So, I got payed, headed to croydon to the nearest x-electrical there, and I cracked, I gave in to my temptations, and bought the import versions of Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin and Hotel Dusk: Room 215.

So far, I haven’t had MUCH chance to play them, but of what I have managed to squeeze out of the odd hour or two here and there, is absolutely fantastic.

Let’s start with castlevania… The graphic are wonderful, since I LOVE pixel art, this really pushes all the right buttons for me, the gameplay is fabulous, if a little tricky to get the hang of at first (I’ve never really played any of the other Castlevania titles, for shame) I don’t know how this stacks up with the others, I am wise enough to know, however, that there is a very large Castlevania fanbase, and particularly Symphony of the Night. And I am hoping that will please the fans, since it has, thus far, brought me a lot of joy and entertainment.

Hotel Dusk on the other hand, is a far more complex game than it may appear, I find myself constantly analysing, possibly even over-analysing ever bit of dialogue, every item, every location, in the hopes i may come to some kind of revelation sooner than expected. Time will tell. It has a very fluid control scheme, and the art is wonderful, playful yet somewhat noire-ish with a Japanese twist.

I shall reveal more once i have played more.

Shake-a-bye-bye