Post by Pilgrim John on Nov 20, 2005 2:45:25 GMT -5
****CASTLEVANIA: DAWN OF SORROWS****
by Pilgrim John
As of this writing, no one has actually entered a review of this game on this forum. So, I decided to do it (Lazy bums).
Yeah, yeah, make all the "Dude Looks A Lady" jokes you want--Soma could STILL whup your papa... With his own limbs. And then absorb his soul and beat up your mama. He's back and ready to kick major pitoot and swallow some serious soul.
*STORYLINE & PLOT*
Featuring all the characters from Aria of Sorrow that you know and love along with new villains you'll love to hate, Dawn of Sorrow probably won't impress too many with its storyline. In year 2035, Soma rejected his evil calling to become the reimbodiment of Lord Dracula. Thusly, a cult group has considered the possibility that neither Graham Jones nor Soma Cruz were worthy of the title "Dark Lord."
However, Graham Jones was not the only one born on the day of Dracula's death. The cult is primarily made up of people with special powers brought to them by Dracula's death (Apparently, his power dispersed and enveloped the newborns of the earth). Two equally nasty individuals, Dario and Dmitrii, are selected as candidates to assume the role of Dark Lord. In order to reach that goal, Soma must die. So, Soma decides not to just sit around after hearing this news--he marches his butt on over to the isolated castle town where this cult group is located and attacks them first.
Trust me, even though I made the story sound as impressive as it is (Considering sequel stories are a pain to write), most people aren't going to care about it. Either way, let's move on to the rest of the game:
*GAMEPLAY*
Fans of the Metroidvania formula, rejoice! The castle town is fun to navigate, the souls all have unique powers (Some that even utilize the touch screen), and the bosses are some of the most fun bosses you will ever fight in a Castlevania game, or in any game, period. One of the bosses, appropriately named "Puppet Master" will send multitudes of dolls on you and attack you by summoning a doll he puts in an iron maiden. If you let him put the doll in the maiden, he will switch you for the doll and you take a ton of damage. The other bosses are worth mentioning, like Paranoia, Aguni, Gergoth, and Abaddon; but I don't have nearly enough time to explain their attack patterns.
In short, this is the best gameplay for the seires. Swallowing souls to smash more villains in a giant castle. Ingenius.
*SOUND*
Crisp. Sharp. Many adjectives come to mind when thinking about the sound for this game. I often wonder where Konami gets their sound effects for their games. Anyway, from howling wolves to screaming banshees to Soma Cruz's voice clips, you'll enjoy listening to all of it, you sick demented creep you.
As for the music, beh. The worst I've ever heard... Gotcha! Gotcha good! The music is in fact the best game soundtrack to ever grace a handheld, let alone the DS. Come on. Listen to the themes to Dark Chapel and Demon Guest House and try not to feel creeped out. Listen to the themes to Wizardry Lab and Condemed Tower and try not to tap your toes in tandem with the beat. I dare you.
*GRAPHICS*
Wow. Just, wow. If you were one of the many who complained about the GBA's inability to produce PSone quality graphics, I advise you to buy a DS and pick this game up. The graphics alone will blow you away. Well... Yeah, I understand that their sprites. and this isn't a game with 3D visuals. But the sprites are animated so well that you might lose interest in 3D altogether. 3D fans, you have been warned. As far as comparing it to SotN, though: even if you don't think they're as good as that PSone 'vania, you'll still have to admit that it's pretty darned good attempt.
*PRODUCTION*
The cinematics are what you'd expect... Considering. Considering that Castlevania games since SotN really rely on nothing more but puppet shows to display what's going on. If you watched the opening cinema when you start up the game and wait for a second, you'll wonder why none of the cinematics were done in the anime-ish style this was. This is the only major point of criticism I have about the game--why just one anime cutscene? What's with the puppet shows all the time? Ah well... The puppet shows still get the job done. And unlike in a certain PS2 'vania *cough, Lament of Innocence, cough, gag*, the dialogue is actually interestingly written.
*UNLOCKABLES*
If it's one thing 'vanias are notorious for, it's half-hearted unlockable "Quest as another character" missions. They have no story or plot to actually make them interesting. You just play through the game again and fight the same bosses the same way as one of the game's supporting cast members, and are rewarded for your efforts with a weak ending.
