NDS Soul of Darkness (DSiWare) NDS ROM

[CSmith327]

Game Description:​

Soul of Darkness is an Action-Adventure/Platformer 2D video game published by Gameloft and developed by Gameloft released on July 5th, 2010 for the DS.

Soul of Darkness is a side-scrolling platformer similar to later entries in the Castlevania series, such as Symphony of the Night. The game is divided into eleven levels, making it more linear than a typical Metroidvania game. The player has access to two weapons. At the start of the game he has a fire sword and after one of the first boss fights he also gets access to an ice spear. Both weapons can be upgraded with the use of purple soul shards which the player earns for each enemy defeated. Weapons can be upgraded in four categories (power, combo, critical and magic) and at certain intervals they are leveled up. Magic is used for a special attack. For the fire sword it summons fireballs around the player and for the ice spear it's a ranged attack.

The different capabilities of the two weapons are also used for some puzzle solving. The fire sword can be used to activate contraptions that unlock doors while the ice spear can be used to turn water creatures and fountains into ice which then can be jumped onto. The spear itself can also be used as a platform as it sticks into walls when thrown. At certain places the player can transform into creatures that allow him to get through some passages. For example the beetle can get through low passages and has abilities such as walking on the ceiling. To get through water sections Kale can transform himself into a fish.

As a child, Kale's family was attacked by vampires leading to the death of both his parents. After this Kale devoted himself to tracking and hunting down vampires. At one time he saved a girl called Lydia who lost her memories from the horror of a vampire encounter. They fell in love and have since lived together. However as Lydia is getting nightmares they travel to Ominos, a small city that often appear in Lydia's dreams. As they arrive they find out that it's a city only inhabited by death. It's not long until they come across a vampire who captures Lydia, telling her that it's time for her to return to her family. Now Kale is on his own and has to find Lydia.

This game was originally released for Java and BREW based mobile phones back in 2008 and was later ported to DSi in 2010. It's one of the more interesting DSiWare releases and is a pretty solid Castlevania clone.

How to Play:​

(Using the MelonDS DS core in RetroArch)

1. Make sure you have the MelonDS DS core installed in RetroArch (the one that has DS twice in the name, it's the better one imo)
2. Download the bios files required for DSi emulation from this page (you will need to find NAND versions for the region matching the version you get) I've not been able to find a working Japan NAND and any help finding one will be appreciated.
3. You will need to rename the files according to what the Core Information page for the core in RetroArch says. With the core loaded go to Information -> Core Information from the menu to see it.
4. The bios files go into your RetroArch System directory (C:\RetroArch-Win64\system if on Windows with default install location)
5. In Core Options for MelonDS make sure that Boot Mode is set to Direct instead of Native in the System section.
6. Load the zip containing the .nds file and the game should boot up and play fine.

Included are .cia versions that can be installed on a custom firmware enabled 3DS using FBI.

Download Links​

• Soul of Darkness (DSiWare) NDS ROM

 

[jackson]

These DSIWare Games works on R4 SDHC in DSi Xl? In my tests, unfortunately, all the ones I tested show an error when starting, is there any specific procedure?

I think the firmware of your R4 card matters. You need the correct firmware and the DSi bios (different from the DS one). I could be wrong about this. I have a PicoDS and DSi games work just fine.

 

[darkhazuki]

These DSIWare Games works on R4 SDHC in DSi Xl? In my tests, unfortunately, all the ones I tested show an error when starting, is there any specific procedure?

 

[regnor]

More DSiWare!

 

[Sciminoc]

Those who played it know how good it is, finished on mobile emulator a couple of years ago.

 

[HQ Dispatcher NANCY]

I used to be a Brony and somehow completely forgot about that fact. I never played the game tho. I'd say they're most known for Asphalt instead

Which, it's engine would later be used for Disney SPEEDSTORM, though. Also, Modern Combat 5 assets were later used for an arcade game called Phantom Vanguard (which was also co-developed by Gameloft), as well.

 

[CSmith327]

gameloft is most well known for making that mobile MLP game

I used to be a Brony and somehow completely forgot about that fact. I never played the game tho. I'd say they're most known for Asphalt instead

 

[gxm]

I remember playing this game before
Gameloft used to be the biggest cellphone game developer back in the day because it was ubisoft in the phone territory they made short and canned ports of ubisoft games like assassin's creed and prince of persia but they made clones too
You don't have Halo but you had N.O.V.A
You don't have Grand theft Auto but you had Gangstar City
You don't have Call Of Duty but you had Modern Combat
You don't have Castlevania but you had Soul of Darkness
Also Gameloft used to make movie based games that are pretty decent i think? but they were a lot better than LJN in their prime

gameloft is most well known for making that mobile MLP game

 

[lordlad]

Dark souls of dsi games

 

[Antaeus]

I remember playing this game before
Gameloft used to be the biggest cellphone game developer back in the day because it was ubisoft in the phone territory they made short and canned ports of ubisoft games like assassin's creed and prince of persia but they made clones too
You don't have Halo but you had N.O.V.A
You don't have Grand theft Auto but you had Gangstar City
You don't have Call Of Duty but you had Modern Combat
You don't have Castlevania but you had Soul of Darkness
Also Gameloft used to make movie based games that are pretty decent i think? but they were a lot better than LJN in their prime

 

[B-Nerd1]

First time ever hearing about this game. Getting some serious Castlevania vibes.

just wanted to say that is one of the handheld castlevania games

 

[David24]

Upload Asphalt 4

 

[Scotty Scotty]

First time ever hearing about this game. Getting some serious Castlevania vibes.