"Atari and Digital Eclipse have teamed up once again to bring the beloved licensed platformer to modern platforms"

The original Toy Story 3 came out at the tail end of the era where we would still get multiple discrete versions of a game across different platforms, but despite its name, Complete Edition doesn’t quite compile all of the content from all of those versions into a single, unified package. This remaster is based on Toy Story 3’s PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, which means the exclusive levels and content from the PS2 and PSP versions (which were very good in their own right) and the DS version are MIA here. That is certainly a disappointment, though then again, it’s difficult to imagine a solution to this problem, short of Atari and Digital Eclipse including all versions of the original release in Complete Edition. That said, the previously PS3 exclusive ability to play as Emperor Zurg in the Toy Box mode is included, while Complete Edition also adds four new theme packs to customize the town with in the aforementioned mode, so that’s something. Still, Complete Edition is something of a misnomer here.

Luckily, the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Toy Story 3 weren’t no slouches, which means what is on offer here in Complete Edition has plenty to enjoy, even if the release isn’t quite as comprehensive as some might have hoped. Present and accounted for here are both, the story mode, which tells a version of the movie’s tale, and the Toy Box mode, which lets you freely run around a customizable town full of missions, side missions, collectibles, and more. Both modes also allow players to swap between Woody, Jesse, and Buzz as playable characters, each of whom has their own unique abilities.

"Luckily, the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Toy Story 3 weren’t no slouches, which means what is on offer here in Complete Edition has plenty to enjoy"

Where story mode is concerned, Toy Story 3 functions as a linear platformer with all the bells and whistles of the world of Toy Story. Narratively, the game doesn’t really match up to the highs of the movie it is based on, though that is perhaps an unfair expectation. Toy Story 3 the movie, like other instalments in the franchise, is a benchmark for animation filmmaking as a whole, especially where writing and storytelling are concerned, and that is definitely not something that the game was going for. The game, instead, loosely follows the movie’s story, covering all of its main beats, adding in flourishes of its own, and deliberately skipping over a lot of the details and nuances.

Outside of those obvious narrative deficiencies though, the game does a great job of capturing some of the movie’s best moments and sequences in delightfully crafted platforming levels. From Andy’s room to Sunnyside Daycare and more, Toy Story 3 allows players to roam around in several iconic locations from the movie while navigating fun platforming challenges. The platforming itself never loses its charm, while swapping between Woody, Buzz, and Jesse to overcome different challenges also keeps things interesting.

It has to be said, however, that Toy Story 3 does stumble in some ways that you don’t want to see in a platformer. Movement can often feel floaty and imprecise, while often there’s also input lag, which can lead to unnecessary moments of frustration. The controls can also sometimes feel a little wonky, and all of these problems put together can sometimes get in the way in ways that feel especially grating in what is essentially a platformer. While some may have hoped that at least the most blatant of these issues would have been sanded out in the remastered Complete Edition release, that doesn’t seem to be the case, which is disappointing.

On the other hand, the game does know how to keep players interested as far as gameplay variety is concerned. Moving from level to level is always fun, not only to see what kind of new environment you will find yourself in, but also to experience new kinds of minigames, challenges, and more. From levels focused on Buzz Lightyear’s adventures as a Space Ranger fighting against the evils of Emperor Zurg, to minigames involving horse riding, racing around rooms in Hot Wheels-esque cars, and more, there’s a delightful variety to the activities on offer in Toy Story 3.

"The game does know how to keep players interested as far as gameplay variety is concerned."

And then, of course, there is the Toy Box mode, which I’ve brought up on a couple of occasions. Toy Box serves as a great way to aimlessly run around and tackle compelling and enjoyable optional objectives. You can customize NPCs’ appearances, change what buildings look like, tackle a variety of missions and side missions, and more, all while freely exploring a Wild West styled town. Though not an endlessly replayable mode, Toy Box is certainly a fun distraction. Meanwhile, there are also plenty of collectibles for players to find throughout the game’s offerings, including figures, cards, and more, all of which you can then view in Al’s Toy Store – another fun nod for fans of the movies to appreciate.

