Castlevania Dominus Collection

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,116 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Castlevania Dominus Collection Game Cover
How do you make the best Castlevania games even better? Konami found a way.
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The Castlevania Dominus Collection includes Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow and Portrait of Ruin, where players can explore the gothic-horror world in 2D graphics and face dangerous enemies. Dawn of Sorrow features a unique weapon-creation system through soul-combining, while Portrait of Ruin allows players to switch between two heroes, Jonathan and Charlotte. Additionally, Haunted Castle Revisited is introduced, offering both the original and redesigned versions of the first Castlevania arcade game. These games come with new features such as rewind, quick saves, and exclusive art.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,116 reviews
gameplay26 positive mentions
grinding41 negative mentions
  • The collection features three of the best Castlevania games from the Nintendo DS era, providing a nostalgic experience for fans.
  • Quality of life improvements, such as the ability to use button prompts instead of touch controls for magic seals in Dawn of Sorrow, enhance gameplay.
  • The inclusion of Haunted Castle and its remake adds extra value to the collection, making it a must-have for Castlevania enthusiasts.
  • Some players experience performance issues, such as slow frame rates and crashes, particularly on certain hardware setups.
  • The lack of customizable keyboard controls is a significant drawback for PC players who prefer using a keyboard and mouse.
  • The translation changes in the games have led to some typos and inconsistencies, which may detract from the overall experience.
  • gameplay107 mentions

    The gameplay across the Castlevania Dominus Collection is praised for its unique mechanics and solid execution, with each of the three DS titles offering distinct experiences—Dawn of Sorrow features a reworked seal mechanic, Portrait of Ruin introduces dual-character gameplay, and Order of Ecclesia emphasizes fast-paced combat. While the remastered version improves upon some of the original's touch-screen controls, it retains the charm of the classic gameplay, enhanced by quality-of-life features like save states and a rewind function. Overall, the collection is celebrated for its engaging gameplay, rich level design, and the ability to cater to both new players and long-time fans.

    • “The gameplay is straightforward and simple.”
    • “Each of the three Castlevania DS games has unique gameplay mechanics that separate them from each other.”
    • “The DS games, renowned for their tight gameplay and great level design, are presented here with modern enhancements such as save states and a rewind feature, making them more accessible without losing their original charm.”
    • “I enjoyed Order, but felt it suffered from overly specialized mechanics with every attack being mana-based and the damage taking and dealing enemies that liked to just run up on you and force you into a stun-cycle.”
    • “Dawn of Sorrow: probably the weakest experience in the collection, not bad, but the map has a very confusing path progression and it had an annoying DS mechanic where you had to draw seal circles to kill bosses and if you don't get them right you have to fight the bosses for a bit longer before it gives you a hint on how to draw the circle, very honestly, you don't draw the circle enough to remember, kind of annoying.”
    • “However, the touch controls, necessary for some gameplay elements, can be a bit awkward on platforms without a touchscreen, and the display options are somewhat limited, which could disappoint players who prefer more customization.”
  • music101 mentions

    The music in this collection is widely praised for its quality, with many reviewers noting that it retains the charm of the original soundtracks while benefiting from modern enhancements. The inclusion of a music player and the ability to listen to remastered tracks adds significant value, making it a highlight of the overall experience. Fans appreciate the diverse and memorable compositions, which contribute to the nostalgic and immersive atmosphere of the games.

    • “The music is great, the visuals are fantastic, the gameplay is filled with various weapons, armor, and spells to play with.”
    • “The castlevania series is 2D gaming at its finest, with the best music in gaming, period.”
    • “The soundtrack which was already great, now sounds even better as that grainy, noisy sound typical of games on the DS was removed.”
    • “The other nitpick is that some music tracks wouldn't play in the Haunted Castle remake when I was playing on the Steam Deck.”
    • “Tracks like the intro sequence, death music, map transition, and stage clear music were all absent.”
    • “Sometimes the music and SFX will even cut out for a few seconds as the screen freezes.”
  • graphics74 mentions

    The graphics in this collection are praised for their stunning visuals and diverse art styles, ranging from gothic aesthetics to simple anime designs, with many noting the impressive pixel art and remastered elements. While some users appreciate the updated graphics and the inclusion of new artwork, others express disappointment over the lack of graphical options and filters, which can lead to overly pixelated visuals. Overall, the collection is celebrated for its high-quality graphics and the nostalgic charm of its classic titles, making it a must-have for fans of the genre.

