Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 (6 hours, Steam)

Purchase here.

Remember in my Castlevania III review when I said, “I only wish there were more NES-style Castlevania games”? Well, this is about as close as we’re going to get in the modern era.

The Good

This is very much an NES-style Castlevania-esque game, but with modern conveniences like frequent checkpoints and upgradable power-ups. However, it’s far from a Metroidvania. The first four or five levels are the best, closely resembling classic Castlevania in both difficulty and design. The pixel art is outstanding, going for a widescreen NES look while taking advantage of modern hardware—more sprites on screen, extra sound channels, and a level of polish the NES simply couldn’t handle. The music sets the retro mood, though I wouldn’t exactly rock out to it on the treadmill.

Something I really want to praise is the game’s input latency—or lack thereof. If you’re using a wired Xinput controller, button presses register almost instantly, making the gameplay feel tight and responsive. Whether this was an intentional design choice or not, my compliments to the development team.

The Bad

Unfortunately, as the game progresses, the difficulty ramps up in a way that feels less like a challenge and more like an endurance test. Some later bosses are frustratingly difficult, and rather than relying on skill, the best strategy often involves brute-forcing your way through with the right power-ups. One level in particular, where you’re constantly chased by an enemy swarm (bats, maybe?), felt more tedious than fun.

The game also allows you to “cheese” your way through some sections. The most effective strategy is often switching to the character with the most health, activating an invincibility power-up, and sprinting to the next checkpoint. While this works, it diminishes the sense of accomplishment.

Final Thoughts

Despite its flaws, the game is finishable—and even surprises you by turning into a shmup as you head to the moon, which was a neat touch. However, by the latter half, it feels like you’re just brute-forcing your way forward rather than mastering the mechanics.

Still, Curse of the Moon 2 is a tremendous achievement in pixel art. How many games are released each year that truly capture the look and feel of an NES title? If you’re a Castlevania fan (which I am), this is absolutely worth playing. But if your entire gaming experience revolves around Roblox, Fall Guys, or Fortnite, this might not be for you.

4/5