Gaming News - December 2006

Redwood City, CA (December 5, 2006) -  Konami today announced that Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin for the DS has shipped to retail stores throughout North America.

From Konami:

Breaking new ground in the Castlevania series, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin lets players continue the battle against the evil minions of the night as two playable characters, Jonathan Morris and Charlotte Aulin. Players can choose to use Jonathan’s whip-cracking melee abilities or Charlotte’s magical prowess individually or team up together for the first time in the history of the franchise as they explore all new levels and environments. Players can also play online with friends and wirelessly trade items using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service.

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin takes place amidst the chaos of World War II where many lost souls from the global conflict were left to wander the world in search of salvation. A powerful vampire painter, Brauner, emerges to resurrect Dracula’s Castle utilizing the lost souls along with magical paintings that double as portals to other dimensions. Fueled with the power of the lost souls, the magical paintings and assisted by two mysterious vampire sisters, the probability of Dracula’s Castle returning to power is stronger than ever. Now Jonathan and Charlotte must work together to confront the face of evil and ensure that this villainous catastrophe is not unleashed on the world.

Evolving the action-adventure gameplay that has been the series’ trademark for 20 years, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin lets players switch freely between Jonathan and Charlotte as they proceed on their heroic mission, each with their own strengths, abilities and style of play. Players can now utilize powerful co-operative attacks in which both characters unleash the full extent of their combat abilities to decimate the game’s more than 100 different enemies and massive bosses in new environments such as the desert and Misty Town. In their quest to stop Dracula’s resurrection, Jonathan and Charlotte can collect and use different weapons, equipment and items to increase their overall skill level and acquire new abilities.