First Review Published for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse

Famitsu has awarded Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse a score of 32/40 in its latest review, with all four reviewers giving the game 8/10.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse has received its first review from Japanese magazine Famitsu, where four reviewers each awarded it 8/10 for a total score of 32/40. The review highlights the game’s combination of dark exploration, boss battles, and whip mechanics.

The new Castlevania continues the story following Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, focusing on dark exploration, combat, and an unusual use of the whip. The heroine can use the whip to latch onto special points, platforms, and even enemies, close the distance, attack, and reach hard-to-access areas.

Air movement is also important because the levels are packed with traps and mechanisms that require precise jumping with the whip. Defeating bosses rewards the player with Arcana, which unlock new abilities and areas. Players can also change their weapons and Arcana depending on the situation.

The game features maps with their own quests and puzzles, while defeated bosses later appear on Tarot cards and can converse with the heroine. The difficulty is higher than in some previous entries in the series, particularly during boss fights, though players can adjust the incoming damage and the number of potions.

Famitsu specifically praised the detailed depictions of Paris and the castle, along with the music. Meanwhile, the visual style and pacing are closer to modern Western indie games than to classic Castlevania titles.