Castlevania: Curse of Darkness

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Konami
  • Release Date: Nov 1, 2005
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 93 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 71 out of 93
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 93
  3. Negative: 8 out of 93
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  1. EmmanuelR.
    Aug 2, 2006
    10
    This game is awesome because to make weapons you need to kill for item so its packed full of action if you dont like then you are not a gamer the story is awesome and the i.d's powers are amazing this game deserves 100 out of 10.
  2. AlexB.
    Dec 8, 2007
    10
    This game was quite enjoyable. I love the new features of devil forging and weapon and armor smithing. I must admit that the bosses were a tad too easy. Other than that, this game was great.
  3. Jan
    Nov 8, 2005
    10
    The game is good and a lot of fun.
  4. TheLady
    Feb 26, 2006
    10
    I am really enjoying this game. I have only played two Castlevanias, SoTN and this one. The others have not appealed to me. If you enjoy RPG style games with sword fighting and now the casting and wizardry, this one is for you.
  5. RaphaelGuri
    Jul 31, 2013
    10
    Incrivel.

    POSITIVOS Otimas opcoes de criacao de armas, armaduras, itens; Sistema de evolucao de 'familiars' bem desenvolvido; Grande variedade de inimigos; Otimas e fluentes animaçoes dos personagens; Grande variedade de combos e estilos de uso de armas diferentes; Chefes desafiadores e bem elaborados; Otimas animacoes em CGI. Trama diferente que sai da mesmices da serie;    Incrivel.

    POSITIVOS
    Otimas opcoes de criacao de armas, armaduras, itens;
    Sistema de evolucao de 'familiars' bem desenvolvido;
    Grande variedade de inimigos;
    Otimas e fluentes animaçoes dos personagens;
    Grande variedade de combos e estilos de uso de armas diferentes;
    Chefes desafiadores e bem elaborados;
    Otimas animacoes em CGI.
    Trama diferente que sai da mesmices da serie;
    Duraçao do jogo no tempo certo.

    NEGATIVOS
    Falta de detalhes no cenario;
    Cenarios podem se tornar repetitivos;

    Jogo sensacional. No final so fica uma pergunta: "Onde esta a versao remake ou hd para PS3 ou XBox360????"    … Expand
  6. pahero
    Sep 29, 2017
    10
    Definitely one of the best games I've played in my life.

    This game has an insane amount of content and mechanics, together with fast paced combat that will keep you addicted for a long time. Craft system, Innocent Devil system, many different combat styles and weapons, some of the most badass monster and boss designs I've ever seen, a lot of replay value, great graphics for the PS2    Definitely one of the best games I've played in my life.

    This game has an insane amount of content and mechanics, together with fast paced combat that will keep you addicted for a long time.

    Craft system, Innocent Devil system, many different combat styles and weapons, some of the most badass monster and boss designs I've ever seen, a lot of replay value, great graphics for the PS2 and catchy music, the difficulty is fine but I would not recommend this game for people who want a really challenging game, since its kind of easy for the most part.

    I seriously hope some developer can make a game with this many things to love about it in the future.    … Expand
  7. Ryuji13
    Jan 8, 2018
    10
    Highly underrated game. Very simple and good when you want to zone out. Good for completionists and fans of action jrpgs. A blend of the classic Metroidvania style and dark souls.
  8. abaduba
    Dec 30, 2018
    10
    This is the best PS2 game, no contest.

    Amazing music, a lot of customization, beautiful graphics, badass boss battles, kickass action and a LOT of loot!

    I think the only thing that I could complain about is that the story and characters are not all that interesting, but this is a minor flaw and definitely not something I put as a priority. This game is an underrated masterpiece.
  9. Shadow_Lord592
    Mar 15, 2019
    10
    An awesome game! Gameplay is excellent, music is on a highest level. Everything about this game makes you spend many hours in it.
  10. DirectSVA
    Feb 18, 2020
    10
    Beautiful atmospheric music in the game! Challenging, interesting and diverse bosses. And pumping your own hand demons is a unique and memorable feature of the game. I played for a long time, but this is one of the few games on Playstation2 that I remember many years later!

