Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review

Can Konami deliver another classicvania? Count on it

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Boss battles are the highlight of every Castlevania game, and here they're handled in a brand new way. To deliver the death blow, you've got to trace a magic seal that pops up on the touch screen. Botch the job and the bloody, puss-spraying monster keeps coming. So even if you hand the Grim Reaper his bony butt, you’ve got to memorize an eight point seal to finish the job. Problem is, this tends to bust up the swordplay when all of a sudden you've got to rush for the stylus.

The new Doppelganger ability, however, brings the game's extensive customization into its own. With the push of a button you can switch your equipped weapons, armor and souls between two settings. It's a good idea to keep one decked out with power-amping souls and all the strongest weapons. Make the other your four-leaf clover, with maxed out luck and intelligence. Basically one setting is for tastefully chauffeuring demons into Hell, the other for finding rare souls and items.

More info

GenreAdventure
DescriptionWitness why a billion polygons a nanosecond will always take a backseat to rock solid craftsmanship.
Franchise nameCastlevania
UK franchise nameCastlevania
Platform"DS"
US censor rating"Teen"
UK censor rating""
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
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Brett Elston

A fomer Executive Editor at GamesRadar, Brett also contributed content to many other Future gaming publications including Nintendo Power, PC Gamer and Official Xbox Magazine. Brett has worked at Capcom in several senior roles, is an experienced podcaster, and now works as a Senior Manager of Content Communications at PlayStation SIE.