The game doesn't star a Belmont - instead introducing Soma Cruz, a seemingly regular Joe in the year 2035 drawn to the castle of Dracula, where the adventure begins. However, this title puts an interesting spin on things. Soma absorbs the powers of his enemies via their souls, which in turn can power him up in four different ways:

Red souls are attacking souls (common to about half of the enemies to be found). These are used with Up+B to unleash a soul-specific attack. Blue souls (common to one quarter of the enemies) are aid souls. These can be used for healing your HP/MP, assistance in defeating enemies (similar to red souls but attacking on their own), and a slew of other things. They are activated by using the R button. Yellow souls (common to the remaining quarter) are "automatic" souls. By "automatic," I mean they're always in use. Many of these souls are attribute boosting, so by equipping one you essentially boost up a specific trait. Finally, grey souls are only found in select places and each one holds a new attack/move for Soma. These are activated all at the same time, unless you turn them off in the "Abilites" sub-menu on the status screen.

Graphically, the game is spectacular for its platform. Lovely details are laid out all over the game, from the dreary looking cloudy sky to the dankest dungeon in the deepest reaches of the castle. Colors are well used throughout the various sections to accurately display the kind of dungeon you're in. And there are some pretty amazing effects throughout the game too. Audio is on par with the series, too. Eerie and adrenaline-pumping music permeates the game's atmospheres, and every grunt, groan, squawk, crunch, and whip noise is right where it should be.

The game also has classic Castlevania-quality controls. While for some it may be a burden, for others (like myself) it's perfect. Up+B as always activates the sub-weapon (in this case, red soul). A is your jump, R is your blue soul button, and L comes into use a little while into the game. Soma moves where you want him to, although the push-back from enemies may grate on your nerves in a room full of spikes . . .

With all the above and a fairly notable cast of characters (including a somewhat familiar face not revealed until later in the game), and interesting plot twists throughout, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is a definite must-play for those who love the series, or even 2D side-scrolling action games in particular.

· · · CKA