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 selection that will shock some followers. It’s entrusting one in all its most iconic franchises to French studio Evil Empire, finest identified for its work on Useless Cells, together with the acclaimed Return to Castlevania DLC.
Set throughout the distinctive environment of the Chapelle Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc in Paris’ 14th arrondissement, members of the press had been invited for a primary hands-on have a look at Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. The venue proved significantly 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 advised that this partnership would finally result in the event of a brand-new entry within the Castlevania sequence.
In response to Tsutomu Taniguchi, KONAMI’s resolution to proceed working with the French studio got here down to 2 key elements: “The primary is Evil Empire’s ardour for Castlevania. The second is their experience in motion video games. Castlevania has at all times 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 in search of a crew able to understanding what defines Castlevania whereas additionally mastering the calls for of recent motion recreation design.
Emmanuel Nouaille, nevertheless, 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 by means of ongoing conversations with KONAMI that the collaboration progressively developed into one thing much more formidable.
Past the studio’s technical experience, the partnership additionally allowed each groups to construct a powerful relationship of belief. With Return to Castlevania creating underneath significantly optimistic circumstances, working collectively once more on a bigger challenge turned the pure subsequent step.
Nouaille illustrates that belief with a memorable anecdote: “Once 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 circled and gave us a thumbs up.” A easy gesture—however one which left a long-lasting impression on the crew.
For Nouaille, that was in all probability the second he realized this collaboration might change into far more than a one-off.
Defining What Castlevania Is
For Taniguchi and Nouaille alike, the whole lot started with the identical query: What really makes a Castlevania recreation? It feels like an apparent query. But bringing again one in all KONAMI’s most iconic franchises proved much more complicated than it first appeared.
As Nouaille explains: “Castlevania means one thing totally different to everybody. All of us grew up with totally different video games, totally different characters, and totally different reminiscences. Earlier than we might 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 unique relationship with the sequence. KONAMI’s position was due to this fact to ascertain a typical inventive framework—one that might protect Castlevania’s identification whereas giving Evil Empire the liberty to specific its personal imaginative and prescient.
Earlier than introducing a brand new protagonist, a brand new story, or new gameplay techniques, each groups targeted on establishing these foundations. The sport needed to stay a 2D action-exploration expertise, match throughout the official Castlevania canon, and preserve 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, nevertheless, 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 concept needed to develop from one of many sequence’ defining pillars earlier than being tailored to the expectations of right this moment’s gamers.
The whip is probably the clearest instance. As one in all Castlevania’s most iconic symbols, it was a non-negotiable ingredient. Slightly than reinventing it, Evil Empire selected to develop its position in each fight and traversal. The purpose was to make gamers really feel like agile, highly effective vampire hunters able to utilizing the whip as naturally to maneuver by means of the world as they do to defeat their enemies.
The identical philosophy formed the sport’s total pacing. The crew wished a quicker, extra energetic journey whereas making exploration extra demanding by means of 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 prospects whereas preserving the sense of development that has at all times 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 throughout 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 convey its personal sensibilities to the challenge 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 challenge. It was a real inventive collaboration.”
A Philosophy Felt from the First Minutes
All of these inventive choices shortly change into obvious as soon as the controller is in your palms. Slightly than merely updating the formulation, 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 influence of each assault all contribute to creating fight really feel extra dynamic, readable, and satisfying with out ever dropping the unmistakable identification of the franchise.
The whip’s versatility naturally encourages gamers to revisit beforehand explored areas in the hunt for hidden paths whereas making motion really feel significantly extra fluid. Taniguchi confirms that increasing the whip’s position was one of many crew’s main objectives: “The whip stays true to Castlevania’s identification, however we wished to provide it a brand new dimension.”
The choice to set the journey in Paris additionally reinforces the sport’s distinctive identification. Throughout our hands-on session, landmarks comparable to Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Catacombs appeared alongside references to a number of French places, 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 putting 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 total journey: “What you’ve seen right this moment is simply the start of the journey. When you attain the citadel, the whole lot modifications. We hope gamers will probably be stunned 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 concept 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 resolution all through growth.
For Emmanuel Nouaille, one specific reminiscence completely captures that philosophy. It wasn’t a spectacular boss struggle 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 progressively gave the challenge its personal identification. 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 skills: “That’s once I realized we had been not simply testing mechanics. We had been really taking part in a Castlevania recreation.”
That very same humility additionally defines Evil Empire’s ambitions for the franchise. The crew’s purpose 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 many years.
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 identification.
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 obtainable to gamers who pre-order Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse.
・Alucard Fashion Costume
[Overview]
This product accommodates the total 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 Fashion Costume
└ Sypha Fashion Costume
└ Household’s Grace（Relic）
Medieval Paris, The place the Tolling Bells Herald the Finish
1499. Paris is engulfed in flames as monstrous creatures immediately emerge from the shadows.
Trevor Belmont, the hero who defeated Dracula, ventures into the burning streets along with his daughter, Rose Belmont. Armed with the legendary holy whip, the Vampire Killer, they search out the beasts bleeding from the looming citadel.
Rose is quickly swept up at nighttime 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!
Various Bosses and the Arcana System
Face-off towards legendary bosses together with Dying, 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 expertise to solid spells and procure distinctive particular actions
Customise Your Battle Fashion with Weapons and Relics
Customise Rose’s battle fashion through the use of a wide range of gear, together with weapons spanning seven distinct classes and Relics that set off highly effective results by means of each offense and protection.
Mix gear you uncover by means of exploration to create your individual playstyle!
Iconic Castlevania Environment, Reimagined in New Levels
From iconic Gothic aesthetics to vivid, refined visuals, the sport presents a contemporary tackle the world of Castlevania.
Discover maps full of each new options and acquainted components impressed by traditional Castlevania titles.
※The picture displayed are underneath growth
※Contents/Specs are topic to alter with out discover
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
KONAMI
$29.99
[Pre-order Bonus]
Alucard Fashion Costume
This bonus merchandise is obtainable 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 immediately emerge from the shadows.
Trevor Belmont, the hero who defeated Dracula, ventures into the burning streets along with his daughter, Rose Belmont. Armed with the legendary holy whip, the Vampire Killer, they search out the beasts bleeding from the looming citadel.
Rose is quickly swept up at nighttime 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!
Various Bosses and the Arcana System
Face-off towards legendary bosses together with Dying, 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 expertise to solid spells and procure distinctive particular actions
Customise Your Battle Fashion with Weapons and Relics
Customise Rose’s battle fashion through the use of a wide range of gear, together with weapons spanning seven distinct classes and Relics that set off highly effective results by means of each offense and protection.
Mix gear you uncover by means of exploration to create your individual playstyle!
Iconic Castlevania Environment, Reimagined in New Levels
From iconic Gothic aesthetics to vivid, refined visuals, the sport presents a contemporary tackle the world of Castlevania.
Discover maps full of each new options and acquainted components impressed by traditional Castlevania titles.
