Castlevania is back, and this time Konami has handed the reins over to Evil Empire, the studio behind Dead Cells’ acclaimed Return to Castlevania expansion. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, then, is a tantalising reunion, with the developer able to put their own spin on one of gaming’s most storied series. From protagonists to traversal tools and arcane magic, here are fifteen things you need to know before you buy.
Set in Medieval Paris
It’s 1499, twenty three years after Dracula was slain by the hand of legendary ‘Vampire Killer’ Trevor Belmont in Castlevania III. Yet, proving you can never keep a good vampire down, Dracula is back and planning a devastating resurrection. Setting his sights on Paris, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse begins with the city engulfed in flames, all while monsters swarm the streets. Is this the end of civilisation? Belmont’s swiftly on the scene, answering the call of a suspicious letter penned by the local bishop – and this time, his daughter is riding along.
You Play as New-to-the-Series Rose Belmont
Yes, in Belmont’s Curse, you won’t be taking command of Trevor. He’s leaving his daughter Rose in your capable hands as she investigates the burning city. She bears the mark of Dracula’s curse on her right arm, a glowing red affliction caused by exposure to the malice that lingered after Dracula’s defeat. The curse itself is significant narratively and mechanically, offering both a symbol of guilt tied to her mother’s death and a connection to dark magic, which she wields in interesting ways.
The Whip Returns
Yes, the whip returns, but this time it’s useful for more than giving monsters a good whack on the chops. Now, Rose can use it to grapple onto elevated points, swing across gaps, and slingshot herself toward enemies. You can even latch onto foes and zip toward them before unleashing a whip-cracking follow-up. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, then, is surprisingly acrobatic, with exploration and combat alike benefitting from the whip’s widened capabilities.
There Are Seven Weapon Categories
Including the whip, Belmont’s Curse is set to feature seven distinct weapon categories, with each offering its own moveset, range, and combat style. Cestus gauntlets mix power and speed for some close-quarters pummelling, while lances can strike enemies from safer distances. Longswords bring a balance between range and damage whereas greatswords are slower, heavier blades that can crush your enemies with demonic force. Rapiers and one-handed blades complement the whip’s mobility, suggesting there’s room to experiment combining weapon categories.
Weapons Have Their Own Perks
Weapons here aren’t split by damage numbers either. Actually, throughout Paris’ ravaged Rues you’ll be able to find multiple tiers of weapons, but weapons will also come with perks designed to push you toward a specific combat approach or manoeuvre too. The longsword, for example, can deal extra damage if you land a swing immediately after a backdash, while the cestus gauntlets scale their damage exponentially the more your fists connect to a creature’s cranium.
Relics Provide Passive Bonuses
And, beyond choosing weapons to suit your playstyle, you can find and equip up to three relics to further tailor Rose to your liking. They provide passive bonuses for both combat and exploration, with the Crypt Key, for example, restoring your health and mana whenever you open a chest. That one will prove useful if you’re prone to poking around suspicious corners of the map, and with numerous relics still unannounced it’ll be interesting to see what other tangible effects certain relic combinations will have on your approach to moving through Paris.
Classic Bosses Return Alongside Some New Additions
Belmont’s Curse brings back some familiar faces for its boss battles, including Castlevania mainstays Death, Medusa, and Carmilla. They’ll be joined by some less expected additions, including Joan of Arc, while the Fallen are also set to appear, with the former being a towering creature lurking somewhere in the Parisian sewers. From what’s been shown so far, these bosses look more involved than Castlevania’s usual fayre.
Defeated Bosses Become Part of Rose’s Arsenal
Alongside the occasional OP weapon drop, defeating a boss in Belmont’s Curse will also seal them into Rose’s tarot deck, transforming them into Arcana that grants her access to their unique spells, skills, and special actions. Meanwhile, the light ability allows you to travel through previously insurmountable obstacles while also providing a useful tool for deflecting enemy projectiles.
The Arcana System Can Be Upgraded
Adding an Arcana ability to your arsenal isn’t a one-and-done deal either, as each comes with up to three Works of Mercy; specific objectives challenging you to use its abilities in particular ways. Completing these tasks unlocks a ability that will offer a corresponding improvement, with additional Gifts giving another bonus once the Arcana is assigned. What this means is you can stick with your favourite Arcana, and it’ll grow increasingly powerful the more you use it.
Rose Has Some Familiar Family Connections
She may be a new face, but Rose is hardly an outsider to the Belmont legacy. She’s the daughter of Trevor – as we’ve already said – but also Sypha Belnades, too, making her the quippy, snarky, newest generation of the vampire hunting bloodline. Sypha, Rose’s deceased mother, is a returnee, of course, alongside the familiar presence of Count Dracula himself, after he was bested by Trevor and Sypha already – albeit at the cost of Sypha’s life. Anyway, Rose carries Sypha’s death like a scar, making for some potentially interesting character development depending on how active Sypha’s role is in the new game.
The Game Will Be Tough, But Reportedly Fair
In keeping with Castlevania tradition, Belmont’s Curse is set to be a challenge. Enemies will hit you hard, bosses will demand your patience, and any mistakes you make will be punished. However, there is a silver lining; as previews report, the difficulty never strays into feeling unfair. If you mess up, it’s on you. Also, another faithful nod to Castlevania’s history, the game features non-linear exploration. Tying this into difficulty, though, this means that you can always take a detour if the thing you’re trying to murder proves a little too troublesome.
You Need to Learn The Mechanics
That said, whether you try your luck elsewhere or not, enemies will require you to learn their attack patterns, their timing, and spacing, with Rose’s various movement options playing an equally significant role in combat. Given Evil Empire’s pedigree, it’s no surprise their take on a full Castlevania game appears to be more technical than anything the series has offered before.
Modifiers Allow You To Tweak The Difficulty
If the thought of an amped up take on Castlevania’s traditional difficulty makes you want to drive a stake through your own heart, Belmont’s Curse has you covered with a suite of built-in difficulty modifiers. Various settings let you adjust incoming damage, respawn behaviour, health flask capacity, and more, ultimately giving you control over how punishing the Parisian catacombs will be.
There’s a Demo, and Your Save Carries Over
If you’re still not sure if Belmont’s Curse is for you, you needn’t worry. A demo has been available across all platforms since October the 1st, giving you the chance to sample Rose’s adventure before committing to the full game. Better yet, your save data will carry over, which is pretty handy given the new direction the series has taken.
Release Date, Platforms, and Price
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is set for release on October 15th, with PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Pricewise, you’re looking at $29.99 for the base game, with the Midnight Edition retailing for $39.99.
