Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow refines the classic “Metroidvania” formula first popularized by Symphony of the Night, delivering an addictive loop of exploration, combat, and character growth. You guide Soma Cruz through Dracula’s sprawling castle, uncovering new paths by acquiring unique souls, weapons, and items. Progress is non-linear: locked doors, breakable walls, and environmental hazards stand between you and the next chamber. Whenever you absorb a new soul, new routes become available, rewarding both curiosity and persistence.

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Central to the experience is the innovative Power of Dominance, which lets Soma capture the souls of vanquished monsters. Each soul type—Bullet, Guardian, or Enchant—unlocks a variety of abilities, from projectile attacks to stat-boosting passives. This system transforms standard enemy encounters into opportunities to refine your build, encouraging experimentation with different combinations of weapons and soul skills. Whether you prefer hurling fireballs, summoning spectral shields, or dashing through foes, the game supports diverse playstyles.

Combat itself feels tight and responsive. A broad arsenal of melee weapons, including swords, whips, and spears, pairs with firearms and sub-weapons for layered depth. Boss fights punctuate major zones, challenging you to learn attack patterns and optimize your soul loadout. Defeating bosses not only rewards experience points and rare souls but also unlocks shortcuts through the castle, making subsequent runs smoother. Seamless level-up screens and intuitive menus help you manage equipment, souls, and items without interrupting the action.

Beyond the main campaign, Aria of Sorrow offers replay incentives like optional bosses, hidden rooms, and branching pathways. Link-cable trading lets you exchange souls with friends, further expanding your arsenal. After completing the story, you can tackle a “Boss Rush” mode or switch to Julius Belmont’s bonus campaign, each adding fresh challenges. These extras ensure the game remains engaging long after the initial ending.

Graphics

On the Game Boy Advance’s modest hardware, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow achieves a striking visual identity with gorgeously rendered backgrounds and fluid sprite work. Each area—be it the moonlit battlements, shadowy catacombs, or arcane laboratories—boasts detailed textures and atmospheric lighting. Colder hues and flickering torches heighten the gothic ambiance, while color transitions signal environmental shifts and impending danger.

Sprite animations for Soma and his monstrous adversaries are impressively smooth, with high frame counts conveying weight and impact. Sword swings, soul activations, and enemy death throes all pop with satisfying clarity. Boss characters occupy larger portions of the screen without causing slowdown, and their elaborate design palettes stand out against the darker backgrounds.

The UI remains unobtrusive yet functional, with clean menus and straightforward equipment screens. Icons for weapons, armor, and souls are distinct and readable, ensuring quick decisions during heated combat. Loading times are virtually nonexistent, and frame rates hold steady even when multiple elemental effects, summoned Guardians, or projectile barrages fill the screen.

Special features like animated cutscenes and character portraits during dialogue add narrative flair without sacrificing performance. Though limited by GBA resolution, the visual package captures the series’ gothic flair and supports immersion through consistent art direction and attention to detail.

Story

Set in the year 2035, Aria of Sorrow opens with a rare solar eclipse that transports Japanese exchange student Soma Cruz into the depths of Dracula’s castle. From the outset, players sense that something more profound than simple survival drives this tale: Soma discovers he can absorb the very souls of his foes. This unexpected gift, known as the Power of Dominance, becomes both a blessing and a curse as he uncovers the lingering influence of the Dark Lord.

The narrative unfolds through terse yet impactful dialogue, scattered journal entries, and cryptic boss encounters. Key allies and adversaries—including the enigmatic Genya Arikado, spirited magic user Mina Hakuba, and power-hungry cultists—briefly cross paths with Soma, each contributing to the game’s central mystery. Moments of exposition are paced to reward progress, maintaining intrigue without bogging down the action.

Multiple endings hinge on pivotal choices and side objectives, adding weight to exploration and boss priorities. Completing hidden objectives yields the true finale, revealing the full scope of the castle’s dark design and Soma’s destiny. Unlocking alternate conclusions through subtle in-game decisions encourages repeat playthroughs, turning narrative branches into tangible goals.

While the storyline embraces classic horror tropes—ancient evils, occult rituals, and cursed lineages—it distinguishes itself with futuristic lore and the recurring theme of power’s burden. The interweaving of sci-fi elements with gothic fantasy provides a fresh backdrop for fans of both genres, making Aria of Sorrow’s tale as memorable as its gameplay.

Overall Experience

Aria of Sorrow stands as one of the Game Boy Advance’s crowning achievements, seamlessly blending exploration, combat, and RPG mechanics into a portable adventure. With a deep soul-capturing system, non-linear progression, and optional challenges, it offers hours of engrossing gameplay that reward both strategic planning and reflexive skill. The balance between accessible action and meaningful upgrades keeps each session engaging from start to finish.

Graphically, the title punches well above its weight class, delivering richly detailed pixel art, smooth animations, and an evocative color palette that together evoke a pervasive sense of dread and discovery. Coupled with a driving, melodic soundtrack that recalls classic Castlevania themes, the game creates an immersive atmosphere perfect for handheld play.

Beyond its initial playthrough, Aria of Sorrow’s extra modes—Boss Rush, Julius Belmont’s campaign, and link-cable soul trading—extend replayability and community engagement. Multiple endings and hidden objectives encourage players to explore every cranny of Dracula’s fortress, making each return run feel fresh. This depth ensures the game remains rewarding long after the credits roll.

For newcomers and series veterans alike, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow delivers a polished, content-rich package that exemplifies the best of side-scrolling action RPGs. Its combination of tight controls, challenging encounters, and layered exploration make it a must-play title on any GBA collection, setting a high bar for portable Metroidvania design.

Retro Replay Score

8.6/10