Castlevania Dominus Collection

[Maryokutai]

 

Seems a lot (relatively speaking) people got this, so I think a topic here makes sense after all. I don't think this needs context, but just for the record: this is a collection that includes three classic Castlevania games initially released for the DS (Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, Order of Ecclesia) as well as both the original version of Haunted Castle, an arcade game from the 80s, as well as a complete remake with SNES-style visuals and some other changes of this last game.

 

I started with Dawn of Sorrow, because it's my favourite of the bunch and also the first one that came out (despite being placed at the bottom of the list in the menu). Plus from what I recall it's the one that made most 'use' of the touchscreen, so a good litmus test for this specific release, too. On Switch you can use the touchscreen if you're playing in handheld mode, so there's nothing lost there either way, but the alternative is holding a shoulder button and moving a cursor around, which is a less than ideal alternative. Thankfully the magic circles you have to draw are now also QTEs, but stuff like destroying ice blocks is a bit finnicky so I decided to play that section in handheld mode. IIRC the further you get the less frequent these gimmicks become, so it's only really a small issue in the first hour or two.

 

We've already discussed the multiple screen options in the News topic so I'm not going to repeat those, but I noticed there's also a setup where both screens are displayed vertically, like they were on the original system. I think it would have been really cool to have that setup in Tate mode, but that's really just a nitpick because it would only really be useable on Switch (and maybe PC depending on your monitor setup). 

 

As you can see in the picture there's a lot of extra stuff in there as well, like the complete OST that works as a music player (and those games have some of the best tracks in the entire series IMO), a gallery which even includes the game manuals, and you can also choose which version you want to play (EU, US, JP and in Ecclesia's case, even the Korean version, though I'm not sure what's different about that one except the language).

 

In any case, I've been really enjoying the little time I played so far. I usually only associate consoles and games I played as a kid with nostalgia, but the moment I stepped into the first area with its wonderful music I got hit by quite the wave of good old times. Absolute recommendation, these are classics for a reason and M2 did a great job of porting them over, as usual. Not to mention that we get a completely new remake as a bonus, too.

 

[Also, a bit off-topic: while I was going through the gallery I noticed a promo picture for Castlevania: Judgement, which was on the back of one of the manuals back then. I wonder if they plan on re-releasing the 3D games as well considering we're now kind of 'through' with the 2D games. I realise they're not as well-regarded, but I think the PS2 ones are somewhat decent and Judgement, despite being a super broken and unbalanced fighting game, is quite a fun little guilty pleasure with a ridiculously good OST.]

[Maryokutai]

Played through Haunted Castle earlier. Did it on easy because I wasn't there for the challenge and I just wanted to see it, and it's also really short, with six stages that each have a 5 minute time limit. So yeah, very much an arcade experience which in itself is a fun twist on the formula. From what I gather the original version was a bit of a stinker, but I think the remake here is pretty decent, if maybe nothing more. The formula has been perfected with Rondo of Blood or Super Castlevania IV after all, depending on who you ask, so it does kind of sit in a difficult spot, but as one-time thing to go through it's perfectly fine. Not a very memorable soundtrack though. There's a Bloody Tears remix in there that's not bad, but nothing particularly catchy about the other tracks.

[DANGERMAN]

I've started Dawn of Sorrow, and I'm a couple of hours in. It's easier than I remember it being, with the caveat that I got fucked up by a human boss, then the bird boss that follows, but I got through both after a couple of attempts. 

 

The killer is knowing that I don't know things any more. I'm definitely getting the bad ending without a guide 😅

[Maryokutai]

The thing I remember is that you

 

Spoiler

have to enter the mirror during the fight with Darius to fight the demon who's possessing him. What I don't remember is how you get the tools to enter the mirror, but I hope the game is clear enough about that.

 

I think the difficulty is another factor why it's probably best to play these in release order. DoS is indeed not super challenging except for some bosses that will kick your ass, but Order of Ecclesia is just difficult all-around from what I remember.

[DANGERMAN]

I think I've reached a point where I might need a guide for Dawn. I've just got the stop time power, and I know I need to head to the bottom, of the map, but I can't get to the top of that area. Thought I'd worked it out by turning off the ability to swim...

 

I think I've just had an idea! 

Spoiler

Float, sink, throw doll! 

 

[Maryokutai]

Did you end up finding out how to get past the flooded spiky area? Because I didn't remember and also beat Dawn about a week ago with the good ending, so it seems like it's a completely optional area as well.

 

---

 

Went strait into Portrait after that, which has so many good ideas (and Charlotte is great) but you can tell those ideas swallowed up most of their development time with those copy-paste areas you have to go through later. Decided to call it a day at that point, because I remember it being super grindy and repetitive from here on out.

 

On to Ecclesia then. Only an hour or so in so far, but my impressions haven't changed much from back in the day, meaning I think it's okay, but its structure and enemy design/placement means it'll always be ranked below the more classic Metroidvania versions (Symphony, Circle, Aria, Dawn) for me. But maybe it'll win me over with its second half, which didn't quite grab me as much as it should when it originally came out.

[DANGERMAN]

16 minutes ago, Maryokutai said:

Did you end up finding out how to get past the flooded spiky area? Because I didn't remember and also beat Dawn about a week ago with the good ending, so it seems like it's a completely optional area as well.

I did. I thought I had the soul that let's you throw further, but I had a different one that does something to throwing. I had to go and grind to collect that soul 

 

I finished it then beat Julien mode, which is still fun, but I did rewind time on some of the bosses to stop from having to grind for an hour to be able to brute force it 

[Maryokutai]

Ah, then I think I went through the same thought process, because I have a soul for throwing further but not the correct one it seems.

[DANGERMAN]

On 10/10/2024 at 16:58, Maryokutai said:

Ah, then I think I went through the same thought process, because I have a soul for throwing further but not the correct one it seems.

You need the 

Spoiler

Gorilla skeleton (the barrel throwers) 

 

[Maryokutai]

Weird how I don't have that one yet, they're a pretty frequent enemy. I'll go back to Dawn when I'm either done with Ecclesia or given up on it. That one is really a rollercoaster game for me, I can go from loving it to hating it in the span of 15 minutes, which happens quite regularly.

[DANGERMAN]

I'm on Portrait now, it's easier than I remember, in that it's a easy game. I remember the circus painting being a nightmare back in the day, it's still one of the more difficult ones, but it wasn't all that hard. 

 

Anyway, I've "beaten" the sisters and am on to the 2nd half of the game. I don't remember this bit very well but I've really enjoyed going back to it 

[Maryokutai]

That's where I drew the line for Portrait, just too much repetition from that point onward, at least for me. I did quite like the first half though. It's too bad the series died with Ecclesia so they never got a chance to revisit and polish the dual-protagonist setup.