an equally impressive level of presentation. Well, that's not true, it would still be great, but it was a good segue wasn't it? The DS is capable of some pretty fantastic 2D graphics, and this is perhaps the sexiest specimen on the system yet. The castle really comes to life with vibrant, multi-layered backgrounds, with all sorts of fancy detailing and scrolling effects to compliment them. All of the castle's otherworldly inhabitants animate perfectly too, allowing for some truly creepy designs and encounters. The boss fights are on par with the series too, which is a very high standard let me tell you. Room-filling, blood-vomiting nightmares await you in several rooms throughout the castle, all posing a significant challenge and equally great reward. It would also be a crime in seven states if I didn't mention the astounding soundtrack, which while typical for the series, never ceases to impress. Each area has it's own subtly creepy theme, incredibly appropriate to the setting and dynamic enough to never get old. Truly some of the best music in gaming.

So, where does that leave us? Well, I didn't even touch on the meat of the story or any of the characters, and I didn't even mention the unique ways that the game incorporates the touch screen. On the other hand, those are much better experienced than explained, and I have to leave something for you to discover yourself. Oh, I will mention that having a map on the second screen is a godsend for the series, as backtracking through the truly huge castle would be a bit of a chore without it. As for any negatives, all I can hold against it are the slightly physically imperfect controls (a result of the crappily-sized D-Pad and face buttons of the DS), and the fact that you'll experience a half dozen very cheap deaths at the hands of swarming enemies or simply getting stuck somewhere you shouldn't really be able to. Regardless, you're looking at the best non-puzzle game on the system. If you want to experience Castlevania at it's most perfect track down Symphony of the Night for the Playstation1, but know that Dawn of Sorrow is a very close second, and easily the best portable iteration yet.

- Nick


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