Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse hands

On February 12, during the State of Play livestream, Konami unveiled Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. The four‑year‑old development team Evil Empire is visibly excited, yet on edge, as the new title finally takes the spotlight.

Marketing Director Bérenger Dupré explained, “We were on standby, unsure when the trailer would drop. The moment it appeared, our nerves spiked. The live chat surged so quickly we couldn’t keep up with the reactions. Then a fan sent us a meme of the ‘absolute cinema’ variant, and I thought, ‘All right, we’re handling this.’”

Following the tense announcement, Konami and Evil Empire have intensified their efforts to guarantee that Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse launches on schedule—October 15—across the PlayStation 5. The developers also granted exclusive hands‑on sessions, allowing fans to explore the game’s shadowy realms ahead of release.

Within this trove of gothic delights, I found a wealth of content that will delight long‑time Castlevania aficionados, while contemporary quality‑of‑life tweaks, fluid combat, and a broad magic‑and‑ability framework inject fresh vitality into the franchise. This revitalization is embodied by the brand‑new protagonist who leads the adventure.

In the wake of Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, the year 1499 finds Paris in ruins, teetering on the brink of Dracula’s return. The only glimmer of hope lies with Trevor Belmont and his daughter Rose, who slip into the city after a cryptic missive from the Bishop. While Trevor hunts the clergy, Rose ventures into the scorched streets, confronting the undead that swarm the city.

A lively animated opening sets the stage, showcasing Rose’s design with elegance and foreshadowing a Belmont lineage storyline. Determined yet weighed by the guilt of her mother’s passing, her scar—symbolized by a tarot deck and a fiery red curse that spreads from elbow to hand—gains deeper meaning as the adventure unfolds.

Belmont’s Curse delivers the quintessential modern Castlevania experience, deliberately eschewing roguelite tropes like permadeath and procedural generation. Konami producer Tsutomu Taniguchi explains, “Our goal was to preserve the series’ core identity.” He added, “During early talks with Evil Empire, we emphasized a return to the franchise’s roots.”

The game boasts a sprawling map featuring breakable hidden walls, clear visual cues marking zones that unlock with new abilities, and a gothic soundtrack of organs and synths—all the hallmarks fans anticipate. Rose’s controls carry a familiar heft, yet the responsive agility ensures combat and platforming feel seamless.

Relics return to the roster, granting powerful bonuses for both combat and exploration. Players can equip up to three, allowing each to fine‑tune Rose’s build to match their preferred playstyle. The standout item I discovered is the Crypt Key, which instantly replenishes Rose’s health and mana every time she opens a chest—an invaluable perk that keeps her fighting fit during the game’s relentless challenges.

True to its lineage, Belmont’s Curse delivers a harsh but fair experience. Quick errors are met with swift, decisive punishment, yet the game never feels arbitrary. Success hinges on mastering pattern recognition, exploiting the brief invincibility frames that accompany each dodge, and honing Rose’s attack repertoire—skills that become especially critical during the game’s visually stunning boss encounters.

From leaping over The Fallen’s Holy Cross to executing a sweeping whip strike that reaches across the screen in the sewers, and from evading Joan of Arc’s blazing sword slashes, backstabs, and fireballs atop a crumbling rooftop, the initial boss battles demand razor‑sharp reflexes and a willingness to learn through repetition.

Conquering these formidable foes rewards players with loot that feels truly earned. In addition to occasional weapons—such as Joan’s favored Burnt Sword of Fierbois, complete with a powerful charge attack—each defeated boss is transformed into an Arcana card within Rose’s tarot deck, unlocking new spells, skills, and special actions that further expand her tactical arsenal.