Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 514 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 421 out of 514
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 514
  3. Negative: 50 out of 514
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  1. kaioser
    Jun 19, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Great game, if you like Castlevania and SoTN in particular, you will love Blood Stained Ritual.
    Great music, familiar moves controls from SoTN, great atmosphere. 10/10 it on Stean PS4 and Switch Xbox, grab a copy best 35$ I spent on steam. They are still making dlc for this game in 2023… this game is key to the continuation of 2d side scrollers on handheld and future generations.    … Expand
  2. BULETAURA
    Dec 21, 2022
    10
    It's an amazing game. Of course it remembers Castlevania SOFTN but this game follows your own story, with maestry. I don't have doubt that this game is a great option to spend the time, playing the better metroidvania style. Great job from Koji Igarashi and his team!!!
  3. Crysouls
    Nov 30, 2022
    8
    Prós:
    - Jogabilidade
    - Direção de arte
    - Fator Replay
    - Level design
    - Trilha sonora

    Conclusão: o game é fantástico, se você procura um metroidvania apenas jogue, não vai se arrepender, me diverti muito com esse game, só não platinei pois demandaria muito tempo mas o jogo tem varios extras e compensou muito o tempo investido.
  4. frederik1478
    Sep 26, 2022
    9
    For me, this is the second best metroidvania game I have played and I enjoyed it way too much even so much I got a platinum trophy. I was surprised by how good this game Look it satley it not pixel art but I really enjoyed it. it was awesome trying all the different weapons and finding the difference techniques to the weapon.
    I got a platinum on this game. It was not fun. It was a tedious    For me, this is the second best metroidvania game I have played and I enjoyed it way too much even so much I got a platinum trophy. I was surprised by how good this game Look it satley it not pixel art but I really enjoyed it. it was awesome trying all the different weapons and finding the difference techniques to the weapon.
    I got a platinum on this game. It was not fun. It was a tedious grind so I will not recommend it, but I got a trophy and I enjoy the game so hey maybe it is worth to you if you are really is platinum hungry like me    … Expand
  5. Jattaman
    Sep 1, 2022
    8
    Bellissimo titolo, seguito spirituale di Castlevania.
    Trama piacevole, protagonisti abbastanza carismatici.
    Mappa da esplorare vasta, interessante e piena zeppa di enigmi, nemici sempre vari e segreti.
    Bella resa grafica 2d e buon comparto sonoro.
    Ottima varietà di oggetti, armi e incantesimi, che valorizza un sistema di combattimento semplice e preciso.
    Assolutamente meritevole.
  6. The_Follower
    Aug 20, 2022
    10
    One of the most fun games I've played in the last couple years. Extremely satisfying crafting/upgrading systems alongside interesting maps made this game a gem. The combat was one of the weakest portions of the game, being fairly repetitive, but given how short the game is it didn't feel overly repetitive for me. I will say the flying sword and its upgrade were utterly broken, makingOne of the most fun games I've played in the last couple years. Extremely satisfying crafting/upgrading systems alongside interesting maps made this game a gem. The combat was one of the weakest portions of the game, being fairly repetitive, but given how short the game is it didn't feel overly repetitive for me. I will say the flying sword and its upgrade were utterly broken, making combat far easier than it should've been due to their range and flight path. This was a great thing for grinding areas for shard ranks but that it did trivialize most maps.… Expand
  7. Tomplexthis
    Jul 8, 2022
