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.

If you’ve lived under a rock for the past two decades (yes, the series debuted in 1986), the Castlevania series lets you fight Count Dracula and his undead minions. Portrait of Ruin stars vampire hunter Jonathan Morris and a young witch named Charlotte Aulin.

Portrait of Ruin plays like Symphony of the Night, another Castlevania game released for the PlayStation last 1997. That means environments aren’t divided into stages; you can explore freely. RPG elements are also inserted, so Jonathan and Charlotte can increase their level when they’ve gained a certain number of experience points.

If it’s more of the same, then why is it so fun?

Good question. For one thing, there are new dynamics introduced here that’s done very well. You can switch between the protagonists at any time, and can play with both simultaneously. Combining the characters’ powers for combo attacks are cool, and puzzles requiring you to get through certain areas are a great touch (no pun intended).

Cooperative play feels a bit limited, giving you to only three short levels. The use of Wi-Fi for the Shop mode is a great idea because you can trade your items with friends and through Nintendo’s WFC, but it feels rather pointless because you can get all the items in the game anyway—eventually at least. It would have been better if Konami placed in a lot of rare items that are randomly generated.

Portrait of Ruin is better than its DS predecessor Dawn of Sorrow because it does away with the wonky tracing mechanic, which requires you to pull out and use your stylus after fighting a stage boss.

Did I mention that Portrait of Ruin looks great? The 2D animations are silky smooth for both protagonists and monsters. Backgrounds look colorful and foreboding, thanks to a great color palette that’s sinister but never dreary. The character design is well made, and has finally departed from the androgynous approach used by the series in some of its GBA games. Portrait of Ruin isn’t a technical masterpiece in graphics, but in art.

Audio is a mixed bag. While the effects sound average, it’s the soundtrack that shines. This is a Castlevania game after all, so the music pulls you in the monster horror mood that the game projects.

Is purchasing this game worth it? Yes. If you explore every 2D corner that it has to offer, Portrait of Ruin will give you around 12 hours of polished gameplay. While not as long as Oblivion’s ridiculous 200+ hour lifespan, Portrait of Ruin’s length feels just right for a handheld.

Do yourself a favor and get the game already. Castlevania fan or not, it’s a fun title to get lost in.