Too bad I bought PoR two weeks ago and DoS when I got my DS.

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I'm not trying to incite a riot here or anything, but...

Consider me tempted but unconvinced. I've never played any of the Castlevania games except for the original NES version, but I never got much enjoyment from whipping candles. However, this IS a fantastic deal.

I've read reviews and heard all the good things about these games, so I'd like the opposing view, if you please.

If you can think of a few good reasons why I might not enjoy these games, please reply.

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how about that u suck at life?

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Damn, that's tempting. I really, really want DoS...

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driven2sin: honestly? that's your reply?

I agree with Xian. Anybody willing to play devil's advocate here about Castlevania? I too have heard nothing but praise for the games and that still hasn't been enough to get me to play them. They just don't seem like the kind of game I'd like. It's like the franchise I want to want to like. And Metroid as well.

But perhaps if someone shared what they don't like about the series I might decide the pros outweigh the cons and actually give it a shot one of these days.

And takers?

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Castlevania is an amazing series- sorry i can't name any cons i love the series that much. I've been into it since the N64 days- its just a great series and i guarentee you will enjoy it

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Well Charles, Xian, and any of the other teeming millions of DS Fanboys who give a sh*t, IMHO if you didn't like Castlevania for the NES, OR if what is essentially a dumbed down version of 2D Metroid with lame bosses doesnt sound nifty then you most likely still wont find much to like in these 2 Castlevanias.

I should probably qualify my 'careful weighing of pros and cons' by disclosing that I actually own and play the 2 titles mentioned in the post. PoR FTW.

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The only devil's advocate thing I could possibly say about these is: They're not Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

Unless there's some reason you don't like 2D action platformers, that's pretty much all I can say against it.

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I had been thinking for a while about getting Portrait of Ruin for $35. Now for $5 more, I can also get Dawn of Sorrow.

I didn't hesitate and just bought both games.

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What do you think, Charles? Convinced?

From outside the sacred circle it's difficult to distinguish whether the praise is "Castlevania can do no wrong" fanboyism or honest "Great game" feedback. That's the downside to a long-running franchise, it inevitably intimidates newcomers. Could either of these Castlevania games stand alone under some other, unfamiliar name? Impossible to tell. This total lack of criticism is suspicious at best.

Nobody understands that it's the storyline that attracts us (castles, monsters, exotic weaponry!), and we are no strangers to 2D platformers. It seems like all the pieces are in place, and yet... and yet...

What say you, Charles? Shall we plunge headlong into the fray? If we hate it, we're out 41 bucks and banned from the treehouse; if we love it, we may turn into squealing, glassy-eyed slaves to the Castlevania brand (which means MORE money spent in the future, of course).

You're the only one who understands. Maybe you should buy them first and tell me how they turn out. Quickly, before the deal ends! ;)

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Ooh! An argument in favor of Castlevania? Let me see what I can do.

What's said above is true -- if you tried others and didn't like them, then maybe this franchise isn't for you, and that's okay. I'm a frothing Castlevania fan and one of my closest friends hates the games, but life goes on. Takes all kinds, you know? However, I've always found the games to be a great experience, and now that I'm finally getting some time to go through Portrait of Ruin, I think it will end up being one of my favorite entries in the series. The addition of a second person adds a whole new level of intricacy.

I'm not the type to try for 100% in most games, but I comb through areas like an OCD in Castlevania. I've always loved the idea that anything could be hidden in the bricks of the castle. Hit everything. Try different weapons. Pound the floor. Find ways to take out the ceiling. It's not just about candles, but about looking everywhere... and a lot of that is how I think I would be if I were -really- a fearless vampire hunter prowling through a castle. Leave no stone unturned!

One of the other things I love about Castlevania (without getting into elements like the music) is that while most fights are pretty straightforward, there are always creatures that will give you pause and make you rethink your strategy. It's an evolving challenge... and yet at the same time, I've fought variations of most of these monsters before (in other Castlevanias), so even while I'm prepping my "strategery" (lol), there's some nice nostalgia working there, too. But it's the combination of exploration and action that brings me back, and all the other elements (story, music, dashes of humor) that keep me coming back.

But that's just me, and not every game is for everyone.

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I just bought it with Final Fantasy 3 from
Amazon.com for $55.81!

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Today I realized with some surprise that the only 2D platformers in my DS collection are New Super Mario Bros and Yoshi's Island DS. That didn't seem right, as I DO, in fact, enjoy 2D platformers. So it's time for a little variety.

I ordered them. These will make my fifth and sixth DS game purchases in the last WEEK, so it's time to seal my wallet in a vault with some dynamite and dobermans and maybe even one of those blowpipe-carrying pygmy fellows from the Amazon.

If I hate these games, so help you, it'll be on all your heads! ESPECIALLY that punk, driven2sin's. And if I like them, everybody gets a piece of the credit pie.

Since I haven't played ANY of the recent Castlevania games, I'll be spared the agony of comparison that seems to afflict established fans. Hopefully that will translate into a better impression of the games' innovations.

Sorry, Charles, but I won't have these for another month at least (long story). I wish you good luck, sir.

Thanks for replying, all.

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hm. One of these days I'm going to have to give the series a shot. But, after I get around to purchasing Yoshi's Island DS. So, probably not until next year at the rate I buy DS games.

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