Death happens a lot in videogames, but for some reason it never seems to stick. From heroes who get infinite do-overs to supporting characters who “die” only to resurface at the nick of time down the road, videogames might be the only medium in which the audience feels surprised, and perhaps even cheated, if a dead character isn’t magically brought back to life. ... » Read More

10 Mar 2008

The 21 Hardest Nintendo games ever

DS Feature | Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

From the stinging paper cuts delivered by their early Hanafuda cards, to their dual screen screammaker Contra 4, Nintendo have been responsible for a downpour of tricky titles to douse even the most resilient gamer's spirit. Join us as we descend Jacob's ladder through the circles of hell, into the belly of the Game Over beast. ... » Read More

13 Jun 2007

8-Bit Sunset

DS Feature | Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

Back in ye olde days of 8-bit gaming, we didn't have teh interwebs or in-depth FAQs to get us through hours of repetitive dungeons and mindless enemies. We had to do it all ourselves, patiently praying for a wave of cheat codes to come in the next issue of Nintendo Power. Then, after countless hours (literally, because no game would count the hours) we'd see the ending... just to view another 8-bit sunset. Seriously. Another one. How many games do you think end with a scene of the main ... » Read More

12 Mar 2007

Castlevania: the mega-interview

DS Feature | Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

Thanks to Game Developers Conference taking place in San Francisco last week, we were able to score a rare chance to sit down with Koji "IGA" Igarashi, the current producer of the Castlevania series. Though he was more than prepared to discuss the upcoming Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles for the PSP, we managed to tease details on the future of the series, namely its next generation installment, out of him. Keep reading to find out the most comprehensive, up-to-date Castlevania ... » Read More

15 Dec 2006

Portrait of secrets - packed with spoilers

DS Feature | Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

Another year, another Castlevania, right? Aside from a few brief lapses, we've been enjoying a quality castle quest every year since 1997's Symphony of the Night. With that one game, the entire series changed - instead of a straightforward action-slashfest, the games became an open-ended exploration of Dracula's castle, riddled with secret passageways, hidden bosses and an untold number of bonus features. That tradition continues with Portrait of Ruin. Even though we've long since finished the ... » Read More

6 Dec 2006

Holiday Buyers' Guide 2006 - Nintendo DS

DS Feature | Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

What began as a bizarre shot in the dark has fast become one of the biggest success stories in video games. Even though its first six months were rough and questionable, the DS currently owns the handheld market, and with good reason. There's literally something for everyone on the dual-screened portable, and its beautiful cosmetic makeover (known as the DS Lite) made the device all the more palatable to hardcore and casual gamers alike. With its mixture of brain teasing puzzle games, ... » Read More

23 Sep 2006

Portrait of Ruin interview

DS Feature | Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

If you've been a happy Game Boy or DS owner at any point in the past five years, you're likely a fan of the immortal Castlevania series. Each one pits a lone hero against the forces of Dracula, but the latest entry in the series, Portrait of Ruin, bucks that trend by teaming you up with a magical young girl. To get the straight talk on the change, and just generally gush a little praise, we sat down with series creator Koji "IGA" Igarashi and composer Michiru Yamane. GamesRadar: Portrait of ... » Read More

The Knowledge