Forget it. Not here. Not this time.
You are treated to a "Fantasy Mission" where Julius, Yoko, and Alucard (Yes, Alucard) have to stop Soma before he destroys the world. It's obviously based off the bad ending of the game. This portion of the game, however, ends up like Castlevania 3 for the NES: you can switch between the three characters with a tap of the X Button and utilize their powers. Julius has the most secondary weapons and has long reach with his whip. Yoko can absorb HP from her enemies by attacking them, and is a highly skilled and dangerous wizard. Alucard is the most powerful character here, but has the fewest secondary weapons and shortest reach.
Also, there is a sound test and boss rush mode (Hey, kids! Can you beat it in five minutes to win a rocket launcher and earn the right to call yourself a man? 'Cuz I sure can't!). Wheee! Fun. Although you'll probably end up having more of a kick out of Julius mode, since it has a different end boss than in Soma's story.
*IN CLOSING*
This is the handheld Castlevania fans have waited for. Buy it now, or Soma will swallow your soul. Then again, if you completely ignore this gem simply because you refuse to believe any other Castlevania could surpass Symphony of the Night, then you don't actually have a soul. Or a brain.
GOOD:
*The graphics are the best 2D images you will ever see on a handheld
*Where does Konami get their sound effects?
*The music will probably end up owning a CD of yours... or two
*The unlockable Julius mode is actually interesting this time. I wouldn't mind playing through it again
*The boss fights are the best in the series
*Replay value > your will to resist playing it
*The story actually brings up a few interesting points of consideration: just how many people were born on the day of Dracula's death? And is this power able to be passed on to later generations? Wow. THIS is how they should have explained mutation in X-Men! Fan fiction fever is at an alltime high...
BAD:
*After the excellent anime cutscene, we are treated to puppet shows. Dmitrii is really, really ugly
*The "Build a Dungeon" mode for versus mode ends up lackluster; but neither of these actually matter or factor into the rest of the game, so no points are subtracted
FINAL SCORE: 10/10
Still don't think Symphony of the Night can be surpassed? Think again, smartypants.
by Pilgrim John
As of this writing, no one has actually entered a review of this game on this forum. So, I decided to do it (Lazy bums).
Yeah, yeah, make all the "Dude Looks A Lady" jokes you want--Soma could STILL whup your papa... With his own limbs. And then absorb his soul and beat up your mama. He's back and ready to kick major pitoot and swallow some serious soul.
*STORYLINE & PLOT*
Featuring all the characters from Aria of Sorrow that you know and love along with new villains you'll love to hate, Dawn of Sorrow probably won't impress too many with its storyline. In year 2035, Soma rejected his evil calling to become the reimbodiment of Lord Dracula. Thusly, a cult group has considered the possibility that neither Graham Jones nor Soma Cruz were worthy of the title "Dark Lord."
However, Graham Jones was not the only one born on the day of Dracula's death. The cult is primarily made up of people with special powers brought to them by Dracula's death (Apparently, his power dispersed and enveloped the newborns of the earth). Two equally nasty individuals, Dario and Dmitrii, are selected as candidates to assume the role of Dark Lord. In order to reach that goal, Soma must die. So, Soma decides not to just sit around after hearing this news--he marches his butt on over to the isolated castle town where this cult group is located and attacks them first.
Trust me, even though I made the story sound as impressive as it is (Considering sequel stories are a pain to write), most people aren't going to care about it. Either way, let's move on to the rest of the game:
*GAMEPLAY*
Fans of the Metroidvania formula, rejoice! The castle town is fun to navigate, the souls all have unique powers (Some that even utilize the touch screen), and the bosses are some of the most fun bosses you will ever fight in a Castlevania game, or in any game, period. One of the bosses, appropriately named "Puppet Master" will send multitudes of dolls on you and attack you by summoning a doll he puts in an iron maiden. If you let him put the doll in the maiden, he will switch you for the doll and you take a ton of damage. The other bosses are worth mentioning, like Paranoia, Aguni, Gergoth, and Abaddon; but I don't have nearly enough time to explain their attack patterns.
