Castlevania Returns to the DS
Nintendo's handhelds are the only places you're going to be getting any 2D Castlevania action any time soon.
While Konami has continued to frustrate Castlevania fans with poor 3D incarnations, whipping fans have at least been able to enjoy the series' 2D majesty on the Game Boy Advance and more recently the DS. Soon there will be even more to cheer with the revelation that a new game in the popular series is coming to Nintendo's twin-screen system.
No word on whether Ayami Kojima is backCastlevania: Portrait of Ruin is in the capable hands of series creator Koji Igarashi and brings plenty of new stuff, not least of which is a new, World War II setting and two main characters. The setting forms the heart of the story, as wandering spirits are manipulated by Vampire sisters into trying to raise Dracula's destroyed castle. And that's where you come in.
Playing as either weapons expert Jonathan Morris or magic wielder Charlotte Orlean (you can switch between them at will), you'll need to traverse the expansive map looking for clues and weapons and smite the undead in the process. There are also summoning spells for both characters that call upon all manner of creatures for help.
There's no firm release date yet for Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, but Konami is promising that it'll be out for DS later in the year.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games
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