G4TV

In the year 2035, all eyes turn to the heavens for the first full solar eclipse of the new century. While visiting a humble shrine, high school exchange student Soma Cruz finds himself inexplicably transported to Dracula's castle where many a vampire hunter has battled against the dark lord. Well, when in Transylvania...

The power to rule

The endless variety of hellish minions lurking about the Count's digs would be a bane to most, but for Soma it's a gift. No sooner than he appears in the castle, he finds himself able to absorb their souls and wield their powers. Each time you kill an enemy, there's a chance that you'll steal away their soul. Just as you can change your weapons and armor, you can select the appropriate powers by tapping different souls.

Most of the time an enemy's power will give you a direct attack, such as throwing a poisoned dagger or summoning a pillar of fire. Other powers may let you walk on water or regain health as you damage enemies. Still others give you permanent abilities that allow you to access new areas of the castle. You can only equip yourself with three spirits at any given time.

With over 100 spirits ripe for the taking, the collection and strategy elements will add a lot to the game. Even if you don't delight in harvesting souls, you're bound to pick up a few useful ones by chance and you'll never rely on the luck of the draw to get those that are vital to your progress.

The handgun, mach punch, whip sword, and claimh solais (sword of light) are all cool-looking weapons. The souls curly, beam skeleton, death, ripper, and succubus (used with mach punch) are cool as well. Werejaguar and weretiger evoke memories of the game "Street Fighter."

Beautiful in death

Judging from his castle and the variety of perverse creatures that dwell within it, Dracula is a pretty eccentric guy. Zombies shuffle toward you as soon as you hit the foyer, and it's not long before skeletons begin to bombard you with bones and you see departed aristocrats gliding through the air in the immaculate dance hall. In the posh inner quarters, you're received by a grotesque figure who proceeds to try on several different heads and personalities that all seem to want you dead. And of course what cursed fortress would be complete without an underground cemetery where a pulsating sphere of corpses attempts to add you to its collection?

It's the creatures that really make the game. Part gothic horror, part Greek mythology, and part cheesy humor and allusion, the smoothly animated monsters that compose this bizarre bestiary just beg for you to kill them, if only just to watch them die. You see they all die in a rather artistic manner and often yield some great sound effects too. Don't get us wrong, we're strictly acting in self-defense here. Then again, that they each contain a unique soul may have you going out of your way to strike them down repeatedly in ecstatic, uncontrollable bloodlust. How very gothic.

From sorrow comes joy

Like the immortal count himself, the "Castlevania" series knows no age. Through the passage of years and repeated reincarnations, the series has kept its dignity intact and its fangs sharp. As you yield to its all-too-brief embrace, you might recognize the feeling as a familiar one, but how can one resist the melancholy melody that is the "Aria of Sorrow?"

But seriously, all romanticism and silliness aside, "Aria of Sorrow" is a great game. Harnessing the power of your enemy's soul at least superficially changes the ancient formula and incorporates a limited link cable mode for the bartering of souls. It's pleasing to the eye and the ear, and there's even some appreciable extra content available after you complete the game. Even so, you can sense the unused potential in the title. Many gamers, especially fans of the series, will be left wanting more.