Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

[fuse]

Lest we forget the ending of Castlevania: Legends for the GB where it was revealed that Alucard is the father of the Belmont line!

You what?! I've not played Legends, and had no idea about that!

I see Eurogamer gave this a review the other day - 7/10. From the scan-read I gave it, the general impression seems to be that he liked it but as a non-CV-die-hard he probably missed out on a lot of what it has to offer.

Personally I think it's a great title. Don't suppose anyone would be up for trying out some of the online modes with me on Sunday? Co-op sounds intruiging

[JamesS]

How are people using the two characters in this? Are you swapping between them, playing just as one or using them as sidekicks? I'm not sure of the best approach yet.

[Duddyroar]

You what?! I've not played Legends, and had no idea about that!

Sonia and Alucard are lovers in the game (Sonia has to fight Alucard to prove you can tackle Dracula, because he wants to be sure she is strong enough). At the end of the game there's a screen showing Sonia holding a newborn baby (which is Trevor, who goes on to appear in CV3). So Alucard is Trevor's dad, according to CV: Legends. However, IGA recently removed Legends from the Castlevania timeline, so it probably shouldn't be considered as canon.

[fuse]

Madness! Doesn't surprise me it they've written that one off, it's a bit of a tall plot twist to try and stick to - seems a little daft if it hasn't come up at any point in the future

How are people using the two characters in this? Are you swapping between them, playing just as one or using them as sidekicks? I'm not sure of the best approach yet.

During normal play I usually stuck to one character, but for certain enemies (and areas) having a second about came in real handy. Especially when I found myself using an elemental weapon and some enemies would've taken all week to take down. In much the same way, some bosses become a lot easier when you've got both on screen, but it's a little risky when some have really powerful area of effect attacks that you might have the sense to avoid, but your partner might not.

[ShadowDancer]

How are people using the two characters in this? Are you swapping between them, playing just as one or using them as sidekicks? I'm not sure of the best approach yet.

I personally use Jonathon as my main character but have Charlotte there although if she kinda dies (when the character goes faint) i sometimes just carry on without her, then maybe bring her back again bit later. She can be helpful though.

[Klatrymadon]

Just bought the Salamander for 200,000. Seems woefully underpowered, but I'm just glad he's still in there. I know CV has more or less always had Gradius references, but I wonder why this shows up in so many of the newer games...

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Igarashi did some of the programming for Gradius 2. I think he said in an interview that he actually wants to work on a shmup in the future, but that it'd be a long way off and we should forget about it.

[Nakano]

Just a quick question, anyone seen portrait of Ruin LE version on sale anywhere or they have one to sell to me?

[Klatrymadon]

--Minor spoiler--

Not only is Simon's theme included in the sound test as a bonus, you can actually buy it and play it wherever you want!

[Klatrymadon]

I hooked up my Mega Drive and played through Vampire Killer (Bloodlines/The New Generation) a few times because of this, and I still find it to be the most underrated CV game this side of CV4. :P

Anyone else a fan of the MD effort?

[JamesS]

I loved Bloodlines too. That tower level is fantastic.

Getting quite far in Portrait now. The two character thing works really well once you get used to it. I'd actually like more of those two character puzzles that they have in a few places.

Also, I really like the addition of markers you can place on the maps (though I don't know why they didn't make them show up on the top screen version). Really helps to remember places you need to return to when you get new abilities. Shame you can't write notes on it, though, since you have a stylus.

In case anybody's missed it, by the way, there's a really nice bit of FMV if you leave the game on the title screen for a bit.

[gossi the dog]

Finally got hold of this after accidentally sending the game to my parents house. First impressions are good. It doesn't seem to be SoTN good, but enjoying it all the same. Good to see that all the tacked on stylus bits from DoS have been removed.

The LE is lovely. The artbook makes it worth the asking price on it's own. Simply gorgeous.

[Duddyroar]

I hooked up my Mega Drive and played through Vampire Killer (Bloodlines/The New Generation) a few times because of this, and I still find it to be the most underrated CV game this side of CV4. :P

Anyone else a fan of the MD effort?

Oh yes, the MD version is fantastic. I've always maintained that it's one of the better 'traditional' CV titles. Konami made the Megadrive perform tricks it really shouldn't have been able to. Plus the music is great throughout. Top game.

[ShadowDancer]

I also love the megadrive castlevania, its one of my favourites, the only thing was and this can be said about a lot of konami 16-bit games, they all kinda play similar, but this isn't a bad thing, not sure why i said that then, sorry. (someone give me a example to prove me wrong! but you know what i mean)

Now 20 hours into POR, obviously beat the main game but i'm going for 100% quests and 100% enemy drops and enemies, not sure if i'll go 100% mastering weapons!

Soundtrack has definitely grown on me now i've re-done areas several times.

The level design and stages in castle to portraits are very very good, thought has definitely gone into all areas and it is welcomed.

Biggest downfall, the graphics, enemy sprites that have appeared look ripped from a 32 bit era thus making them not as good as what they should be and it definitely shows, especially when put next to a beautifully drawn Amducias for e.g.

The areas, some do look like a gba game and not purpose downgraded area (well i think i only can find one although i've seen the whole game) some go from looking beautiful and crisp and nice detail going on to on the other hand basic, slightly ugly looking, low pixel counts and it shows because of my first point that some of the game is graphically sublime.

I'm not bored of the Soma saga just yet and this game in the 2-d castlevania world has broken it up nicely, portrait of ruin is definitely a class act and should be heralded for what it is, the positive outweight the negative largely.

In short, the graphics when high, a better effort could of been to mantain that throughout the whole game, it shows because of what i have already said. The enemy sprites can be very poor but you do overlook or can overlook once you get into the game.

Gameplay is what we have come to expect now, the portraits are a lovely addition and lengthen and add hours of fun to a very enjoyable game.

It probably hasn't done anything to win over gamers who haven't liked any of the other 2-d incarnations, but for as far as i can see, it isn't broke, don't fix it, and to top it off, the addition of portaits, great.

I haven't mentioned the two player so much, well, it don't really do much, the puzzles are nice, but they're very few and not one can't be solved in less than a minute, it isn't a bad thing, but they could of done so much more.

I've rattled on a bit, from starting the game i was a little underwhelmed, i gave it chance and i'm still reaping rewards from a top game, the level is set high from my point of view as when cv was re-born again on the handheld gba, save harmony, they have been top notch games. POR isn't really a step forward from DOS IMO but it most certainly isn't a step back, a few lazy moments as mentioned, but this is quelling my thirst for CV action.

[ItsThere]

Am I missing a huge portion of the castle? Currently trying to get 888 percent but am stuck on around 880. Any help would be great as I still cant do the last boss...

[ShadowDancer]

Am I missing a huge portion of the castle? Currently trying to get 888 percent but am stuck on around 880. Any help would be great as I still cant do the last boss...

Have you

->Open Spoiler<-

Killed and got the ability of the peeping eye, as in AOS, DOS it will show you breakable walls, mooch around the portraits e.t.c and 100% them and that should get you past 888% if that don't work do it in the main castle too