For some franchises, the future lies in the past. Castlevania is one of those games that just wasn't meant for the third dimension; thankfully the creators realized this before it was too late and reverted to their old formula. After a few regurgitations, new elements started to fall into the mix. Some worked, some didn't. Portrait of Ruin seems to represent an optimal combination of the old and new elements, creating an adventure game more than worthy of the Castlevania name.

Portrait of Ruin follows a plot that has been more or less recycled in every Castlevania game in history: Dracula is about to be resurrected, and you have to stop it from happening. This time around you play as Jonathan, a distant relative of the familiar Belmont bloodline, and his friend Charlotte, who have taken it upon themselves to prevent disaster.

Portrait relies on the age-old formula of of the classic (now neo-retro) sidecrolling platformer, which if you ask me is where it belongs. Not that 3D would be blasphemy for them; this is just where the games shine their brightest, and they should stick with what works. The graphics look great; while not particularly high-quality, color depth is perfect and the addition of multilayered backgrounds make stages seem that much more immersing. Little things abound, such as books that fall off shelves when you walk on them, and just about everything you see has some level of interactivity in it, e.g. most tables have dishes you can destroy for powerups and every lamp you see can be knocked over for a quick pick-me-up. This is one of those games that brings hope for reviving the seemingly-lost art of sidescrollers.

The game mechanics are backed by an RPG-like leveling system, something that's been the norm for Castlevania for a while now. Supplementing this is a gear system that allows you to increase the characters' abilities and enhance their effectiveness. Certain pieces can increase willpower, allowing more magic abilities to be used, or simply bolster attack power for those times when you just need the firepower. Some rare items impart unique abilities or spells, such as Charlotte's books. All this is easily accessed from a menu that makes things quick and easy for the player to change up gear even in combat.

The world the player runs around in is a former fortress of Dracula, which has been taken over by an evil third party who has some sinister intentions (though not what you expect). The castle itself functions as a hub for the other worlds you visit, which are entered through paintings on the walls. The structure of the worlds is semi-linear; while access to certain worlds (and certain areas within worlds themselves) is restricted, it is done somewhat organically through lack of specific abilities (e.g. one world is blocked by a solid wall that can only be destroyed with a specific attack). New abilities allow access to previously-blocked sections of worlds you have already completed, furthering exploration and the plot of the game.

Portrait of Ruin falls right into the definition of a classic, addictive, easy to pick up but hard to put down platformer. If you're a Castlevania fan, this is a must have; if not, at least give it a whirl. It's a bright beacon of retro in a dismal cave of the modern.