Happy 20th Anniversary Castlevania!

Countdown to the release of one the most critically acclaimed and revered franchises in video game history.

Castlevania returns in grand style to the Nintendo DS with Portrait of Ruin on December 5

The release of Konami’s Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, on December 5, 2006, marks the 20th anniversary of the long-running and successful Castlevania video game franchise. Made by the same award-winning team as last year’s smash hit Dawn of Sorrow, Castlevania Portrait of Ruin is set to spellbind gamers with its riveting storyline, amazing 2D *and* 3D graphics as well as a majestic new soundtrack. Castlevania, which has been released on virtually every video game console from N64 to Xbox, is now hitting the Nintendo DS, with 3D graphics, a celebrated soundtrack and 20 years of vampire hunting action!

Take control of two heroes, Jonathan Morris, a vampire hunter and his close friend Charlotte Orlean, a girl with tremendous magical ability. Amidst the chaos of World War II, two mysterious sisters emerge, working to resurrect Dracula and David and Charlotte are all that stand in their way.

A perfect gift this Holiday Season, a must-have for any Nintendo DS owner, Portrait of Ruin stays true to everything gamers love retro and pick-up-and play about the Castlevania series, but also takes the franchise to a new level. Portrait of Ruin allows players to utilize the Nintendo DS side scrolling and stylus action, traverse through highly-stylized environments and switch back-and-forth between two playable characters, Jonathan and Charlotte, at a whim. Players can also play online with friends and wirelessly trade items using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. Plus there are more than 100 different enemies putting our heroes to the test as they move through Dracula’s ever-changing castle!

Castlevania may not be old enough to drink legally, but the franchise is definitely old enough to hunt Dracula, and Portrait of Ruin is setting off adulthood right!