Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow features a first for a handheld series' title: A fully rendered video sequence that introduces the player to the main characters. This intro will play when after the title screen appears you don't push any buttons. It's a basic introduction scene--not indicative of the game's actual sequences--but it's nonetheless well done. We start with a shot of the cult's castle, which has flying around its upper regions a swarm of bats; the camera lowers to reveal a cloaked figure.
An axe knight begins to sneak up on the robed figure; it takes out its axe and gets ready to strike. As it swings its mighty weapon, the robed figure dodges the blow and reveals itself to be Soma Cruz.
Soma strikes back and with a swing of a sword slices the axe armor in half. He then looks toward the sky to see a dreaded Malachi emerge. The Malachi fires toward Soma a ball of energy; Soma reacts quickly by using a soul power that allows him to reflect the blast, which returns to its sender in a torso-ripping explosion. Thereafter, Soma successfully steals the soul of the Malachi.
Soma then has a vision of Mina Hakuba, who is very much a target of the cult's aggression. The reason for his vision: Celia Fortner appears within a wind storm, which she unleashes toward Soma. Arriving also are Dario Bossi and Dmitrii Binov, who pose smugly.
Soma uses the Malachi's power to generate a destructive ball of globule, which he hurls toward the steadfast duo. Dario dodges the projectile and the following eruption, but Dmitrii takes advantage of the situation and copies the power. Dario recovers and unleashes toward Soma a deadly pillar of flame, which the boy hurtles over before skidding to the ground.
As the duo watches on, Celia uses her power to raise from the depths the huge and powerful Balore, which breaks through the rubble and emits a power battle cry. The worse-for-wear Soma, though, is not as he seems: He points his enchanted hand toward the air, where a seal appears around him. In a single motion, he completes the seal, ending not just the current threat but the intro video as well.