SummaryCastlevania: Belmont’s Curse releases October 15 on XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC. Play it on console and PC at no additional cost with XBOX Play Anywhere.Publisher KONAMI developed it in partnership with Dead Cells studios Evil Empire and Motion Twin.Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a triumphant return from a long-neglected series that stands among the best modern examples of the genre it helped inspire.Just like that pesky Count Dracula, the Castlevania series refuses to stay dead.40 years after legendary vampire hunter Simon Belmont’s debut, and 18 (!) after the last original 2D entry, Rose Belmont is here to whip undead ass and show that this portmanteau parent to the “Metroidvania” genre of action-exploration platformers can still throw down with the best of them. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is an incredible return to form for the series, standing tall among the many excellent recent games inspired by it.Set in Paris, 1499, Rose is the daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, whom you may recognize as protagonists of the excellent Netflix animated Castlevania series. Trevor and Rose arrive in Paris, summoned by the Bishop to handle a mysterious evil terrorizing the city, but Trevor is just there to pass the torch (and whip) to his very capable daughter, who’s taking over the family business of carefully exploring a big map full of secrets, accumulating special powers, and murdering a menagerie of mythical monsters.This theme of a generational hand-off is particularly appropriate because Belmont’s Curse is the first 2D Castlevania developed by KONAMI in partnership with Evil Empire, the studio that spun off to manage Dead Cells updates and DLC from creator Motion Twin, who also advised on this project. 2018’s Dead Cells was itself a slick, randomized, run-based twist on the Castlevania formula from the peak of the action-roguelike genre explosion. What it lost in a sense of exploration from the procedural levels, it more than made up for in lush pixel art animation and lightning-fast, buttery-smooth action.Belmont’s Curse inherits that strong aesthetic and mechanical foundation and builds a spectacular edifice of a fixed world on top that allows the game to shine as a cohesive whole, like the bright blood moon looming over so many Castlevania games.Blood CellsI was immediately enchanted by the opening, when Rose and Trevor arrive to find Paris ablaze in bright magenta flames. Where Dead Cells converted rigged 3D animations into pixel art sprites, Belmont’s Curse makes its 3D models look more graphic and 2D with cel shading, and the results are gorgeous. The benefits really stood out to me when I saw some of the same zombies that I’d been fighting in front of a window in a dark room, rendered backlit in silhouette with a bright red rim highlight, dynamically fading into clearer view as I got closer. Castlevania has always had fun, imaginative design for its enemies and environments, and Belmont’s Curse elevates it with a vibrant and unique visual style. In addition to many returning monsters and characters, there are some fun and surprising French historical figures in the mix, which is appropriate to France as the setting for both the game and the studio that made it.The action is also as good as the series has ever been. 7 types of weapon are available to Rose (longsword, whip, gauntlets, spear, greatsword, sword and shield, and twin swords), each with its own move set to master. Like with Dead Cells, enemy attacks are well telegraphed, providing a satisfying opportunity to develop mastery as you learn to anticipate them. There’s also a parry, which adds a lot of new dynamism to fighting series-classic foes, like in another excellent revival from its peer, Metroid Dread.The Belmont family’s iconic whip also takes on new significance, doing double-duty as a grappling hook. Rose can swing around and zip towards rings throughout the environment, but can also latch directly onto enemies and hurl herself toward them for a devastating attack. This makes both combat and platforming far more kinetic than previous Castlevanias. Rose likes to quip “You’re trapped in here with me!” at the start of the regular arena fights, and that brash confidence is perfectly reflected in her aggressive, fearless playstyle of throwing herself right into danger.All of this culminates in spectacular boss battles, which are demanding tests of your skill, and incredibly satisfying to master. I was a little taken aback by how punishing the very first boss was and how much I needed to lock in to defeat him, but it never felt unfair. It’s always thrilling to follow the arc of a boss feeling impossible to learning their tricks and slugging it out – one mid-game boss in particular was about as hard-earned and exhilarating a victory as I’ve had in recent memoryBlack Magic WomanDefeating bosses feeds into the game’s other core system: the deck of tarot Arcana provided by Rose’s late mother Sypha. After defeating each boss (or completing certain other puzzles and accomplishments), you gain a spell associated with their Arcana, so each new ability you gain has a flavorful connection to the character from whom you claimed it. It’s also a great example of a game trope I always enjoy: tarot-style archetypes that are not actually from the traditional 22 Major Arcana (see also Cult of the Lamb or Hades II).You then upgrade those spells through a clever system called Works of Mercy. Each Arcana has 2-3 associated achievements, related both to using the spells in particular ways or other accomplishments in the world. Completing these unlock points for