From the very opening, you’ll notice that the dev team focused a lot on updating the game’s look for its Dual Screen debut. Before you start a new game, the intro breaks into an anime cut-scene depicting the story that is about to unfold. The...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Portable Review
GamerDad
The game uses the touch screen and dual screens in three fairly ordinary ways, all of which work well without feeling ‘gimmicky' or superfluous. First, when defeating an enemy Boss, you must sever his connection to the dark underworld feeding the...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at GamerDad
Okay. Soma, the white-haired character from Aria, was the reincarnation of Dracula. Turns out he didn't really want the job and fought tooth and nail to ensure that he didn't become the dark lord. Dawn of Sorrow picks up a year after these events, as...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at UnderGroundOnline
DreamStation.cc
Dawn of Sorrows makes use of all the DS controls including the touch screen, in fact the entire game plays out on the touch screen, with the top screen reserved for map and status info. With the exception of the touch screen controls, the game plays much...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at DreamStation.cc
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Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow Critic Reviews continued...
Games are Fun
By pressing the Select button you can also switch the top screen to a mini stats screen. It will tell you your level, your stats--such as strength, luck, constitution, attack, etc.--how much experience you need until your next level, how much gold you...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Games are Fun
One year after the events of Aria of Sorrow, a relaxed and content Soma Cruz spends time with his childhood friend, Mina Hokuba. Without warning, they're accosted by a Priestess that goes only by the name of Celia, determined to kill Soma for her own...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Jive Magazine
Dawn of Sorrow is certainly a must-have title for the DS. Not only did it bring back memories of the fun I had playing the original Castlevania games on my NES, but the inclusion of so much extra content past the game's story mode really makes this one of...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at AceGamez
Nintendo Spin
That is, for me, the true definition of 2D gaming: fast paced and challenging! It is one of the reasons why I still play games and why I think it shouldn't die. I think games are becoming much too easy and that hardcore gamers like me are not offered...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Nintendo Spin
eToychest
The game is extremely rewarding, and would be for anyone – whether they’ve played Aria or Sorrow or not, or even if they have never played a Castlevania title previously. This is a must-own title for any Nintendo DS owner....read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at eToychest
Lawrence
Players once again assume the role of Soma Cruz, the silver-haired protagonist from Aria of Sorrow. Also back from that title is the soul-collection system, and it’s deeper than ever. Souls are randomly collected based on your luck level as you destroy...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Lawrence
High graphic quality is a very important part of any Castlevania title. While the DS cannot match the sheer resolution of a TV screen, the quality of animation and special effects easily meets and exceeds that of Symphony of the Night. The sprites in the...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Game Vortex
MobileTechReview
The story in Dawn of Sorrow takes place one year after the events of Aria of Sorrow have unfolded. This time an eccentric cult, obsessed with reviving the evil Count Dracula, have built an exact replica of his castle and have kidnapped Soma's friends and...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at MobileTechReview
Team Fremont
Dawn of Sorrow takes the soul system used by Aria and essentially 1up’s it a few times over, providing a unique gameplay mechanic that actually affects how the game is played in a very good way. Each of the various souls that Soma can collect by...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Team Fremont
Deeko
Perhaps the finest game in the Castlevania canon and the unique use of the Nintendo DS touch screen, while certainly something of a gimmick, is an entertaining twist to an already entertaining series....read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Deeko
Planet Gamecube
Since the release of Symphony of the Night on PlayStation, every new Castlevania has to be compared to that masterpiece of 2D gaming. The last GBA game in the series, Aria of Sorrow, approached the watermark for gameplay. Its direct sequel, Dawn of...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Planet Gamecube
GameZone
There is no greater event than the time when a new Castlevania arrives. Game Boy Advance was gifted with three of Konami's finest, and although it's still a viable platform, it's time for the series to move onto the next generation: Nintendo DS....read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at GameZone
Essentially, the game is a shoot ‘em up with a 3D perspective, wherein you fly into the screen. You control the craft, the Arwing, by using the D-pad to move, the face buttons to use the weapons, brakes and thrust and the shoulder buttons to barrel...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Cubed3
