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General
Information
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| Date Released: 2006 |
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Heroes: Jonathan Morris & Charlotte Aulin | Secret: Richter & Maria; Stella & Loretta; Old Axe Armor | ||
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| Stage Number: 6 Areas and 9 Paintings |
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Size: 64MB | ||
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Original
System(s)
Nintendo DS |
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............................Alternate
Names/Systems
Akumajo Dracula: Gallery of Labyrinth -- translation: Demon Castle Dracula: Gallery of Labyrinth (Japan) |
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Manual Story Description The year is 1944. The world is filled with chaos. The second global war holds the entire world in its grip of terror, creating hatred and fear along with countless numbers of lost souls. The agony and hatred of those souls summon the castle of evil. The castle that has appeared many times throughout history only to bring terror and destruction upon its surroundings, the castle of the dark lord, Dracula... The demonic castle. |
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Objective/Overview In following the trend of yearly releases, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin hits the Nintendo DS just fourteen months after the system's own Dawn of Sorrow. Inspired by the previous title's innovation, the well-received "Julius Mode" extra, the creators sought to include in the main game a similar team concept, which manifests itself as the new "Partner System." It's here where the player can control two characters at one time in experiencing Konami's latest RPG-adventure. Your mission is to guide Jonathan Morris (son of John Morris) and Charlotte Aulin through Dracula's segmented castle and into eight paintings (with an extra painting optional) to destroy a series of bosses and unlock a special painting where hiding is antagonist Brauner. Other challenges met within the game and its familiar map system include assault from the series' largest-ever assortment of unique minor enemies; devious tricks, traps, and other platforming perils; and the satisfying of "quests" that will earn from Wind special skills, weapons and other goodies. To counter, you can gain levels via the RPG system (the current level shared by both characters), equip the heroes with more advanced weapons and armor (which accounts for their sub-weapons and dual-crush abilities), and earn specific skills that provide the usual accessibility moves. Such processes and the paying of attention to events will corral the game's best ending. Not surprisingly, Portrait has plenty of extras presented in "modes," which grow more robust as your main mission progresses and is ultimately completed: (1) The Shop Mode, using which you can play shopkeep and sell to others items from your inventory using the DS' local wireless or Wi-Fi Connection. (2) Co-op Mode, where you can use said wireless to connect with friends and play through a series of short levels. (3) Boss Rush Mode, where available are three levels of challenge--each infested by minor enemy and boss alike. And (5) the Sound Mode, opened after game's completion. Additionally, earning the game's best ending will unlock for the main mode other character pairs for play: Richter Belmont and Maria Renard plus Stella and Loretta; both pairs' unrelated missions play out in their own way, without storyline, and offer unique ending sequences. You can otherwise take control of Old Axe Armor by defeating one thousand of the enemy of the same name; the surprisingly nimble Axe Armor, like the others, has its own mission. |
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Japanese/European Differences The European version, also named Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, comes packaged with a two-sided poster--the front of which matches the artwork seen on the alternate side of the timeline found in the U.S. pre-order bonus package. Also, in addition to being bereft of most of the glitches as found in the other-territory versions, this version's inventory screen is free of certain typos and misspellings (Charlotte's name, Jonathan's leggings, etc.). |
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Soundtrack and Credits Soundtrack Links |
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Other Characters Lesser Enemies:
Zombie, Bat, Skeleton, Axe Armor, Death Mask, Zacchino, Student Witch,
Slinger, Mini Devil, Mud Man, Merman, Une, Skull Archer, Ukoback, Forneus,
Peeping Eye, Skull Bartender, Wight, Frozen Shade, Andras, Invisible
Man, Golem, Persephone, Mimic, Larva, Lerajie, Spittle Bone, Ghost,
Red Skeleton, Armor Knight, Ectoplasm, Bone Pillar, Fleaman, Great Armor,
Catoblepas, Slime, Mummy, Dragon Zombie, Killer Clown, Coppelia, Hanged
Bones, Flying Skull, Sand Worm, White Dragon, Ampheisbaena, Elgiza,
Great Ghost, Devil Wheel, Crossbow Armor, Lilith, Skeleton Flail, Skeleton
Gunman, Hill Guard, Imp, Harpy, Corpseweed, Medusa Head, Skelerang,
Gaibon, Slogra, Flying Armor, Blue Crow, Frog, Killer Doll, Killer Bee,
Dogether, Bee Hive, Moldy Corpse, Tombstone, Treant, Red Axe Armor,
Maneating Plant, Skeleton Blaze, Razor Bat, Wyvern, Malachi, Spin Devil,
Succubus, Flame Demon, Dead Crusader, Heavy Armor, Malphas, Final Guard,
Glaysa Labolas, Ghoul, Ruler's Sword, Witch, Skeleton Tree, Buster Armor,
Armored Fleaman, Amalaric Sniper, Old Axe Armor, Gorgon, Jack O'Bones,
Tanjelly, Dead Warrior, Toad, Aliorumnas, Dodo, Vice Beetle, Alura Une,
Lightkeeper, Black Crow, Mandragora, Wakwak Tree, Guillotiner, Nyx,
Minotaur, Mothman, Laura, Yorick, Dragonfly, Quetzalcoatl, Ripper, Poison
Worm, Ghost Dancer, Demon Head, Lesser Demon, Ghoul King, Vapula, Iron
