Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (悪魔城ドラキュラ ギャラリー オブ ラビリンス Akumajō Dracula: Gallery of Labyrinth, lit. "Demon Castle Dracula: Gallery of Labyrinth") is a platform-adventure game developed and published by Konami. It was released on November 16, 2006 in Japan, and in the US on December 5, 2006 for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. Portrait of Ruin is the first game in the Castlevania series to feature a cooperative multiplayer gameplay mode, and the first handheld installment to have English voiceovers, outside of its original Japanese release.
Portrait of Ruin is set in 1944 Europe during World War II, and is a continuation of the story from Castlevania: Bloodlines. The game introduces new protagonists and antagonists to the Castlevania series, as well as expand on the two character gameplay found in the previous Nintendo DS Castlevania title, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow. The game has met with an overall positive critical response and has received high ratings from reviews, along with several awards.
Plot[]
Portrait of Ruin gives the player control of two different characters: vampire hunter Jonathan Morris, and the young sorceress Charlotte Aulin. Jonathan and Charlotte were childhood friends both descended from legendary clans devoted to the protection of mankind against the forces of evil. Jonathan Morris is the son of Castlevania: Bloodlines hero, John Morris. Unlike the Belmont family, to whom they are related, the Morrises cannot use the full power of the legendary Vampire Killer whip by default. Charlotte Aulin is descended from the Belnades clan, a bloodline known for their magical prowess.
The vampire artist, Brauner, has revived Dracula's Castle in order to bring ruin to the world, and it is up to Jonathan and Charlotte to stop him.