In spite of what you may have heard about touch-screen additions, the gameplay is as traditional as ever. You’ll still navigate winding passageways, with the help of your trusty map, in a fairly linear fashion, searching for demons to kill. You will...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Gamerz-Edge
Offers the same classic style of previous Castlevania titles, replete with the outrageous bosses, fitting game areas, puzzle solving and platforming aspects which are perfectly harmonious with the new soul-gathering and returning level-gaining aspects of...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Amped IGO
Console Game World
Dawn of Sorrow harkens back to the classic side scrolling outings of previous Castlevania games, after a lacklustre advance into 3D back on the PS2; and it’s just as rewardingly captivating as always, despite its simplicity. The game is a direct sequel...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Console Game World
It’s also the reason why this game is being held to such high standards. As a direct sequel to Aria of Sorrow, Dawn of Sorrow does absolutely nothing wrong; it plays almost exactly like its predecessor. My only real issue here is nothing here can...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at GamersMark
With the tremendous gameplay that is the franchise's hallmark, beautiful graphics and animation, a fantastic soundtrack, and the kind of replay value that makes the phrase "bang for your buck" even more cliche than it already is, it's not even a stretch...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Gamenikki
The gameplay is really tried and true Castlevania through and through. Players take the role of Soma Cruz and search a castle, fighting all manners of monsters and undead. Along the way, they find new weapons, armor and accessories that boost their stats....read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at ControllerFreaks
Soma’s abilities are well-explained in tutorials when new powers are acquired. He picks up special abilities by gaining the souls of defeated enemies. There are three types: One with a passive ability that raises stats, one that acts as a secondary...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Plain Games
RPGamer
In the year 2035, high school student Soma Cruz was heading to the Hakuba Shrine to view the eclipse with his friend, Mina Hakuba. Instead of reaching the shrine he found himself transported to a gloomy castle, which he was soon informed once belonged to...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at RPGamer
Entertainment Depot
While most Castlevania games reserve the role of the main villain for Dracula, Dawn of Sorrow takes place in a time period after Dracula has been defeated. It was revealed in Aria of Sorrow that Soma, the main character in both Aria and this title, was...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Entertainment Depot
Konami, like any self-respecting dev house, is never content to leave well enough alone; thus, when Nintendo released its new DS system, they started a new Castlevania project for the machine. That project, entitled Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, is a game...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at GotNext
My Gamer
This game represents 2D gaming at its finest and shouldn’t missed by anyone. Yes, the touch screen implementation kind of hinders gameplay, but Dawn of Sorrow is still one of best, if not the best, Castlevania game to date....read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at My Gamer
It reintroduces us to an antihero on a quest for personal salvation, a cast of memorable characters, massive levels, remarkable gameplay, and one of the best presentations that the DS has to offer. It’s that kind of combination that makes for a truly...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Thunderbolt
Gamer Within
Stylistically, Dawn of Sorrow doesn’t stray far from its GBA roots. Throughout each of the castle’s regions, you’ll notice a number of different themes that all fit nicely with the Castlevania series. The DS, however, allows for more intricate...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Gamer Within
HonestGamers
Symphony of the Night was fantastic, and Aria of Sorrow only slightly less so, but for the last couple of years I've thought that the Castlevania series would do well to go back to its action-platformer roots. As much fun as exploring a mazelike...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at HonestGamers
Game XC
Soma Cruz is back with his good friends to battle evil once again, exactly one year after the events that took place in Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow. A secret cult has discovered Soma’s powers and want to bring forth his fate as Dracula. After an...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at Game XC
The crusade against the vampire Dracula continues, as Castlevania debuts on DS with this fast-paced fighting adventure. Serving as a sequel to the GBA's Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (2003), Dawn of Sorrow returns players to the role of Soma Cruz, a noble...read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at AllGame
GameSpot
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow is the latest iteration of Konami's decades-old franchise and the first to appear on the Nintendo DS. Don't let the title fool you; this really isn't the dawn of anything, except maybe a bunch more Castlevania games on the DS....read the complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow review at GameSpot
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