Castlevania: Belmont's Curse marks a triumphant return for Konami's dormant franchise, developed by Evil Empire, a studio known for its work on the Castlevania-inspired Dead Cells. The game introduces a new protagonist, Rose Belmont, and offers a compelling experience that stands on its own while nodding to the series' rich history.
The narrative centers on Rose and her father Trevor being summoned to a supernatural siege in Paris. Rose, driven by a desire to prove herself and avenge a curse passed down from her mother, embarks on a quest tied to Dracula's defeat 23 years prior. While the story is not overly complex, Rose's character arc provides memorable moments.
For those new to the series, Belmont's Curse functions as a standalone entry, though it is technically a sequel to Castlevania III. Its art style and character designs draw clear inspiration from anime, and several voice actors from Netflix's Castlevania series reprise their roles, adding a familiar yet fresh dimension to the characters.
A standout mechanic is Rose's deck of tarot cards, a gift from her late mother. These cards are imbued with the power of significant figures in Paris, and acquiring them involves investigation and combat. The quests to find these cards evolve from straightforward tasks early on to more intricate, map-spanning missions later in the game. Upon defeating a target, their soul is absorbed into a tarot card, allowing Rose to converse with them, transforming a solitary journey into a dynamic experience with allies and adversaries offering commentary.
Each tarot card also grants Rose new spells, ranging from offensive projectiles to debilitating effects like petrification. These spells can be further enhanced through "Works of Mercy," in-game achievements that encourage varied use of abilities. These objectives, such as "Use This Spell 20 Times" or specific enemy elimination goals, provide a rewarding incentive to experiment with the game's diverse toolkit, especially in the game's later stages.
Combat in Belmont's Curse is described as magnificent. Rose is agile, and her movement and abilities expand throughout the game, allowing for fluid, dynamic encounters. With six weapon categories, numerous perk-granting relics, and the tarot card system, players have a wealth of options for approaching combat. The review notes frequent loadout changes mid-fight to adapt to enemy types. Encounters are challenging but fair, supported by a forgiving checkpoint system that mitigates frustration from repeated deaths. The game also features inventive and intense boss battles against Dracula's followers.
After approximately 16 hours, the reviewer achieved 92 percent completion, with the game consistently rewarding exploration and the use of newly acquired traversal abilities. The vast array of discoverable weapons, health and mana upgrades, and significant optional areas suggest ample content for players aiming for 100 percent completion.
Belmont's Curse is lauded for its rich world, tense combat, and secret-filled map, serving as a strong testament to the Castlevania series' enduring influence. The game successfully pays homage to its predecessors while breathing new life into the franchise, signaling a promising future for Castlevania under the stewardship of Rose Belmont and developer Evil Empire. The game received a score of 9.25 out of 10.