Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Review (Switch)

Key Points:

• Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a challenging Metroidvania game that follows the series' traditional formula of platform navigation, combat, leveling, magic, and weapon forging across a sprawling map inspired by Paris.
• Players control Rose, daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, as she battles demons in a demanding game that emphasizes grinding, skillful combat, and exploration, with a steep learning curve reminiscent of older Castlevania titles.
• The game features fluid and addictive combat mechanics, especially with the whip, which allows for dynamic movement and attacks, though boss fights can feel frantic and rely heavily on brute force.
• While the game’s design and Parisian setting are detailed and atmospheric, it suffers from long loading times on the Switch, occasional frame rate drops, and lacks originality in its graphics and overall presentation.
• Despite criticisms of being somewhat generic and visually underwhelming, Belmont’s Curse is praised as a rewarding and compelling entry for Metroidvania enthusiasts who appreciate tough, skill-based gameplay.