After the releases of Konami and M2 with Castlevania Anniversary Collection y Advance Collectionwe were satisfied. Although with high hopes, we doubted that the powerful trilogy of Nintendo DS games would receive the same multiplatform treatment, given the two-screen nature of these games. How great was the surprise when without any prior announcement, Konami released Castlevania Dominus Collection para Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S y PC (Steam).
Let’s get down to business, this is the best collection of games Castlevania that is on the market.
It’s not a question of quantity, because that was already covered by the classics of Anniversary. Nor because it is radically superior to Advanceas it contains a sequel with the same impeccable mechanics, which remains the winning formula. The three games that make up Castlevania Dominus Collection They are the last bastion of an era that ended and has not had another equal exponent in the franchise. A magnanimous farewell, so to speak. They are the example of the high level that could be reached Castlevania and expanded their own main universe beyond the Belmonts.
To complete, Dominus Collection includes the game that gave birth to Castlevania and a remastered version of the same that surprises with its dedication. But let’s start at the beginning, or rather, with the sequel.
A collection that puts its soul into it
The first game of Castlevania for Nintendo DS is a sequel to the already outstanding game Castlevania en Game Boy Advance, Aria of Sorrow. Unfortunately the art of Ayami Kojima is not part of
Castlevania Dominus Collection It is a clear example of how Nintendo DS games should be adapted to modern platforms.. In the case of Dawn of Sorrowthe use of touch screen is designated to draw magic seals on some doors and level bosses, as well as breaking certain blocks such as ice. The advantage for Nintendo Switch users in portable mode is that the touch controls work exactly the same. For the console connected to the TV, as well as other platforms, the right stick and the R2 or ZR button fulfill that function. For the magic stamps, a combination of buttons is used as in the old rhythm games.
What Dawn of Sorrow The fact that the game opted for the ‘anime’ style instead of the one implemented by Ayami Kojima, to appeal to a younger audience, was controversial at the time. This affects the character portraits, covers and manuals, but its gameplay remains impeccable. The soul absorption system returns intact with all the ‘grinding’ of defeating the same enemy several times until obtaining it. As a sequel it tries not to stray too far from its predecessor and that is understandable since they were only separated by a couple of years. Even taking into account Portrait of Ruin y Order of Ecclesiathe gameplay of Dawn of Sorrow It is perfectly balanced and possibly the most addictive of the three. Furthermore, of the three games it is the one with the most endings and secrets.
In Dominus Collectionthe Nintendo DS’s dual screen becomes a triple screen. The main (or touch) game screen is the largest, while the secondary screen – switchable between map and stats – can be converted into two smaller individual screens. Other options include just two screens in landscape format, or portrait format as on the original console. You never feel the need to have just the game screen and you soon appreciate having the map and stats/souls equipped in one place. The three screens are an excellent decision by Konami.
A mirror that is not broken cannot be repaired
These games produced by Koji Igarashiin addition to Kojima’s art, benefited from the music led by the composer Michiru Yamane. As good Castlevaniait’s that soundtrack that helps generate the undeniable atmosphere of the three main titles. It takes certain nuances from the Game Boy Advance themes but improves them considerably on the DS, for those who weren’t fans of the GBA’s audio chip. Like previous collections, the games include a secondary menu for saving and loading states, changing screen options and control settings. Likewise, we can rewind time several seconds and – correcting a detail of Advance Collection— there is no longer a ‘loading’ warning when resuming the game.
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (2006) introduced the mechanics of controlling two characters (Jonathan Morris and Charlotte Aulin), each with their own attacks and strengths. This is its differential point and it is interesting to constantly switch between the weapons of Jonathan –heir to the Vampire Killer– and the magic of Charlotte –descendant of the Belnades–. Likewise, the powerful dual attacks have the capacity at their highest levels to reach the same strength of all generations in the Belmont family. We see how this type of game could be part of the inspiration for the online and local multiplayer of Castlevania: Harmony of Despair. A game that we wouldn’t mind if Konami also resurrected.
Portrait of Ruin It is also a sequel to Castlevania: Bloodlinesexactly with the children of its protagonists. Hence its importance in the franchise’s timeline. While the story of Soma Cruz takes place in 2036, that of Jonathan and Charlotte goes back to World War II. Now, it is with Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (2008) where the same team that developed By decided to break the conventions. Not counting Castlevania Legendsintroduced the first female protagonist under the identity of Shanoa, in a more gothic style illustrated by Masaki Hirooka and leaving aside the ‘anime’. Without the Belmonts or familiar characters around, Order of Ecclesia It is located some time after Symphony of the Night and the titular organization is responsible for keeping the darkness at bay.
Shanoa does not absorb souls like Soma, but she does have a similar ability, as she absorbs glyphs. Glyphs are magical symbols created by the order of Ecclesia and allow the materialization of magical weapons and attacks. Dominus –which gives its name to the collection– is a triad of powerful glyphs supposedly capable of defeating Dracula. This makes Shanoa a lethal warrior who does not even need the Vampire Killer like her other colleagues. Order of Ecclesia It is particularly different because it is a contained installment, not a sequel like Of the y Byas well as having a higher degree of difficulty. The glyphs do not quite reach the “charm” of the soul system of the Sorrowbut we appreciate the predicaments it puts its players in with stronger than usual regular enemies.
Redecorated haunted castle
Haunted Castlehe Castlevania Originally for arcades in 1988, it had already been re-released in Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection. The game returns again in Dominus Collection as part of the additional content, but that’s not the cause for celebration. That version may be “hard to love”, clunky to control and with giant sprites in comparison. What nobody expected is that M2 would pull out of the saddlebag a remastered version also available in the collection: Haunted Castle Revisited.
This new version is much more enjoyable in the graphic and playable aspect. It is the same thing that M2 did on Wiiware with Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirthbased on the first Game Boy game in the franchise. ReBirth is a Wii exclusive title that fans have long asked Konami to re-release. M2 sums up its experience in the collections Anniversary / Advance offering in Dominus an added value, as is this completely new game. Haunted Castle Revisited It’s the closest thing we have for now to ReBirth.
Fortunately we now have this definitive version to experience the origin of Castlevania. An exclusive from Dominus Collectionwhich is officially just part of the additional content of an entirely incredible compilation. The three games of Castlevania for the Nintendo DS they set the castle flag so high, that no mortal developer in the series has been able to match. Just like not wanting Dracula to be resurrected again and again.
Review made with a digital copy of Castlevania Dominus Collection for Nintendo Switch provided by Konami. The collection is also available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC (Steam).
