I have Portrait of Ruin because I got it from an uninformed relative as a present for a holiday I don't celebrate.
It's mediocre at best, not that anyone can say they expected anything different after Dawn of Sorrow. Well, actually, they can. People liked Dawn of Sorrow because it plays like a regular Castlevania game, only with a lame note soul/weapon system that is more tedious than anything else. Portrait of Ruin is the better game, but the partner mechanic is gimmicky, and mastering subweapons is a painful process. Plus, most of the enemies are just a direct sprite rip from Aria of Sorrow. Oh and the dual crushes make the game a joke, especially Greatest 5. In other words, Jonathon with a Miser Ring, Illusion Fists, Winged Boots, and Hercules Ring and Charlotte with a Sorceress Crest, Magus Ring, any random spell and Greatest 5 breaks the game. Though it was cool killing that one guy after he says "I love you".
4/10
Also I will not play on neutered coop mode with you. Because I don't like you. And I'm too busy playing Final Fantasy III, which is enjoyable*.
*This is subjective