In terms of content, then, in spite of the fact that it ignores all but the original game’s PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, Toy Story 3 Complete Edition does pack plenty of punch. It is, of course, also a technical upgrade over the original release, as you’d expect from a remaster. It offers support for up to 4K resolutions and 60 FPS frame rates, though it is, at best, a conservative upgrade. Visually, it looks solid, though that is more down to the charming Toy Story aesthetic than anything else. Meanwhile, though support for 60 FPS is certainly an appreciable step up, I will say that I often ran into situations where the frame rate was buckling visibly. Hopefully that is something that Digital Eclipse and Atari will fix with patches in the coming weeks.

Overall, Toy Story 3 Complete Edition is a conservative upgrade of a solid, beloved diamond in the rough. It is, of course, also a welcome surprise, because a remaster of the Toy Story 3 licensed game wasn’t really something that anyone was expecting (or, truthfully, hoping for). Though it still has the flaws of the original experience and isn’t quite as comprehensive as its name suggests, Complete Edition is a fun, charming, delightful platformer that fans of the Toy Story universe and platforming experiences in general will surely enjoy.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

While the other versions are moving ahead as planned, Telltale Games has announced that the Switch version hasn’t met internal standards and is being delayed “to a later date” to ensure it delivers the intended experience. That’s still good news, since it’s always better to play a version that works as advertised, which certainly seems to be the goal here. Fabletown might be just out of reach, but it’s only going to make returning to it all the more rewarding.

Still, it’s going to be hard to stand by and watch as players dive back into a very memorable adventure or experience it for the first time with some welcome new additions. You could rewatch that nostalgia-filled trailer featuring the cast and development team to pass the time while you wait, though.

The Wolf Among Us Remastered is out later this month on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, and PC. Telltale is also working on the long-awaited sequel, The Wolf Among Us 2, which could finally launch in 2027 after years of delays.

https://x.com/telltalegames/status/2111155644883460160

Toy Story: Retro Roundup offers moments of both. This collection brings together a selection of games based on Pixar’s iconic animated franchise, alongside A Bug’s Life and a few additional extras too.

"Having grown up playing these games, I was curious to see how they held up nearly thirty years later."

Having grown up playing these games, I was curious to see how they held up nearly thirty years later. Now that I have a one-year-old son who also loves Toy Story, there’s an additional layer to revisiting these titles from an adult perspective. Unfortunately, while there’s plenty of nostalgia here, the actual quality of enjoyment varies wildly as you go through the different releases, and the collection’s presentation could also be smoother.

The original Toy Story for Game Boy is a particularly rough experience to revisit in 2026. The game feels very primitive. Once you settle into its rhythm, there is a serviceable side-scrolling platform game here, but the gameplay is basic, the visuals are quite ugly in widescreen, and the input lag is hard to get used to.

"These are still products of their time, and anyone expecting actual fluidity or sophistication like that of a modern platformer will be disappointed."

Seeing older games like this being preserved and made available for the current generation is great, but it’s difficult to imagine many players willingly spending much time with this version when better alternatives are available in the same collection.

Thankfully, the Sega Genesis and SNES versions are more enjoyable. After playing the Game Boy version, they almost feel modern by comparison. They’re decent enough games once you find your rhythm, even if neither version is up to par with the best platformers of the era.

These are still products of their time, and anyone expecting actual fluidity or sophistication like that of a modern platformer will be disappointed. Nevertheless, there’s enough here to make them worthwhile for hardcore Toy Story fans, particularly those interested in seeing how the games evolved as gaming hardware became more powerful.

The highlight of Retro Roundup is undoubtedly Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue on PS1. It still holds up remarkably well, offering a charming 3D platforming adventure that remains fun to play more than 25 years after its original release.

A variety of environments helps keep the game feeling fresh as you play through it, even when the actual gameplay mechanics begin to feel a bit stale. Exploring each area, completing the list of objectives and collecting hidden items provides a satisfying rhythm.