    9
    I paid 100 Dollars to put my name in the credits. And yet, this good game still feels ugly.
    Like it wants to be symphony of the night, but it just looks awkward to stare at.
    Great to play, but still looks and feels iffy. It had a massive game breaking glitch on launch, that stopped progression But even then, the game deservers a run, Iga consistently added more content Even though    I paid 100 Dollars to put my name in the credits. And yet, this good game still feels ugly.
    Like it wants to be symphony of the night, but it just looks awkward to stare at.
    Great to play, but still looks and feels iffy.
    It had a massive game breaking glitch on launch, that stopped progression
    But even then, the game deservers a run, Iga consistently added more content
    Even though they nerfed tons of the base game stuff i used
    It reminded me of the dead castlevania franchise.    … Expand
  8. Bartson
    Oct 26, 2021
    10
    Nahe an der Perfektion. Das beste Spiel das ich seit langem durchgezockt habe.
  9. Steyraus
    Feb 3, 2021
    10
    What a treat for Castlemaine and Metroid fans. This game is gorgeous, massive, fun as heck and true to form. There is so many weapons, spells familiars , that this game will entertain for ages. Since releae this game has got a bunch of free content including an amazing classic mode, which could have sold as a stand alone game its so good. Classic mode is the 2D Castlevania game I haveWhat a treat for Castlemaine and Metroid fans. This game is gorgeous, massive, fun as heck and true to form. There is so many weapons, spells familiars , that this game will entertain for ages. Since releae this game has got a bunch of free content including an amazing classic mode, which could have sold as a stand alone game its so good. Classic mode is the 2D Castlevania game I have dreamed about for decades. It gorgeous and smitth , full 3D and feels like the best of the 2D games, most of all the main weopen is the legendary wip.… Expand
  10. morjito
    Aug 5, 2021
    9
    Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a "masterpiece" that is a worthy tribute to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The game is fluid, immersive, offers plenty variety of skills, items and equipment to suit every player. Was skeptical at first, knowing this was a kick-starter, but later, glad to pickup the game and immerse in it. Grinding is required to get the total experience thatBloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a "masterpiece" that is a worthy tribute to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The game is fluid, immersive, offers plenty variety of skills, items and equipment to suit every player. Was skeptical at first, knowing this was a kick-starter, but later, glad to pickup the game and immerse in it. Grinding is required to get the total experience that the game has to offer, and is finely tuned that its not boring or a chore, thanks to the fluid loading of areas and well-placed monsters. The story is good enough to build the characters and basic plot, while the variety of traps, monsters and bosses are also enough to challenge and engage the player. The game is quite immersive that getting the platinum trophy is just part of the experience.… Expand
  11. streetkrc
    Aug 4, 2021
    9
    A very good game. A well-designed world, an excellent combat system, a variety of locations and bosses, and great music. The story is easy, well received and not overwhelmed.
    Of the cons, this is a large amount of equipment, most of which are useless and, accordingly, you will not use it. It is also a little difficult to find all the keys and secret rooms.
  12. BelcrowHD
    Jul 13, 2021
    10
    Increíble juego, sin duda es lo mejor y supero a Casttlevania SOTN… me duele admitirlo
  13. SethGrey
    Apr 20, 2021
    8
    Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

