Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Review
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse marks a triumphant return for Konami’s iconic gothic horror franchise, the very series that helped define the beloved “Metroidvania” genre. Developed in collaboration with Evil Empire and Motion Twin, this latest installment celebrates the franchise’s 40th anniversary by blending classic Castlevania elements with modern design sensibilities.
Set after the events of Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, the story follows Rose Belmont, daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades. Burdened by the lingering Curse of Dracula inherited through her mother’s bloodline, Rose is summoned alongside her father to Paris, where a mysterious supernatural phenomenon has plunged the city into chaos. However, upon their arrival, they quickly discover that the truth behind the disturbance is far more sinister than it first appears.
As darkness once again threatens humanity, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse continues the franchise’s timeless struggle between the forces of light and shadow.
It’s Not A Trap…
It has been over a decade since the release of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow II, the franchise’s most recent mainline entry. For fans of the series’ signature exploration-focused formula, the wait has been even longer, with Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia launching back in 2008. As a result, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse carries the weight of nearly two decades of anticipation from longtime Metroidvania enthusiasts.
Fortunately, Evil Empire, best known for its work on Dead Cells, proves to be the right studio for the challenge. While the game embraces many of the series’ trademark elements, it also incorporates lessons learned from the evolution of the Metroidvania genre over the past twenty years.
As the newest canonical chapter in the series, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse builds upon the legacy of Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, reintroducing key figures such as Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, and Alucard. The game’s visual presentation and narrative direction draw significant inspiration from Netflix’s acclaimed Castlevania adaptation, making it particularly accessible to newer audiences who may be more familiar with the animated series than the games themselves.
From the moment the adventure begins, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse confidently embraces the franchise’s hallmarks. Gothic architecture, breakable candles filled with rewards, and hordes of skeletal enemies immediately evoke the classic Castlevania experience. Early in the journey, Trevor and Rose are separated, leaving Rose to fend for herself armed with a one-handed sword and a magical deck of Tarot Cards inherited from Sypha.
These Tarot Cards form the foundation of Rose’s unique combat style, granting access to powerful spells while complementing her melee abilities and mobility options, including slides and evasive backsteps. As she navigates the haunted streets and hidden passages of Paris, this blend of swordplay and sorcery establishes a distinct identity that sets her apart from previous Belmont protagonists.
While the platforming and combat remain faithful to the franchise’s roots, the Tarot Card system is arguably the game’s most significant innovation. More than a simple magic mechanic, it serves as the core of Rose’s progression, exploration, and combat strategy. From tracking elusive bosses to acquiring powerful new abilities, the system reinforces Rose’s dual heritage, combining the famed martial prowess of the Belmont bloodline with Sypha’s mastery of the arcane arts.
As with any good Metroidvania, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse also introduces succeeding skills to allow Rose to further access inaccessible areas of Paris Streets. Upon defeating the first boss, Rose gets access to a spiritual whip that allows her to grapple onto hook slots that allow her to rappel into and over rifts and crevices. The Holy Flame enables her to manipulate spectral walls using them as platforms or passageways. As she progresses further into the game the always reliance air dash and double jump will for sure become available.
Scouring the different labyrinths and catacombs of Paris, Rose will avoid traps and fight different treasure that houses stronger equipment and relics. These tools will serve her as she strengthens herself for the fights ahead. While reminiscent of Symphony of the Night, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse uses these tools in conjunction to Rose’s levelling up system. Most of the weapons remain equal in their damage output, with its rarity adding more damage and effects that will be effective against specific enemies.
The relics that Rose collect grant her bonuses that will aid her journey. While some relics are straightforward such as opening chests will heal her and offer less damage with traps, other relics offer a risk-reward mechanic that will strengthen her on different conditions. Some relics will offer higher attack and defense while her health is low, while others will grant a higher attack damage at the cost of more damage being done to her.
