Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow once again continues that legacy of incredible 2D action/adventure titles and will easily get the seal of approval from any fan of the series. Making the series debut on the Nintendo DS, not only does Konami take full advantage of the Dual Screen by placing the much needed map where it can be seen at all times, but the touch screen even gets a bit of love with some innovative ways to expand the series.

A sequel to Aria of Sorrow, you once again take the role of Soma Cruz. You find yourself at the center of a mysterious cult’s plan to resurrect their evil lord and master, Dracula. In order to save yourself and protect the lives of those you love, you must infiltrate the enemy’s lair, a towering replica of Dracula’s castle that is teaming with monstrous creatures, boss enemies, and surprises.

Dawn of Sorrow is another beautiful Castlevania title that is large in scope and never fails to impress. Your quest takes you through wonderfully designed and unique areas that are both terrifying and beautiful at the same time. With hundreds of distinctive monsters around every corner, the game never tires and makes every environment you visit fresh and exciting. Everything moves and animates so smoothly, complete with awe-inspiring special effects, that it will make you realize that there is still more life for 2D games. Toss in a fully animated opening and you have the complete package and one of the best-looking Castlevania titles to date.

Audio is also brilliant if carried by the remarkable score. Sure, you have nicely done sound effects, monster sounds, and even a hint of voice acting, but the score, as with most Castlevania title, stands out the most. The haunting orchestrated score is both pleasant and creates the mood for each environment. The stereo channeling is equally impressive, especially noticeable when you are using headphones.

Dawn of Sorrow has that Midas touch of Castlevania greatness once again when considering the gameplay. Controls are dead on, giving the gamer the feeling of knowing that any mistakes made in the game are the fault of the gamer themselves, not the controls. Once again, this is one Castlevania title that allows you to build up statistics, resources, and powers. Your weapon supplies are literally endless, with tons of weapons and armor to find, purchase and upgrade. This fact holds true for the powers you can acquire to help you advance from area to area in the castle. Each enemy in the game has a soul you can obtain and utilize; for instance, skeletons allow you to throw bones for added damage, minions who have flying armor allow you to defy gravity and stay in mid air a bit longer, and so many more that it could take a whole page to give examples. Each Soul Type has different outcomes, Bullet Type Souls consume MP each time you use their ability, Guardian Type Souls continually drain your MP while they are activated, Enchant Type Souls grant special abilities to the player and do not consume MP, and Ability Type Soul grants special abilities once they are in your possession, you don’t have to equip them or use MP. You may also buy and sell weapons, souls, and items to increase your strength and abilities. You will need to strategize when buying and selling, as well as ensuring you are at a level that you’ll be able to take on all oncomers, otherwise failure leads you back to your last save point.

The newest feature to the game is the Magic Seal system. In order to get past certain areas or defeat bosses, you’ll need to know and memorize the magic seals, as they are the dagger in the heart. Another use for the touchscreen is the ability to wipe out obstacles that stand in your way. Of course, to use any of these features, you must first obtain the ability. As always, the A.I. is as tough as you are, so if you have been wise and have been leveling up, you’ll be able to take down your foes with little struggle. If you try to breeze through this game, you will spend more time going back to your save point and losing experience than taking the time to level up.

No matter what you think of what has become of the Castlevania series on the consoles, you should not miss Dawn of Sorrow - it is one of the best in the series. With other great DS titles on the horizon, this title should push you over the edge to purchase a DS.