Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon Reviews
For Castlevania veterans and newcomers alike, Curse of the Moon is a simple and sweet gem that serves not just as a tribute but a fitting continuation of this very specific kind of game. It's not a clone, rather an appropriate successor.
The perfect game that harkens back to classic days of the NES Castlevanias, with the same feel and style. It has some issues and is clearly made for the already built fan base, it’s still a lot of fun.
There's a big difference between being inspired by something and flat out copying it. Curse of the Moon copies Dracula's Curse and does a good job of it. So much so, that if you're a fan of Dracula's Curse, you might not even need to play Curse of the Moon. Compare that to Shovel Knight, which combined the best parts of series like Mega Man, Mario, and Ducktails, to be an excellent game in its own right which I recommend to everyone. Personally, I prefer the Shovel Knight approach to retro-inspired games, although Curse of the Moon is a great way to revisit a classic without requiring so much skill and patience to see it through to completion.
The wait for Ritual just got a heck of a lot easier.
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is an amazing retro game that is familiar and fun.
The 8-bit graphics, the chiptune sound design, and the old-school gameplay harmoniously mix together to make a game that feels like it loaded straight off a cartridge.
"Castlevania's spiritual successor by blood."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Curse of the Moon is the spiritual successor to Dracula’s Curse that no one saw coming. It’s a special game for early fans of the Nintendo Entertainment System and Castlevania series. I think this game will exceed players’ expectations, especially fans of Castlevania and Ninja Gaiden. At only $10, it’s a steal!
Bloodstained Curse of the Moon is a fantastic title that pays homage to the classics of the Castlevania series, offering a balanced, varied, and very solid title. We look forward to seeing how Ritual of the Night evolves.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
I had a feeling that Curse of the Moon would be a title that I was going to enjoy, but I wasn’t aware of how much I would immediately love this game.
I ask you to assess whether it is worth paying 10 euros for 2 hours of play, or you prefer to invest them in others whose duration is longer. In any case, if you are lovers of retro, go for it because it will make you spend an entertaining mini afternoon.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Init Creates and IGA did not have to go to this extent to make this backer stretch goal. The music is really good, even if it’s not quite as memorable as some other 8-bit retro games like Shovel Knight. And the enemy designs and general artwork are second to none in the retro space. If this game actually came out during the NES era we would still be talking about it today. But what it also does amazingly well is build up the anticipation for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night far above what it already was. I am not alone among the internet in expressing the sentiment that if this is what they produce with the prequel game, I cannot wait to see the final product. This is some next level advertising for a game, any way you think about it. While this game was free to backers, it is also only selling for $9.99 to everyone else. That is absurd value even if the game only takes about two hours to run through your first time. And like I said, there is quite a bit of replay value to be had even before you are just going through it again for fun (which is also very likely). I have zero intention of ever deleting this game from my Switch, not only because it takes up very little space (15MB), but it will just be fun to pull it up and start from the beginning when I’m taking a flight somewhere.
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon brings back the essence of the 8-bit Castlevania games in a masterful way.
All that said, Curse of the Moon is a very enjoyable old-school Castlevania homage that's well worth the price of admission—as long as you have nostalgia for those games. Those of you who have no patience for the first three Castlevania games in particular may want to give Curse a wide berth, but I daresay there are systems in place here that may tickle your fancy.
As far as throwbacks go, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is a worthwhile venture. It captures the essence of yesteryear's classics, while offering numerous options to comfort an audience that might be unfamiliar with that time period. The game is also quite entertaining, and the replay-value is quite high. Still, it is not possible to shake the feeling that something is missing. It's as if the developer decided the safe choice was the right one, and left all of the risk-taking up to the player. Will this game be remembered in thirty years? Only time will tell.
The night might be dark and full of terrors, but Curse of the Moon gives us some very effective tools to take down the evils that lurk within.
Bloodstained: Curse Of The Moon is a brilliant ode to one of Castlevania’s best
Curse of the Moon is a nostalgic trip back to the era of classic Castlevania games, warts and all.
The controls feel right, the challenge is satisfying, the presentation is nostalgic, and there are numerous reasons to keep returning to it.
Aside from the repetition, which is, in retrospect, how many gamers got longevity out of old Castlevania games, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is a superb game. It is ideal for gamers who want an old-school challenge as well as an old-school game in both aesthetic and design.