Key information
Konami has collaborated with Dead Cells developer Evil Empire to release Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, marking the first original entry in the franchise in 12 years. The studio aimed to avoid repeating past formulas, following direct instructions from Konami to create something new.
During development, the team experimented with various design iterations. Ben Laulan explained that early versions featured a slower, heavier combat style reminiscent of Dark Souls. However, the developers concluded that this approach felt too intense and difficult, failing to capture the essence of the series.
The team subsequently tested a faster pace that leaned heavily into Dead Cells mechanics, but found it hindered necessary exploration. Ultimately, Evil Empire settled on a middle ground intended to balance modern gameplay with the traditional exploration expected of a Castlevania title.
While the game holds an 84 Metacritic score, it currently maintains a 66% rating on Steam. Players have reported significant technical issues, including difficulties launching the software, unresponsive controls, and problems regarding text localization.
