Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow Review

By Tom Bramwell Published 13 October, 2005

Invite it in.

Version tested: DS

Being heir-apparent to Dracula sounds fun. You can absorb souls and inherit their powers, you get a big castle, and immensely hot women with no relationship sense will gather round to comfort you and prevent you slipping completely into evil. Even if you did, they'd probably still gather round. Why, then, is Soma Cruz, Dracula's actual heir, so very depressed about it?

Well, for one thing, people keep trying to kill him. In fact, that's the main thing. Last time it was the goodies, who didn't really trust him not to go all the way bad, and now, in Dawn of Sorrow - set at the point in the Castlevania timeline when Dracula's castle is set to reassume some of its former power - it's a bunch of cultists who, while they actually believe in God, equally believe that for him/it/she/Yahweh/etc. to exist there must be an opposing being of absolute evil. Namely Dracula. Since they have some candidates to replace Soma and be the dark lord, they're keen to do away with him.

All of which draws us back, AGAIN, to Dracula's castle, where nasty things are unfolding thanks to the cultists and, well, the fact that it's Dracula's castle. Not that we're complaining - Dawn of Sorrow is one of the best Castlevania games we can remember, and although its concessions to the DS's unique feature-set are of varying quality and import, it's still a game that you definitely need to own if you have more than a passing interest in action-adventure. Although, you might want to clarify whether it's action-adventure you like, first, because Castlevania's biggest trick was and is its unique transcendence of gaming instincts.

The most obvious things to say about Dawn of Sorrow are things we've heard before. It's a 2d, side-scrolling game that subtly blends combat and platforms into a puzzle mix. As Soma Cruz, you do much as the Belmonts used to, feeling out the boundaries of the areas you can reach and then using your various abilities to make progress in one of them, maybe meeting a boss, and through your actions being granted access to some tool or ability that you didn't have, which makes critical difference in another area. Or several.

In this way you make progress through the castle, using the 2d map to monitor your progress and handy warp points to shorten the distance when it's necessary to backtrack, and as you do you build up an arsenal of weapons and abilities, each with specific characteristics - axes may do more damage over a wider area, for example, but they lack speed compared to daggers - and with demons of many descriptions lurking in every room, respawning when you re-enter, you're going to need to get used to those characteristics.

'Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow' Screenshot hard

Big doesn't always mean hard. Seriously. Four hits.

As Dracula's heir, your ability to consume souls gives you command of an unusual repertoire of moves, which can be equipped like weapons or armour. Some are passive, simply improving a particular characteristic, while others are more active, allowing you to float as you drop through the air rather than tumbling directly, for example, or chucking a puppet through a small gap and then switching places with it. More still are simply violent - big bows and arrows, laser beams and such - which drain your mental strength bar.

As you go, you continually top yourself up with health and strength potions and new weapons from Hammer, the shop-keep. At least, you do when you pop back over to see him, as he's not one of these nutty 'keepers who tends to spring up everywhere. His opposite number is a blonde witch called Yoko, whose main virtue - assuming you find her conversational skills inversely proportional to the contents of her [cauldron - Ed] - is forging your weapons into bigger, more impressive vessels of DEATH using some of your gathered souls.

This being the DS, Dawn of Sorrow also benefits from the second screen, stylus and wireless networking - with varying degrees of success. Best use, oddly, is the most basic - constantly displaying the 2D map on the top-screen may be simple, but it removes a frustrating layer of interface that used to chew up our goldfish-brained will to live, never mind all the time it took us to check on it every few seconds. When you do dive into the menus, they're split over both screens allowing you to take more in at once.

'Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow' Screenshot hammer

Hammer. He doesn't have a brother.

Wi-Fi, to get that out of the way, is two modes - VS Mode and Soul Trade. The former involves getting friends to battle through levels populated, to your specification, with enemies. The latter is for trading souls, ergo abilities. And if you think we've tried either, then you also think we got sent two copies. We didn't. Neither sounds that essential though. Trading souls in particular sounds like it flies in the face of the way the single-player works. Although we suppose that's what bats do.