    • “The graphics look great, and the music is as good as it was before.”
    • “The graphics have been overhauled and look on par with the 16-bit era games.”
    • “The visuals are absolutely stunning, moving away from the anime art style and returning to a more gritty look.”
    • “The visuals are the same as Dawn of Sorrow, so if you weren't a fan before, you won't be now.”
    • “There are no filters to improve or change the graphics and resolution, so you can't even have the non-pixelated graphics of the original DS version. It doesn't have true full screen, and the pause menu must bizarrely load and takes its time doing so.”
    • “No in-game graphics screen filter options, so you have to look at hyper pixelated visuals which I don't think was the intention, despite what some would have you believe.”
  • story66 mentions

    The story across the Castlevania games is generally regarded as straightforward and not particularly deep, yet it effectively ties into the series' lore, with notable entries like "Order of Ecclesia" and "Dawn of Sorrow" praised for their engaging narratives and character development. Players appreciate the connections between games, especially the continuity from "Aria of Sorrow," while some quests enhance the experience with additional lore, despite being criticized for their grindy nature. Overall, while the storytelling may not be complex, it resonates well with fans and complements the gameplay effectively.

    • “The story follows vampire-hunter-apprentices Jonathan and Charlotte as they venture into Dracula's castle to fight... not Dracula!”
    • “Order of Ecclesia has some of the best story and best boss fights in the series.”
    • “The story, while simple and sparse, is still up there in the upper echelons of the series and explores the idea of fighting Dracula's army without the vampire killer in a way that made the experience stand out from most of the other games in the series.”
    • “The story of this one is the worst of the three... it's actually kind of bad, especially when we find out that [spoiler]the sisters are not really Braum's daughters[/spoiler].”
    • “This is the only one I had played prior to this collection; it's fun but a big step down from Aria in a lot of ways, terrible art, awful RNG (the crafting system doesn't help, it makes drops from enemies and the castle feel worthless sometimes) and a bad story just make this one kind of a sleeper, which is a shame because I am a huge fan of Soma and Aria.”
    • “I do have some gripes about the plot of Portrait, namely the way the game poorly explains why Jonathan can't use the vampire killer whip.”
  • grinding41 mentions

    Grinding in these games is a mixed experience; while it can be rewarding and fun, especially with the soul system that allows for powerful upgrades, many players find it tedious due to low drop rates and the necessity of backtracking. Features like save states and rewind options help alleviate some frustration, making the grind less punishing, but completionists may still face significant time investment to achieve 100%. Overall, the grind can enhance gameplay for some, but it may deter others who prefer a more streamlined experience.

    • “Coupled with poor drop rates on some really useful souls, 'Dawn of Sorrow' can be very tedious to play.”
    • “Ultimately, 'Order of Ecclesia' feels grindy and exhausting, and while it has some redeeming qualities, the constant repetition makes it harder to enjoy compared to its predecessors.”
    • “The optional quests are grindy and frustrating.”
  • optimization22 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the Castlevania Dominus Collection is generally well-received, with many players noting good performance, especially on modern hardware like the Steam Deck. While some users experienced initial performance issues, including frame rate drops, these were often resolved with updates, leading to smoother gameplay and enhanced quality-of-life features. The collection benefits from thoughtful enhancements such as adjustable screen settings and remappable controls, making it a solid port of the original titles.

    • “The optimization in this game is good, from the screen resolution to the adjustable screens and even the quality of life features like backtrack or region change.”
    • “Finally, these games are on PC and modern consoles, with thoughtful additions like save states, remappable controls, and smoother performance.”
    • “Lightning fast performance with excellent quality of life features to clean up the touch screen requirements.”
    • “I want to play this so bad but this is my message to them; we really shouldn't have to throttle our hardware to meet a 2024 released game specs for nominal performance to take place.”
    • “There's no way to adjust the performance settings for the game, so I'm not sure how to fix it yet.”
    • “Hopefully the performance issues can be fixed.”
  • stability14 mentions

    Overall, the stability of the Castlevania collection is generally positive, particularly on the Steam Deck, where it runs smoothly with minimal bugs at launch. However, some users have reported occasional freezes, crashes, and visual glitches, suggesting that Konami should address these issues. Notably, certain classic glitches have been preserved for speedrunners, which may appeal to some players but could hinder the experience for others.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck and feels right to play these Castlevania games on a portable device.”
    • “This runs great on the Steam Deck!”
    • “So far, Dawn of Sorrow runs great; the quality of life features are excellent and it's way better than playing it on a Nintendo DS.”
    • “I experienced two random freezes/crashes and saw some other reports in the review section, so I think that Konami should look into and address these types of problems.”
    • “5th edit: crashing, visual glitches, ungainly save states.”
    • “Sometimes the music and sound effects will even cut out for a few seconds as the screen freezes.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    The collection offers significant replayability through various alternate modes and playable characters across the games, such as Julius Mode in "Dawn of Sorrow" and Sisters Mode in "Portrait of Ruin." While the inclusion of multiple characters and systems enhances replay value, some players may find the grind for souls and equipment tedious, and the repetitiveness of gameplay can diminish the overall appeal. Overall, the titles provide a solid replay experience, though opinions vary on their longevity compared to other entries in the Castlevania series.

