Castlevania: Belmont's Curse delivers a compelling Metroidvania experience inspired by the series' highs, but is hampered by technical issues and awkward controls.
The game introduces Rose Belmont, a protagonist descended from Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, who wields tarot cards to combat Dracula's forces in a reimagined 1499 Paris and Castle Dracula. The core gameplay loop involves exploration, platforming, and combat, with new abilities unlocking access to previously inaccessible areas, a hallmark of the Metroidvania genre.
Evil Empire's development team has infused Belmont's Curse with a deep understanding of Castlevania's legacy, evident in its intricate level design and hidden secrets. The interconnected map encourages exploration, reminiscent of classic titles like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. However, the game struggles to keep pace with modern genre contemporaries such as Hollow Knight and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown in terms of fluid movement and control.
Rose's movement and attacks are largely tied to a rigid eight-directional input, which clashes with the more organic movement of enemies and environmental hazards. This often leads to frustrating encounters where precise platforming becomes an exercise in fighting the game's engine rather than overcoming its challenges. The whip's targeting can be particularly troublesome, especially when trying to engage enemies or utilize traversal points from awkward positions, frequently resulting in unnecessary deaths and a return to checkpoints.
This tension between design intent and execution is most apparent in boss battles. While some encounters are well-crafted tests of reflexes, others feel over-designed and unbalanced. Slippery controls or misjudged platforming can end runs prematurely, regardless of player preparation or in-game advantages, detracting from the satisfying challenge the series is known for.
Despite these drawbacks, Belmont's Curse offers moments of brilliance. The pacing is generally well-handled, with combat gauntlets and new abilities often introduced just as player engagement might wane. Some of the combat mechanics, particularly spells that can refill health or create temporary shields, provide strategic depth and allow players to overcome difficult situations. In these instances, the game demonstrates the aggressive action-platforming pedigree of Evil Empire, drawing clear lines back to its work on Dead Cells.
Belmont's Curse is ultimately a game of contrasts. It successfully captures the spirit of Castlevania with its ambitious map design and engaging secrets, but its awkward protagonist controls and technical inconsistencies prevent it from reaching its full potential. While not a bad game, its struggles with execution leave it in the shadow of its own legacy and the more polished titles within the genre.