Key information
PC Gamer reviewer reports that Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, developed by Evil Empire, provides an enjoyable experience that improves as players progress toward Dracula's Castle. Despite the studio's pedigree, the author notes the game is not the definitive success expected, citing technical hurdles and inconsistent design choices.
The reviewer highlights a lack of "juice"—the responsive polish expected in modern action games. Specific mechanics feel problematic: the whip's wind-up complicates platforming, the forward slide dodge lacks sufficient invincibility frames, and healing requires a frustratingly long button hold. Additionally, the author criticizes the control mapping for phasing through walls, which feels unintuitive on controller triggers.
Technical issues include a black screen at launch on monitors exceeding 120 Hz and jarring framerate drops during cutscenes. The author attributes the static, panning-shot cutscenes to budget limitations, noting they fail to match the quality of the Netflix series that inspired the game's cinematography.
Despite these flaws, the reviewer praises the game's punchy hitstop, slick animations, and the gorgeous presentation of tarot cards used as special weapons. While the author questions if the developer intentionally avoided Dead Cells-style controls to the detriment of the experience, they remain hopeful about the game's unique, puzzle-oriented approach to the castle.