    Graphics & Presentation: 10 Graphics, art style and presentation is excellent for what it is. The 2.5D style really works for the game. Sound Effects, Voice Acting & Music: 8 Soundtrack works for the game. Sound Effects and voice acting are both competent. Gameplay: 10 Combat and gameplay loop is very engaging and has a lot of variety through shards    Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

    Graphics & Presentation: 10

    Graphics, art style and presentation is excellent for what it is. The 2.5D style really works for the game.

    Sound Effects, Voice Acting & Music: 8

    Soundtrack works for the game. Sound Effects and voice acting are both competent. Gameplay: 10

    Combat and gameplay loop is very engaging and has a lot of variety through shards and weapons. There are plenty of secrets to keep you engaged as well. Story: 4

    Serviceable but nothing to write home about.

    Performance: 10

    I noticed no noticeable frame rate drops and didn't have any crashes. Overall: 8.4    … Expand
  14. VanCan72
    Apr 4, 2021
    10
    This was an absolute delight to play from start to finish. A MetroidVania that looks great top to bottom. There are some areas in the castle that are absolutely gorgeous and really shined bright. Story is a little cut and dry, but there's enough added in that it stays fresh and interesting throughout, which extends a little bit to the characters. They're all distinct and varied but IThis was an absolute delight to play from start to finish. A MetroidVania that looks great top to bottom. There are some areas in the castle that are absolutely gorgeous and really shined bright. Story is a little cut and dry, but there's enough added in that it stays fresh and interesting throughout, which extends a little bit to the characters. They're all distinct and varied but I always felt like they could've been expanded just a little bit. Gameplay is as tight as the game its a spiritual successor, maybe even a bit more with more types of weapons to play with in numerous amounts, even being able to collect materials and make your own, including food dishes that permanently increase your stats on top of healing you.
    Music is wonderful in this as well as sound design.
    Everything in this, is fantastic and is everything it was promised to be and more.
    Also there's a slot machine boss to taunt Konami.    … Expand
  15. Eyes_Grim
    Mar 7, 2021
    10
    The best metroidvania game I ever played. Decent graphics, an intriguing stoty and addictive gameplay.
    A real masterpiece.
    Good job, IGA!
  16. bear00766
    Feb 6, 2021
    10
    The best game is a metrolvania very very good is grand history and gameplay good
  17. M1tbus
    Jan 26, 2021
    9
    Best modern Castelvania! Must Buy for all Genre-Lovers. good Leveldesign, tons of updates and modes, deep gameplay and the Devs are Gods. Only Con is the Performance. In some Fights the FPS drops.
  18. SebbyPlaysMusic
    Dec 16, 2020
    9
    I was on the fence between an 8 or a 9, but I went with 9 because I ultimately wished this game went on longer than it did even though I spent a few days straight getting 100%.

    You've probably already read that this game is a spiritual successor to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. If you've never played that game, it is an absolutely fantastic, fun, and highly memorable    I was on the fence between an 8 or a 9, but I went with 9 because I ultimately wished this game went on longer than it did even though I spent a few days straight getting 100%.

    You've probably already read that this game is a spiritual successor to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
    If you've never played that game, it is an absolutely fantastic, fun, and highly memorable side-scrolling action/platformer with minor RPG elements where you fight hordes of mythical monsters and demons (in a castle), but if you haven't and don't have access to it, this is absolutely a great place to start, and definitely improves on the formula in a few ways.

    Pros:
    - Impressively wide range of abilities:
    Every type of enemy offers a new ability (plus there're more abilities you can find or craft).
    Every type of weapon has multiple hidden abilities.
    - Controls are highly intuitive and accessible, with a shortcuts menu that let's you change entire gear/magic set-ups.
    - The movement is also MUCH faster and more maneuverable, particularly later in the game, compared to SotN.
    - You can craft the majority of items in the game, including equipment, potions, and cooking meals for permanents stat increases.
    - Well thought-out map with a diverse-but-logical set-up, emphasizing grandeur to add to that feeling of going on an adventure. Many secrets are well-hidden.
    - Visuals are often lavish to emphasize the grandness of the environment, adding a sense of depth to the 2D plane.
    - Soundtrack is very pleasant and engaging: Largely classical-type compositions with an occasional rock edge.
    - Certain voice lines are pretty funny. "Kill those murderers dead!"

    Cons:
    - The story's exposition isn't the most gripping a lot of the time. They kind of just throw information at you towards the beginning, in the intro sequence and whenever you talk to Johannes for an upgrade the first few times; I accidentally skipped some info because I just wanted to make stuff.
    Though it's not bad and serves it's purpose for the first playthrough, it's just not particularly astounding.
    Most of the dialogue wasn't worth hearing more than once, so you'll end up skipping it if you have to retry something.
    - There can be a bit of grinding if you're a completionist, so it's kind of important to be careful what you use your items for.
    - With such a wide range of abilities, some may end up being impractical and thus generally useless; When I got Bolide Blast halfway through, that was pretty much the last offensive spell I actually needed to use.

    What I wish I knew beforehand:
    - Items that are crafted show up in the shop for future purchases.
    - You need to master a technique on one weapon before using it with other weapons of that type. (It's worth the effort)
    - You can unlock Nightmare difficulty before your first playthrough by typing in "NIGHTMARE" as the name; You can change your name after it unlocks. While some people don't recommend this, it puts way more enemies on the map, which can actually help shave time off of acquiring rare items later in game (though the enemies are doing more damage).
    - There's an accelerator ability in the second-to-last area (Den of Behemoths) that makes you move like Sonic fast. It's great. Get it ASAP. Also, High Jump lets you have infinite jumps.