In short, this is the best gameplay for the seires. Swallowing souls to smash more villains in a giant castle. Ingenius.
*SOUND*
Crisp. Sharp. Many adjectives come to mind when thinking about the sound for this game. I often wonder where Konami gets their sound effects for their games. Anyway, from howling wolves to screaming banshees to Soma Cruz's voice clips, you'll enjoy listening to all of it, you sick demented creep you.
As for the music, beh. The worst I've ever heard... Gotcha! Gotcha good! The music is in fact the best game soundtrack to ever grace a handheld, let alone the DS. Come on. Listen to the themes to Dark Chapel and Demon Guest House and try not to feel creeped out. Listen to the themes to Wizardry Lab and Condemed Tower and try not to tap your toes in tandem with the beat. I dare you.
*GRAPHICS*
Wow. Just, wow. If you were one of the many who complained about the GBA's inability to produce PSone quality graphics, I advise you to buy a DS and pick this game up. The graphics alone will blow you away. Well... Yeah, I understand that their sprites. and this isn't a game with 3D visuals. But the sprites are animated so well that you might lose interest in 3D altogether. 3D fans, you have been warned. As far as comparing it to SotN, though: even if you don't think they're as good as that PSone 'vania, you'll still have to admit that it's pretty darned good attempt.
*PRODUCTION*
The cinematics are what you'd expect... Considering. Considering that Castlevania games since SotN really rely on nothing more but puppet shows to display what's going on. If you watched the opening cinema when you start up the game and wait for a second, you'll wonder why none of the cinematics were done in the anime-ish style this was. This is the only major point of criticism I have about the game--why just one anime cutscene? What's with the puppet shows all the time? Ah well... The puppet shows still get the job done. And unlike in a certain PS2 'vania *cough, Lament of Innocence, cough, gag*, the dialogue is actually interestingly written.
*UNLOCKABLES*
If it's one thing 'vanias are notorious for, it's half-hearted unlockable "Quest as another character" missions. They have no story or plot to actually make them interesting. You just play through the game again and fight the same bosses the same way as one of the game's supporting cast members, and are rewarded for your efforts with a weak ending.
Forget it. Not here. Not this time.
You are treated to a "Fantasy Mission" where Julius, Yoko, and Alucard (Yes, Alucard) have to stop Soma before he destroys the world. It's obviously based off the bad ending of the game. This portion of the game, however, ends up like Castlevania 3 for the NES: you can switch between the three characters with a tap of the X Button and utilize their powers. Julius has the most secondary weapons and has long reach with his whip. Yoko can absorb HP from her enemies by attacking them, and is a highly skilled and dangerous wizard. Alucard is the most powerful character here, but has the fewest secondary weapons and shortest reach.
Also, there is a sound test and boss rush mode (Hey, kids! Can you beat it in five minutes to win a rocket launcher and earn the right to call yourself a man? 'Cuz I sure can't!). Wheee! Fun. Although you'll probably end up having more of a kick out of Julius mode, since it has a different end boss than in Soma's story.
*IN CLOSING*
This is the handheld Castlevania fans have waited for. Buy it now, or Soma will swallow your soul. Then again, if you completely ignore this gem simply because you refuse to believe any other Castlevania could surpass Symphony of the Night, then you don't actually have a soul. Or a brain.
GOOD:
*The graphics are the best 2D images you will ever see on a handheld
*Where does Konami get their sound effects?
*The music will probably end up owning a CD of yours... or two
*The unlockable Julius mode is actually interesting this time. I wouldn't mind playing through it again
*The boss fights are the best in the series
*Replay value > your will to resist playing it
*The story actually brings up a few interesting points of consideration: just how many people were born on the day of Dracula's death? And is this power able to be passed on to later generations? Wow. THIS is how they should have explained mutation in X-Men! Fan fiction fever is at an alltime high...
BAD:
*After the excellent anime cutscene, we are treated to puppet shows. Dmitrii is really, really ugly
*The "Build a Dungeon" mode for versus mode ends up lackluster; but neither of these actually matter or factor into the rest of the game, so no points are subtracted
FINAL SCORE: 10/10
Still don't think Symphony of the Night can be surpassed? Think again, smartypants.