Stylus use is a touch haphazard. Using it to carve a path and even staircases out of icy blocks is a neat trick, but its main use here is for drawing Magic Seals, the final act of most boss fights. Basically, when you land the decisive blow against one of the big'uns, a circular interface pops up and you have to draw a specific pattern between blue flaming points dotted around it. This is fine at first, but it gets a bit awkward and it feels bolted on - although we certainly appreciated the sight of it when we'd been busily thwacking a particular enemy with no joy for some time.

As you can probably infer from all of that - and as you doubtless understand if you're any kind of Castlevania follower - repetition, replay and backtracking are inherent to the series and Dawn of Sorrow. Although there's a network of warp points, they're not always quickly uncovered, so journeying back and forward on foot is to some extent inevitable. Indeed, the design tends toward backtracking, because it's about keeping an eye open for new openings and then remembering to exploit them later.

'Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow' Screenshot magicseals

Magic Seals. Not what you'd expect.

There's nothing particularly wrong with this approach, and thanks to an RPG-style progression system of levelling up health, strength, defence and other attributes, as well as the near-constant acquisition of new weapons and abilities, you'll find that areas become easier to traverse. An enemy that breathes a poisonous cloud after being clubbed three times, taking four blows to die, may be gone in one strike of your best weapon just a couple of hours later, virtually nullifying the threat. You also acquire the ability to switch between "sets" of abilities and weapons/armour by tapping X, which speeds things up.

That said, Dawn of Sorrow - as much as any of its forebears - relies to a certain extent upon the player's willingness to be engaged in this practice of pushing and pulling in familiar areas. Exploring a new area becomes a balancing act - do you keep pushing forward, because a save point's probably going to pop up soon, or double-back before the return journey becomes too perilous to complete without dying? Dawn of Sorrow is sometimes exacting in this sense, but it's usually just the right side of fiendish.

As are the bosses. Some are about brute strength and learning attack patterns; others require a more thoughtful approach. Not all are memorable, but they break things up, save points are always nearby, and the sense of satisfaction you get from conquering one is worthwhile - and the inevitable new toy a sort of blood-soaked cherry on top.

Dawn of Sorrow, like its predecessors and the Metroid series to some extent, is one of those games that initially seems to contradict accepted wisdom about mechanics becoming tedious when you can see through them, because while on the surface it's about roaming round a castle collecting weapons and triumphing over evil, that's not what its hooks are snagging you with. At one point, you're faced with a sliding puzzle that controls the rooms - this is far more of a microcosm for whole game. It's not that it relies on a healthy suspension of disbelief to overcome its contrived elements; it's about bringing order to foggy chaos. This, it does with aplomb.

And then it's about doing the whole thing again with another character. Seriously. Buy a stake.

9 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (51) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • RabidMonkey #1 6 years ago

    A nine!!!!!!

    My, my.

  • ProfessorLesser #2 6 years ago

    Yes! EG agree with me! I am t3h r0xx0rz!

  • Huntcjna #3 6 years ago

    Great review, great game, end of story

  • jmctavish #4 6 years ago

    Hurry up Amazon you bastards! I ordered this on Monday and it's still not been dispatched. I'll just have to play Advance Wars in the meantime so it's not all bad.

  • knif3r #5 6 years ago

    some seriously good games coming to the DS now - it just looks more fun than a PSP

  • Salaman #6 6 years ago

    Hmmmmmm I only played one Castelvania and that was on the NES.
    Hated it. got sort of stuck from the word go and never returned to it.

    /sits on the fence .. mildly traumatised

  • ProfessorLesser #7 6 years ago

    Give in, Sal.

    I know I run the risk of 'starting something' here, knif3r, but you're right. Currently, and up till Christmas, as far as I can see (GTA is ONE GAME), the DS shits all over the PSP. Quality stuff.

