Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin review

More of the same isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially when you’re following a proven formula. This kind of approach is safe for game makers, especially if said game is good. The problem though is that too much familiarity could get old really fast. This is why sequels should put in new features to keep the series from stagnating.

The latest Castlevania for the DS is a good case in point. Portrait of Ruin sticks to the franchise’s Symphony of the Night roots, and introduces new elements that are well implemented. Despite being a 2D game in the age of 3D and pixel shaders, the new iteration is terrific.