Sadly, the camera is still a nightmare to contend with. It’s one of those unfortunate reminders of how much 3D platformers have evolved since the PS1 era, and there are moments when the camera makes navigating the environment far more frustrating than it should be. Even so, the platforming feels a lot more forgiving than I remember it being 27 years ago.

The fact that actual voice acting is a feature here makes it feel like even more of an upgrade over the first Toy Story game. Many of the characters feel authentic to their movie counterparts, although it is pretty obvious which actors returned and which were replaced by soundalikes. The cast members who do return help preserve the connection to Pixar’s previously established universe, making this title feel like more than just a lazy licensed game.

"The fact that actual voice acting is a feature here makes it feel like even more of an upgrade over the first Toy Story game."

On a sidenote, this was also my one-year-old son’s favourite game in the collection. There’s something pretty special about revisiting a childhood favourite while watching your own child enjoy the same characters, even if he isn’t quite old enough to appreciate the finer points of its platforming mechanics.

The Game Boy Colour version is a different proposition altogether. It’s fascinating to see how developers once created entirely different games for different platforms rather than simply scaling down the same release. As a piece of gaming history, its inclusion is interesting. However, I’m not convinced many people were clamouring for the opportunity to revisit this particular version on modern consoles.

Buzz Lightyear of Star Command on PS1 is another enjoyable inclusion, although it doesn’t quite reach the level of quality of Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue. Its art style is distinctive, and its weapon-based gameplay feels like an early glimpse of ideas that would later become familiar in games such as Jak and Daxter and Ratchet & Clank.

The Game Boy Colour version is considerably less fun to revisit. While its colour palette is pleasant on the eyes, the moment-to-moment gameplay simply isn’t much fun, making this another release that’s difficult to recommend beyond the novelty of having it preserved.

Toy Story Racer was entirely new to me, so I approached it without the same nostalgic attachment as the other games. Thankfully, I found it to be decent fun. It isn’t the best kart racer on PS1 by a long shot, but the gameplay loop is enjoyable. I enjoyed that it actually felt quite challenging to master but the Rewind feature does make it a lot more forgiving when you make a mistake, which saves you having to restart the whole race.

The Game Boy Colour version is another pleasant surprise. Its 2D perspective takes a little getting used to, but there’s still some enjoyment to be found here. Its inclusion means that not every handheld adaptation in the collection is a complete write-off.

Finally, there’s A Bug’s Life, which I had never played before. The PS1 version shares a few similarities to Toy Story 2 in terms of its gameplay, but it doesn’t quite match the same level of enjoyment. With that said, it is still a welcome bonus.

"Buzz Lightyear of Star Command on PS1 is another enjoyable inclusion"

The Game Boy Colour version is not quite as welcome. It’s another example of how difficult some of these older releases can be to enjoy today. While its inclusion here adds to the value of the overall package, the gameplay is tough to stomach in 2026.

There’s a fascinating snapshot of licensed gaming history here, but jumping between such wildly different experiences can feel jarring. Some games remain genuinely enjoyable, while others are better appreciated as historical curiosities.

One of Toy Story: Retro Roundup‘s biggest strengths is the sheer amount of content included. With the inclusion of multiple games spanning different platforms, additional material such as cool concept art to look at, and that sweet hit of pure nostalgia, there’s plenty here that makes the asking price feel worthwhile.

Rex’s Cheat Codes are also fun to play with. These allow the player to select any level from each game from the outset, removing the need to replay entire sections of a game just to revisit a specific moment. It is a simple quality-of-life improvement, but one that makes a meaningful difference when revisiting games that were originally designed around the technical limitations of their time.

The Rewind function is also a fun addition. It effectively turns these games into Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, allowing you to undo mistakes rather than being punished for every misstep. It’s particularly useful when dealing with some of the more frustrating platforming sections, and it makes the collection more approachable without fundamentally changing the original games.

Not all of the additional features are as pleasant though. The CRT filter is enabled by default, and frankly, it’s horrendous to look at. I understand the appeal of recreating the look of an old television, but making this the default experience feels like a baffling decision. My advice is to switch it off immediately and enable widescreen. Neither option magically transforms these games into modern releases, but the results are considerably more visually appealing.

