Introduction
Basic information
- Developer Name: Konami
- Full Name: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
- Release Date: May 6, 2003 (Original), September 23, 2021 (Advance Collection)
- Released on: Game Boy Advance (Original), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC (Advance Collection)
- Cross Play: No
Initial thoughts
I’ve always loved Castlevania. It was my go-to series in my earlier gaming days, and despite nearly 15 years passing since the last real 2D Castlevania (Order of Ecclesia), I still find myself hoping for a new adventure. Playing Aria of Sorrow in the Advance Collection was a nostalgic yet refreshing experience, reminding me why this series remains one of the greatest. The game is a perfect blend of storytelling, gameplay, and atmosphere, but it also leaves one massive question unanswered: what exactly happened in 1999? The war where Dracula was finally vanquished is mentioned multiple times, yet we’ve never gotten a game about it. Konami, if you’re listening, we need a Castlevania game covering the events of 1999.
Story and setting
Plot overview
Unlike previous entries set in medieval Europe, Aria of Sorrow takes a bold step forward into the year 2035. You play as Soma Cruz, a seemingly normal teenager who gets caught in a mysterious eclipse and ends up in Dracula’s Castle. Soon, he discovers that he has the power to absorb the souls of defeated monsters, giving him abilities beyond that of a normal human. With the guidance of his friend Mina and the enigmatic Genya Arikado, Soma must navigate the castle and uncover the truth about his fate—one that ties him directly to Dracula himself.
World building and immersion
The shift to the future doesn’t feel jarring; instead, it adds a fresh layer to the Castlevania mythos. Dracula’s Castle remains as haunting and immersive as ever, filled with intricate gothic architecture, eerie corridors, and lurking horrors. The lore woven throughout the game deepens the series’ world, raising intriguing questions about fate, reincarnation, and the cycle of darkness.
Character development
Soma Cruz is a fascinating protagonist, not just because of his unique abilities but because of his connection to Dracula. Unlike previous heroes who sought to destroy Dracula, Soma must wrestle with the possibility that he is Dracula reborn. The supporting cast—Genya Arikado, Mina, Graham Jones, and Julius Belmont—all add depth to the story, with Julius in particular serving as a powerful link to the Castlevania legacy.
Emotional impact
What makes Aria of Sorrow so impactful is how it portrays Dracula. For the longest time, Dracula has been the ultimate villain of the series, but through Soma, we get a glimpse of the man he once was. He wasn’t always a force of evil; once, he was a man who suffered unbearable loss. Soma’s struggle mirrors Dracula’s tragic past, making the story feel much more personal and emotionally resonant than previous entries.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with an 10
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
At its core, Aria of Sorrow follows the tried-and-true Metroidvania formula, with an interconnected castle full of enemies, secrets, and upgrades to uncover. However, what truly sets it apart is the Tactical Soul System, allowing Soma to absorb the souls of enemies and gain their abilities. This mechanic adds incredible depth, as each soul collected can change how you approach combat and exploration.
Difficulty and balance
The game offers a fair challenge, with bosses that test your skills but never feel overwhelmingly difficult. The variety of weapons, magic, and soul abilities allow for different playstyles, making it accessible to both veterans and newcomers.
Pacing of the game
The pacing is near perfect. Progression feels natural, with new areas opening up just as you start to master the mechanics. There’s always a sense of forward momentum, whether you’re hunting down a powerful new soul or piecing together the mysteries of Dracula’s Castle.
Innovation and uniqueness
The Tactical Soul System was groundbreaking for its time and still feels fresh today. No Castlevania game before Aria of Sorrow had experimented with such a mechanic, and it adds a layer of customization and strategy that keeps every playthrough unique.
Controls and user interface
Smooth, responsive, and intuitive. The game’s controls feel precise, which is crucial for platforming and combat. The UI is clean and easy to navigate, making soul management effortless.
Microtransactions
None. Just pure, classic Castlevania gameplay with no modern monetization nonsense.
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with a 10
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
For a Game Boy Advance title, Aria of Sorrow has aged like fine wine. The sprite work is detailed, the animations are fluid, and the gothic environments are as hauntingly beautiful as ever. The Advance Collection’s enhancements make it even more polished, keeping the visuals crisp while preserving the game’s original charm.
Technical performances
The game runs flawlessly, whether playing on the original GBA or in the Advance Collection. No slowdowns, no glitches—just smooth gameplay.
Environment and design uniqueness
Each area of Dracula’s Castle feels distinct, from the chilling Floating Garden to the eerie Clock Tower. The variety in level design keeps exploration engaging.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with a 9.5.
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
It’s Castlevania. Enough said. Every track is atmospheric, haunting, and fits the game’s gothic aesthetic perfectly.
Sound effects quality
Every strike, spell, and soul absorption is accompanied by satisfying sound effects that enhance the gameplay experience.
Voice Acting
There’s minimal voice acting, but what’s there adds to the immersion. The dialogue and sound design do enough to bring the characters to life.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with a 10
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
The game’s main story is around 8–12 hours, but there’s so much more to do beyond that.
Extra Content
The Advance Collection also includes additional modes like Julius Mode, where you can play as Julius Belmont in a classic-style Castlevania experience. Collecting all souls is also a rewarding challenge that adds longevity.