    Прекрасная атмосферная музыка в игре! Сложные, интересные и разнообразные боссы. А прокачка собственных ручных    Beautiful atmospheric music in the game! Challenging, interesting and diverse bosses. And pumping your own hand demons is a unique and memorable feature of the game. I played for a long time, but this is one of the few games on Playstation2 that I remember many years later!

    Прекрасная атмосферная музыка в игре! Сложные, интересные и разнообразные боссы. А прокачка собственных ручных демонов, это уникальная и запоминающаяся фишка игры. Играл давно, но это одна из немногих игр на Playstation2, которую я запомнил спустя много лет!    … Expand
  11. Tonydannie
    Nov 29, 2005
    9
    This is a great game. It is Not SOTN. but then again what is?people need to let go of SOTN. It is like asking for another FF7and it is never going to happen people. Give this one a chance.
  12. Youmustdienow
    Jun 14, 2019
    9
    My friend always says they should make a Castlevania like Dark Souls. Turns out, they already did. This game has deep mechanics. Maybe FromSoftware took ideas from this game & never gave it credit. Midway through game bosses become ruthless. Last battles are a complete workout. Got to lock on targets & dodge attacks. Gather drops to forge a vast amount of gear. Level up exp by farmingMy friend always says they should make a Castlevania like Dark Souls. Turns out, they already did. This game has deep mechanics. Maybe FromSoftware took ideas from this game & never gave it credit. Midway through game bosses become ruthless. Last battles are a complete workout. Got to lock on targets & dodge attacks. Gather drops to forge a vast amount of gear. Level up exp by farming powerful enemies. Buy & sell items. Command several Ai partners which you can share abilities with. Once you level them up they mutate into a mega evolution (POKEMON STYLE). This game has it all. You can even unlock a bonus game with a classic Vania character. Theres about 11 bosses & stages. Long game with tons of replay.

    Fav part in Vania is when you walk up a long gothic staircase to Death & Drac. This game is worth it for these moments alone.