upgrades that improve the spell’s effect, like being able to throw out a second cross boomerang. It’s a great way to take advantage of how achievements encourage players to engage more deeply with a game and tie it back to progression.Absorbing bosses into the tarot deck also has the narrative effect that Rose has freed their spirits from Dracula’s influence and can hear their voices in her head. Some are grateful and eager to aid Rose’s quest, while others mostly mock her. Defeated bosses becoming a peanut gallery in your head providing commentary for the rest of the game is a really fun way to pack in extra characterization. The voice acting is charming throughout—everyone really gets the assignment and chews an appropriate amount of scenery for the series that memorably gave us “What is a man? A miserable little pile of secrets!”The Arcana also act as hubs to collect clues as to their whereabouts, such as spirits and statues giving you little tidbits of gossip from around the castle. This is great both in a mechanical sense for providing structure and guidance to a genre that can often devolve into randomly poking around corners of the map, as well as in a narrative sense for characterizing and grounding the bosses in context. It creates anticipation before you find all of them, and a sense of who they are and what they’ve been up to. Castlevania bosses can traditionally feel like guys you just sort of happen to stumble onto as you explore, so I’ve really enjoyed the additional work that’s gone into making them feel more meaningfully connected. This culminates in a little dialogue scene for each Arcana after you complete all its Works of Mercy, resolving their character arc.Vania ManiaDifferent areas of the map are also well distinguished from one another by music, visual style, and cool, unique mechanics and environmental puzzles that have flavorful connections to the settings. I’m currently trying to eke out the last few precious percentage points of each zone’s completion as I track down those fiendish final secrets. I’ve enjoyed the completionist approach because Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse has all sorts of thoughtful, modern quality-of-life touches that reduce unnecessary friction while still maintaining the genre’s core, challenging appeal, like map pins available from the start or several ways to get around the map that become available eventually.As has become a genre go-to since Hollow Knight, besides weapon and spell choice your build comprises three relic slots, which can be used to support various playstyles. I particularly appreciated that you can change these, your weapon, and spell at any time while paused, encouraging situational experimentation. I got a lot of great use out of 75% trap damage reduction when grinding my way through tough platforming challenges, for example. In many ways, Belmont’s Curse most reminded me of the under-appreciated Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown for its thoughtful integration of accumulated genre wisdom, but with an even stronger and more fully realized creative vision.Like protagonist Rose Belmont, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is an unquestionably worthy heir to a rich legacy, bringing forward the best of its parents and invigorating it with the style and bombastic energy of youth. I hope it’s just the beginning of a new era for the series, which deserves to stand among the best of the genre it helped inspire.Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is available on October 15 for XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC. Play it on console and PC at no additional cost with XBOX Play Anywhere.Castlevania: Belmont's CurseKONAMI☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★$29.99Pre-order[Pre-order Bonus]Alucard Style CostumeThis bonus item is available to players who pre-order Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse.Medieval Paris, Where the Tolling Bells Herald the End1499. Paris is engulfed in flames as monstrous creatures suddenly emerge from the shadows.Trevor Belmont, the hero who defeated Dracula, ventures into the burning streets with his daughter, Rose Belmont. Armed with the legendary holy whip, the Vampire Killer, they hunt down the beasts bleeding from the looming castle.Rose is soon swept up in the dark conspiracy that lurks beneath. Will she succeed in saving Paris from devastation?Satisfying Whip ActionCastlevania's iconic whip action is more satisfying than ever!Crack your whip to move around freely like a trapeze artist!Master the whip mechanics and be creative to pounce on your prey like a wolf in fast-paced combat!Diverse Bosses and the Arcana SystemFace-off against legendary bosses including Death, Medusa and Carmilla in addition to enigmatic new bosses such as Joan of Arc.Once defeated, bosses are sealed into Rose's tarot cards, turning them into Arcana – use their skills to cast spells and obtain unique special actionsCustomize Your Battle Style with Weapons and RelicsCustomize Rose’s battle style by using a variety of equipment, including weapons spanning seven distinct categories and Relics that trigger powerful effects through both offense and defense.Combine equipment you discover through exploration to create your own playstyle!Iconic Castlevania Atmosphere, Reimagined in New StagesFrom iconic Gothic aesthetics to vivid, refined visuals, the game presents a fresh take on the world of Castlevania.Explore maps filled with both new features and familiar elements inspired by classic Castlevania titles.The post Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Is a Worthy Heir to its Legacy appeared first on XBOX Wire.