Games

Best of 2008 | 07 | 06 | 05
Advanced Search

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

EMAIL PRINTds

8.4 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 51 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 21 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >

Game Info

Publisher: Konami

Developer: Konami

Genre(s): Action, Adventure

Players: 2

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: December 5, 2006

Summary

Take control of two heroes, Jonathan Morris, a vampire killer and his close friend Charlotte Orlean, a girl with tremendous magical ability. Amidst the chaos of World War II, two mysterious sisters emerge, working to resurrect Dracula and David and Charlotte are all that stand in their way. Two new playable characters, each with their own unique style of play and abilities. Strategically switch between characters in the heat of the action. Call on your partner and execute Summon Attacks to decimate your enemies. Collect items, weapons and magic as you explore the castle. Explore several environments new to the series, such as the Desert, abandoned cities and more. [Konami]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameFAQs GameSpot Hints & Cheats

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Modojo

I'm simply astonished at the fact that Konami has created two of my favorite DS games in only a year apart from each other.

Read Full Review >

100

Gaming Age

Konami delivers once again another fantastic Castlevania game that will not only please fans of the DS, but Castlevania fans as well.

Read Full Review >

N-Insanity

It’s just as good as Dawn of Sorrow, and has the online modes to help promote the longevity.

Read Full Review >

Cheat Code Central

The consistent level of quality has never been a question with the series and the addictive nature of the gameplay always leaves you wanting more...You can bet that Portrait of Ruin will be one of my top-10, DS picks of 06.

Read Full Review >

GameBrink

A game that stays true to the Castlevania series. [JPN Import]

Read Full Review >

AtomicGamer

While it doesn’t innovate that much, it adds just enough and gives you a more than satisfactory amount of new areas to explore to make it a worthy sequel.

Read Full Review >

GameShark

A great example of what's possible on the DS, despite the fact that the game really doesn't go out of its way to utilize many of the DS' marquee technologies. The game is wonderful simply because it delivers a pure unadulterated classic Castlevania experience that looks great and plays like a dream.

Read Full Review >

Nintendojo

The gameplay manages to successfully merge the two Castlevania play styles, while retaining a firm hold on excellent design and presentation.

Read Full Review >

Official Nintendo Magazine UK

This has to be some of the most impressive enemies you'll ever see on the DS. [Feb 2007, p.70]

Gamestyle

The best bits of the best games have been stuck together in one wonderful Castlevania cake.

Read Full Review >

Nintendo Power

Portrait of Ruin provides a whole lot more of a very good thing, and Castlevania fans won't be disappointed with the results. [Jan. 2007, p.114]

GamePro

A game that not only reaffirms the series' greatness, but is easily once of the best handheld games released this year.

Read Full Review >

Game Informer

Putting two characters in the player’s hands proves to be an ingenious way of expanding on Castlevania’s bread-and-butter action. It’s been done before, but Portrait of Ruin’s system is particularly smooth in execution.

Read Full Review >

Games Radar (in-house)

The only thing to really rag on Portrait for is its length. Seven-ish hours is pretty short, no matter how you slice it. But, as with all the other Castlevania games, there are so many bizarre things to do once Drac's down that they totally make up for the main quest's length.

Read Full Review >

Yahoo! Games

Look up "video game" in the dictionary, and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin should be pictured on the page.

Read Full Review >

ZTGameDomain

Easily one of the best handheld games of the year and quite possibly the best Castlevania portable title yet.

Read Full Review >

NintendoWorldReport

If you’ve yet to play a Castlevania game, I’d recommend Dawn of Sorrow over Portrait of Ruin because it’s a more appropriate entry into the series as future games will likely not feature the portraits.

Read Full Review >

Thunderbolt

In terms of action gaming on the DS, Portrait of Ruin is second to none.

Read Full Review >

IGN

Even though the sequel's doesn't offer as strong an original design as the initial DS game, it's still immensely fun with a lot of legs thanks to multiple endings, additional unlockable characters, and a focus on multiplayer that, while not as awesome as it could have been, is a really solid secondary mode.

