<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Aria	I-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2003	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
game	I-Application
developed	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Konami	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
third	O
Castlevania	B-Application
game	O
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Producer	O
Koji	O
Igarashi	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
led	O
the	O
production	O
teams	O
for	O
previous	O
Castlevania	B-Application
games	O
,	O
led	O
Aria	O
of	O
Sorrows	O
development	O
as	O
well	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Director	O
Junichi	O
Murakami	O
was	O
new	O
to	O
the	O
Castlevania	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
is	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
year	O
2035	O
,	O
when	O
Dracula	O
has	O
been	O
sealed	O
away	O
after	O
a	O
battle	O
in	O
1999	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
incorporates	O
the	O
same	O
combination	O
of	O
elements	O
from	O
platform	O
games	O
and	O
role-playing	O
video	O
games	O
as	O
in	O
a	O
previous	O
game	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Symphony	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
(	O
1997	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
introduces	O
several	O
features	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
"	O
Tactical	O
Soul	O
"	O
system	O
and	O
employs	O
a	O
futuristic	O
storyline	O
in	O
contrast	O
to	O
the	O
medieval	O
setting	O
of	O
other	O
Castlevania	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
May	O
2003	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
received	O
universal	O
acclaim	O
,	O
with	O
praise	O
for	O
its	O
visuals	O
,	O
gameplay	O
(	O
particularly	O
the	O
Tactical	O
Soul	O
System	O
)	O
,	O
music	O
,	O
and	O
level	O
design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
critics	O
considered	O
it	O
the	O
best	O
Castlevania	B-Application
game	O
since	O
Symphony	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Konami	O
released	O
a	O
sequel	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Dawn	I-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
,	O
in	O
August	O
2005	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
was	O
rereleased	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Castlevania	B-Application
Advance	O
Collection	O
on	O
September	O
23	O
,	O
2021	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Windows	O
alongside	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Circle	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Moon	I-Application
(	O
2001	O
)	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Harmony	I-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
(	O
2002	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Dracula	I-Application
X	I-Application
(	O
1995	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
features	O
a	O
2D	O
side-scrolling	O
style	O
of	O
gameplay	O
where	O
the	O
player	O
controls	O
the	O
onscreen	O
character	O
from	O
a	O
third-person	O
perspective	O
to	O
interact	O
with	O
people	O
,	O
objects	O
,	O
and	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Statistic	O
examples	O
include	O
hit	O
points	O
,	O
the	O
amount	O
of	O
damage	O
a	O
character	O
can	O
receive	O
;	O
magic	B-Application
points	I-Application
,	O
which	O
determine	O
the	O
number	O
of	O
times	O
a	O
character	O
can	O
use	O
magical	O
attacks	O
;	O
strength	O
,	O
the	O
power	O
of	O
a	O
character	O
's	O
physical	O
attacks	O
;	O
and	O
intelligence	O
,	O
the	O
power	O
of	O
a	O
character	O
's	O
magical	O
spells	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similar	O
to	O
previous	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
is	O
set	O
within	O
Dracula	O
's	O
castle	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
divided	O
into	O
several	O
areas	O
that	O
the	O
player	O
traverses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
introduces	O
the	O
Tactical	O
Soul	O
ability	O
system	O
to	O
the	O
Castlevania	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
can	O
trade	O
souls	O
between	O
two	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
cartridges	O
using	O
two	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
consoles	O
and	O
a	O
link	O
cable	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bullet	O
souls	O
are	O
Soma	O
Cruz	O
's	O
replacement	O
for	O
sub	O
weapons	O
in	O
this	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
enable	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
consume	O
a	O
set	O
number	O
of	O
magic	B-Application
points	I-Application
to	O
use	O
an	O
ability	O
,	O
often	O
some	O
form	O
of	O
projectile	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Guardian	O
