Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Revives Beloved Franchise with Engaging Metroidvania Gameplay

After more than a decade, the iconic whip of the vampire hunters returns in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. This title marks Konami's significant revival of the legendary franchise, serving as its 26th mainline entry and the first standalone game since 2014's Lords of Shadow 2. Arriving just in time for the series' 40th anniversary, the game transports players to 1499, two decades after the events of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse and Curse of Darkness. Players step into the shoes of Rose Belmont, daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, as she embarks on a quest to investigate and combat evil forces plaguing Paris, all while battling an inherited curse.

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse boasts pristine graphics and a captivating soundtrack, enhancing the overall player experience. The gameplay returns to the beloved Metroidvania style that captivated audiences with Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Rose can wield an array of weapons, including swords, spears, gauntlets, and, of course, the signature whip. Players can level Rose up to 99, unlocking a powerful 'smash' ability that makes her nearly unstoppable. The game features a streamlined approach with no inventory system, allowing Rose to carry up to six healing potions. For those seeking a challenge, the difficulty can be adjusted in-game, with options to increase damage dealt, reduce enemy attacks, or even prevent death. Upon completing the game, players can opt for a 'revenge run' with maxed-out sliders, akin to using an infinite rocket launcher in Resident Evil. The legendary Belmont family's Vampire Killer whip eventually becomes available, proving to be the ultimate weapon for dispatching minions of the night and interacting with the environment, a classic Castlevania tradition.

Traversing the game world is a core mechanic, with Rose adept at sliding, double-jumping, dashing, and whipping her way through the environment. These abilities are crucial for accessing previously unreachable areas, and a map marker system simplifies backtracking. Mirrors of Life serve as save points, and discovering the Hall of Mirrors allows for fast travel between them. The game is replete with traps, including fire cannons, falling iron blocks, shredders, and spikes, particularly within the castle and clock tower environments, adding to the challenge and immersion. As is tradition in Castlevania, secrets abound, with suspicious dead ends, cracked walls, and unusual whip anchor points rewarding thorough exploration with hidden passages or items. A late-game relic further aids in uncovering missed secrets.

One of Rose's most significant abilities stems from tarot cards created by her mother, Sypha. These cards allow her to absorb powers from defeated bosses, which can be upgraded through Works of Mercy. A hidden puzzle unlocks the potent Absolution spell. The game features a roster of bosses including returning characters like Brauner, Carmilla, and Medusa, alongside historical figures such as Joan of Arc. Isaac, an antagonist from Curse of Darkness, also makes an appearance, voiced once again by Liam O'Brien. Graham McTavish and Alejandra Reynoso reprise their roles as Dracula and Sypha from the Netflix series.

A particularly compelling aspect of the game is the narrative depth offered by the bosses. Even Dracula's servants engage with Rose, revealing their backstories, offering advice, and in some cases, aiding her in a bid for atonement. The game is rich with callbacks to earlier entries, featuring familiar castle locations, Alucard portraits, the return of the Vampire Killer, and the iconic Bloody Tears theme. The entrance to Notre Dame serves as a nod to a mechanic from Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin.

My initial playthrough spanned just over 32 hours, encompassing thorough exploration before confronting a formidable Dracula. The game offers three distinct endings—bad, normal, and true—determined by player choices.

Despite its many strengths, Belmont's Curse is not without its flaws. A notable disappointment is the absence of familiar sub-weapons like daggers, axes, and holy water. The cross does reappear after defeating The Fallen, who is revealed to be Leon Belmont. His fate is particularly grim for longtime fans, as the founding Belmont vampire hunter has been cursed by Dracula and forced into his service.

Precise movement is essential, as Rose's hitbox can be overly sensitive, leading to instant death if even her hair or shoe grazes hazards like spikes or spinning blades. This can result in frequent deaths in challenging traversal sections. Furthermore, Rose's recovery from hard hits is somewhat slow, which can be fatal if low on health, as enemies may deliver a finishing blow before a heal can be administered.

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse represents a fantastic return for the series, brimming with potential for downloadable content. The prospect of missions featuring Trevor Belmont or storylines exploring Hector's journey to Paris is exciting. Konami has already hinted at future content, with its 40th-anniversary video showcasing portraits of Rose, Hector, Leon, and Gabriel Belmont, sparking speculation about potential remakes or remasters. If such projects are on the horizon, a remake of Curse of Darkness, a personal favorite in the series, would be a welcome addition.