Read Full Review >

Games Master UK

A bold experiment; far from "Ruin," this Portrait is the Mona Lisa of Castlevanias. [Feb 2007, p.64]

GamingTrend

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin tosses out the clunky touchscreen functions of the previous title and replaces it with a new dual-hero gameplay element. In the end, the game is a worthy addition to the Castlevania lineage, if only the game lasted a little longer.

Read Full Review >

eToychest

If the handheld Castlevania games are part of a long-running machine, it's well-oiled and in no danger of breaking down just yet.

Read Full Review >

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Predictably slick graphics, haunting tunes, challenging bosses, and pinpoint control once again make this a perfectly engrossing DS quest. [Jan. 2007, p.110]

WHAM! Gaming

It has slick visuals and a more-than-memorable soundtrack. It’s too bad the whole dual-player thing wasn’t played up a bit more but it’s still an enjoyable title that’s worth a buy.

Read Full Review >

GamerNode

This is another very solid entry into the Castlevania series, and is one of the best games of the year. But where is the innovation?

Read Full Review >

GameTrailers

The game keeps up a great pace and maintains a steady stream of new enemies and new swords, maces, whips, and magic spells to kill them with.

Read Full Review >

RPG Fan

Overall, this is a Metroidvania game. Get it if you like Metroidvania games. Otherwise, find something else to do with your time. This game does well for what it is, and does not stray even an inch outside.

Read Full Review >

Play Magazine

Twenty years and still pretty much the way it was the first time you laid the smack down on flying medusa heads and shambling mummies. [Jan. 2007, p.77]

GameZone

For hardcore gamers the addition of the second character and Wi-Fi multiplayer are two great additions that set PoR apart from other games in the series.

Read Full Review >

Deeko

As for the visual experience and the orchestral musical score, I have to say I'm impressed - more-so with the music than the graphics, though both are certainly impressive.

Read Full Review >

Gaming Target

The side-quests add a lot of replay value to the game even after completing the story mode.

Read Full Review >

GameSpot

Portrait of Ruin is a great game not because of what it does differently, but because it stays true to the familiar Castlevania design and delivers a fun, lengthy adventure.

Read Full Review >

netjak

A serviceable entry in the Castlevania series. While it's not going to ever contend for best game of all time, and while it also isn't even the best Castlevania on the DS, it's certainly better than a lot of other things out there.

Read Full Review >

VGPub

As someone who loves the ‘Metroidvanias” and the new tradition of tons of unlockable features, I’m very satisfied with Portrait of Ruin.

Read Full Review >

Digital Entertainment News

This is yet another solid Castlevania game, but the series is starting to tire out thanks to a lack of worthwhile change. What changes this game does make simply don’t cut it, and while Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin is still a decent title, it happens to be far too much like the last decent title in the series.

Read Full Review >

Edge Magazine

Full of bravado, packed with features and brimming with invention, this 20-year-old veteran is as vital and relevant as ever. [Jan 2007, p.84]

Pocket Gamer UK

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin is a deep, enthralling game but the presence of some flawed elements mean it's not as good as the previous "Dawn of Sorrows."

Read Full Review >

GameDaily

The two-character system is magnificent and very easy to get into, and the presentation makes proper use of the DS.

Read Full Review >

1UP

All the focus on the game's details comes at the expense of its questionable design and overall lack of cohesion. It's here that the latest Castlevania comes up short.

Read Full Review >

Worth Playing

All in all, Castlevania Portrait of Ruin is very short, fairly slapdash and kind of easy, but this doesn't stop it from being a worthy addition to a fantastic franchise.

Read Full Review >

GameSpy

That attitude pervades Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin: the idea that a definitely well-done safe idea is better than a possibly flawed risky idea, no matter what stagnation may follow.

Read Full Review >

PALGN

Another well produced handheld Castlevania, and with at least a few new features for once.