    Biggest complaints. Right stick controls are not very smooth. Can’t sprint so backtracking can be a hike, though theres warping rooms for each stage. More powerful weapons hard to land hits because they swing very slowly & leave you vulnerable. Better off using midtier equipment.    … Expand
  13. Matseb2611
    May 19, 2011
    9
    Castlevania: Curse of Darkness is pretty entertaining. It might lack the intense atmosphere and eerie feel some of the previous Castlevanias had, but it's still a fun adventure RPG style game. The events of Curse of Darkness happen 3 years after the events of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. You play as Hector, a devil forgemaster, who can summon various types of familiars to help him inCastlevania: Curse of Darkness is pretty entertaining. It might lack the intense atmosphere and eerie feel some of the previous Castlevanias had, but it's still a fun adventure RPG style game. The events of Curse of Darkness happen 3 years after the events of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. You play as Hector, a devil forgemaster, who can summon various types of familiars to help him in fights, ranging from fairy type that heal you, to battle type that are good damage dealers, etc. Curse of Darkness has some similarities and some very huge differences to Lament of Innocence, the other 3D Castlevania that came out on PS2. For one Curse of Darkness is an RPG-style game, meaning the player gets to gain experience points and level up. Secondly you're not only confined to one weapon, but can use many different types. The fun part is that most times you'll need to craft better weapons from the raw ingredients that you find dropped by monsters. Each weapon type has different fight combos, making the potentially repetitive gameplay somewhat varied. The other fun thing is that depending on what weapon type you use, your familiar follows a different evolution path, which can make you interested to try out other evolutionary paths of the same type of familiar. Curse of Darkness has an incredible soundtrack. In fact in my opinion one of the best in a Castlevania game (and that says a lot, since Castlevania games generally have great music). There are a lot of stages in the game, most going outside of the castle. Some stages are rather fun to explore, such as Cordova Town for example, but some others can be a real pain. The game really does grow on you. When I began the first stage it looked incredibly mediocre, but further into the game you get, the more stuff there is to do and more fun it becomes. The characters are interesting, the cinematic sequences, especially the fights, are great, and there are some extra bits added too, like a secret boss in the temple basement, and also two monster-filled towers. This is a much longer game than Lament of Innocence. Perhaps not for everyone, maybe even not for all Castlevania fans, but anyone who likes adventure RPGs or even JRPGs should give this a try at least.… Expand
  14. EvilForgemaster
    Oct 19, 2013
    9
    I find it a great game,especially considered its 3D(and its obvious that Castlevania always had a problem going on with the 3D).Sometimes the camera might be a bit laggy,and the controls a bit awkward,but in general I find this game a great experience.First of all,the music is top-notch.And what else to expect for a CV game.The story is pretty good as well.But the gameplay is whatI find it a great game,especially considered its 3D(and its obvious that Castlevania always had a problem going on with the 3D).Sometimes the camera might be a bit laggy,and the controls a bit awkward,but in general I find this game a great experience.First of all,the music is top-notch.And what else to expect for a CV game.The story is pretty good as well.But the gameplay is what matters,and I find it damn addictive.Devil forging,item forging,lots of exploration,fluid combat,memorable bosses and environments and some plot twists to keep you thrilled.I dont know why some people bash this game,but I find it great and a must play for any Castlevania fan.… Expand
  15. Leontorres7
    Nov 15, 2018
    9
    This is really a great game, there is so much to love about it, must play for sure!
  16. LDKSSSparda
    May 30, 2019
    9
    Great game. Very fun and interesting. The story is clichê but i like It nonetheless, and the dialogue is pretty good. Awesome gameplay and a gorgeous OST. My favorite Castlevania
  17. nephy
    Apr 24, 2020
    9
    Castlevania:Curse of Darkness is the black-sheep of the Castlevania series, but for all the right reasons. CoD utilizes action mechanics similar to the first Devil May Cry game. I'd even go as far as saying CoD has a bit more depth than the first Devil May Cry game. Similar to an action RPG you're able to loot, and craft new equipment, but what's really unique about this game is itsCastlevania:Curse of Darkness is the black-sheep of the Castlevania series, but for all the right reasons. CoD utilizes action mechanics similar to the first Devil May Cry game. I'd even go as far as saying CoD has a bit more depth than the first Devil May Cry game. Similar to an action RPG you're able to loot, and craft new equipment, but what's really unique about this game is its summoning mechanic. Kinda like the Shin Megami devil summoner series you're given the ability to utilize companions which you can fuse with other "innocent devils". All these mechanics come together wonderfully, and deliver a very promising experience. This is definitely a "gem" in the ps2 library. The only downside of the game is the repetitive environment, and sometimes a lack of detail within the environment itself. ie:You're in the save room;it's beautifully designed, and the room looks GOOD;then you leave the save room, and you enter the hallways corridors, and it's the blandest thing about the game. This game could have easily been a 10/10 masterpiece with the environment of Lament of Innocence, and retaining the combat, and summoning mechanics of CoD. This game is NOT a metroidvania, but a great action rpg with a twist. Definitely play it at least once.… Expand
