Konami’s Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Plays Like a Dream

The revival of Konami’s most cherished properties has begun, and the next entry in the Castlevania saga is now confirmed. Belmont’s Curse, which marks the first mainline release in the series since more than a decade past, is set to arrive next month across several platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. A brief 20-minute look at the TGS demo has already sparked genuine excitement.

The developers behind Dead Cells have taken the side-scrolling exploration and 2D platforming combat of Symphony of the Night and given it a modern polish. They are doing the work, and the result is sharp, polished, and gorgeous.

Rose Belmont Takes the Sword

Rose Belmont is the latest in a long line of vampire hunters, the daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades. She inherits her father’s fighting prowess and her mother’s arcane abilities, which take the form of tarot cards that unlock special abilities and facets of the game’s story.

The tale opens with her in possession of a sword and spells. A mysterious brute known as The Fallen serves as the first foe she encounters. Following that battle, Rose gains Castlevania’s signature weapon, the whip, and that moment alters everything.

The Whip Reimagined

The whip in Evil Empire allows Rose to grab onto specific things in her surroundings. This lets her climb up onto platforms or swing back and forth over open spaces. Her motion feels smooth and generous, and getting around the winding map feels highly rewarding.

The character has a wall jump and a sliding ability that are available right from the beginning. Her whip is used to grab enemies, which then pulls her toward them so she can strike them down with her sword. During the demo, every move involving the whip felt smooth and quick.

A Burning Paris

Visually, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse doesn’t look like anything else in the franchise. Characters, enemies, and environments are gorgeously animated and full of rich details. The setting is 15th-century Paris, and the demo offers ample opportunity to look out upon the city on fire.

Heatwaves warp the backgrounds bathed in red firelight. I only had the chance to see one of the game’s bosses in action, but The Fallen is nicely animated, and character portraits look full of life. Belmont’s Curse is stunning in motion.

Story in Bits

The tale unfolds in fragments, frequently delivered through spirits that appear to be trapped within haunted Paris and inside Rose’s own thoughts. Following her fight with The Fallen, she appears to take in his mind into herself. The two hold conversations within her head.

The TGS demo was brief. It offered a peek at the game’s deeper systems and huge map, but it didn’t let me see everything. The burning Paris was striking, and the whip mechanics were polished, but the full scope of the game remains unproven.

What We Saw

Here is what stood out during the demo:

1. Rose Belmont’s whip latching onto objects for climbing and swinging.
2. The fluid movement, wall jumping, and sliding from the start.
3. The ability to ensnare enemies and pull them toward Rose for slashing.
4. The burning Paris visuals with heatwaves warping the backgrounds.
5. The telepathic conversation between Rose and The Fallen after she absorbs his consciousness.
6. Nods to past games like Simon’s Quest and Order of Ecclesia.

The Whip’s Role

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a welcome revival for a franchise that hasn’t had a mainline entry in over a decade. The whip is the heart of the game, and Evil Empire’s reinvention of it is impressive. Latching onto objects, swinging across gaps, and ensnaring enemies all feel natural and polished.

The graphics in the demo represent a genuine improvement for the series, with the burning Paris scenery, the heatwaves, and the detailed character portraits all combining to give the game a distinctive visual style.

Launch Next Month

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse launches Oct. 15 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. The TGS demo left me wanting more, and I’m eager to see how the full game plays out.

Belmont’s Curse sees Evil Empire treat the whip as the centerpiece, and they’ve made something truly inventive out of it. The motion feels smooth, the fighting feels quick, and the setting is packed with detail. Castlevania hasn’t had much noise lately, but this looks like a proper comeback.

Castlevania · Dead Cells · Konami · PS5 · Switch · Xbox