Release Archives: ... WEEK OF OCTOBER 4, 2005 10.04.2005 Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow *Game of the Week* Dev. Konami Pub. Konami MSRP: $34.99 Systems: DS The Castlevania series is classic, but it didn't fully hit it's stride until the 32-bit era. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for the PS1 is not only the high point for all of 2D, but in my opinion, all of gaming. Gorgeous visuals and arresting art design, overwhelmingly haunting yet subtle music, two HUGE castles to explore, and the tightest controls this side of a pencil. All told, it was an incredible achievement. The three GBA sequels were fantastic in their own right as well, but this feels like something nice and new. The classic, perfected action/adventure gameplay is pushed even further with new touch screen features to traverse various paths, puzzles and obstacles, which fit in incredibly well with the already finely tuned gameplay. The DS buttons and D-Pad aren't exactly the best among the species, but you'll have no trouble battling magnificently huge bosses and hordes of unholy creatures without batting an eye. And, in one fell swoop, the DS has possibly the best portable, original side-scroller ever. Halo Triple Pack Dev. Bungie Pub. Microsoft MSRP: $59.99 Systems: Xbox Sure, it's nothing new, but being someone who still plays Halo 2 online more or less nightly almost a year after it was released, I figured I should at least mention it. Bungie came from relative obscurity, as fantastic as they were, and created a series that would leapfrog an entire genre, and stay ahead of the shooter pack to this day. Only Half-Life 2 can rival the single player game in enjoyment and scope, and nothing can touch the multiplayer. This is a dually smart move by Microsoft too - not only introducing people to the idea of paying $60 for a game (which will be almost standard in this coming generation), but making sure every last person is online with the 360 ASAP, even if it's just to play an older game. The games speak for themselves, and it's a pretty solid deal for the bunch. Trauma Center: Under The Knife Dev. Atlus Pub. Atlus MSRP: $29.99 Systems: DS What a concept. The DS was founded on the idea of innovation, and this couldn't be a more perfect example of something unique that simply could not be done on any other hardware. It's a surgery sim of sorts that sees you sewing up wounds and joining arteries with the stylus, not unlike some sick puzzle game. Sickeningly fulfilling, of course. When you're away from the operating table you'll live out the apparently dramatic personal dramas of a top ER doctor, not unlike a certain television show on NBC, the name of which currently escapes me. I can't thank Atlus enough for bringing this one over; consistently unique games like this will truly establish the DS as a system for everyone, hopefully even more so than the colorful GBA library. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you can stomach it you'll soon be calling into work yourself. - Nick