Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow

There is no greater event than the time when a new Castlevania arrives. Game Boy Advance was gifted with three of Konami's finest, and although it's still a viable platform, it's time for the series to move onto the next generation: Nintendo DS.

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow does not follow the lead of Kirby and Yoshi by turning the series into a game where the character or environment must be touched to be controlled. There is one major touch screen addition, and it's not a cheap gimmick created just for the sake of marketing. Primarily this is a direct sequel to the last game, Aria of Sorrow, developed exclusively for the Game Boy Advance. If you've played it or the other 2D Castlevanias then you already know what's in store: the best side-scrolling gameplay, the best weapons, and the best RPG features in a game that isn't an RPG.

Dawn of Sorrow's gameplay is a modern-day take on the 16-bit action games of the early 90s. The controls are quick and feel great with the Nintendo DS's reliable D-pad and its small and flat buttons. The whole game is made up of one enormous, consistent world that links levels together via doors that are not easily opened. Make sure you have a few tissues when all the doors are opened - 'cause then the journey is coming to a close. Until that time you'll have to search high and low and examine every area at least twice to uncover the game's secrets.

The new weapons are exciting and the upgrade system means never having to settle for what's in your inventory. More than one piece is needed to forge a new weapon. Sometimes you'll have to sacrifice the best weapon you have to create a new one.

Weapons are based on strength, weight, and flexibility. Generally the stronger weapons are the heavier weapons. It's harder to swing heaver swords, therefore fewer strikes may be dealt to a boss before he has the chance to retaliate. Lighter weapons are of course weaker and cause less damage, almost defeating the purpose of getting those extra hits in before your opponent moves.

The rule for Nintendo DS seems to be that, no matter what the game is about, it must have touch screen features. Konami had to come up with an interesting way of adding this, and they couldn't rely on a half-baked mini-game to satisfy the fans. We expect a lot and they know it. For the fourth game in a row, the series did not disappoint.

Bosses cannot be destroyed as in previous Castlevanias; they must be sealed away with unbreakable magic. Get your stylus, walk three steps forward, turn around and draw! The Magic Seal screen appears when a boss is weakened. Draw a pattern that matches the one shown and the monster will be sealed away for good. Example: draw lines from the top right corner to the bottom left corner, bottom left to bottom right, and bottom right to top left.

Dawn of Sorrow's touch screen mechanics are responsive and registers quick, uneven lines. Scribblers won't succeed unless they slow down. Given the time constraints you don't have a second to make a mistake. One incorrect line and the seal will fail and you'll have to deal additional attacks.

Magic seals aren't the only time you'll have to touch the screen. Early in the game you'll notice what appears to be a wall of ice cubes. Nothing can penetrate the wall at this point, but once you've acquired the proper ability you'll be able to scratch the screen to make them disappear. Scratch select blocks to leave behind platforms so that Soma Cruz can navigate through the area. There aren't too many of these moments, but there are just enough to explore the new touch screen territory without repetition.

Whenever I was lost and couldn't figure out what to do next I'd touch the screen to see if anything would happen. Nothing ever did. That meant that I had missed something along the way, or that I hadn't tested out a new ability or magic seal that had been discovered. I needed to take my own advice and re-examine every location.

Dawn of Sorrow's visuals blow its predecessors out of the water. The 2D imagery is so intricate and so perfectly refined that you could squint all day and not find any flaws. Bosses are enormous and disgustingly gorgeous. Special attacks fill the screen with the brightest and most detailed colors possible. Whereas the GBA editions were almost on par with Symphony of the Night, Dawn of Sorrow surpasses it with some of the most immersive environments ever seen in handheld game.

Dawn of Sorrow is unquestionably the best action game for the Nintendo DS. Castlevania fans will be consumed like a vampire feeding off a slayer. But let's not limit the consumption to the fans – those who haven't yet experienced the wonder that is Castlevania should takes this opportunity to purchase Konami's masterpiece. The combat is deep and attack-heavy without being repetitive. The levels are interlocked for one of the most interesting mazes you will ever have to navigate. And the replay value, when all is said and done, is so high that you will impatiently wait for the moment when you can go again.

Gameplay: 9.5
The biggest (but not necessarily the toughest) Castlevania yet. Dawn of Sorrow is an absolute joy to play. It's everything you grew up loving on the SNES, everything you continued loving on the GBA, and has just the right amount of new features and enhancements to make you give into its prowess.

Graphics: 9.5
Dawn of Sorrow is the best graphical depiction of the series. You'll see better 3D effects - there's no avoiding that. But you will not see better 2D visuals for a long time.

Sound: 9.0
Beautiful and unforgettable, Dawn of Sorrow's soundtrack captivates players with the series' best score on a handheld system. Every element is crystal clear and wonderfully simulates the experience of surround sound.

Difficulty: Medium
If it weren't for the fact that you can level up, Dawn of Sorrow would be hard enough to rival Ninja Gaiden (Xbox edition) and Metal Slug 3. The challenge is brought down a bit by leveling. You have the option to level up and beat most enemies fairly easily, just as you do with an RPG.

Concept: 8.0
Aria of Sorrow with significant improvements and a few elements that nearly innovative (touch screen magic seals and the like).

Multiplayer: 8.4
Two-player races (where you must get through the level as quickly as possible) add a little multiplayer fun. More than one game card is required.

Overall: 9.5
Bigger, tougher, meaner, and more next-gen. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow fills every part of the Nintendo DS's two-inch screen with new bosses, levels, and dozens of backdrops that are drop-dead gorgeous. The top screen is reserved for your map and for battle statistics. Having statistics readily available wasn't a must, but you'll be surprised how much easier it is to look up at the map than it is to press a button every time you want to see it (as in every other action title, including console games).