“Castlevania Dominus Collection” is a dream come true for any fan of the series, bringing together three iconic Nintendo DS titles—”Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow,” “Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin,” and “Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia”—into one meticulously curated package. But the surprises don’t end there; the collection also includes the 1988 arcade classic “Haunted Castle” and its reimagined counterpart, “Haunted Castle Revisited.” For people who loved these games, this compilation will be an exquisite blend of nostalgia with great modern gaming enhancements. For me, I never owned a Nintendo DS shockingly, so this has been a dark void of Castlevania titles I never got to play, which had me extremely stoked when this was announced and released very suddenly this last week.
Since this was originally on the DS, the first thing that occurred to me was “weren’t there supposed to be two screens to play this?” Transitioning that experience to our modern single-screen consoles could have been awkward. However, this collection gives you several options to tailor the dual-screen experience to your liking. You can go with the original layout, place the screens side by side, or even resize one screen to be larger than the other. This is particularly useful since you can now view both the map and status screens simultaneously, a feature that wasn’t possible on the original DS.
Let’s talk about the games themselves. “Dawn of Sorrow” continues the story of Soma Cruz, a young man with the power to absorb the souls of monsters. Set one year after the events of “Aria of Sorrow,” Soma finds himself once again caught in a conspiracy to resurrect Dracula. The soul fusion system, which allows players to create weapons by combining monster souls, is as addictive as ever. The stunning 2D graphics, combined with the intricate level design, make this title a standout in the collection. “Portrait of Ruin” introduces a dynamic duo—Jonathan Morris and Charlotte Aulin—who must work together to uncover the secrets behind Dracula’s Castle. The ability to switch between the two characters on the fly makes this one of the most interesting titles in the series. “Order of Ecclesia” stands out for its unique protagonist, Shanoa, the only human capable of using glyphs, magical symbols that grant her extraordinary powers. The game’s focus on exploration and glyph collection, along with its challenging difficulty, was a refreshing take on a series where I normally know what I’m getting.
The inclusion of “Haunted Castle” and its remake, “Haunted Castle Revisited,” is the cherry on top. The original arcade game, which is also one I never played before, though apparently notoriously difficult, it was a cool educational trip back to the early days of Castlevania. The reimagined version modernizes the gameplay and graphics while retaining the charm of the original. Another standout feature is the rewind function. It’s a godsend for me me who tends to make the occasional slip-up. Now, when you’re on the brink of losing all your health and facing a dreaded Game Over screen, you can simply rewind to a safer point and try again. It’s a great way to reduce frustration without taking away from the game’s challenge. The addition of a quick save feature is another welcome improvement. Whether you’re in the middle of a tough battle or exploring the depths of Dracula’s Castle, being able to save your progress at any time is a luxury that wasn’t available in the original releases.
For those who appreciate the finer details, Konami has nailed it again with this collection, it includes an art gallery and a fully accessible soundtrack. The art gallery offers a treasure trove of never-before-seen artwork, which are stunning and gave me even more of an appreciation of the series’ artistic legacy. It’s a perfect way to immerse yourself in the atmospheric world of Castlevania, even when you’re not playing. “Castlevania Dominus Collection” is a masterfully crafted package that honors the legacy of the series. Whether you’re revisiting these titles or discovering them for the first time, this collection is a must-play for any Castlevania fan.
9/10
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Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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