Konami's latest Castlevania title, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, might not be the best in the series to date but it is probably the most fun we've seen in the series in a long time. That's because this side-scrolling action platformer with light RPG elements really hearkens back to the classic look and feel of earlier chapters in the series complete with breakable objects, multiple paths and over-the-top monsters you'd expect to see in a Super Nintendo Castlevania game. In a word, it's GREAT and one of the more deep experiences you can have on your dual screened hand-held. 2006 really was a banner year for Nintendo's DS and games like this one are the reason for its continued success.

Besides marking the 20 year anniversary of this vampire hunting series which began on the Nintendo Entertainment System, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin returns you to a classic style of adventure. In Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin you actually take control of two heroes - vampire hunter Jonathan Morris and magical counterpart Charlotte Orlean. Set in the backdrop of World War II, our heroes learn that two mysterious sisters are working to resurrect Dracula. Since Jonathan and Charlotte are all that stand in the way of their diabolical plans, it's up to them to put an end to this plot and save the world from a new century of Dracula's reign. It won't be an easy task, but Jonathan and Charlotte will have some help along the way, in addition to an arsenal that includes the classic chain whip, daggers, swords, and even books that give Charlotte expanded magical abilities. The duo will also have to use teamwork to survive and to avoid the many obstacles and puzzles that will thwart their advancement.

Team work is probably the most noteworthy feature in the game because it gives you some alternate fighting styles (melee versus magic) to use during the game. It also affords a back-up character should the other find itself in some sort of unavoidable peril. Jonathan uses weapons that you would expect from a lead character in a Castlevania game like the classic whip, dagger and the more potent broad sword; Charlotte uses books that afford special magic spells. Both have a special move that they can access at any time. But the real importance of team work involves puzzles where you need one character to stay stationary while the other moves an object or stays inside some type of transport. On top of all that you can call the other character at any time for some double teaming action, though the AI doesn't always do a great job of keeping them alive..

Switching between the two is a snap - simply press the X button to make the other appear out of thin air. You can also call the other inactive character with the A button for special situations like standing in a stationary position while the other character does something like pull a switch or push an object. This is used in the few puzzles in the game. Jonathan and Charlotte's physical well being are tied together so being careful with both is pretty important. Admittedly you'll use Jonathan for most of your gameplay time, but it is nonetheless nice to have another character to do things with.

As you battle through the myriad of bad guys in the service of the dark vampire king, both characters will gain experience and level up. You'll use this light role-playing element in the game to power up stats like strength, intelligence, attack, and defense. This will obviously make your duo a lot stronger, most evident when you back-track through previous areas and slice through enemies with little or no effort at all. As we mentioned earlier, Jonathan uses melee weapons to get the job done, while Charlotte uses magical books to deal with enemies. In addition to that, both can equip a variety of armor and accessories that further help them avoid taking buckets of damage.

The whole point of this game is to get to Dracula's inner sanctum, but getting there is going to be a twisted (and fun) journey indeed. The castle really serves as the main hub, tied to magical paintings that lead to other areas that you'll have to explore - and these areas include everything from castle interiors to towns with full blown outdoor areas. Every once in awhile you find side quests, stores to buy new weapons and armor (and other useful accessories) and the occasional save point for added measure.

Besides the character design, what really brings Portal of Ruin back to its roots is its level design. Those familiar with the first two classic games in the series will feel comfortable in this new world created by Konami. Beyond exploring the vast and interconnected areas, players will have a fine old time breaking objects for goodies (lights, crates, etc) and tackling the many enemies. Their behavior is very familiar and predictable but challenging as you battle all kinds of creepy creatures on the ground and from the air. The level design and it's classic Castlevania styling mesh well with the enemies that you'll encounter to create an authentic and challenging platforming experience.

Likewise the mythical boss battles player will face are challenging and require multiple phases to take down. Like peeling the layers of an onion, players will have to shave away layers of each boss, weakening them more and more until they get to the creatures' vulnerable final self. Each requires a lot of strategy and -- more times than not -- a lot of patience and skill in avoiding the danger at hand. The bosses, like everything else in the game, feel and looks like bosses you might face in a classic Castlevania game.

Castlevania: Portal of Ruin also looks great, sounds cool and really pays homage to the classic series that started all. While the game serves up the classic feel, it offers animation, sound and visuals that look great on the DS. Character animation is fluid and good looking, backgrounds are crisp and contrast nicely as the action unfolds, and character sprites look great overall. As presentation goes, Portal of Ruin delivers on all fronts and amply takes advantage of the power of the DS.