Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is a throwback action platformer that puts you in the shoes of an expert swordsman who slays every demon he can. Presented in a retro pixel art style, the game tasks you with venturing through a dangerous world full of demonic enemies, with only your sword and luck to depend on. Playing as the warrior Zangetsu, you must destroy every demon possible while you trek across stages full of traps and pitfalls. Along the way, you'll recruit new allies, opening extra paths to victory. Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is an awesome indie title that old-school gamers will fall in love with, as long as they can stand the challenge.

Main Game Features

• Retro sidescrolling action
• Four playable characters
• Multiple difficulty options and extra modes

Story

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon tells the story of Zangetsu, a demon-hating warrior who devotes his life to killing evil entities. At the start of the game, Zangetsu feels the presence of a powerful demon nearby and sets out to find and kill it. During his travels, the swordsman might choose to befriend three other characters, Miriam, Alfred, and Gebel. Together, or on his lonesome, the Archdemon's castle beckons in the distance and must be destroyed.

There are six different endings to the story, all dependent on how you interact with the three other travelers you meet. As the player, you are free to recruit, kill, or ignore them, but these choices have consequences. Some endings result in despair while others provide victory for Zangetsu, so you'll want to choose wisely.

Gameplay

Right from the start of the game, it's very obvious that Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is a tribute to the classic Nintendo game, Castlevania. More specifically, it plays much like Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, with fast combat and multiple level paths. Your main character is Zangetsu, who possesses great skill with his sword and can jump and sprint with speed. There are nine stages to complete, and in the early levels, you'll encounter different characters. If you choose to recruit these characters, you can switch to them at any time during the game, each with a unique power and fighting style. For example, an ally named Gebel can transform into a bat, offering access to areas you couldn't reach otherwise.

However, if you choose to fight and slay the characters, Zangetsu will become stronger, unlocking new abilities with each kill. Even with all that power, you still might struggle, because Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is a very tough game. Luckily, there are two difficulty options, one designed for veterans and the other for casual players. Once you've finished your first playthrough and unlocked your initial ending, new modes open up, offering even more content.

Conclusion

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is a passionate indie project that's full of appealing graphics, chaotic combat, and a cool retro vibe.

Pros

• A nice recreation of classic NES gameplay
• Creative bosses
• Levels have extra paths to take

Cons

• The game is very short
• Some frustrating stages