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❤ Exploration-Focused Metroidvania Design

The collection features three acclaimed Metroidvania-style Castlevania titles from the Nintendo DS era - Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia. Players can explore sprawling, interconnected castles, uncovering new abilities and items that grant access to previously locked areas. Careful exploration rewards players with powerful soul abilities in Dawn of Sorrow, varied weapon/spell combinations in Portrait of Ruin, and the versatile Glyph system in Order of Ecclesia. Mastering the abilities and equipment at the player's disposal is central to overcoming the games' challenges.

❤ Seamless Dual Screen Integration

The collection faithfully recreates the dual-screen functionality of the original DS games. Players can customize the layout and size of the map, item/enemy information, and other supplementary elements displayed on the bottom screen. In Dawn of Sorrow, the frustrating magic seal drawing mechanic has been replaced with button sequences, a welcome quality-of-life improvement. Players can also use the mouse cursor or analog stick to emulate touch controls where needed, providing intuitive control schemes for a seamless PC/console experience.

❤ Varied Playable Characters

The collection offers the ability to switch between multiple playable protagonists, each with their own fighting styles and progression paths. In Portrait of Ruin, players can instantly swap between the whip-wielding hero Jonathan and the spell-casting mage Charlotte, leveraging their unique abilities. Order of Ecclesia features the enigmatic Shanoa, who possesses the powerful Glyph system, allowing players to customize her abilities by absorbing the powers of defeated foes. These varied protagonists provide a level of replayability and flexibility that enriches the Metroidvania experience.

❤ Challenging but Fair Combat

The collection upholds the Castlevania series' reputation for punishing yet fair combat. Enemies and bosses require careful pattern recognition and mastery of the player's arsenal to overcome. Precise timing and positioning are essential, creating a satisfying gameplay loop of learning, adapting, and triumphing over formidable foes. The inclusion of features like mid-level checkpoints and a rewind function allow players to experiment and learn from their mistakes without excessive frustration, striking a balance between challenge and accessibility.