Konami's Castlevania series, dormant since 2014, is set to make a significant return with Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. Developed by Evil Empire, known for its work on Dead Cells, the new title aims to connect the beloved animated series with the franchise's gaming roots. The game introduces Rose Belmont, daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, characters central to the original Netflix Castlevania anime. Trevor himself makes an appearance, facilitating a transition to his daughter as the new protagonist.
The development team has enlisted voice actors from the animated series, including Alejandra Reynoso as Sypha and Graham McTavish reprising his role as Dracula. The setting of Paris in 1499 echoes themes explored in the subsequent anime, Castlevania: Nocturne, which also focused on the city during a period of unrest. While Alucard, a key figure from the animated series, has not been officially confirmed, his potential appearance is hinted at given the presence of other Belmont family members.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse will incorporate several new gameplay elements, including a soulslike combat system with challenging encounters and adjustable difficulty modifiers. Players can expect regenerating enemies, a variety of weapons beyond the traditional Vampire Killer whip, and magical sub-weapons known as Arcana.
The genesis of Belmont's Curse stemmed from an unexpected proposal by Evil Empire to Konami. Series producer Tsutomi Taniguchi revealed that the developer initially approached Konami with a concept for Castlevania DLC for Dead Cells. This collaboration idea evolved into a full-fledged game, a prospect Taniguchi had already been considering.
Scheduled for release on October 15th for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse arrives at a time when the Metroidvania genre has seen a resurgence, with titles like Hollow Knight and Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon keeping the genre popular during Castlevania's hiatus. The game is poised to capitalize on the growing fanbase fostered by the animated series, offering both a nostalgic nod to the past and a relevant contender in the modern Metroidvania landscape.