[DS] Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

I've been playing the the Japanese Version (Gallery of Labyrinth) on my DS-Xtreme. I have to say it's pretty sweet. Character switching between Jonathan and Charotte couldn't be better, you can make it so the secondary character stays in one position (Had to make the second character stay in one position on top of a statue, then I moved the statue to the ledge I had to get up to, then I had to switch characters, once I was in the second character's position I was able to get to the ledge while the first character's position was teleported up top along side with the first.) Having both characters present at once can get a little irritating and make the game easier, especially when your running through hacking all sorts of things. The Secondary Character AI follows you and attacks on it's own.

Touching the screen while both characters are present allows you to control the second character's movement, I was able to get Charotte to walk and jump with the Touch Screen. The only thing I haven't been able to do is crouching with the secondary character.

The Equip System is like Dawn of Sorrow's in a certain type of aspect, since you have two characters it's basically an alternative set of weapons to choose, as well as things like Spells that only Charotte can use. As for the Up + X techniques. Jonathan is able to use some classic weapons like the Knives and Axe, while Charotte is able to use different types of casting Spells. With Charotte I was able to use a Flame summoning spell and a Bone Thrower Spell. The Spells for Charotte can be charged and in use of more MP, they'll be even stronger through Attack Power or duration. The game also has a Relic so you use the other player's Subweapon | Spell, although I haven't been able to charge up Spells while I was Jonathan calling upon the second player.

The Equip System has Weapon, Subweapon | Magic, Body, Head, Legs, Accessory1&2 (for Cloaks), and Dual Crushes which allow the two characters to do a Special Combo Attack.

Talk is a also a new option in the Menu System when the game is paused, which starts a dialouge between Jonathan and Charotte go into play.

Shop Mode allows one to setup there own shop as well as go browse through other shops through Wireless Mode and Wi-Fi Connection. Co-Op Mode also has the ability to select Wireless Mode and Wi-Fi Connection. Personally, I haven't tried any of these different Game Modes yet since I'm pretty much began my New Game just today. There's also Boss Rush Mode, which I've seem allows you to fight the Dawn of Sorrow bosses in Course 1, so far I've seen the first one. Courses 2 and 3 probably will need to be unlocked. There's also a Ranking Mode for the Boss Rush Mode which does not go online to see other player's rankings, only on the game's data of Boss Rush Mode.

There's also a Mission Mode talking to one of the other character's in the game (Don't know his name). My first Mission was to buy Map1 from the Monk selling items. After my Mission was done I obtained the Relic to slide-kick, which allowed me to go through another area in order to progress through the game.

It's pretty fun. With two characters it definitely makes up for not having the use of Souls, especially the spells for Charotte. I couldn't beat the first boss so easily without using her. Jonathan was pitiful, 3-4 hits and I was finished. I used Charotte's Bone Thrower Spell which summons green skeletons infront of her and they all throw bones. I definitely the rest of my week planned out. I'm also wondering if there's a Circle of Moon Slot-2 Bonuses like Dawn of Sorrow's usage of Aria of Sorrow. Personally, I have not tried this since I just wanted to see how Portrait of Ruin was.

Jam it back in, in the dark.