Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2

Last updated
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2
Bloodstained Curse of the Moon 2 cover.jpg
Developer(s) Inti Creates
Publisher(s) Inti Creates
Director(s) Hiroki Miyazawa
Producer(s) Koji Igarashi
Takuya Aizu
Artist(s) Yuta Watanabe
Shin Nakamura
Composer(s) Ippo Yamada
Hiroaki Sano
Takumi Sato
Ryo Yoshinaga
Yusuke Sakai
Hiroyuki Sato
SeriesBloodstained
Platform(s)
ReleaseJuly 10, 2020
Genre(s) Platform
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 is a 2020 platform game developed and published by Inti Creates. It was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One, on July 10, 2020. It is the third game in the Bloodstained series and a direct sequel to Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon , itself a spin-off of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night . The game's graphics and gameplay are done in an 8-bit retro style meant to mimic the early Castlevania games.

Contents

The game received largely positive reviews from critics praising the game's visuals and gameplay.

Plot

Although it shares characters with Ritual of the Night, the game takes place in its own continuity and follows on from the events of Curse of the Moon. [1] Gameplay is organized in several episodes. Zangetsu, a demon slayer from the East is the main character of the game. [2] After the events of Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, Dominique, an exorcist of the church finds out about a mysterious tower that is summoning a demon castle. She sends the demon hunter Zangetsu to stop this invasion. On his way from the tower to the castle, Zangetsu teams up with Dominique, who wields a spear, the rifle-wielding Robert, and Hachi, a corgi piloting a steampunk mech. [3] Zangetsu also obtains a powerful sword called the Soul Eraser. After they defeat Episode 1's final boss, an even more powerful demonic force appears and attempts to consume the entire party, but is stopped by Dominique who becomes possessed while the others escape.

The remaining party members Zangetsu, Robert, and Hachi vow to rescue Dominique, leading to Episode 2. On their way back to the castle, Zangetsu may equip the Zanmatou, a sword that is less powerful than the Soul Eraser, but does not harm righteous beings even if used on them. Near the location of the previous episode's final battle, the party encounters Mephisto, a demon that stores Dominique inside its own body.

If the Zanmatou is equipped, Zangetsu ends the ensuing battle by cleaving Mephisto in half, saving Dominique. The party escapes the castle as it collapses, but as they rest, Dominique realizes the demons are attacking Earth from a base on the Moon. Suddenly, the first game's playable characters Miriam, Alfred and Gebel appear by teleporting to the protagonists' campsite, and join the party in an effort to travel to the Moon and destroy the demon threat for good, thus leading to the Final Episode.

If the Soul Eraser is equipped in the battle against Mephisto at the end of Episode 2, Zangetsu prepares to slay Mephisto, but changes his mind at the last minute to avoid killing Dominique as well. Mephisto survives and unleashes a devastating attack on the party, leaving Robert and Hachi severely wounded. The protagonists manage to escape, and Zangetsu manages to hear the words of Dominique, also still alive, asking him to save her. This leads to the optional Episode EX, where Zangetsu must once again travel to the castle and defeat Mephisto in order to save Dominique, but this time allying with Miriam, Alfred and Gebel. The party manages to slay Mephisto and rescue Dominique, who senses the demonic presence in the Moon. Reunited by the recovered Robert and Hachi, the heroes assess the situation and decide to assault the demons' base, beginning the Final Episode.

In the Final Episode, Zangetsu and his allies must collect materials to build a vessel capable of carrying them to the Moon. Once they find the necessary elements they build the ship and depart for the demons' stronghold. After fighting the demon forces through space in a shoot-'em-up style segment, the vessel crash lands on the lunar surface and the party attacks the palace. They ultimately reach the game's true final boss, Sariel, and defeat it together, banishing the demonic threat forever and freeing Zangetsu from his curse.