"The Rewind function is also a fun addition."

It does leave me wondering whether the filter being enabled by default was a choice made to help hide the primitive feel of the original visuals. These are old games, and nobody expects them to look cutting-edge, but the collection could have added a lick of paint to make them less off-putting to play on modern displays.

The audio in places is also disappointing. Movie clips and cutscenes still suffer from compressed sound that can peak and become fuzzy. It’s a shame that this issue hasn’t been addressed, particularly when the films’ dialogue and music are such an important part of the experience.

None of these problems makes the games unplayable. Technically, the collection is functionally sound, and having all these releases available on PS5 in one package is far from a bad thing. If you grew up with these games, there’s genuine value in revisiting them through a modern lens. Toy Story 2 on PS1 remains the standout, while Toy Story Racer and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command provide enjoyable diversions.

I do wonder how much appeal these games will have for younger players accustomed to more contemporary releases. My son might love Toy Story, but that doesn’t necessarily mean every game based on those characters will hold his attention.

Ultimately, Toy Story: Retro Roundup succeeds as a preservation effort. It’s great to have these games playable on modern consoles in one convenient package. There’s plenty of content here, and some of it remains genuinely enjoyable, but a little more care could have turned a fun nostalgia trip into something even more special.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

Evil Empire is known for its work on fast-paced action platformers like Dead Cells, and Laulan noted that the development team even leaned into that experience for one of the iterations of Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. Unfortunately, this ended up with the game being too much like Dead Cells, and exploration ended up taking a back seat.

“We had many different versions of the game. We had much slower versions, more like a Dark Souls kind of vibe with even more heavy combat and slow rhythm. Then we realized it wasn’t really Castlevania because it was too slow, too intense, and just too hard. So, we cranked up the speed, and then it was too much Dead Cells because it was too fast-paced, and the exploration wasn’t there as much as it needs to be in Castlevania.”

Eventually, however, Evil Empire decided on a solid middle ground which Laulan describes as a “nice in-between of respect to the IP and a slow pace with the exploration, and yet it’s a modern game that plays really nicely. You take the controller, and it feels good in your hands.”

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. In our review, we gave it a score of 7 out of 10, praising its art direction, soundtrack, and core gameplay with unique hooks. However, we also criticized how the progression of the game forces you to stick to a single weapon type, the jankiness of the whip, and punishing platforming sections, among other things.

The story of Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse takes place 23 years after the events of NES classic Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse, in the year 1499. Following the events of Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, Trevor Belmont and his daughter Rose decide to head to Paris to help the battle against hordes of monsters in the city. Eventually, Rose has to decide to carry the vampire-hunting legacy of the Belmont family on her own shoulders as she faces the forces of evil.

As for the future of the Castlevania franchise, Konami has confirmed that it has plans beyond Belmont’s Curse. In an update to its website to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Castlevania, the company said that “the doors of Castlevania open once more.”

“First up is this title: ‘Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse’. We couldn’t think in other studios to work together rather than Evil Empire and Motion Twin, studios brimming with talent and passion, to deliver a new exploration-based 2D action game that captures the essence of Castlevania while bringing fresh innovation.”

“This is the beginning of numerous new products around Castlevania. Look forward to the return of the magnificent ‘nightmare’ lurking in the darkness.”

It’s among our favorites in the Tales series, and though Reid, Farah, and Meredy might have come together by varying circumstances, the ensuing journey binds them. It’s a testament to the story’s effectiveness how you’ll get sucked in alongside them on an adventure that involves a massive conflict they have no part in but must navigate nonetheless. The rest of the cast is equally compelling, and they’re a memorable bunch once you engage with their backstories.

The good news is that the remastered visuals make that adventure much prettier, and additions like destination markers, a high-speed mode for auto-battles, and the option to turn off enemy encounters make it easier to travel the world. That’s a solid list of quality-of-life improvements that add some modern convenience to a long-standing classic. It’s honestly hard to believe that nearly two and a half decades have passed since the original.

