Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 94 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 79 out of 94
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 94
  3. Negative: 10 out of 94
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  1. GamergodsFail
    May 24, 2018
    8
    Curse of the Moon isn't exactly the pinnacle of 2D platforming by any stretch of what we've already seen or played. But it sure is a great 2-3 hour nostalgic fix for longtime Castlevania fans, while also being accessable enough to make newcomers interested in what made that franchise so legendary in the first place. Sounds like a fair $10 deal to me, and a good way to pass an afternoon. ICurse of the Moon isn't exactly the pinnacle of 2D platforming by any stretch of what we've already seen or played. But it sure is a great 2-3 hour nostalgic fix for longtime Castlevania fans, while also being accessable enough to make newcomers interested in what made that franchise so legendary in the first place. Sounds like a fair $10 deal to me, and a good way to pass an afternoon. I recommend it to all platforming or retro game fans!… Expand
  2. imfiru
    May 25, 2018
    10
    The absolute tribute to Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse.
    Awesome gameplay and a great introduction to Bloodstained.
  3. JamesFluzao
    Jun 20, 2018
    9
    This game is very good. IGN made a review. Why metacritic did not include it here to give a metascore to this game yet is troublesome.
  4. SliceNDiceXD
    May 26, 2018
    10
    This is an almost perfect product. If you like classic Castlevania games then you are in for a treat. The first playthrough is super easy, but there are specific routes you can take that make it a significantly more challenging game (sacrificing your companions instead of rescuing them). Absolutely worth the money. It has a ton of replayability. It is just an excellent game.
  5. Shavenwookiee
    Jul 4, 2018
    7
    Well made nostalgic platformer, with great pixel art and soundtrack. Curse of the Moon draws heavily from the Nintendo classic Castlevania III with out the high difficulty of that game. Curse of the Moon remains fun for the few hours the game lasts but the short length of the game might be a detraction for some gamers. I enjoyed the game but also found it way too easy being able to beatWell made nostalgic platformer, with great pixel art and soundtrack. Curse of the Moon draws heavily from the Nintendo classic Castlevania III with out the high difficulty of that game. Curse of the Moon remains fun for the few hours the game lasts but the short length of the game might be a detraction for some gamers. I enjoyed the game but also found it way too easy being able to beat the game on my first playthrough on veteran, the game does get more difficult on subsequent play throughs. The length was also a big detractor for me being able to go through the game in about an hour plus was a little on the short side. The game feels like it was a little rushed to the market and with a few more stages and difficulty tweaks it could really of been a retro gaming classic hopefully a sequel is in development and it fixes some of the issues it has.… Expand
  6. Revolsin
    May 24, 2018
    10
    Absolutely incredible, and signals the true return of Classicvania fans have been waiting for for decades now.

    The difficulty is perfect, allowing anyone to either play casually or play completely hardcore with a Solo Run specifically dedicated to big Castlevania fans who wants to see that brutal difficulty once again. Extremely highly recommended, and considering with replay value    Absolutely incredible, and signals the true return of Classicvania fans have been waiting for for decades now.

    The difficulty is perfect, allowing anyone to either play casually or play completely hardcore with a Solo Run specifically dedicated to big Castlevania fans who wants to see that brutal difficulty once again.

