Castlevania - Portrait of Ruin

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin is a 2006 action-adventure RPG on Nintendo DS where players control either Jonathan Morris, a descendant of the Belmont clan armed with the Vampire Killer whip, or Charlotte Aulin, a young sorceress who can cast spells. Gameplay involves free character switching during combat to combine their physical attacks with magic, exploring a large castle-like world filled with vampires, werewolves, and other monsters across multiple Acts. Story follows the duo investigating the reawakened Dracula's Castle during WWII to stop vampire artist Brauner from resurrecting Dracula, saving friends Stella and Loretta along the way. It features co-op multiplayer support and various alternate modes like Richter Mode and Sisters Mode. What makes it stand out is the innovative partner-switching system, English voice acting, and balanced metroidvania exploration with tight action combat.