Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

 DS
  • Publisher: Konami
  • Release Date: Oct 4, 2005
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 255 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 213 out of 255
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 255
  3. Negative: 16 out of 255
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  1. Cancery1987
    Mar 21, 2021
    6
    Not good as Aria of Sorrow

    Bad weapon system. Force you farming soul to upgrade weapon

    Farming soul is stupid thing too

    And seal, whats wrong?! Max stupid !
  2. tom974
    Apr 15, 2020
    7
    Not a bad game, but quite a copy-paste from Aria of Sorrow. Graphics seems to have been made for GBA globally. The most interesting point is the Julius mode which is quite good and offers a challenge.
  3. Hey
    Oct 10, 2005
    5
    Hey T Gage, innovatory IS a word: http://sts.zju.edu.cn/english/lexicon/rt2/92/I0829250.html ........Idiot. And for the game, yay, ANOTHER rehash by Nintendo. At least they're consistent. Wonder what's next....Mario Snowboarding!!!
  4. Caestus
    Mar 11, 2013
    7
    Is not a bad game but somehow i cant get hyped about dawn of sorrow.
  5. AnonymousMC
    Nov 18, 2005
    7
    I'm a fan of the series and to me, this is not quite as good as Aria. (not as gory, with less swearing and female nudity) I was expecting the first decent adult DS title, but this seem to pull punches with it's content, except the final boss(Menace) who actually rips himself apart in a flurry of gore. He is also the nastiest thing scince Tetsuo's little accident (Akira).
  6. ireviewgames123
    May 29, 2021
    7
    Score would be an 8 or 9 if it weren't for farming/grinding and the dreaded Seal System (having to use the stylus to draw increasingly intricate shapes to defeat bosses when they're about to die and if you mess up you have to fight the boss again). Playing Soma over-all is fun and the soul-absorbing 'Power of Dominance' feature is back. Pixel art is good, the anime character portraits areScore would be an 8 or 9 if it weren't for farming/grinding and the dreaded Seal System (having to use the stylus to draw increasingly intricate shapes to defeat bosses when they're about to die and if you mess up you have to fight the boss again). Playing Soma over-all is fun and the soul-absorbing 'Power of Dominance' feature is back. Pixel art is good, the anime character portraits are generic and lack the personality seen in Aria, the music is amazing which is to be expected from this series.

    Julius mode, that you unlock if you get the bad ending, is actually quite good. You get to play as Julius and Yoko and Alucard join your team. A really refreshing alternative game mode actually worth playing. It also eliminates the seal system!

    It's a shame that they added the Seal System and made it a little grind-heavy. It really does take away from an otherwise great experience.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best DS Game of 2005
8
#8 Most Discussed DS Game of 2005
2
#2 Most Shared DS Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 52 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 52
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 52
  3. Negative: 0 out of 52
  1. Siliconera
    80
    It is clear that Dawn of Sorrow originally started out as a GBA title. It plays more like an advanced GBA game instead of a full fledged DS title.
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  2. NintendoWorldReport
    95
    Dawn of Sorrow matches and in some cases exceeds the quality of "Symphony of the Night" in almost every way. Yet the two games have their own styles and features, so the newest addition to the series is in no way redundant with its legendary forebear. [JPN Import]
    Read full review
  3. Nintendo Power
    90
    If the graphics and sound aren't engrossing enough to draw you in, the intriguing story and exhilarating action should be. [Nov 2005, p.104]
See all critic reviews »