It appears weird to say it, however there hasn’t been a brand-new Castlevania recreation for greater than a decade and – for the sequence’ long-awaited return – KONAMI made a alternative which will shock some followers. It’s entrusting one in all its most iconic franchises to French studio Evil Empire, greatest identified for its work on Useless Cells, together with the acclaimed Return to Castlevania DLC.
Set inside the distinctive environment of the Chapelle Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc in Paris’ 14th arrondissement, members of the press have been invited for a primary hands-on take a look at Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. The venue proved notably becoming, as the sport itself opens in a darkish, gothic interpretation of the French capital. Following our preview session, we sat down with Tsutomu Taniguchi (Producer at KONAMI) and Emmanuel Nouaille (Artistic Director at Evil Empire) to debate how this new chapter within the Castlevania saga got here to life.
A Collaboration That Began as a Tribute
Earlier than Belmont’s Curse, Evil Empire had already collaborated with KONAMI on Return to Castlevania, the celebrated Useless Cells DLC. On the time, nothing instructed that this partnership would ultimately result in the event of a brand-new entry within the Castlevania sequence.
In keeping with Tsutomu Taniguchi, KONAMI’s choice to proceed working with the French studio got here down to 2 key components: “The primary is Evil Empire’s ardour for Castlevania. The second is their experience in motion video games. Castlevania has all the time been an motion sequence, so it was important that the controls, gameplay, and total really feel lived as much as gamers’ expectations.”
Past their ardour for the franchise, KONAMI was on the lookout for a workforce able to understanding what defines Castlevania whereas additionally mastering the calls for of contemporary motion recreation design.
Emmanuel Nouaille, nonetheless, receives these compliments with humility. Smiling, he admits it nearly feels presumptuous to reply after Taniguchi’s reward earlier than summarizing what, in his view, in the end made the distinction: “Our greatest résumé was merely our work.”
Initially, Evil Empire had solely proposed making a DLC as a tribute to Castlevania. It was via ongoing conversations with KONAMI that the collaboration regularly advanced into one thing way more bold.
Past the studio’s technical experience, the partnership additionally allowed each groups to construct a robust relationship of belief. With Return to Castlevania creating below notably constructive circumstances, working collectively once more on a bigger undertaking turned the pure subsequent step.
Nouaille illustrates that belief with a memorable anecdote: “After we completed the DLC, Tsutomu Taniguchi visited the studio to play it. As he explored the citadel, he found a number of particulars and Easter eggs he hadn’t seen earlier than. Then he merely rotated and gave us a thumbs up.” A easy gesture—however one which left a long-lasting impression on the workforce.
For Nouaille, that was in all probability the second he realized this collaboration may grow to be rather more than a one-off.
Defining What Castlevania Is
For Taniguchi and Nouaille alike, every little thing started with the identical query: What actually makes a Castlevania recreation? It appears like an apparent query. But bringing again one in all KONAMI’s most iconic franchises proved way more complicated than it first appeared.
As Nouaille explains: “Castlevania means one thing completely different to everybody. All of us grew up with completely different video games, completely different characters, and completely different reminiscences. Earlier than we may construct a brand new recreation, we first needed to agree on the core pillars that outline Castlevania.”
Taniguchi shares that perspective, explaining that each fan has a distinct relationship with the sequence. KONAMI’s function was due to this fact to ascertain a standard inventive framework—one that might protect Castlevania’s id whereas giving Evil Empire the liberty to precise its personal imaginative and prescient.
Earlier than introducing a brand new protagonist, a brand new story, or new gameplay programs, each groups targeted on establishing these foundations. The sport needed to stay a 2D action-exploration expertise, match inside the official Castlevania canon, and maintain the Vampire Killer whip on the coronary heart of its gameplay. As soon as these ideas had been agreed upon, KONAMI intentionally gave the French studio appreciable inventive freedom.
That freedom, nonetheless, was by no means a clean examine. As Nouaille explains, modernizing Castlevania by no means meant turning its again on the franchise’s legacy. Each new thought needed to develop from one of many sequence’ defining pillars earlier than being tailored to the expectations of at the moment’s gamers.