Read Full Review >

AceGamez

Had this game followed through with more of its new features other than with the dual characters, it would have set itself apart from Dawn of Sorrow. Instead, it simply falls in line behind it as well, letting many of its individual traits fall short of their full potential.

Read Full Review >

Boomtown

Though it may not be the best example of whip-cracking fun in Castle Dracula, it’s got a damn sight more in its favour than a great many other games out there at the moment.

Read Full Review >

G4 TV

Portrait of Ruin delivers a solid, exciting trip back into the walls of Dracula’s Castle without too many new systems to learn first. However, for the casual fan, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin delivers little more than its handheld predecessors. A fun experience, certainly, but the same experience they’ve had before.

Read Full Review >

games(TM)

With its array of improvements and considered removals, Portrait Of Ruin feels like the best Castlevania in an age. Its slick 2D gameplay has been honed to perfection through the last five handheld instalments, leaving every 3D incarnation hanging its head in shame. [Feb 2007, p.110]

NGamer UK

Excellent for beginners, looks great, has masses to do, but doesn't really improve on previous games. Shame, really, with some adjustment this could have been a work of art. [Feb 2007, p.70]

My Gamer

Taking into account that the story doesn't really go anywhere until you're about 4 hours in, it could turn some people away. However, the fun boss battles, wide variety of skills, and the everlasting charm of playing a Vampire Hunter is there, and kept me coming back for more.

Read Full Review >

Eurogamer

I just didn't feel the same magic, the same excitement that flowed from "Sorrow."

Read Full Review >

Gamer 2.0

Personally, we can’t deny our thirst for some unique touch-screen play, a deeper storyline, and a less-linear experience all around.

Read Full Review >

NTSC-uk

The core mechanics have barely changed since the days of Symphony of the Night and as we pointed out in no uncertain terms when we reviewed Dawn of Sorrow , the format is growing stale now.

Read Full Review >

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 21 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Mitch gave it a9:
One of the best Castlevania games. A new level of perfection.

Andrew G. gave it a7:
I have never played a Castlevania game before, so I was pretty excited to play this. Honestly though, it's not really that fun. Perhaps I'm just not a faction of the action genre (i.e. I hated the Marvel Ultimate Alliance game on the Wii, etc.). I think POR would have been much much better if a coop option was available in the story mode. I also would have liked it better if the ending for the normal mode weren't so lame. I played through one of the extras as well, and it wasn't really worth it (and still didn't explain more of the story). The other problem I had was with the difficulty level. Normal is way too easy, and Hard is a little too hard for me. Even so, I did complete the game (twice, if you count one of the extra modes), and there's a strangely addictive quality to it. Recommended for fans of the action genre.

Tracy C. gave it a6:
I was a fan of the way old school Castlevania games and decided to pick this up for my DS. It lasted about 10 hours or less before I finally admitted to myself it was boring. I just did not enjoy it and it did not pull me in.

Mark V. gave it a10:
FANTASTIC! Despite being not quite as good as DoS, this is still one of the best games for the DS. If you own a DS and like 2D adventures or action RPGs, you MUST buy this game. Thank me later.

Jake S. gave it a10:
Fantastic! I got bored with DoS, but I can't stop playing PoR. The dual characters are fantastic. Controls excellent. Story not invasive. Big, and well-done. Gameplay is fun.

ReviewKing gave it a9:
Over all better than Dawn of Sorrow, for these reasons: 1. no more monotonous soul system 2. Overall higher fun factor, close to Symphony of the Night 3. More detailed graphics, more layers in the background 4. AWESOME music score, it won best DS music score at IGN 5. fun to level up your secondary weapons 6. bosses are much more challenging, you dont beat most on the first try like in Dawn of Sorrow 7. Numerous portraits lead to very large levels, making this the biggest Castlevania game ever. Now go buy it!

Will gave it an8:
The gameplay is excellent. But several aspects of the game seem a bit unpolished.

Games

Sony

Microsoft

Nintendo

Other Platforms

Upcoming &Recent Releases

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

Game Info

Summary

Also On Metacritic

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

Upcoming &
Recent Releases