If the player ventures through the game in the hardest difficulty and playing with Zangetsu only, the final battle and ending change drastically. Sariel begins out of reach, and Zangetsu must reach its body with the aid of the other six playable characters, who unexpectedly appear to aid him. Once its health is drained Sariel attempts to escape, but Dominique and Hachi help Zangetsu jump high enough to reach it. As his allies attack Sariel all-out, Zangetsu deals the killing blow with a slash so devastating it slices the entire Moon in half. The protagonists' fates are left unknown in this ending.

Gameplay

The player must traverse various levels using Zangetsu, and later, a selection of other characters, each with their own abilities and subweapons. The game consists of multiple chapters, each of which requires the player to replay the stages in different ways. The game has two difficulty levels. In Veteran, players have a limited number of continues if they are defeated, and enemy damage can knock a character back (potentially into more damage, or worse, an instant death pit), similar to classic NES games. In Casual, the player can retry from the last checkpoint endlessly if required, enemies do not knock back the character, and the characters take less damage and have more skill points to use. [3]

Release

The game was given a limited physical release by Limited Run Games in 2021. [4] It was also released as part of the Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon Chronicles collection which contained both the game and its predecessor for Nintendo Switch in Japan in 2023. [5]

Reception

The game received mostly positive reviews of 80/100 on Metacritic for the Windows version, [7] and 82/100 for the Switch version. [6]

Reviewers felt that the game was a proper homage to both Castlevania and retro games. [8] [10] [15] Reviewers also felt the addition of cooperative play was a good addition to the series. [8] [11] [15] Both IGN Italia and IGN Japan praised the game and wide choice of characters. [11] [12] Steve Watts of GameSpot also rated the game 8/10, praising its fusion of "goofy humor" with "macabre imagery", but criticizing how it forces players to replay stages to achieve the true ending. [10] Rob Schubert of Longview Daily News , praised the game, calling it "Nintendo hard" and a game that captures the feel and challenge of retro video games. Adding that the new characters work and improve the game while filling a role without making the game feel crowded. [15]

Four reviewers for Famitsu praised the game as well, praising the pixel art graphics. [8] Thomas Nickel of M! Games also noted the two player and casual modes would assist players who did not have the best reflexes could also enjoy the game. [13]

VentureBeat was positive about the game, but compared the situation with Inti-Creates' own Mega Man 10 in that it is a sequel to a retro themed game. [16]

Related Research Articles

<i>Castlevania</i> Video game series

Castlevania, known in Japan as Akumajō Dracula, is a gothic horror action-adventure video game series and media franchise created by Konami. The series is largely set in the eponymous castle of Count Dracula, the main antagonist of the Belmont clan of vampire hunters.

Alucard (<i>Castlevania</i>) Fictional character in Castlevania video games

Adrian Fahrenheit Țepeș, better known as Alucard, is a character in Konami's Castlevania series of video games. His first appearance in the series was in the 1989 game Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, but he is best known for his role in the critically acclaimed Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, released in 1997. His design in Symphony of the Night was created by Ayami Kojima, marking her first contribution to the Castlevania franchise.

<i>Castlevania: Rondo of Blood</i> 1993 video game

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, originally released in Japan as Akumajō Dracula X: Chi no Rondo, is a 1993 action-platform game developed by Konami for the PC Engine's Super CD-ROM² System directed by Toru Hagihara. Part of the Castlevania series, protagonist Richter Belmont goes to save his lover Annette, who was abducted by Dracula. It was first released exclusively in Japan on October 29, 1993. A direct sequel, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, was released worldwide in 1997.

<i>Castlevania II: Simons Quest</i> 1987 video game

Castlevania II: Simon's Quest is a 1987 action role-playing game developed and published by Konami. It was originally released in Japan in 1987 for the Famicom Disk System, and in North America in 1988 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the second Castlevania game released for the NES, following the original Castlevania (1986). Set seven years after the events of the first installment, the player once again assumes the role of vampire hunter Simon Belmont, who is on a journey to undo a curse placed on him by Dracula at the end of their previous encounter. Dracula's body was split into five parts, which Simon must find and bring to the ruins of Castle Dracula in order to defeat him. The game deviates from the traditional platforming of its predecessor, incorporating role-playing and open world elements.