    • “Each game has alternate modes. 'Dawn of Sorrow' features Julius Mode where you play as Julius, Yoko, and Alucard, culminating in a unique final boss encounter. 'Portrait of Ruin' offers two modes: Sisters Mode with the vampire sisters Stella and Loretta, and Richter Mode with Richter Belmont and Maria Renard. 'Order of Ecclesia' includes Albus Mode, allowing you to play as Albus after witnessing his impressive abilities. Overall, this collection boasts a large amount of replayability through the diverse systems of Soma Cruz, Jonathan, Charlotte, and Shanoa.”
    • “Especially 'Portrait of Ruin' is a must-play game; all of them have incredible replay value.”
    • “A major highlight is that all cutscenes in the collection can be skipped, which significantly improves replayability.”
    • “Both modes provide ample replay value, though completionists might find the grind for souls and equipment a bit tedious due to low drop rates, especially on a first playthrough.”
    • “Like Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin offers multiple additional characters to play as after finishing the game, which adds replay value, though the repetitiveness of the core game diminishes the appeal.”
    • “My biggest complaints are I feel that there is less replay value than other Castlevania games; the glyph system is awesome but there are a lot less of them than souls or weapons from previous titles, and only a small amount are actually worth using in my opinion.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    Players find the emotional depth of the game particularly impactful, with strong narratives that resonate deeply, especially in the character arcs of Albus and Shanoa. The storyline evokes sympathy for Dracula, highlighting the struggles he faces, which adds to the overall emotional experience. The remaster's balance of difficulty and visuals further enhances the heartfelt connection players feel to the game.

    • “The story in Ecclesia is one of the most emotionally resonant in the series, and as an older brother myself, Albus remains one of my favorite Castlevania side characters to this day, with Shanoa being my favorite protagonist possibly not just in Castlevania, but from any Metroidvania I've played.”
    • “The storyline made me feel bad for Dracula as the poor dude gets both bullied by other vampires but also by a couple of anime characters 2 minutes after he is reborn.”
    • “Haunted Castle revisited: this remaster feels like a heartfelt bonus, balancing difficulty and refreshing visuals.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The atmosphere of the games is highly praised for its unique blend of 2D and 3D art styles, creating a captivating gothic aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. While some players appreciate the cohesive environments that contribute to the atmosphere, others note that the slower pace may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the games are celebrated for their artistic and atmospheric qualities, setting them apart from less engaging metroidvania clones.

    • “The game's gothic aesthetic is gorgeous and adds to the overall atmosphere, though its slower pace may not be for everyone.”
    • “The games themselves are amazing and really fun to this day; most of the soulless metroidvania clones still fail to grasp the gameplay, atmosphere, and feeling of these games.”
    • “Ds entries were absolutely fantastic with each own atmosphere and insanely great art style, with a very interesting blend of 2D and 3D.”
    • “The games themselves are amazing and really fun to this day; most of the soulless Metroidvania clones still fail to grasp the gameplay, atmosphere, and feeling of these games.”
    • “We also lose some of the atmosphere and character that is achieved by having a singular, cohesive environment.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing chaos that ensues when rapidly switching characters, as each one shouts their name, creating a comedic cacophony. Additionally, the intentionally poor default controls add to the humor, making the experience both entertaining and nostalgic, especially given its preservation of older Konami titles.

    • “Which quite famously causes the character you’re switching to shout their name, leading to a funny cacophony as you rapidly switch between them.”
    • “The default binds are also absurdly bad to the point where it's funny.”
    • “A perfect example of how to preserve older video games from Konami of all companies, which is pretty funny.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Users praise the character development, particularly highlighting Shanoa's top-tier character design in "Order of Ecclesia," which is noted for its quality and appeal.

    • “I've always thought Shanoa in OOE had a top-tier character design.”
    • “Great character design.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The game's monetization strategy appears to be unconventional, as it was released on Steam and other platforms without prior advertising, suggesting a surprise launch that may impact its visibility and sales.

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Critic Reviews

89% average critic score

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Play time

9hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
7-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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