  • RabidMonkey #8 6 years ago

    Well, my DS certainly gets played more than my considerably more expensive PSP.

  • kflarsen #9 6 years ago

    I'm sorry, but I just cannot see the appeal of the Castlevania games (or the Metroid games for that matter). They are just tedious and frustrating. I bought the first GBA Castlevania (at full price, as one of the first games for my then new handheld wonder) based on the praise from every gamesite on the internet, and I never completed it.

    I'd say it's definately a case of try before buy, because it's just not everyone's cup of tea.

  • faux_carnation #10 6 years ago

    Love metroid, hate castlevania, am I some sort of mutant?

  • Tonka #11 6 years ago

    I haven't played any of the Castlevanias. Reading this review made it sound similar to the Metroid series.

    Is that right? Is it like Metroid. If so then I'm sold
    or rather the game is,
    to me that is,
    in a near future

  • absolutezero #12 6 years ago

    Amazing game, some things could have been better implemented or better yet left out completely, like the seals.

    Like Ive said before its like a Gothic Pokemon in its addictiveness.

    15 hours in so far and im pretty close to doing everything that I can in the main game, still have Julius mode to play about with and bunch of other stuff.

    One of the best games on the DS so far, thats high priase seeing as the DS has many many fantastic games to date.

    disc theres a 2D Metroid on the way for the DS alongside Hunters!!
    Edited by 1 at 13/10/05 @ 17:19

  • Hog-lumps #13 6 years ago

    Love metroid, hate castlevania, am I some sort of mutant?

    Er, yes you freak! :)

    Is that right? Is it like Metroid.

    It's very similar to metroid exept I don't think it's as balanced and finely tuned. I.e the rpg elements in casltevania mean you can become too powerful if you abuse the leveling up!

    But apart from that it's a fab game!


  • ProfessorLesser #14 6 years ago

    Dawn of Sorrows was my first Castlevania experience, and I am the hugest Metroid fanboy you will ever meet. DoS is strongly reminiscent of the Metroid games, though of course nowhere near as good ;-)

    Tonka, you'd like it. Disc, you should try it. Kflarsen, you're wrong ;-)
    Edited by 1 at 13/10/05 @ 17:20

  • UncleLou #15 6 years ago

    I really like it a lot. I have never played a Castlevania game before, so it's all new to me, and it feels a bit like the side-scrolling bastard child of Prince of Persia and Diablo.

  • therev #16 6 years ago

    I love Castlevania games, but have never enjoyed a Metroid game.

    I'm definitely a freak.

  • Kami #17 6 years ago

    Agree with the score. Despite the few shortcomings of the game, the rest is done with such impeccable aplomb that it really is hard not to get sucked in. And you end up with a game, while not perfect and with a little tweaking could have been, will still destroy your spare time and eat into your dark, lonely nights.

    Wonderful game. Just wish the "magic seals" thing was done a bit better, s'all...

  • Hog-lumps #18 6 years ago

    'Just wish the "magic seals" thing was done a bit better'

    Am I weird for liking the magic seals thing? I think it gives it that 'take that you bastard!' moment as you send them to their doom............maybe I'll get bored of it though!

  • JP #19 6 years ago

    The thing to remember about the Castlevania series (aside from the fact that all the 3D ones are rubbish) is that it underwent a glorious transformation on the Playstation... Symphony of the Night was a total re-think of what had once been a fairly straightforward stage-based platformer. SotN is basically Super Metroid with a few Castlevania core mechanics still kicking around. The GBA and now DS installments have been reiterations of that basic template. So, like Super Metroid, it's all about exploration, finding new abilities and using them to get into new areas. If you've played the original Castlevania or any other pre-SotN sequel and didn't like it, give SotN or Aria of Sorrow or this one a look, ESPecially if you like Metroid. I personally find the pre-SotN titles a bit tiresome, because they're (more or less) on rails rather than roaming from room to room in the giant maze.