souls	O
continually	O
drain	O
magic	B-Application
points	I-Application
as	O
long	O
as	O
they	O
are	O
active	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
originate	O
from	O
one-of-a-kind	O
enemies	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
once	O
obtained	O
,	O
they	O
remain	O
active	O
as	O
long	O
as	O
the	O
player	O
does	O
not	O
specifically	O
disable	O
them	O
,	O
not	O
consuming	O
any	O
magic	B-Application
points	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
includes	O
additional	O
modes	O
of	O
play	O
that	O
display	O
elements	O
not	O
seen	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
primary	O
scenario	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
fictional	O
universe	O
of	O
the	O
Castlevania	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Thirty-six	O
years	O
before	O
the	O
start	O
of	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
,	O
Dracula	O
was	O
defeated	O
once	O
and	O
for	O
all	O
by	O
the	O
Belmont	O
clan	O
,	O
and	O
his	O
powers	O
sealed	O
into	O
a	O
solar	B-Application
eclipse	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
prophecy	O
acts	O
as	O
the	O
driving	O
force	O
behind	O
the	O
plot	O
of	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
,	O
and	O
is	O
the	O
primary	O
motivation	O
of	O
the	O
supporting	O
characters	O
to	O
be	O
present	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
protagonist	O
and	O
primary	O
playable	O
character	O
of	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
is	O
Soma	O
Cruz	O
,	O
a	O
transfer	O
student	O
studying	O
in	O
Japan	O
who	O
possesses	O
the	O
"	O
power	O
of	O
dominance	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
allows	O
him	O
to	O
absorb	O
the	O
souls	O
of	O
monsters	O
and	O
use	O
their	O
abilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
characters	O
were	O
designed	O
by	O
Ayami	O
Kojima	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
previously	O
worked	O
on	O
the	O
characters	O
in	O
Castlevania	B-Application
games	O
such	O
as	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Symphony	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
and	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Harmony	I-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
a	O
solar	B-Application
eclipse	I-Application
,	O
he	O
visits	O
the	O
Hakuba	O
shrine	O
with	O
his	O
childhood	O
friend	O
Mina	O
Hakuba	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
was	O
unveiled	O
at	O
a	O
press	O
conference	O
in	O
San	O
Francisco	O
by	O
executive	O
producer	O
Koji	O
Igarashi	O
on	O
January	O
16	O
,	O
2003	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Igarashi	O
had	O
worked	O
on	O
previous	O
Castlevania	B-Application
games	O
such	O
as	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Symphony	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
and	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Harmony	I-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
was	O
placed	O
in	O
production	O
alongside	O
Harmony	B-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
,	O
resulting	O
in	O
both	O
games	O
sharing	O
similar	O
programming	O
engines	O
and	O
gameplay	O
elements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aria	O
of	O
Sorrows	O
Ability	O
souls	O
,	O
for	O
example	O
,	O
provide	O
the	O
protagonist	O
with	O
innate	O
abilities	O
like	O
the	O
Relic	O
items	O
in	O
Harmony	B-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nevertheless	O
,	O
Igarashi	O
claimed	O
he	O
wished	O
to	O
try	O
a	O
"	O
different	O
route	O
"	O
for	O
the	O
series	O
with	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
via	O
placing	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
a	O
futuristic	O
setting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ayami	O
Kojima	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
previously	O
collaborated	O
with	O
Igarashi	O
on	O
the	O
character	O
designs	O
of	O
Symphony	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
and	O
Harmony	B-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
,	O
was	O
brought	O
into	O
the	O
project	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
"	O
different	O
route	O
"	O
motif	O
,	O
the	O
character	O
designs	O
were	O
made	O
more	O
contemporary	O
,	O
using	O
modern	O
clothing	O
over	O
the	O
more	O
medieval	O
look	O
of	O
the	O
previous	O
Castlevania	B-Application
installments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
developing	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
back	O
story	O
,	O
Igarashi	O
partially	O
based	O
it	O
on	O
Nostradamus	B-Application
's	O
prediction	O
of	O
a	O
"	O
big	O
evil	O
lord	O
in	O
1999	O
"	O
and	O
the	O
1999	O
solar	B-Application
eclipse	I-Application
in	O
