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Watcha Playing: Castlevania - Portrait of Ruin

Posted by Amber Ahlborn

I have had Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin ever since it was released, but only now am I finally going to beat it. The first time I played it, I screwed up and wasn't going to get the best ending. Yeah, I'm one of those gamers who would rather start over than continue after making a bad plot point choice. Unfortunately, I just haven't been in the mood for a Castlevania game for quite a long time. After a few false starts, the game has languished on my shelf for months. There's another Castlevania coming for the DS soon, however, so it's time I closed the book on this one.

I'm enjoying a staycation from work this week, thus I've been attacking my backlog with a vengeance. I've chewed my way through a couple games already and C:PoR will soon be my third conquest, though the final battle looks to be a really nasty one. Also, there's a secret area in the game I want to unlock and play through before I finish off the big bad. This is another excellent entry into the metroidvania style Castlevania games that have graced the GBA and DS. I don't think I've enjoyed it as much as the Aria and Dawn duo that came before it, but I have no big complaints. Well, maybe I am a little annoyed by the art style.

Starting with Dawn of Sorrow, Koji Igarashi decided to switch from the distinct look of Ayami Kojima's Gothic art style and go with a more generic anime style. The new look is okay, but it lacks the dramatic personality of the former. Thankfully, it seems this is about to be fixed. The next Castlevania on the horizon is Order of Ecclesia.

Ahh, now that's looking much better.

Related Links:

When Good Developers Go Bad: Koji Igarashi

New Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia Pics

Watcha Playing: Blast Works -Build-Trade-Destroy-

+ DIGG

+ DEL.ICIO.US

+ REDDIT

Posted Oct 09 2008, 10:00 AM

Filed under: castlevania, amber ahlborn, ds, watcha playing, castlevania portrait of ruin

Comments

Nadia Oxford said:

I like Portrait of Ruin more than some of my fellow Castlevania freaks; there are some interesting themes to be had, for example, family. But the game felt under-realised, too. Konami knew we were all getting a little tired of going through Dracula's Castle and its many variations, so it sent us outdoors again. That was cool, but seeing as the second half of the game was an unoriginal variation of the first half...well...bleh.

Konami also made a big deal out of this being a "modern" Castlevania game, taking place near the end of WW II. That's great, but there was very little that reminded us of that. Neither Charlotte nor Johnathan talked, dressed or acted like WW II-era people.

October 9, 2008 5:25 PM

LBD "Nytetrayn" said:

Somehow, I think the anime style works for CV games which take place after the turn of the 20th Century. Of course, I would like to see how Kojima's Charlotte and Jonathan would look...

But I do love this game; it's the one that really got me back into Castlevania and into the Metroid style ones, at that.

October 9, 2008 9:03 PM

About Amber Ahlborn

Artist, writer, gamer and DigiPen survivor, she maintains a day job as a graphic artist. By night Amber moonlights as a professional Metroid Fanatic and keeps a metal suit in the closet just in case. Has lived in the state of Washington and insists that it really doesn't rain as much as everyone says it does.

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John Constantine, our superhero, was raised by birds and then attended Penn State University. He is currently working on a novel about a fictional city that exists only in his mind. John has an astonishingly extensive knowledge of Scientology. Ultimately he would like to learn how to effectively use his brain. He continues to keep Wu-Tang's secret to himself.

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Amber Ahlborn - artist, writer, gamer and DigiPen survivor, she maintains a day job as a graphic artist. By night Amber moonlights as a professional Metroid Fanatic and keeps a metal suit in the closet just in case. Has lived in the state of Washington and insists that it really doesn't rain as much as everyone says it does.

Nadia Oxford is a housekeeping robot who was refurbished into a warrior when the world's need for justice was great. Now that the galaxy is at peace (give or take a conflict here or there), she works as a freelance writer for various sites and magazines. Based in Toronto, Nadia prizes the certificate from the Ministry of Health declaring her tick and rabies-free.

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