Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin for the Nintendo DS hit store shelves today as the second Castlevania game to appear on the DS. Many fans' anticipation levels rose to new heights after a generous pre-order offer was announced in October.

Portrait of Ruin stands apart from its predecessors in several unique ways. Players are given the option of controlling one of two main characters: vampire hunter Jonathan Morris or the magically-inclined Charlotte Orlean. The duo must cut their way through hordes of malicious demons in order to prevent the ressurection of Dracula's castle. Unlike many Castlevania titles, much of the action takes place outside the castle's winding dungeons, instead opting for a World War II setting full of diverse areas to explore. Portrait of Ruin makes use of the DS's WiFi capabilities through a new co-op multiplayer mode which allows two players to simulataneously hack and slash their way through the game, with each player controlling one of the protagonists.

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin is currently available at most major retailers for an MSRP of $34.99. It has been given a rating of T (Teen) by the ESRB.