    Extremely highly recommended, and considering with replay value it's easily worth over 10 hours of pure Castlevania goodness, so the $10 pricetag is a steal!    … Expand
  7. RidleayRomero
    May 25, 2018
    10
    This is just like playing Castlevania 3! Platforming action, multiple character routes, big bosses! IntiCreates and IGA have made such an incredible tribute to the older Castlevania games; just proving how amazing Ritual of the Night will be. I had so much fun playing this, I'm going to play it again!
  8. ZachyMalicious
    May 25, 2018
    10
    This game is a seriously good time. Easy to handle throwback to classic Castlevania with a surprising amount of replayability. I understand why others may not give it a 10, but for the $10 price tag and amount of fun I'm having it deserves the score.
  9. xiaolinstyle
    May 25, 2018
    10
    If you have ever enjoyed any of the original Castlevanias or wondered why they are so highly lauded then look no further. Curse of the Moon is brilliant, accessible, fun, and all the best parts of nostalgia. For $10 you can't find a better deal.
  10. Twosmart4tv
    May 24, 2018
    9
    A great throw back to the older Castlevania games. I am really enjoying this game so far. Multiple difficulty levels and replayability due to opening up new characters and accessing new areas. I can't wait for Ritual of the Night later this year. Definitely worth my 10 bucks.
  11. Scissorman11785
    May 25, 2018
    9
    It may not be Castlevania in title, but it's still more of a Castlevania game than anything that's come out in a long time. The 8-bit graphics are superbly drawn and atmospheric, the tunes are catchy, and the gameplay is tough but fun and never frustrating. The game's length may be pretty short, but that doesn't matter when it keeps you playing again and again like the classics it drawsIt may not be Castlevania in title, but it's still more of a Castlevania game than anything that's come out in a long time. The 8-bit graphics are superbly drawn and atmospheric, the tunes are catchy, and the gameplay is tough but fun and never frustrating. The game's length may be pretty short, but that doesn't matter when it keeps you playing again and again like the classics it draws inspiration from.… Expand
  12. Beezerchuck
    May 26, 2018
    9
    This is the Castlevania game fans of the series have been waiting for. The graphics, controls, sound and music will take you back the NES days. The boss battles are fun, unique and challenging. Having the ability to change characters is a really cool feature and that alone provides high replay value on earlier stages. I would recommend this game to anyone who loves retro gaming andThis is the Castlevania game fans of the series have been waiting for. The graphics, controls, sound and music will take you back the NES days. The boss battles are fun, unique and challenging. Having the ability to change characters is a really cool feature and that alone provides high replay value on earlier stages. I would recommend this game to anyone who loves retro gaming and especially anyone who loves the glory days of Castlevania. The price is such a great deal too.… Expand
  13. nanakobagu53
    Sep 20, 2021
    10
    Really really really good game, everything is unique and well-designed. The gothic horror atmosphere, soundtracks and the bosses… all great definitely a masterpiece.
  14. Kurty
    Jun 11, 2018
    8
    Bloodstained : Curse of the Moon is heavily "inspired" by the old 8-bit Castlevania games for the NES : it's some kind of "revival", many years after the end of that era. And it's pretty well done. The game is fairly short but very fun to play. The gameplay is really similar to the original games, but there's also a "casual" difficulty level to make things easier (with unlimited lives andBloodstained : Curse of the Moon is heavily "inspired" by the old 8-bit Castlevania games for the NES : it's some kind of "revival", many years after the end of that era. And it's pretty well done. The game is fairly short but very fun to play. The gameplay is really similar to the original games, but there's also a "casual" difficulty level to make things easier (with unlimited lives and above all, no knockback when you get hit).

    The game includes multiple characters, with special abilities (one of them jumps higher and can slide, another can transform into a bat and fly, etc), and each level includes several different routes to reach the boss, some routes being available only while controlling certain characters.

    The graphics are similar to what you could find on the NES at the time (with "huge pixels") but they look decent, except for the bosses (most of which are ugly - although the lady with the umbrellas looks pretty cool). Also, the main character's sprite looks like it's been ripped straight from the NES Ninja Gaiden game.