The whip is maybe the clearest instance. As one in all Castlevania’s most iconic symbols, it was a non-negotiable ingredient. Relatively than reinventing it, Evil Empire selected to broaden its function in each fight and traversal. The aim was to make gamers really feel like agile, highly effective vampire hunters able to utilizing the whip as naturally to maneuver via the world as they do to defeat their enemies.
The identical philosophy formed the sport’s total pacing. The workforce needed a quicker, extra energetic journey whereas making exploration extra demanding via traps, environmental hazards, and more and more inventive makes use of of the whip. Modernizing Castlevania was by no means about simplifying its gameplay—it was about increasing the participant’s potentialities whereas preserving the sense of development that has all the time outlined the sequence.
That very same method extends to the narrative. Whereas persevering with the story after Dracula’s Curse and Curse of Darkness, Belmont’s Curse additionally introduces a brand-new heroine, Rose, who naturally finds her place inside the established Castlevania universe. She’s an extension of the lore, not a random offshoot from it.
Working inside this framework, Evil Empire was in a position to carry its personal sensibilities to the undertaking by setting the journey in Paris and enriching its world with quite a few historic references. Greater than a licensed manufacturing, Belmont’s Curse turned the results of an ongoing dialogue between KONAMI and the French studio. As Nouaille places it, “This wasn’t a work-for-hire undertaking. It was a real inventive collaboration.”
A Philosophy Felt from the First Minutes
All of these inventive selections shortly grow to be obvious as soon as the controller is in your arms. Relatively than merely updating the system, Belmont’s Curse goals to evolve the sequence’ gameplay whereas preserving the foundations which have outlined Castlevania for many years. Character animations, visible results, sound design, and the affect of each assault all contribute to creating fight really feel extra dynamic, readable, and satisfying with out ever dropping the unmistakable id of the franchise.
The whip’s versatility naturally encourages gamers to revisit beforehand explored areas seeking hidden paths whereas making motion really feel significantly extra fluid. Taniguchi confirms that increasing the whip’s function was one of many workforce’s major objectives: “The whip stays true to Castlevania’s id, however we needed to present it a brand new dimension.”
The choice to set the journey in Paris additionally reinforces the sport’s distinctive id. Throughout our hands-on session, landmarks comparable to Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Catacombs appeared alongside references to a number of French areas, serving to create a setting that feels genuine moderately than merely ornamental.
In the meantime, the stability between exploration and fight shortly feels intuitive, supported by a placing artwork path, atmospheric soundtrack, and thoroughly crafted sound design that instantly evoke the unmistakable spirit of Castlevania.
A New Chapter, Not Only a Tribute
Whereas a lot stays to be found, Nouaille is fast to level out that the model introduced to us represents solely a small glimpse of the complete journey: “What you’ve seen at the moment is simply the start of the journey. When you attain the citadel, every little thing modifications. We hope gamers can be shocked by the sport’s new construction, but in addition by its characters, its story, and all of the secrets and techniques ready to be uncovered.”
All through our dialog, one thought got here up repeatedly: Belmont’s Curse was by no means conceived as a easy tribute to Castlevania. KONAMI first outlined the sequence’ important foundations earlier than permitting Evil Empire to construct upon them with its personal inventive sensibilities. Someplace between these two visions, a real partnership emerged—one which seems to have formed each main choice all through growth.
For Emmanuel Nouaille, one explicit reminiscence completely captures that philosophy. It wasn’t a spectacular boss battle or a serious story sequence, however one thing a lot less complicated.
As growth progressed, the animations, visible results, iconic creatures, music, and sound design regularly gave the undertaking its personal id. But the true turning level got here when he instinctively opened the map to mark areas he knew he would revisit later after unlocking new talents: “That’s once I realized we have been now not simply testing mechanics. We have been really taking part in a Castlevania recreation.”
That very same humility additionally defines Evil Empire’s ambitions for the franchise. The workforce’s aim was by no means to surpass landmarks comparable to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night time, however merely to contribute a brand new chapter to a sequence that has continued to evolve for almost 4 a long time.