<i>Castlevania III: Draculas Curse</i> 1989 video game

Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse is a 1989 action-platform game developed and published by Konami for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in Japan in 1989, and in North America in 1990, and in Europe by Palcom in 1992. It was later released on the Virtual Console for the Wii, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U.

<i>Super Castlevania IV</i> 1991 video game

Super Castlevania IV is a 1991 action-platform game developed and published by Konami for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It has been re-released multiple times, including for the Super NES Classic Edition.

<i>Castlevania: Bloodlines</i> 1994 video game

Castlevania: Bloodlines, known in Japan as Vampire Killer and in PAL regions as Castlevania: The New Generation, is a 1994 action-platform game developed and published by Konami for the Sega Genesis as part of the Castlevania series. A vampire named Elizabeth Bartley is orchestrating the beginning of World War I as a sacrificial war to bring her uncle, Dracula, back to life. Players take on the role of Quincey Morris' son, John, and his friend Eric Lecarde to take up the fight against evil.

<i>Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin</i> 2006 video game

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin is a 2006 action role-playing game developed and published by Konami. The game was released on November 16, 2006 in Japan, and in North America on December 5, 2006 for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. Portrait of Ruin is the first Castlevania to feature a cooperative multiplayer gameplay mode and the first handheld Castlevania to have English voice-overs, outside of its original Japanese release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koji Igarashi</span> Japanese video game designer

Koji Igarashi is a Japanese video game producer, programmer, writer, and creative director. In 2009, he was chosen by IGN as one of the top 100 game creators of all time.

<i>Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia</i> 2008 video game

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia is a 2008 action role-playing game and the third Nintendo DS installment of the Castlevania franchise. It was directed by Akihiro Minakata, with producer Koji Igarashi returning. The plot involves Shanoa, who is part of an organization set to defeat Dracula after the Belmont clan has vanished.

<i>Castlevania Judgment</i> 2008 video game

Castlevania Judgment is a 2008 fighting game developed by Eighting and published by Konami for the Wii. The game is based on the Castlevania series of games, and is the series' first fighting game.

<i>Castlevania</i> (1986 video game) 1986 video game

Castlevania, known in Japan as Akumajō Dracula, is a 1986 action-platform game developed and published by Konami for the Family Computer Disk System. It was originally released in Japan in September 1986, before being ported to cartridge format and released in North America for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in March 1987 and in Europe in 1988. It was also re-issued for the Family Computer in cartridge format in 1993. It is the first game in Konami's Castlevania video game series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metroidvania</span> Video game genre

Metroidvania is a sub-genre of action-adventure games and/or platformers focused on guided non-linearity and utility-gated exploration and progression. The term is a portmanteau of the names of the video game series Metroid and Castlevania, based on the template from Metroid (1986), Castlevania II (1987), Super Metroid (1994), and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997).

<i>Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night</i> 2019 video game

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a 2019 action role-playing game developed by Japanese indie studio ArtPlay and published by 505 Games. The game's development was led by former Castlevania series producer Koji Igarashi and is considered a spiritual successor to the series. The game was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, in June 2019, for Amazon Luna in October 2020, for Android and iOS in December 2020, and for Stadia in July 2021.

<i>Shantae</i> Video game series

Shantae is a series of platform video games developed by WayForward. The eponymous heroine of the series, a half-genie, was created by Erin Bozon, while the games for this character were created by her husband Matt Bozon. The series consists of five games: Shantae (2002), Shantae: Risky's Revenge (2010), Shantae and the Pirate's Curse (2014), Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (2016) and Shantae and the Seven Sirens (2019). A sixth title, Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, is in development and scheduled for release in 2025.

<i>Castlevania</i> (TV series) American adult animated series

Castlevania is an American adult animated dark fantasy action television series created and written by Warren Ellis for Netflix. Based on the video game series of the same name published by Konami, the first two seasons adapt the 1989 video game Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse and follow Trevor Belmont, Alucard and Sypha Belnades as they defend the nation of Wallachia from Dracula and his minions. Additionally, characters and elements from the 2005 video game Castlevania: Curse of Darkness are featured beginning in the second season, and Alucard's backstory is drawn from the 1997 video game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The art style is heavily influenced by Japanese animation and Ayami Kojima's artwork.