    All in all, Curse of the Moon is a good little game, which should make old-school Castlevania fans happy.    … Expand
  15. Stars_Cream
    Jun 19, 2019
    10
    Best old school Castlevania game I've ever played. Way better than most 8-bit indie efforts.
  16. CiphirSol
    May 26, 2018
    10
    Pretty awesome that something like this even exists. It bodes well for the finished product and maybe will restore a little faith in the kick-starting model of business for video games specifically.
  17. T-Razor
    May 30, 2018
    8
    A really great tribute to 8-bit Castlevania and a nice little appetizer before Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night comes out!
  18. whynogoodgames
    Jul 6, 2018
    9
    Great game and it’s only $10 these types of games are super rare nowadays. I just hope the main game can live up to the standard this game has set.
  19. BlueFalcon90
    Dec 1, 2018
    9
    A castlevania inspired game what more can you ask for. It has that classic N.E.S. look in the graphic department and plays just like one. It gives the option to play as a casual or veteran depending on your choice. Controls are on point and any mistakes are defiantly on the player. Music is par nothing to great. Gameplay offers a variety of options depending on the character you play as.A castlevania inspired game what more can you ask for. It has that classic N.E.S. look in the graphic department and plays just like one. It gives the option to play as a casual or veteran depending on your choice. Controls are on point and any mistakes are defiantly on the player. Music is par nothing to great. Gameplay offers a variety of options depending on the character you play as. It will take about 3-5 hours to beat it in one go depending on the level you chose. That's not a bad thing as there are branching paths and a variety of endings depending on if you kill, pass, or join the characters you cross paths with. All in All I recommend this game to veterans of Castlevania 1-3 and newcomers who are looking into action side scrolling games.… Expand
  20. MammaSwine
    May 27, 2018
    9
    Classic Arcade Castlevania gameplay with some new twists, perfect difficulty, classic Michiru Yamane soundtrack and enjoyable 8-bit graphic and feeling make Curse of the Moon a must have for enthusiasts of the genre. For the €10 tag price, it’s really really good.
  21. Theangrypasta
    Jun 25, 2019
    10
    Super fun and engaging. A great Castlevania-like that will scratch that itch, since Konami won't make any more Castlevanias, because Konami is Konami and Konami is the worst.
  22. Crysouls
    Jun 30, 2020
    8
    Traz uma sensação de antigo e novo ao mesmo tempo e acho que essa era a sensação que o Koji Igarashi queria trazer a Bloodstained.
    Trazendo a jogabilidade clássica dos castles porém com novidades como podendo controlar 4 personagens ao longo da campanha além de 6 finais com algumas mudanças.
    Esse jogo irá agradar quem busca relembrar da época dos 8 bits e para amantes do castle clássico.    Traz uma sensação de antigo e novo ao mesmo tempo e acho que essa era a sensação que o Koji Igarashi queria trazer a Bloodstained.
    Trazendo a jogabilidade clássica dos castles porém com novidades como podendo controlar 4 personagens ao longo da campanha além de 6 finais com algumas mudanças.
    Esse jogo irá agradar quem busca relembrar da época dos 8 bits e para amantes do castle clássico.
    A dificuldade está bem balanceada e você só perde todas suas vidas ao perder todos seus personagens.
    O jogo é curto na medida certa da pra ''matar'' em um dia mas para aqueles que buscam todos os finais terão uma longa jornada pela frente.
    Ps: preste atenção da trilha sonora    … Expand
  23. DevilSurvivor
    Mar 23, 2022
    8
    Albeit not a classic Castlevania (it does not play nor look like the old retro ones, it's more akin to Symphony of the Night), it is extremely good on its own merit. A lot of builds to play around with, farming is fun, exploration could be better (as is the case with these games), some good end-game with extra bosses and the archive to complete.

    Very worth the price, some frame drops on    Albeit not a classic Castlevania (it does not play nor look like the old retro ones, it's more akin to Symphony of the Night), it is extremely good on its own merit. A lot of builds to play around with, farming is fun, exploration could be better (as is the case with these games), some good end-game with extra bosses and the archive to complete.