Judging by this primary hands-on expertise and our dialog with the builders, Belmont’s Curse seems decided to do precisely that: honour Castlevania’s legacy whereas confidently forging its personal id.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse arrives on October 15 for XBOX Sequence X|S and XBOX on PC.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Midnight Version
KONAMI
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$39.99
[Pre-order Bonus]
This bonus merchandise is on the market to gamers who pre-order Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse.
・Alucard Model Costume
[Overview]
This product accommodates the complete recreation, Digital Sound & Artwork Gallery, in addition to 3 bonus in-game objects.
・Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
・Digital Sound & Artwork Gallery
・Bonuses (In-game objects) x3
└ Trevor Model Costume
└ Sypha Model Costume
└ Household’s Grace（Relic）
Medieval Paris, The place the Tolling Bells Herald the Finish
1499. Paris is engulfed in flames as monstrous creatures all of the sudden emerge from the shadows.
Trevor Belmont, the hero who defeated Dracula, ventures into the burning streets together with his daughter, Rose Belmont. Armed with the legendary holy whip, the Vampire Killer, they seek out the beasts bleeding from the looming citadel.
Rose is quickly swept up at midnight conspiracy that lurks beneath. Will she reach saving Paris from devastation?
Satisfying Whip Motion
Castlevania’s iconic whip motion is extra satisfying than ever!
Crack your whip to maneuver round freely like a trapeze artist!
Grasp the whip mechanics and be inventive to pounce in your prey like a wolf in fast-paced fight!
Numerous Bosses and the Arcana System
Face-off in opposition to legendary bosses together with Loss of life, Medusa and Carmilla along with enigmatic new bosses comparable to Joan of Arc.
As soon as defeated, bosses are sealed into Rose’s tarot playing cards, turning them into Arcana – use their abilities to forged spells and acquire distinctive particular actions
Customise Your Battle Model with Weapons and Relics
Customise Rose’s battle type through the use of quite a lot of tools, together with weapons spanning seven distinct classes and Relics that set off highly effective results via each offense and protection.
Mix tools you uncover via exploration to create your personal playstyle!
Iconic Castlevania Environment, Reimagined in New Phases
From iconic Gothic aesthetics to vivid, refined visuals, the sport presents a recent tackle the world of Castlevania.
Discover maps full of each new options and acquainted parts impressed by basic Castlevania titles.
※The picture displayed are below growth
※Contents/Specs are topic to alter with out discover
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
KONAMI
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$29.99
[Pre-order Bonus]
Alucard Model Costume
This bonus merchandise is on the market to gamers who pre-order Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse.
Medieval Paris, The place the Tolling Bells Herald the Finish
1499. Paris is engulfed in flames as monstrous creatures all of the sudden emerge from the shadows.
Trevor Belmont, the hero who defeated Dracula, ventures into the burning streets together with his daughter, Rose Belmont. Armed with the legendary holy whip, the Vampire Killer, they seek out the beasts bleeding from the looming citadel.
Rose is quickly swept up at midnight conspiracy that lurks beneath. Will she reach saving Paris from devastation?
Satisfying Whip Motion
Castlevania’s iconic whip motion is extra satisfying than ever!
Crack your whip to maneuver round freely like a trapeze artist!
Grasp the whip mechanics and be inventive to pounce in your prey like a wolf in fast-paced fight!
Numerous Bosses and the Arcana System
Face-off in opposition to legendary bosses together with Loss of life, Medusa and Carmilla along with enigmatic new bosses comparable to Joan of Arc.
As soon as defeated, bosses are sealed into Rose’s tarot playing cards, turning them into Arcana – use their abilities to forged spells and acquire distinctive particular actions
Customise Your Battle Model with Weapons and Relics
Customise Rose’s battle type through the use of quite a lot of tools, together with weapons spanning seven distinct classes and Relics that set off highly effective results via each offense and protection.
Mix tools you uncover via exploration to create your personal playstyle!
Iconic Castlevania Environment, Reimagined in New Phases
From iconic Gothic aesthetics to vivid, refined visuals, the sport presents a recent tackle the world of Castlevania.
Discover maps full of each new options and acquainted parts impressed by basic Castlevania titles.
