Castlevania - Akatsuki no Minuet

Castlevania: Akatsuki no Minuet (Aria of Sorrow) is a 2D side-scrolling action RPG and metroidvania where you control Soma Cruz, a high-school exchange student in modern Japan. Trapped inside Dracula's Castle during a solar eclipse with his childhood friend Mina Hakuba, Soma must absorb souls from defeated enemies to gain new abilities, weapons, and transformations. Progress through the castle's interconnected rooms, solve puzzles with environmental interactions, and battle bosses to reach an exit. Level up to improve stats; the soul system is central, allowing versatile gameplay. It stands out for its accessible exploration, smooth combat inspired by Alucard, rich world design, and modern setting with heartfelt story and characters like Genya Arikado, Yoko Belnades, and J./Julius Belmont.