  • nightsparkle #20 6 years ago

    great as always i reckon. nothing has ever betterd true 2d platforming

  • Feanor #21 6 years ago

    "Currently, and up till Christmas, as far as I can see (GTA is ONE GAME), the DS shits all over the PSP. Quality stuff."

    Shits all over the PSP? What a joke. PSP has games the DS can only dream of like Virtua Tennis, Burnout Legends and the upcoming GTA. DS has great games like Phoenix Wright, this Castlevania game and Animal Crossing DS is on the horizon. Just pick whatever platform has the games that appeal to you or buy both. Try and keep up with what's available on both platforms and you'll make better informed posts in future.

  • squeakyg #22 6 years ago

    Every time a DS or a PSP game is reviewed, the comments section turns into a DS vs PSP flamewar.

    Tiresome.

  • GuiltySpark #23 6 years ago

    but unavoidable when retards say things like

    "Currently, and up till Christmas, as far as I can see (GTA is ONE GAME), the DS shits all over the PSP. Quality stuff. "

  • Mashum #24 6 years ago

    It's a point of view, that's what forums are for give the guy a break.

    Honestly bloody PSP owners... crikey...
    Edited by 1 at 14/10/05 @ 13:41

  • ProfessorLesser #25 6 years ago

    Excuse me for having an opinion, fellas. Hardly any need to come back with personal attacks, is there? I was aware what I said could be taken provocatively - and I obviously don't think GTA is the only game between now and Christmas. You know what, I can't be bothered to play the fire extinguisher again.

    Some people are far too defensive here. So I prefer the DS? Jesus.

  • absolutezero #26 6 years ago

    From my point of view of owning both, I have 3 games pre-ordered between now and xmas, I have about 4 DS games in mind for the same period. Keep in mind that I now own 11 DS games and 4 PSP games.

    Yeah the PSP is great if you like games with cars in them.

  • Malakhai #27 6 years ago

    Loved Aria of Sorrow, gonna have to buy this one.

  • captain-future #28 6 years ago

    2D Castlevania rocks already: will they ever get a decent 3D version out?

  • ProfessorLesser #29 6 years ago

    On the Revolution, hopefully. As a Belmont.

    Whiptastic!

  • Toonster #30 6 years ago

    I haven't played any of the Castlevania games... should I get it? I'm not sure. My b-day's coming up soon, so I need to know.... NOW!!!

  • Feanor #31 6 years ago

    "Some people are far too defensive here. So I prefer the DS? Jesus."

    "as far as I can see (GTA is ONE GAME), the DS shits all over the PSP."

    "Prefer" and "shits all over" obviously aren't the same thing. We're not defensive, you just made a lame fanboy comment in your first post that got the criticism it deserved.

  • TILT #32 6 years ago

    His opposite number is a blonde witch called Yoko, whose main virtue - assuming you find her conversational skills inversely proportional to the contents of her [cauldron - Ed] - is (...)
    I don't get that... does that mean she's hot? Stupid? Vacuous? Chesty? Could someone explain this to me in simple terms, please? I'm not a native speaker, mind you, so bear with me.

  • SlackMaster #33 6 years ago

    jmctavish, think yourself lucky. I ordered Dawn of Sorrow on the day of release in the early hours of the mornign and I've had to wait until 13th Octorber for my order to be dispatched. Should be here next week.

    Personally I can't wait. I've played through pretty much every Castlevania game since the days onf the NES except for Demon Castle Dracula X: Rondo of Blood.

  • SlackMaster #34 6 years ago

    TBH I was dissapointed with the N64 Castlevania games but Lament of Innocence on the PS2 was actually very good. I'm really looking forward to Curse of Darkness, although it would be good to revisit the Simon Belmont story but Castlevania 2: Simons Quest either on DS or PS2/XBox.

  • media_junkie #35 6 years ago

    Am I the only one who prefered this series when it was a left-to-right whip-em-up platformer as opposed to Metroid with bats as it's become now? I certainly prefered Super Castlevaia IV on the SNES to SOTN. I also prefer 2D Mario to the 3D collect-em-up borefests they have nowadays.

