Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin delivers a refined blend of exploration and action, driven by its innovative dual-character system. You can freely switch between Jonathan Morris, a whip-wielding vampire hunter, and Charlotte Aulin, a spellcasting witch. This dynamic allows you to tailor your approach to each encounter—Jonathan’s close-quarters prowess complements Charlotte’s ranged elemental attacks, and you’ll often find yourself swapping on the fly to exploit enemy weaknesses.

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Each character levels up independently, unlocking new equipment and abilities unique to their archetype. Jonathan’s arsenal of sub-weapons grows stronger with use, encouraging strategic choice rather than button-mashing. Meanwhile, Charlotte’s spellbook expands with magical attacks, form-changing abilities, and buffs that can boost both her and Jonathan’s stats. Mastering these tools is essential for tackling the increasingly complex castle guardians and broken paintings that lurk behind each frame.

A highlight of the gameplay is the Dual Crush mechanic, which lets you expend mana to unleash devastating combo moves when both Jonathan and Charlotte are on screen simultaneously. At first glance, the high mana cost may seem prohibitive, but timing your Dual Crush to finish off a tough boss or clear a swarm of enemies can turn the tide of battle. Additionally, the inclusion of Wi-Fi and local wireless co-operative modes expands the gameplay beyond a single hero’s journey, allowing two players to team up for challenge courses and even trade items at a player-run shop.

Graphics

On the Nintendo DS hardware, Portrait of Ruin achieves a surprising level of detail. The main sprites are crisp and animated smoothly, giving life to Jonathan and Charlotte as they dash, whip, and cast spells. The series’ classic gothic atmosphere is enriched by subtle lighting effects that play across character outlines and environmental tiles.

The game’s most striking graphical feature is its use of magical paintings as portals to foreign worlds. Each portrait transports you to a distinct realm—sunbaked Egyptian deserts, eerie carnivals filled with twisted attractions, and moonlit forests haunted by spectral foes. These varied backdrops boast their own color palettes and enemy designs, reinforcing the sense of discovery as you hop from one painting to the next.

Detailed background layers blend seamlessly with the foreground action, and small touches—like drifting sand in desert stages or flickering torches inside Brauner’s castle—enhance immersion. Though limited by the DS’s resolution, Portrait of Ruin demonstrates that thoughtful art direction can outweigh raw technical power, delivering environments that feel both expansive and meticulously crafted.

Story

The narrative of Portrait of Ruin centers on an ambitious vampire artist named Brauner, who seeks to harness Dracula’s castle’s dark powers through enchanted paintings. Jonathan Morris arrives at the castle intent on thwarting this scheme, only to be joined by Charlotte Aulin—a curious young witch drawn by the paintings’ magic. Their partnership is born of necessity, and it evolves as they uncover Brauner’s twisted gallery of dimension-hopping canvases.

Each portrait functions as a chapter in the story, revealing new facets of Brauner’s plan and shedding light on the castle’s long, violent history. Along the way, you encounter Wind, a mysterious ghost who offers side quests in exchange for rewards. Tracking down rare monsters or mastering secret abilities adds depth to the narrative, turning item hunts into meaningful detours that flesh out the game world.

The plot unfolds at a measured pace, balancing straightforward rescue missions with moments of genuine intrigue. As Jonathan and Charlotte grow stronger, their banter and evolving camaraderie provide emotional stakes beyond mere monster-slaying. While the overarching goal is classic Castlevania fare—defeat the vampire lord’s minions and restore peace—the addition of Brauner’s artistic flair ensures the story feels fresh and engaging.

Overall Experience

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin stands out as one of the DS’s best action-adventure titles, blending Metroidvania-style exploration with strong character synergy. The dual-hero mechanic never feels gimmicky; instead, it enriches every fight and puzzle. Whether you’re trading blows in Dracula’s castle or tipping your hat to Wind’s ghostly errands, there’s always a sense of progression and reward.

The variety of environments accessed through magical paintings keeps the pace lively, preventing the game from growing stale as you move between gothic halls, sandy dunes, and carnival midways. Coupled with tightly tuned combat and a wealth of spells, upgrades, and sub-weapons, Portrait of Ruin offers dozens of hours of content and replayability—especially if you dive into co-op mode or hunt for 100% completion.

For fans of classic Castlevania or newcomers seeking a richly detailed action RPG on the go, Portrait of Ruin delivers a compelling package. Its combination of strong visuals, engrossing story beats, and finely balanced gameplay makes it a must-play for anyone with a DS or DS-compatible device. Prepare to lose yourself in Brauner’s twisted gallery—and emerge stronger, richer, and thoroughly entertained.

Retro Replay Score

8.2/10