Replay value
With multiple endings, different playstyles, and extra modes, Aria of Sorrow is a game that encourages replaying.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Aria of Sorrow with a 9.5
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
Only one suggestion, we need a proper 2.5D remake, bundle it with Dawn of Sorrow, and then add a third game to finish this trilogy.
Comparisons
- Symphony of the Night – Aria of Sorrow is often considered a spiritual successor, and it absolutely holds up.
- Dawn of Sorrow – The direct sequel expands on the mechanics but lacks some of the elegance of Aria.
- Order of Ecclesia – Another strong contender for best 2D Castlevania, though with a much higher difficulty level.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
One of the things I love most about Aria of Sorrow is how it intertwines Soma’s journey with Dracula’s fate. It reminds me that Dracula wasn’t always the villain—he was once a man who lost everything. Soma embodies who Dracula could have been, had things turned out differently. The emotional weight of this realization makes the game’s climax hit even harder.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with Aria of Sorrow, I give it a personal rating of 9.5
Last words
Pros
- One of the best Castlevania stories
- The Tactical Soul System is a masterpiece
- Smooth, responsive gameplay
- Fantastic music
- Engaging level design.
- Multiple endings
- Tons of replay value
- Gorgeous sprite work
- Aged incredibly well
- Julius Mode adds extra challenge
- Perfect pacing
- Ties into the greater Castlevania lore in a meaningful way
- Great enemy and boss design
- One of the best protagonists in Castlevania history
Cons
- No official remake yet
- Still no Castlevania game covering the 1999 war
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow remains one of the greatest 2D action RPGs ever made. It innovates, captivates, and delivers a story with surprising emotional weight. If you haven’t played it yet, the Advance Collection is the perfect way to experience this masterpiece.
FINAL RATING
9.8
Please let me know what you think of Aria of Sorrow in the comments!
I hope you enjoyed reading this review, I hope to see you in the next review!
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One of the best old school castlevania games ever. Where the hell is my remake?!?
I do need a remake!
9.8 wow. I liked the soundtracks.
Yes, the soundtracks are amazing!
All Castlevania games seem pretty well done
That is true, but the later games do tend to get worse after they stopped 2D games.
The cons for this game is basically that there is not more!
That is a very big con!
Such a cool game! Unfortunately it was one of the games that I started and abandoned for some reason… I hope to get the Advance Collection at some point so that I can actually finish it!
You really should get the advance collection.
Yet another oldschool sidescrolling game with lots of jump’n’run elements that seems to be hyped almost everywhere, that I haven’t played ever. Never got into the series. It does look really interesting, but I’m just no good in this kind of game… But it’s good to see it still has such a fan base 🙂
You can get good at the game! Just try it and practice!
Great review!
Now I want to play the Castlevania series too!🐑
You really should!
The game is good haha… played it before
Did you have fun playing it?
Thanks for reviewing this game! I’ve always wanted to play it and reading how wonderful it is and how much I like it pushes me to start it someday. It’s a shame there’s no remake because as you say, the game has aged quite well.
The game has aged quite well, but a remake would be insane!
Do I see a screenshot of the week here xD. I love the art works and the pixel art of this game!
They sometimes find their ways into the review!
somehow I never really played a Castlevania game :thinking:
A friend of mine had Simon’s Quest on the NES.
We sometimes played it a little bit, but it was more just a running around ^^
The NES does have different vibes for the Castlevania games!
every single Castlevania game is a masterpiece. Kudos for re-igniting our nostalgia
I am glad to have reignited your Nostalgia!
I really enjoyed this review, it explains what makes Aria of Sorrow such a great Castlevania game. The way it highlights the Soul System reminded me how fun and unique the gameplay is.
Yes, the gameplay is very unique!
I haven’t played much of this series but love the stories from these games so might have to try this one.
You really should try one of the games, they age like fine wine!
Reading the cons itself highlights how good this game is!
Definitely have to play through the series 🙂
You really should!
what a blast from the past!
It is indeed a blast!
I think it could be better with better graphics and 16:9, cuz I have big TV, so waiting for remake.
Yeah, a remake would be amazing!
I actually started playing the castlevania games awhile back, I finished the original which is amazing for an NES game, moved on to 3, but haven’t finished yet, then jumped to Order of Eclesia, MAN is that one amazing, I love the music and still listen to it often, will have to play Aria and Dawn of Sorrow sometie soon.
That is a big leap! Order of Ecclesia is one of the harder games!
This being a 2003 game makes it that much better. It’s a masterpiece. The things they came up to on a GBA!
Both of the cons don’t really target this game, though, but the ideas to have a remake and another one that covers different story. That means this game has no cons. 😉
This game has indeed no cons!
Never played anything from this series but the pixel art and level design/fluidity of combat does look very good!
I am glad you think it looks good!
a good, detailed review. Keep them coming!
I will indeed keep them coming!
Konami, i always liked this developer (guess why :D). Very good classic game, we can see quality all around. Additionaly i like those climats. Thanks for your good review 🙂 I added it to wishlist, not knew/missed it is on steam in collection 🙂
Yeah, it can indeed be played on Steam!
I got to know about this game through the screenshot of the week quest and it got my interests up. Reading this review, I know this is totally worth a try!
It is indeed worth your time!
That was a good review, quite informative. Castlevania games are well-made and definitely recommended.
Glad that you agreed with the review!
Didnt know about more modern time castelvania game
It takes place in the (not so distant now) future.
I like review. This game deserves a remake!
It indeed does deserve a remake!