  • Rociel #36 6 years ago

    'Big doesn't always mean hard. Seriously, four hits'

    You can take down a Final Guard in four hits? You must be some kind of god.

  • FairgroundTown #37 6 years ago

    "I hope it's not an extreamly hard game though"

    I'm guessing that this is pretty hard for "normals" like us*, otherwise Tom would have complained it was too easy???

    * I couldn't finish Viatti off in Minish Cap either

  • SlackMaster #38 6 years ago

    'Media_Junkie', I feel your pain ;)

    Yeah the best Castlevania IMO has to be Super Castlevania IV... wasn't as challenging as Castlvania on the NES but it was a great game and still plays really well today.

    I think many reviews were unfair to Lament of Innocence on the PS2, stating that the camera was a real problem when in fact it wasn't... Always been a huge fan of the series ever since I brought Castlevania on the Nes. So far I've only been dissapointed by the N64 games.

  • zErOb_cOOl #39 6 years ago

    I knew this game looked mint from the screens alone.

    This is the direction you have to go. Nothing fancy in 3D, just (fairly) classic Castlevania. 'Simple and effective' you might say.

  • zErOb_cOOl #40 6 years ago

    "I'm sorry, but I just cannot see the appeal of the Castlevania games (or the Metroid games for that matter). They are just tedious and frustrating. I bought the first GBA Castlevania (at full price, as one of the first games for my then new handheld wonder) based on the praise from every gamesite on the internet, and I never completed it.

    I'd say it's definately a case of try before buy, because it's just not everyone's cup of tea."

    I'll agree with that. You have to have a bit of 'hardcore gamer' about you for Castlevania. I bet this isn't as hard as the NES original though!

  • UncleLou #41 6 years ago

    I didn't find it very hard yet, and that's coming from someone who never had a GBA and really isn't used to pressing all the different buttons on a handheld. :) I died a couple of times at the bosses, but the fun thing is that there's always a combination of weapons/equipment that makes it rather easy. Perfect for me, as I am not particualrly fond of boss battles usually, but figuring out what to use against them is great fun.

    I am convinced I am going through a lot more health potions than the average gamer though. :)

  • spazmo #42 6 years ago

    Huh!? You actually use the Health potions?
    /snigger

  • UncleLou #43 6 years ago

    Yes, I do. In the boss battles. Loads. I am too impatient to follow the whole "learn pattern, evade" routine. Brute force + health potions = teh win.

    Glad that you're great enough not to need them, though. ;p

  • twinbee #44 6 years ago

    While I enjoying Dawn of Sorrow I am finding getting 100% soul completion a bit tedious. I have the Soul Eater ring, 9x Ghost Dancers and I still can't get the Iron Golem soul! :(

  • ROCKSTORM #45 6 years ago

    Why don't you compare DS and PSP scores: The obvious better is the DS, any one can see that!!!

  • Cardinal #46 6 years ago

    Great game! Any one else just slightly bothered that the grainy touch screen is used for the main action?...would have much preferred to see the action on the clearer top screen.

  • brombeer #47 6 years ago

    More of the same. I got to boss 3 then gave up. It's so boring, repetative. 6/10.

  • technos #48 6 years ago

    Which one is boss 3?

  • abacabb #49 6 years ago

    Did no-one else find this a bit short? Ok i've only 'completed' 82% but I got to the final boss (and beat him first time by standing almost stationary and shooting him with the silver gun constantly) in 7 hrs play time. I admit it was loads of fun while it lasted, and have since went back to my last save and spent over two hours trying to finish that last 18%, but I was just a bit disappointed to see the end credits so soon.

    Anyone else...?
    Edited by 1 at 28/11/05 @ 15:11

  • volvis #50 6 years ago

    What are the chances of a complete novice to the series enjoying this title? If anyone is still reading these user comments...

  • GuiltySpark #51 6 years ago

    ^^^^^

    answer the man!!