Yet another great 2d castlvani game.... who could have thunk it!!

User Rating: 8.9 | Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin DS
The story in this game is a typical Castlevania story. You got somebody or something trying to revive Dracula. In this case its Brauner some old vampire that has a problem letting go of his two dead daughters. Basically, humanity wages World War II and everyone suffers even the vampires. So to retaliate for humanities sins; Brauner decides to steal Dracula’s power and destroy the world. Of course you play a badass girl/guy dude that loves not being able to use his vampire killer. You eventually kill Brauner and end up fighting Dracula and death. The story is typical with no massive twist or turns; just a standard solid Castlevania story.

Once again Konami takes a if it isn’t broken don't fix it mentality with this game as it plays almost identically to Dawn of Sorrow the first DS Castlevania game. This isn't a negative in fact its a positive. The only problem I had with the gameplay is the add-on of a second character. Personally, i feel that this new character is simply a burden on the main character Jonathan. Charlotte doesn't do anything but suck mp away from the main character when see runs into an attacker; and she will run into a ton of attackers. In the end, this "new" gameplay mechanic of adding another character seems more like a burden then an added bonus.

In classic Castlevania style, the extras are simply awesome allowing the player to re-beat the game with Richter or the sisters. Richter’s plays exactly the same as Jonathan but the sisters have a unique twist in that you don't actually press a button to attack with them. All you do is either slash the screen with the stylus or just touch the screen and shoot out ice flakes onto enemies. These simple extras will force you to replay the awesomeness that is the portrait of ruins!!