…But A Mystery To Be Solved
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse will not be complete without the enemies that Rose will face. From skeletons to bats to hulking monstrosities, many creatures from past Castlevania games grace the screen joined by newer types seen here for the first time. Each have their own strengths and weaknesses where one strategy is not enough to take them on. Sometimes, you may need to switch weapons other times, certain spells will prove effective. The variety and challenge keep you on your toes.
Yet some of the bigger challenges in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse are the boss fights that serve as the set pieces that highlight Rose’s journey into uncovering the truth about Paris. From reimagined notable historical figures to classic Castlevania foes such as Medusa, the boss fights are quite impressive, even boasting different phases in their fierce showdowns.
On default difficulty, however, many bosses prove to be a little less challenging that expected compared to the constant challenges of numerous and even tough bosses seen in classic games such as Symphony of the Night. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse‘s big bads have lopsided difficulties, with a few bosses being disproportionately difficult while others can easily fold without too much of a fight. I hoped for a little bit more consistency.
Nonetheless, the biggest draw for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is its robust platforming and exploration of the Parisian renaissance cityscape. Secrets unfold as you peels back the layers of its many inaccessible areas. The platforming become a puzzle in itself as Rose traverses through all the spike-riddled labyrinths and thorny walls using every traversal skill and trick in the book to overcome to scour the land for every single power up.
As more areas become accessible, each area has a unique platforming feature that challenge Rose into prevailing. These challenges prove to be frustratingly fun, but not overwhelming. It’s even motivating to find out what new boss to vanquish to receive that necessary traversal skill to access a particular area. And even if the skill isn’t available, the game teases players into trying to overcome a challenge that’s impossible if you don’t have access to an air dash or a double jump, it just makes you think you can make that jump or tread that narrow margin, while you try again, knowing that they next attempt will be successful.
On the default difficulty settings, you’re looking at a total of 20-24 hours of playtime with a fair bit to dedicate to uncovering secrets while pushing through to complete the main campaign. You’ll even be more motivated to re-attempt certain areas of Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse just to find out if there is a hidden wall there or more treasure or power ups to vanquish the next challenge.
Accessibility-wise, players can select what difficulty mode they can choose to challenge Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse with. They can further toggle some of the gameplay switches to their liking, but it may affect the gameplay balance. I personally will recommend playing it on the default setting to experience the game the way it’s intended to be played.
Visually, longtime fans who are used to the more gothic art style seen in previous titles notably Symphony of the Night may not fare well with the modern aesthetic. Even the Megaman-style power-up system seen here in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse may rub hardcore fans a little off.
However, if there’s something that doesn’t veer off from the legacy of the franchise, is its gothic albeit electronic soundtrack. Once you hear the iconic “Bloody Tears” playing once again in the background, you know that the Castlevania legacy is definitely alive and well in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse.
Verdict: Buy It!
What we liked:
- Tarot Card system a welcome addition
- Platforming puzzles are a welcome challenge
- Uncovering secrets are an addictive staple of the franchise.
- Sweeping soundtrack slaps
What we didn't like:
- Bosses are inconsistent, some are challenging while many are pushovers.
- Minimal visual and gameplay glitches that may affect experience.
- Some elements may turn off diehard fans.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse still proves that 40 years into its legacy that the pedigree is still alive and well. The legacy that has carried the series lives in its gameplay, its visuals, and music and has handled the test of time well. While there have been liberties made that may put off some hardcore fans, it is moving in the right direction preserving what made the franchise iconic in the first place: a solid, fun, and iconic 2D action platformer.
Evil Empire has understood the assignment and stepped up to take the reins on this beloved masterpiece and delivered a fantastic time that can stand up to the best of what the franchise has to offer for returning fans and newcomers curious to the series. Take your mantle as a vampire hunter and accept the challenge that come forth, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a must-play title this year!
*Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse (©Konami Digital Entertainment) has been reviewed on the PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.