The launch trailer is as exciting as the new opening cinematic. Tales of Eternia Remastered is available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PS4, and PC. What’s next for the franchise? Stay tuned for updates.

And it’s exactly what it sounds like: a black-and-white filter fitting of Bigby Wolf’s detective story. You can switch between it and the remastered look with the press of a button, in case you want to compare certain scenes with their noir versions.

There’s also an hour-plus of bonus content, and while the cast interviews, concept art and whatnot are interesting, the fully playable five deleted scenes caught our attention. Telltale Games also teases some new secrets within the original story.

Of course, the presentation also deserves a mention for the changes to all characters, from fresh concept art to higher-detail models. Some differences look subtle in some cases, but absolutely incredible in others, and the environments themselves look more packed. It’s also interesting to see how some floors, wallpaper and other textures have changed to reflect their in-game lore.

The Wolf Among Us Remastered lands on October 29th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. Stay tuned for more details, especially at the upcoming ID@Xbox Showcase on October 20th.

While Haunted Chocolatier will certainly feature elements of living a life in a small town in the vein of Stardew Valley, Barone has said that there will be more of an emphasis on dungeon crawling, adventuring, and discovering new equipment that results in power boosts.

“It is still what I call a town game. But it’s more of an action RPG – the main focus is more about adventuring, finding equipment, and getting more powerful. There are monsters, there are boss fights. It’s for the people in Stardew Valley that go into the mines. That’s what I do, honestly.”

As for Haunted Chocolatier taking quite a bit of time to develop, Barone apologizes. Recalling the days of developing Stardew Valley when he didn’t quite have the fame afforded to him by the success of the life sim, Barone says that he misses a time when there wasn’t an audience, and expectations weren’t quite so high.

“I’ve been struggling with that because I really want to recapture that feeling that I had when I was making Stardew Valley. Back then, there was no audience, there was no precedent. Everyone’s watching me, and if I don’t do things a certain way, it might disappoint millions of people.”

Despite this, Barone is also adamant about not showcasing Haunted Chocolatier before it’s actually ready. “No one’s playing the game until I’m ready to show it. If you have a turkey in the oven. You’re not going to pull it out halfway and have the guests taste it, right? It needs to be done.”

While Haunted Chocolatier was announced all the way back in 2021, in the years since then, Barone has chosen to take frequent breaks from its development to instead work on brand-new content for Stardew Valley. In 2022, Barone said that players will need to wait for quite some time before they get to play Haunted Chocolatier, since it’s going to be “a big game”.

“I have a big, ambitious vision for it. It’s a little bit daunting, the amount of work that it’s going to be. But Stardew Valley took me four and a half years; I’ve been working on Haunted Chocolatier for about a year and a half or maybe two years now. I announced it a little bit over a year ago, but it’s still gonna be a while. But I think it’s going good. So far. There’s a lot of good things so far.”

In the meantime, Barone has kept up with support for Stardew Valley, bringing in a variety of new features and content to the game. He is also working on yet another update. Dubbed 1.7, he hasn’t revealed any details about it.

But as much as Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse looks like a new entry in the series, with visuals evoking a wonderfully macabre sensation, and as much as it stuffs in familiar enemy types, tropes or weapons, it’s a different beast entirely. Developed by Dead Cells and The Rogue Prince of Persia studio Evil Empire with Konami, the pairing feels like a dream come true, especially after the Return to Castlevania DLC.

At its heart, this is an entertaining game, one that combines the developer’s penchant for faster, more aggressive combat and challenging traversal with the property’s old-school trappings of exploration and backtracking. It has several flaws that keep it from reaching the level of its side-scrolling ancestors, but far from a terrible night to have a curse, Belmont or no, this could serve as a solid new beginning for the franchise’s future.

"When thinking of a Castlevania game, or really any title in the Metroidvania genre, two things come to mind: Level design and tempo."