<i>The Messenger</i> (2018 video game) Action-platform game

The Messenger is a 2018 action-platform game created by indie developer Sabotage Studio and published by Devolver Digital. The player controls the eponymous ninja, who is appointed by a great hero to deliver a scroll. As the Messenger explores levels and defeats enemies, he gains a currency called Time Shards used to purchase useful upgrades and abilities. The game begins as a linear adventure featuring elements of time travel, with the audio and visuals changing from an 8-bit style to 16-bit to represent the ninja's journey from the past to the future. In the second half, The Messenger becomes a Metroidvania-style game where the player revisits previous levels to find key items.

<i>Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon</i> 2018 platform game

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is a 2018 platform game developed and published by Inti Creates. It is a companion title to developer ArtPlay's 2019 game Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and was conceived to fulfill the promise for a retro-style accompaniment to Ritual of the Night after its Kickstarter campaign exceeded crowdfunding goals. Curse of the Moon follows Zangetsu, a cursed swordsman hunting down demons for revenge, as well as three other playable characters named Miriam, Alfred and Gebel. It features an 8-bit aesthetic and gameplay style similar to Castlevania games on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), particularly Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (1989).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Belmont</span> Castlevania series character

Simon Belmont is a fictional character who serves as the first protagonist to appear in the Castlevania series. He appears in Castlevania, Vampire Killer, Haunted Castle, Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, Super Castlevania IV, and Castlevania Chronicles, and acts as a supporting character in Castlevania Judgment and Castlevania: Harmony of Despair. He also appeared as a playable character in DreamMix TV World Fighters and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Simon has received positive reviews from critics.

<i>Gal Guardians: Demon Purge</i> 2023 video game

Gal Guardians: Demon Purge is a 2023 platform video game developed and published by Inti Creates. It is a spinoff of Gal Gun.

References

  1. 稲元, 徹也 (June 27, 2020). "インタビュー 五十嵐孝司氏が手掛ける8ビットスタイルアクション「Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2」開発者インタビュー". GAME Watch. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  2. "8bit風グラフィックの2Dアクション『Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2』が7月10日に発売決定!". Yahoo News . June 29, 2020. Archived from the original on July 11, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Zachary Miller (2020-07-10). "Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 Review - Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 2020-07-28. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  4. "Bloodstained: Curse Of The Moon 2 Is Getting A Limited Run Physical Release". Nintendo Life. 2021-02-16. Archived from the original on 2021-02-16. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  5. https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2023/03/bloodstained-curse-of-the-moon-double-pack-physical-switch-release-announced [ bare URL ]
  6. 1 2 "Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2020-10-05. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  7. 1 2 "Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 for PC Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2020-08-09. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon2". Famitsu (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2021-02-21. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  9. Reeves, Ben. "Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 Review – Second Curse, Same As The First". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  10. 1 2 3 Watts, Steve (2020-07-27). "Bloodstained: Curse Of The Moon 2 Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2020-07-28. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  11. 1 2 3 ハタフミノブ (July 14, 2020). "Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 - レビュー". IGN Japan . Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  12. 1 2 Etna, Biagio "Shinx" (July 24, 2020). "Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 - Recensione". IGN Italia . Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  13. 1 2 Nickel, Thomas (2020-08-25). "Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 - im Test (Switch)". MANIAC.de (in German). Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  14. "Review: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 - Another Faithful Tribute To The Classic 2D Castlevanias". Nintendo Life. 2020-07-10. Archived from the original on 2020-11-27. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  15. 1 2 3 Schubert, Rob (July 23, 2020). "Bloodstained 2 is more retro fun". Longview Daily News . Longview, Washington. p. B6. Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  16. "Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 review — The Mega Man 10 of Castlevania games". VentureBeat. 2020-07-10. Archived from the original on 2021-02-03. Retrieved 2021-02-21.