Eastern	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
of	O
Igarashi	O
's	O
prominent	O
concerns	O
during	O
development	O
was	O
addressing	O
the	O
criticism	O
expressed	O
concerning	O
Harmony	B-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Igarashi	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
music	O
in	O
Harmony	B-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
had	O
not	O
been	O
well	O
received	O
and	O
Michiru	O
Yamane	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
previously	O
worked	O
on	O
the	O
acclaimed	O
music	O
for	O
Symphony	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
,	O
was	O
hired	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
compose	O
for	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Maintaining	O
the	O
visual	O
quality	O
of	O
Harmony	B-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
was	O
a	O
chief	O
objective	O
during	O
development	O
,	O
as	O
many	O
reviewers	O
had	O
felt	O
that	O
Harmony	B-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
had	O
excelled	O
in	O
graphics	O
at	O
the	O
cost	O
of	O
the	O
audio	O
quality	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Certain	O
aspects	O
that	O
were	O
missing	O
in	O
Harmony	B-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
hidden	O
rooms	O
and	O
breakable	O
walls	O
,	O
were	O
incorporated	O
into	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Aria	I-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
has	O
received	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
from	O
several	O
video	O
game	O
publications	O
,	O
with	O
many	O
comparing	O
it	O
to	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Symphony	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
,	O
widely	O
considered	O
the	O
best	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Castlevania	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Famitsu	O
gave	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
a	O
36/40	O
,	O
the	O
highest	O
score	O
any	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Castlevania	B-Application
series	O
has	O
received	O
from	O
the	O
publication	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
rated	O
by	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Power	I-Application
as	O
the	O
22nd	O
best	O
game	O
made	O
on	O
a	O
Nintendo	O
System	O
in	O
their	O
Top	O
200	O
Games	O
list	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
third	O
installment	O
of	O
the	O
Castlevania	B-Application
series	O
on	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
,	O
many	O
reviewers	O
made	O
note	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
differences	O
from	O
its	O
predecessors	O
,	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Circle	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Moon	I-Application
and	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Harmony	I-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
,	O
with	O
many	O
considering	O
it	O
the	O
definitive	O
Castlevania	B-Application
game	O
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpy	O
noted	O
that	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
"	O
managed	O
to	O
get	O
just	O
about	O
everything	O
right	O
"	O
as	O
compared	O
to	O
its	O
predecessors	O
,	O
and	O
lauded	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
the	O
best	O
portable	O
Castlevania	B-Application
game	O
yet	O
created.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
RPGFan	O
claimed	O
that	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
"[showcased]	O
the	O
true	O
art	O
of	O
game	O
development	O
:	O
to	O
adapt	O
and	O
change	O
as	O
necessary	O
yet	O
remain	O
consistent.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
RPGamer	O
considered	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
games	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2007	O
IGN	O
ranked	O
it	O
as	O
the	O
second	O
best	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
game	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
Informers	O
Tim	O
Turi	O
ranked	O
it	O
among	O
the	O
best	O
Castlevania	B-Application
games	O
on	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
praised	O
its	O
gameplay	O
and	O
visuals	O
for	O
setting	O
a	O
standard	O
for	O
future	O
Castlevania	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameZone	O
ranked	O
it	O
as	O
the	O
seventh	O
best	O
Castlevania	B-Application
title	O
and	O
the	O
best	O
of	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
Castlevania	B-Application
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
RPGFan	O
asserted	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
had	O
"	O
a	O
chance	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
most	O
revered	O
installment	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