Though set after the events of Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse, the narrative threads Belmont’s Curse picks up will be more familiar to those who watched the Netflix series (though there are some ties to older games). After vanquishing Dracula years ago, Trevor Belmont travels to Paris in 1499 as a deadly plague sweeps through the city. Of course, he’s not alone – his daughter, Rose, is along for the journey. While he gathers more information, she explores the streets and learns more about a monster stalking the population. One thing leads to another, and before long, we return to Castlevania itself.

From a narrative perspective, Belmont’s Curse starts pretty solidly. Rose embodies a more tortured role owing to the curse in her right arm, but otherwise comes off as fine. Not overtly bland, but otherwise straight as an arrow when she’s not acting headstrong. Of course, you have the usual rogue’s gallery, whether it’s the out-of-control Fallen or the illicit Carmilla, and the interactions can be intriguing.

Other characters emerge throughout the narrative and, without revealing spoilers, “accompany” Rose in a unique manner, occasionally chiming in. While one or two voices feel about right, things can go a little overboard when it’s four or more. It’s not so much that they’re trying to tell you where to go or what ability to use in the heat of combat, but some of these conversations feel unnecessary and there for the sake of it, especially as they continually remind Rose of her curse. Your mileage may vary, but I would have made them a bit more sporadic.

When thinking of a Castlevania game, or really any title in the Metroidvania genre, two things come to mind: Level design and tempo. Belmont’s Curse, from the outset, has some pretty interesting levels. The Paris streets, decadent and decaying, are distinguished from the underground sewers in their carnage. Meanwhile, the Catacombs feel more claustrophobic, brimming with trips and opportunities to slip up. All this pales in comparison to Dracula’s Castle, where said gimmicks feel more intertwined in the level design. The constellation puzzles in the Library; the gears and crushing blocks of the Clock Tower; even the Main Hall with its portraits that can propel in different directions. Each feels distinct in its own right, even as you grapple, quite literally at times, with the tempo.

"While this requires a well-timed button press, it also works by holding down the attack button…well, except when it explicitly doesn’t, during which she’ll propel off the target and can follow up with regular attacks."

Because when you pick up that second innate ability that lets you pass through certain blocks and parry attacks – which we’ll get to – Belmont’s Curse pretty much throws you in the deep end. Suddenly, you’re having to wall jump while timing when you can pass through said blocks and when they should remain solid. Occasionally, it feels about right, and you’re in that flow state, but at other points, you need to nail the exact, precise steps the game demands – and it demands its fair share – to progress. No excuses.

It can become frustrating, especially if you’re off by a hair with your execution. This makes backtracking through certain sections feel like a pain. You would think the developer would implement fast travel, and it does…to an extent. Rather than, say, letting you teleport between the save rooms, which aren’t that numerous as is, the fast travel rooms are usually located much farther apart. Because why tediously revisit older areas to see if you can progress with new abilities when you can also tediously revisit them to fast travel somewhere else? I also hope you like leveling up for small boosts to attack and defense but no max HP increase, since you need to collect four Brave Hearts (and Wise Hearts for MP). At least you can acquire temporary potions, even if they’re gone as soon as you hit a save room.

And much of that has to do with Rose’s movement as a whole. From the outset, she can slide – good for getting behind enemies and dodging some attacks – but its consistency can really trip you up at times. You can slide through some enemies but not others, and i-frame some attacks but not others. And the cooldown before you can execute another slide feels long at times, especially given the overall increased speed of combat.

After obtaining the Arcane Whip fairly early, Rose can grapple enemies and execute a whip attack. While this requires a well-timed button press, it also works by holding down the attack button…well, except when it explicitly doesn’t, during which she’ll propel off the target and can follow up with regular attacks. Which isn’t as bad as the dual blades’ whip attack sending you off to Narnia at times – a nightmare when trying to navigate environments with too many traps and other hazards.

The wind-up and direction of grappling can take some getting used to, and even then, there were some awkward interactions where I grappled onto an enemy that felt way out of reach.

"The boss fights, despite not being as plentiful as I would have liked, all feel unique, testing your mobility, awareness and execution in equal measure without seeming unfair or cheap."