Golem, DoubleAxe Armor, Demon, Bone Ark, Skeleton Farmer, Alastor, Gold
Skeleton, Cave Troll and Amducias |
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Character Lists |
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Hero
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Statistics
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Full Name: Jonathan Morris | |
| Main Weapon: Fists and the Vampire Killer Whip | ||
| Weapon Power-Up: None | ||
| Alternate Weapons: Click here for Jonathan's comprehensive list | ||
| Sub-Weapon Power-Up: Jonathan can master sub-weapons (skills) by using them to defeat enemies and earn skill points | ||
| Special Abilities: Can double jump; jump kick; slide; back dash; super jump (uppercut); and add a special power to each hand weapon | ||
| Armor: Click here for Jonathan's comprehensive list | ||
| Limitations: As a blood relative to members of the legendary Belmont clan, Jonathan shares the abilities we've come to know of recent heroes (and even Soma Cruz). The quick and graceful Morris begins with only his fists and a suppressed Vampire Killer, but he'll collect and utilize hundreds of weapons until the all-powerful whip's true power is unlocked; though limited in terms of exploration, he'll slowly increase his castle accessibility through the collection of relics, which supply the double jump, super jump, and so on. In order to meet the challenge posed by increasingly tough enemies, he'll have to gain levels by defeating said enemies to earn experience; HP and MP Max Up vials will help by augmenting his meters, which represent his health and magic power (which sub-weapons and skills utilize). Jonathan will earn such sub-weapons by defeating certain enemies or by purchasing them at Vincent's shop; he can then use sub-weapons to destroy enemies and earn skill points, which enhance sub-weapons at specific intervals. In terms of his partnership with Charlotte, Jonathan is certainly the offense and toughness of the company; though, her presence will only supplement his offense and allow for overwhelming double-teaming and use of Dual Crushes. |
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Hero
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Statistics
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Full Name: Charlotte Aulin | |
| Main Weapon: Encyclopedia | ||
| Weapon Power-Up: None | ||
| Alternate Weapons: Click here for Charlotte's comprehensive list | ||
| Sub-Weapon Power-Up: Charlotte can master sub-weapons (skills) by using them to defeat enemies and earn skill points | ||
| Special Abilities: Can back dash, double jump, and slide | ||
| Armor: Click here for Charlotte's comprehensive list | ||
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Limitations: In terms of mobility, Charlotte is about equal to Jonathan sans his propensity for special abilities; this finesse fighter has a much smaller selection of weapons but more in the way of skills and much higher nonphysical attributes. And while Charlotte is not as equipped as her counterpart, either, in terms of this physical nature, her importance is twofold: For one, Charlotte commands many of the more useful spells (elemental attacks, healing, attribute boosts, and some tight-squeezing accessibility skills like the Toad and Owl morphs) that help in certain scenarios. Her presence also allows the pair to overwhelm foes in ways previous heroes couldn't, wherein they can attack together to stifle even the largest foes; this is accentuated by their use of Dual Crushes--combined attacks designed to devastate. While the duo shares the same health and magic meters, Charlotte in the lead yields for the two different effects: She'll no doubt take more damage, which in turn more quickly drains health, but her very selection helps to more rapidly refill spent magic. |
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Hero
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Statistics
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Full Name: Richter Belmont | |
| Main Weapon: Vampire Killer Whip | ||
| Weapon Power-Up: None | ||
| Alternate Weapons: None | ||
| Sub-Weapon Power-Up: None | ||
| Special Abilities: Can back dash, backflip, double jump, slide, slide kick (combo from sliding), super jump, air dash and spin kick; he can also brandish the whip | ||
| Armor: None | ||
| Limitations: Richter Belmont, the last of the famed clan to wield the Vampire Killer before John Morris, returns as a boss, the Whip's Memory, and then checks in for his second career unlockable play experience; he joins forces with Maria Renard for a dual-character quest similar to Jonathan and Charlotte's but free-roaming, absent of storyline and inventory, and with all accessibility moves free to use right out of the gate. This Richter is almost purely the one you remember from Symphony of the Night with a few differences: He's always in a running motion; he has the spin kick maneuver that was cut from the Playstation title; and he can switch between six available sub-weapons, each powered by magic (see "Sub-Weapons") at any time. The duo shares the same two meters and augments them by collecting HP and MP Max Up vials; also, they gain levels according to the unseen RPG system that perennially boosts their stats. Richter, like Jonathan, is the offense and toughness of the pair, but his magic use is lacking, and he's sometimes out of control. |
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Hero
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Statistics
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Full Name: Maria Renard | |
| Main Weapon: Birds | ||
| Weapon Power-Up: None | ||
| Alternate Weapons: None | ||
| Sub-Weapon Power-Up: None | ||
| Special Abilities: Can back dash (roll), double jump and crawl; she can also project | ||