hardly	O
caught	O
in	O
the	O
shadow	O
of	O
Symphony	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
like	O
its	O
predecessors.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
RPGFan	O
extolled	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
environments	O
as	O
"	O
gorgeous	O
and	O
well	O
layered	O
,	O
"	O
and	O
noted	O
while	O
the	O
game	O
did	O
not	O
achieve	O
the	O
level	O
of	O
graphical	O
quality	O
set	O
by	O
Symphony	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
,	O
it	O
"	O
made	O
a	O
damn	O
good	O
attempt	O
at	O
it.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpy	O
additionally	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
audio	O
,	O
a	O
particularly	O
lambasted	O
feature	O
of	O
Harmony	B-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
,	O
was	O
"	O
fitting	O
and	O
well-composed.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
,	O
although	O
labeling	O
the	O
music	O
as	O
"	O
mostly	O
forgettable	O
,	O
"	O
noted	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
far	O
better	O
than	O
the	O
audio	O
of	O
Harmony	B-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
,	O
and	O
celebrated	O
the	O
individual	O
audio	O
used	O
for	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
terms	O
of	O
storyline	O
and	O
characters	O
,	O
RPGamer	O
welcomed	O
the	O
characters	O
 '	O
depth	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
emphasis	O
placed	O
into	O
the	O
personalities	O
and	O
development	O
of	O
supporting	O
characters	O
,	O
asserting	O
that	O
previous	O
Castlevania	B-Application
games	O
ignored	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
the	O
supporting	O
characters	O
in	O
exchange	O
for	O
concentrating	O
on	O
the	O
protagonist	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
called	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
ending	O
"	O
incredibly	O
unfulfilling	O
and	O
disappointing	O
,	O
"	O
but	O
lauded	O
the	O
change	O
from	O
the	O
conventional	O
plot	O
of	O
a	O
Castlevania	B-Application
game	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
a	O
member	O
of	O
the	O
Belmont	O
clan	O
defeats	O
Dracula	O
with	O
the	O
aid	O
of	O
a	O
host	O
of	O
supporting	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpy	O
criticized	O
the	O
presence	O
of	O
a	O
"	O
weak	O
female	O
who	O
needs	O
protection	O
"	O
and	O
an	O
"	O
effeminate-looking	O
man	O
who	O
does	O
all	O
the	O
slaying	O
"	O
as	O
stereotypical	O
Castlevania	B-Application
elements	O
,	O
but	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
"	O
powerful	O
and	O
compelling	O
scenario	O
"	O
the	O
game	O
had	O
was	O
the	O
best	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
since	O
Symphony	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Owing	O
to	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
,	O
the	O
production	O
of	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Dawn	I-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
,	O
a	O
rare	O
sequel	O
in	O
the	O
Castlevania	B-Application
series	O
,	O
was	O
announced	O
on	O
January	O
6	O
,	O
2005	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
interview	O
,	O
Koji	O
Igarashi	O
noted	O
that	O
he	O
felt	O
that	O
the	O
Tactical	O
Soul	O
system	O
used	O
in	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
storyline	O
with	O
Soma	O
Cruz	O
,	O
were	O
a	O
waste	O
to	O
use	O
in	O
only	O
one	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
contributed	O
to	O
his	O
desire	O
to	O
make	O
a	O
sequel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
such	O
,	O
the	O
Tactical	O
Soul	O
system	O
was	O
reintroduced	O
in	O
the	O
sequel	O
Dawn	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
several	O
new	O
developments	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
an	O
anime	O
character	O
design	O
,	O
as	O
Ayami	O
Kojima	O
was	O
not	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
production	O
staff	O
for	O
Dawn	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
was	O
successful	O
,	O
its	O
sales	O
figures	O
failed	O
to	O
meet	O
expectations	O
and	O
prompted	O
the	O
switch	O
to	O
anime-style	O
designs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
November	O
3	O
,	O
2005	O
,	O
Aria	B-Application
of	I-Application
Sorrow	I-Application
was	O
re-released	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
Konami	O
's	O
"	O
Konami	O
the	O
Best	O
"	O
line	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
re-released	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
Harmony	B-Application
of	I-Application
Dissonance	I-Application
,	O
in	O
the	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Double	I-Application
Pack	I-Application
in	O
North	O
America	O
on	O
January	O
11	O
,	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