  18. vitorgaioso
    Sep 12, 2023
    9
    O melhor Castlevania na minha opinião. Sistema de armas, armaduras e 'pets' sensacional.
  19. DavidS.
    Nov 28, 2005
    8
    A good action RPG. I found that once I started playing the game it was pretty addictive. A marked improvement over Lament of Innocence. The devil forging system is a great addition but can be mildly confusing and frustating at times. There should be more insight into techniques to raise the innocent devils so you don't have to experiment blindly. Same goes for weapon creating. I A good action RPG. I found that once I started playing the game it was pretty addictive. A marked improvement over Lament of Innocence. The devil forging system is a great addition but can be mildly confusing and frustating at times. There should be more insight into techniques to raise the innocent devils so you don't have to experiment blindly. Same goes for weapon creating. I found the environments and bosses to be engaging it not a tad easy. Overall, a good game, and with nothing new on the market in terms of action based games it'll have to do until the next Onimusha or Devil May Cry.… Expand
  20. ylnylmn
    Oct 16, 2021
    8
    A game as beautiful and enjoyable as LOI. 100% finished the whole map. The storytelling and characters of the game are good. Music is great. Developing and playing with I.Ds is fun. Bosses are generally easy. Especially Death is very easy, I think it was the easiest Death boss. But I didn't like Nuculais and Dracula's Phase 2 for some reason. Because they take too long, I do less damage.A game as beautiful and enjoyable as LOI. 100% finished the whole map. The storytelling and characters of the game are good. Music is great. Developing and playing with I.Ds is fun. Bosses are generally easy. Especially Death is very easy, I think it was the easiest Death boss. But I didn't like Nuculais and Dracula's Phase 2 for some reason. Because they take too long, I do less damage. Level design is not bad but I wish there were shortcuts. Sometimes it can take a very long time. Dracula's Castle could have been designed better. Overall it was an enjoyable game. I am sure you will have a good time.… Expand
  21. LingX.
    Nov 23, 2005
    7
    a so so.. it feels like an updated version of Lament of Innocence.
  22. LopsterPopster
    Mar 31, 2012
    7
    This was very different than other Castlevania games preceding it. I didn't have a problem not playing as a Belmont, because many of the other games had done that. However, the Devil forging was very unusual. I enjoyed it, but didn't really feel as though this were a Castlevania game. But it was fun to make your own weapons and beat Isaac with a frying pan. This game definitely had itsThis was very different than other Castlevania games preceding it. I didn't have a problem not playing as a Belmont, because many of the other games had done that. However, the Devil forging was very unusual. I enjoyed it, but didn't really feel as though this were a Castlevania game. But it was fun to make your own weapons and beat Isaac with a frying pan. This game definitely had its silly and serious moments, but one of the most frustrating to me was fighting Legion. I thought fighting Legion would be like The Forgotten One in LoI, you choose to fight it and you get a pretty nice payoff for it. But you get nothing when you beat Legion, just a pat on the back and your back on your way. Other than that, the gameplay was very fun, the storyline was interesting, and the fact that you could play as Trevor once you'd beaten the game is what held its replay value for me.… Expand
  23. frederik1478
    Feb 23, 2022
    7
    It's a beautiful game for PS2 and the perfect grinding game if you want to listen to podcast. I really enjoyed the combat and Munster system. It was fun growing them into unique monsters of Destruction . I think the story Works it doesn't it has some few interesting points but I can't really say I'm going to remember it. level design is quite poor it's not awful it's just not good butIt's a beautiful game for PS2 and the perfect grinding game if you want to listen to podcast. I really enjoyed the combat and Munster system. It was fun growing them into unique monsters of Destruction . I think the story Works it doesn't it has some few interesting points but I can't really say I'm going to remember it. level design is quite poor it's not awful it's just not good but listen to podcast and it is enjoyable… Expand
  24. grimreapersims
    Jan 8, 2022
    7
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  25. NeilD.
    Dec 8, 2005
    0
    its mindless hacking and slashing. i want something with a little better of a storyline. i mean come on. even the environments sucked. its like they held your hand through the whole thing. hell i liked the original sidecrollers better than this piece of garbage. but what can i say. everyone has to make a mistake sometime right?
  26. HowToNut
    Sep 12, 2014
    0
    From the first moment I picked the controller, I knew that this game was special. I only was allowed the privilege of playing on "crazy mode", a mode of extreme difficulty. Lets just, it was fun.

Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2005
29
#29 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 30
  3. Negative: 1 out of 30
  1. PSM Magazine
    70
    The bar for this type of game is higher now, and it seems the castlevania series is simply struggling to keep up. [Dec 2005, p.106]
  2. Game Informer
    75
    Castlevania fans will definitely be pleased with the direction this series is going in. It's a shame that it feels so dated. [Nov 2005, p.151]
  3. Play Magazine
    90
    The tools of the demon-hunting trade define Curse. [Nov p.84]
See all critic reviews »