    Very worth the price, some frame drops on the biggers "cinematic" maps, but all in all, a very worthwhile experience. A lot of love can be seen for the supporters, and the developers clearly had fun making this game and they put a lot of care.    … Expand
  24. Awanka
    Nov 12, 2020
    8
    Very good metroidvania game and the true successor to SOTN. This is a polished and well-made game with no real technical flaws to speak of other than the all-too-common one of becoming too easy as the game progresses. It stays true to the themes of Castlevania:SOTN more than any other game I've played, and yet I can't give it the highest score, because although it has flashes ofVery good metroidvania game and the true successor to SOTN. This is a polished and well-made game with no real technical flaws to speak of other than the all-too-common one of becoming too easy as the game progresses. It stays true to the themes of Castlevania:SOTN more than any other game I've played, and yet I can't give it the highest score, because although it has flashes of brilliance, it doesn't reach the consistently excellent quality of the very best games. If Hollow Knight is a perfect 10/10 game; a joy of tense combat and delightful exploration, Bloodstained would have to fairly be an 8/10. The combat doesn't feel nearly as responsive or polished as Hollow Knight. The story for Bloodstained is also a bit a trite. Bloodstained does has a deep crafting system that involves farming demons for shards and materials. It's about a 30-40 hour game, so it's not too short either.… Expand
  25. djdizzy
    Nov 22, 2020
    9
    If you’re a fan of Castlevania 3 for NES then you’ll love this. It takes everything great about it and improves upon it (b/c of the better hardware). By that I mean, fast character switching, some very large boss sprites and of course everything runs perfectly bc of the vastly superior hardware (no NES problems like sprite flicker or slowdown).
  26. VanCan72
    Apr 4, 2021
    10
    This game is so satisfying to play especially as a fan of classic Castlevania games. There are more mechanics to play with, 4 separate characters provide 4 ways to play the game especially since you can switch them on the fly. Music sounds great in its 8 bit glory and for an 8 bit game, the pixel art is on point and looks great. Even the bosses look magnificent with their larger sprites.This game is so satisfying to play especially as a fan of classic Castlevania games. There are more mechanics to play with, 4 separate characters provide 4 ways to play the game especially since you can switch them on the fly. Music sounds great in its 8 bit glory and for an 8 bit game, the pixel art is on point and looks great. Even the bosses look magnificent with their larger sprites. Definitely worth a look and completing 100%… Expand
  27. Ginger_Avenger
    Nov 16, 2022
    8
    I like Castlevania. So, this game suited my tastes well. It's the same old song we love to sing, but there were some touches here and there that made things fresh enough. Decent challenge and a good range of load out options.
  28. LukeDias42
    Jun 21, 2022
    8
    I am a fan of the Metroidvania genre, I was very excited about this game, however, for some reason, it took me a long time to play it, which is unfortunate because this is a marvellous game.
    The graphics are unique, they consist of amazing 3D levels and landscapes, with great 3D enemies and platforms. Koji Igarashi takes a lot of inspiration from his other works, but they have a very    I am a fan of the Metroidvania genre, I was very excited about this game, however, for some reason, it took me a long time to play it, which is unfortunate because this is a marvellous game.
    The graphics are unique, they consist of amazing 3D levels and landscapes, with great 3D enemies and platforms. Koji Igarashi takes a lot of inspiration from his other works, but they have a very different look and feel. The animations can feel a little stiff sometimes though, I can understand the reason since good 3D animations can be quite difficult to make very fluid, but they are still great and very functional, therefore it's easier to predict and avoid enemies, which is essential for action games. The visual effects are great, every time you get a new spell or ability you get curious about what it does and looks like, and that gets you happy about finding new enemies and areas to explore.
    The music can be a little repetitive after playing for a while (around the post-end game), however, it is pretty good for most of the game, and the best moments are drastically better when new music starts.
    Now, the gameplay... It is a little complex, different weapons can have a completely different look & feel, timing, reach, damage and defence (also ways to defend). You need to craft these items, but if you are not interested in 100% of the game, it is not very grindy at all, you can make do just by defeating the enemies you encounter while exploring the game. There are some side quests, but they are very limited, cooking quests, getting an item quest and defeating x amount of enemies quest, and that's it. It doesn't get very boring, because you can do them by, again, exploring, which is all the game is about, exploration! Discovering new places in the castle, hidden chambers, and new ways to move around, that's what will keep you playing the game!
    The story is okay, it's not the most complex, or the most intricate, it's very simple and without many great characters, which unfortunately can make the game very forgettable, since there is no one with strong characters to make you remember the game. But, although the story is not the best, it is still good, but it is not what will get you through the game.
    I believe you should try it, maybe it is for you, maybe it isn't, but if you like SotN, then you must play it since it is an upgrade of that game.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. IGN Japan
    Aug 1, 2019
    87
    From stage design to game systems, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a dream package for Castlevania fans, yet at the same time manages to be interesting for newcomers as well. While story-wise things can sometimes get a little bit too familiar, the new protagonist does add a fresh touch to the formula.
    Read full review
  2. CGMagazine
    Jun 20, 2018
    75
    Curse of the Moon is a nostalgic trip back to the era of classic Castlevania games, warts and all.
    Read full review
  3. 3DJuegos
    Jun 4, 2018
    85
    It's not easy to build a great game based on a legend of this category, but Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon it's a true homage to the 8-bits Castlevania legacy. Great retro playability with some rescued points of the next game of Koji Igarashi, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Blood. A sort of bastard son between Rondo of Blood, Dracula's Curse and the Julius Mode from Dawn of Sorrow.
    Read full review
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