Castlevania Reborn
Bloodstained Curse of the Moon is a love letter to anyone that grew up with Castlevania on the NES. Gorgeous 8-bit sprites and backgrounds bring this game to life like it was from the 80’s. The lack of sprites flickering or frame rate dropping was the only thing keeping this from being a truly authentic NES experience. I was immediately brought back to my living room as an 8-year-old kid playing Nintendo before my parents woke up.
Built on Legacy
From the moment this game loads up you can tell it’s been made by the hands of a master at his craft. Koji Igarashi is back in the driver’s seat and he’s driving the way he knows best. You can see the love in every pixel like this game was made with the same joy I feel playing it. Igarashi knows Castlevania and he included everything that was great about the series and shored up its weaknesses.
Getting Nostalgia Right
Often times rose-tinted glasses aren’t enough to make the games from our childhood as good as we remember, but this game plays how I remember the games of old playing. A variety of characters with a variety of moves, that control exactly how they should. Some levels have multiple paths, which allow for exploration and replayability. The boss fights in the game range from giant train monsters that fill the screen to a half turtle half bug half man, that flies all over the place.
Combine that with sound effects and chiptunes pulled straight from the NES, the only thing missing is the rectangle controller with two red buttons. Playing this game on veteran will complete the nostalgia ride making it just as difficult as the games you remember.
The Verdict
The 8-bit look, the sounds, the feel, and the difficulty make this a must own for anyone that grew up with Castlevania on the NES. If you didn’t grow up with the NES, but want to play a game that has the retro look and feel without the framerate issues, then this game is also a must. With a price of $9.99, you can’t go wrong with this game.
10 Power Gloves for Bloodstained Curse of the Moon
Disclosure: Review copy provided by Inti Creates
