Sorrow is that this is hailed as possibly the best in series
| Platform | Presentation |
Controls |
Variety |
Audio |
Depth |
Value & Fun | OVERALL |
| Nintendo DS | 8.00 |
8.00 |
7.50 |
8.50 |
6.50 |
6.00 | 7.19 |
| Presentation |
8.00 |
|
The graphics are excellent in terms of the sprites used and character animations and motion. However, the animations are limited, action slow and backgrounds bland. But those are simply relative to the sprites and are still good. What I have a problem with are the collision detection problems -- namely you usually don't get hit above the shoulders, some enemies are hard to tell what it is that you can hit and what can hit you.
|
| Controls |
8.00 |
|
The controls are basically attack, special attack, jump, soul power 1 and soul power 2. It works well for the most part, but the soul power 1 defaulted to Y+Up was accidentally triggered multiple times through the game; it wasn't a problem, just an annoyance. The combat doesn't feel all that tactile, though, as hitting and being hit is rather indistinguishable other than the small coloured numbers that pop-up, but that isn't always helpful and your own health you'll end up relying on checking your health bar (namely with bosses). Being new to the series, I can't imagine playing this game without the persistent map. Oh, and just let me make mention of the fact that the touch screen soul trapping is an absolute pain -- you get little time; if you accidentally touch in the wrong place at any point and you fail; and it's hard to do with your finger or fingernail.
|
| Variety |
7.50 |
|
There are many baddies to fight, and even more weapons and souls to collect. The souls are very unique unto their own, but the weapons all feel like one of three -- projectile, thrust, or overhand -- but there are slight differences in quickness and size. The game is incredibly short, though, taking me about 7 hours to finish on my first run through.
|
| Audio |
8.50 |
|
Music tracks were very fitting and high quality, especially the rendition of the main theme in the opening sequence (which begs the question why they didn't use that version instead of the game rendition which I find to be the worst track in the game). Boss cries are also very well done.
|
| Depth |
6.50 |
|
Castlevania combat reminds me of "Cooking With Scorpion". Today in Castlevania, you'll learn Chopping, tenderizing, chopping, cake decorating and CHOPPING. It's a rather one-dimensional combat system, even with the soul system, as for the most part the soul attacks do minimal damage or aren't for combat at all.
|
| Value & Fun |
6.00 |
|
For a game with lots of exploration and backtracking, you better make it long, and Dawn of Sorrow is not. The slow plodding action is fun at first, but grows more and more wearisome as time draws on and nothing really is changing or the plot progressing. The story is well, non-existent. Someone wants to kill you and take over as the dark lord and you are out to kill the two prospects -- that's about all. There are secondary characters, but you learn little if anything about them. I don't know whether they are explored further in other Castlevania games or not, but Dawn of Sorrow alone leaves the player in the dark. The ending I got was "We'll have to investigate that" in response to an odd feeling your character had in an earlier battle -- apparently multiple endings are an incentive to play again, but when the story is so menial in the first place, really, what's the point. But enough about story, as it doesn't really matter much; let's move on to bosses. The bosses are each unique and are both the highlight and disappointment. The two enemies you are out to kill are in fact the easiest and most boring battles in the game, especially the final battle (which is basically the same guy again with NO NEW ATTACKS). It really feels as if I missed the end of the game some how. The extras include playing through as a different character (basically just a different sprite) and an abysmal level editor (place enemies whose souls you've collected in the preset level, and you can only place in a narrow section of each area). Ultimately, I can see another play through, but that's still less than 15 hours when I really didn't find a great deal of enjoyment the first time through -- although it was simplistic fun, it left much to be desired.
|
| Overall |
7.19 |
|
I had somehow managed to avoid the Castlevania series, even on the NES. But with the high praise of Dawn of Sorrow and many calling it possibly the best Castlevania ever. I walk away definitely disappointed. Every aspect of the game was simply unsatisfying. It's by no means a bad game or a boring game -- it's solid, but not particularly great in any area, and is very short. I suppose Castlevania fans will be happy, but others I can't be so sure about.
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Posted by Ellyoda Sun, 08 Jan 2006 00:00:00
