It appears weird to say it, however there hasn’t been a brand-new Castlevania sport for greater than a decade and – for the collection’ long-awaited return – KONAMI made a selection 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 throughout 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 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 (Inventive 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 ultimately result in the event of a brand-new entry within the Castlevania collection.
In response to 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 collection, so it was important that the controls, gameplay, and general really feel lived as much as gamers’ expectations.”
Past their ardour for the franchise, KONAMI was in search of a group able to understanding what defines Castlevania whereas additionally mastering the calls for of contemporary motion sport design.
Emmanuel Nouaille, nonetheless, receives these compliments with humility. Smiling, he admits it virtually 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 ongoing conversations with KONAMI that the collaboration step by step 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 beneath significantly optimistic circumstances, working collectively once more on a bigger venture grew to become 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 circled and gave us a thumbs up.” A easy gesture—however one which left a long-lasting impression on the group.
For Nouaille, that was in all probability the second he realized this collaboration may grow to be way more than a one-off.
Defining What Castlevania Is
For Taniguchi and Nouaille alike, every thing started with the identical query: What actually makes a Castlevania sport? It feels like an apparent query. But bringing again one in all KONAMI’s most iconic franchises proved way more advanced 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 recollections. Earlier than we may construct a brand new sport, we first needed to agree on the core pillars that outline Castlevania.”
Taniguchi shares that perspective, explaining that each fan has a special relationship with the collection. KONAMI’s position was subsequently to ascertain a typical artistic framework—one that will protect Castlevania’s identification 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 centered 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 artistic freedom.
That freedom, nonetheless, was by no means a clean verify. 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 collection’ defining pillars earlier than being tailored to the expectations of in the present day’s gamers.
The whip is maybe 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 broaden its position 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 by the world as they do to defeat their enemies.
The identical philosophy formed the sport’s general pacing. The group wished a quicker, extra energetic journey whereas making exploration extra demanding by traps, environmental hazards, and more and more artistic 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 all the time outlined the collection.
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 capable of convey its personal sensibilities to the venture by setting the journey in Paris and enriching its world with quite a few historic references. Greater than a licensed manufacturing, Belmont’s Curse grew to become the results of an ongoing dialogue between KONAMI and the French studio. As Nouaille places it, “This wasn’t a work-for-hire venture. It was a real artistic collaboration.”
A Philosophy Felt from the First Minutes
All of these artistic selections shortly grow to be obvious as soon as the controller is in your fingers. Slightly than merely updating the system, Belmont’s Curse goals to evolve the collection’ 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 shedding 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 group’s major targets: “The whip stays true to Castlevania’s identification, however we wished to present 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 equivalent to Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Catacombs appeared alongside references to a number of French areas, serving to create a setting that feels genuine quite than merely ornamental.
In the meantime, the steadiness between exploration and fight shortly feels intuitive, supported by a hanging artwork course, atmospheric soundtrack, and punctiliously 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 in the present day is simply the start of the journey. When you attain the citadel, every thing modifications. We hope gamers can be shocked by the sport’s new construction, but additionally 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 collection’ important foundations earlier than permitting Evil Empire to construct upon them with its personal artistic sensibilities. Someplace between these two visions, a real partnership emerged—one which seems to have formed each main choice all through improvement.
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 easier.
As improvement progressed, the animations, visible results, iconic creatures, music, and sound design step by step gave the venture 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 talents: “That’s once I realized we have been not simply testing mechanics. We have been really enjoying a Castlevania sport.”
That very same humility additionally defines Evil Empire’s ambitions for the franchise. The group’s aim was by no means to surpass landmarks equivalent to Castlevania: Symphony of the Evening, however merely to contribute a brand new chapter to a collection 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 Collection 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 Type Costume
[Overview]
This product comprises the complete sport, Digital Sound & Artwork Gallery, in addition to 3 bonus in-game gadgets.
・Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
・Digital Sound & Artwork Gallery
・Bonuses (In-game gadgets) x3
└ Trevor Type Costume
└ Sypha Type 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 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 artistic 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 Demise, Medusa and Carmilla along with enigmatic new bosses equivalent 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 acquire distinctive particular actions
Customise Your Battle Type with Weapons and Relics
Customise Rose’s battle model through the use of quite a lot of gear, together with weapons spanning seven distinct classes and Relics that set off highly effective results by each offense and protection.
Mix gear you uncover by exploration to create your individual playstyle!
Iconic Castlevania Ambiance, Reimagined in New Phases
From iconic Gothic aesthetics to vivid, refined visuals, the sport presents a recent tackle the world of Castlevania.
Discover maps stuffed with each new options and acquainted components impressed by basic Castlevania titles.
※The picture displayed are beneath improvement
※Contents/Specs are topic to alter with out discover
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
KONAMI
$29.99
[Pre-order Bonus]
Alucard Type 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 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 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 artistic 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 Demise, Medusa and Carmilla along with enigmatic new bosses equivalent 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 acquire distinctive particular actions
Customise Your Battle Type with Weapons and Relics
Customise Rose’s battle model through the use of quite a lot of gear, together with weapons spanning seven distinct classes and Relics that set off highly effective results by each offense and protection.
Mix gear you uncover by exploration to create your individual playstyle!
Iconic Castlevania Ambiance, Reimagined in New Phases
From iconic Gothic aesthetics to vivid, refined visuals, the sport presents a recent tackle the world of Castlevania.
Discover maps stuffed with each new options and acquainted components impressed by basic Castlevania titles.
