Castlevania: Curse Of Darkness

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness is the only game in the series for the Xbox and the second game in the Castlevania series on the PlayStation 2. Konami introduces new characters, mechanics, and lore to their popular franchise. This game is a direct sequel to Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse. Dracula's wicked army continues their war against the humans. They desire to resurrect their fallen leader.

The Plot

The series shifts to a new protagonist with the motivation of revenge, and adds new lore for Devil Forgemasters. Hector is the unlikely protagonist in Castlevania: Curse of Darkness. This is a fresh story in the series, and the cutscenes perfectly present the story. He left the ranks of Dracula's army, and desired a normal life without violence. However, Hector returns to the battlefield after the wrongful execution of his wife, Rosaly. The story quickly establishes his motives, and jumps the player into the game without showing the beginning of the conflict. Hector battles rivals and former allies in Dracula's castle, and defeats the wicked Dracula in an epic showdown.

Also, Trevor Belmont returns in the game. He briefly battles Hector until he realizes Hector is not a foe. The two heroes work together to discover Dracula's cult. If you are interested in Hector's full story, then you can purchase the two-part manga, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness by Kou Sasakura. The manga provides a prequel to the game's lore. The manga has a good balance of action and heartbreak. First, we witness Hector's and Rosaly's (Rosalee in the manga) relationship blossom to marriage. Then, his desires for a peaceful lifestyle comes to an end when Isaac kills his wife.

Gameplay

Unlike previous heroes in the series, Hector does not use a whip. Our hero uses a variety of weapons such as swords, spears, and axes! You get materials from enemies, and use them to create new armor and weapons. Furthermore, the game introduces Innocent Devils, and these creatures add strategy in combat. They are allies on the battlefield, and fight alongside you to battle enemies. The game has six types of devils. They are Fairy, Battle, Bird, Mage, Devil, and Pumpkin. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages against particular enemies. Combat is very simple in Castlevania: Curse of Darkness. You press one button for simple attacks and a second button unleashes more powerful attacks. This system is similar to battle systems in Dynasty Warriors and Hyrule Warriors. You can easily master the controls during the first stage.

Graphics

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness has nice graphics for its time. The cutscenes present the dark and gloomy settings that the series is known for. I think the graphics still look decent to this day. Hector's design has a lot of details and depth. However, most of the areas in the game look very bland. They constantly repeat the same designs as your progress through them. There is not any memorable stages by their designs. This is disappointing because the developers had a chance to make stunning stages. You will get bored after running past objects and rooms that look too similar.

Music

Finally, I cannot forget the game's amazing soundtrack. Each theme fits the tone of settings and battles. My favorite theme in the game is Trevor Belmont's theme, Belmont The Legend. It is the perfect song for a legend in the series.

Pros

• Simple Combat
• Innocent Devils assist in battle!
• Fresh Story
• Stellar Soundtrack!

Cons

• Bland Designs of Stages
• The Game Does Not Show the Backstory

Final Thoughts

Overall, I recommend buying a copy of Castlevania: Curse of Darkness. It is a solid entry in Konami's signature franchise. The plot maintains your interest for the next major event throughout the game. The gameplay is very fun and adds new mechanics in Castlevania. I give Castlevania: Curse of Darkness a rating of an 8 out of 10.

With nearly every other upcoming action title feeling like a Dynasty Warriors clone, it's nice to see Castlevania remain true to its adventuring roots. Here, a detailed system of monster familiars adds plentiful strategy to both combat and exploration. The visuals could definitley use another coat of gloss, though....