Combat otherwise feels good, even if the choice of weaponry is very limited (but we’ll get to that), but alongside the movement, it’s why I have a hard time drawing a one-to-one comparison with older titles or even Dead Cells because the flow is unlike either. It’s not trying to be methodical like older Castlevania titles, hence the whip attacks and sliding.

However, it’s also not trying to be like Dead Cells, where you’ll leverage the environment – be it wall-running, dropping through floors, and seamlessly rolling – to outmaneuver foes. When fighting bosses or a few enemies, it works well enough. Grappling onto a foe with the spear to stab them and kick off, or parrying combined with sliding for slower attacks feels nice. The boss fights, despite not being as plentiful as I would have liked, all feel unique, testing your mobility, awareness and execution in equal measure without seeming unfair or cheap.

The problem is when entering over-stuffed combat rooms, not just because of the projectile spam but because they have hooks and other gimmicks that interfere with your grappling and whip attacks. The sheer number of projectiles becomes even more obnoxious since you can parry one attack and immediately get hit by another due to the ability’s internal cooldown.

Then there’s the weapon progression. There are only seven weapons, and you’ll earn them fairly quickly. Each one feels distinct and fun to use, even if some aren’t as well-suited for certain situations as others. For example, you might want to swap the two-handed heavy sword for a one-hander or even a cestus, since its whip attack can propel you straight down into some spikes. But once you’ve gathered all seven weapons, you’ll find upgraded versions of them in chests in later areas.

Obviously, you’ll want to use them because they deal more damage, but you’re effectively handicapped if it’s not a preferred weapon type or suited to a certain region. The way they’re doled out is also baffling. One chest involves navigating an infuriating jumping puzzle to unlock a gate…which contains a timed switch. You must hit the switch, then traverse through the jumping puzzle again…just for tier 2 dual blades. When you could have just skipped it and done a more straightforward section for a tier 2 spear, or, heck, wander into a room and find a tier 3 heavy sword lying around.

"Even with all these complaints, Belmont’s Curse still makes a strong case for a solid foundation on which future titles can thrive."

Finally, there’s the Arcana, which acts as Rose’s secondary abilities. They’re obtained from defeating bosses, and as you complete different challenges, they can be upgraded. Overall, I like the selection on offer, whether it’s sending out waves of fire in both directions or spikes that inflict bleed (which also serve to drop you suddenly to the ground on activation). However, this can be a problem as well, such as the Arcana’s animation starting to play and even consuming your Mana, but it won’t actually go off when hit by an enemy, putting you at a disadvantage. Which is all the more annoying when using it while having the Artifact that periodically freezes enemies who hit you.

As many complaints as I have about Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, its various elements can come together fairly well. It’s just that several of them don’t feel consistently great, oscillating between fun and frustrating, seemingly on a whim (not that there’s an excuse for the backtracking). The art direction and music are consistently great, even if some tracks feel more fitting of The Rogue Prince of Persia than Castlevania. There are also some baffling performance drops when scanning through the map. At the very least, whether swinging from pillar to post or engaging a gigantic boss and narrowly avoiding its attacks, the frame rate is fairly solid.

Even with all these complaints, Belmont’s Curse still makes a strong case for a solid foundation on which future titles can thrive. But after years of waiting for a new Castlevania, especially one that returns to the series’ 2D roots, I was hoping for something more than just good, especially given the sheer quality of Metroidvania games nowadays.

This game was reviewed on PS5.

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.

Based on Masters of the Universe, this one puts you in control of He-Man, Teela, Man-at-Arms, or She-Ra across thirteen stages of action-packed fights against the combined forces of Skeletor and Evil-Lyn as the pair attempt a ritual that could plunge Eternia into darkness. You know, business as usual in the place we’ve all come to know and love. Other familiar faces like Battle Cat, TrapJaw, Kobra Khan, and Orko are also set to appear, so this one should be quite interesting to all you hardcore fans out there since it’s going to be the largest roster of He-Man characters to be featured in a single game.

It’s coming to PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam for a modest $29.99/€29.99. We’ll return with more information and new gameplay, along with other efforts to recreate popular memes in our own way in the coming months, so stay tuned.