    Strongly recommended gaming experience.    … Expand
  19. MantisMind
    Nov 24, 2020
    10
    Beautiful game with beautiful music. I got the platinum trophy (is not very hard to get)
  20. djdizzy
    Nov 22, 2020
    10
    I’m a fan of the Metroidvanias (Symphony of the Night, Aria of Sorrow, etc). This game plunged me right back into that world and gameplay. This game is deep and the visuals dazzle me. It feels exactly as you’d expect, like I’m playing a modern Metroidvania in that series. Everything is fresh and the only thing that saddens me, is that I know I’ll achieve 100% completion. But there areI’m a fan of the Metroidvanias (Symphony of the Night, Aria of Sorrow, etc). This game plunged me right back into that world and gameplay. This game is deep and the visuals dazzle me. It feels exactly as you’d expect, like I’m playing a modern Metroidvania in that series. Everything is fresh and the only thing that saddens me, is that I know I’ll achieve 100% completion. But there are additional non-Miriam characters to choose once I reach 100%. This is the best game I’ve played in years.… Expand
  21. MasterMike000
    Nov 19, 2020
    9
    Coming from a hardcore Castlevania fan, who has played most of the Classicvania and Metroidvania (or Igavania) games in the franchise...I cannot express how much I love this game. It's definitely not perfect and there are room for improvements, but this game perfectly captures why I love the Metroidvania/Igavania games in the Castlevania series.

    Unlike other attempts of creating a    Coming from a hardcore Castlevania fan, who has played most of the Classicvania and Metroidvania (or Igavania) games in the franchise...I cannot express how much I love this game. It's definitely not perfect and there are room for improvements, but this game perfectly captures why I love the Metroidvania/Igavania games in the Castlevania series.

    Unlike other attempts of creating a spiritual successor, like Mighty no 9 and Yooka-Laylee…Bloodstained Ritual of the Night is the only one that truly succeeds at capturing what Castlevania fans love about this series.
    It not only brings back certain things from previous Castlevania games that fans loved, but at the same time, it expands upon those elements. For example:
    - The “Soul mechanic” from Aria of Sorrow, which is the best mechanic in all Castlevania games in my opion… was brought back under the name of “Shards” that functions exactly like the “Soul mechanic”, but offers so much more variety to it.
    - The crafting system from Dawn of Sorrow was also brought back in Bloodstained, but once again, it offers more varieties and options to choose from because Bloodstained has incredible number of weapons.
    - The fun quests that are given by the villagers like in Order of Ecclesia, was also in this game. From avenging someone (who are all named after Castlevania characters like Simon, Mathias, Trevor, Richter, etc…), to finding certain items, to crafting meals, to finding someone who is lost in the castle, etc...
    - Even the most popular and beloved weapons in previous Castlevania games were brought back like the Crissaegrim and the Heaven’s Sword but given a different name. And like I said before, the diverse number of weapons in this game is crazy. You can have a lightsaber, you can wear boots that are lit on fire, you can have a crossbow that has like aimlock on, etc…And some of them are just so ridiculous fun to use and hilarious such as kicking enemies with a toy shoes that squeak every time you move. Each weapon can have a different effect from each other, allowing players to choose from so many different options to pick.
    - Even the inverted castle idea from Symphony of the Night is kinda brought back in its own way. I think the people behind this game heard how exploring an entire new castle that upside down, was tedious and boring in Symphony of the Night. Because in this game, it is a mechanic and a “Shard” system where you can control wherether to invert the castle or not. This allows you to explore the castle even more, reach new areas, find certain items and fight couple of bosses differently.
    Add that with the amount of Castlevania Easter Eggs there are in this game that made me drop my jaw…It's like the creators know what their fans wanted to see. The fact that this game is not titled as Castlevania game is incredible because it has everything you want or need to be called a Castlevania game. The only thing that separates this game with the other Igavania games is the title alone...that's just it.

    There are so many other things to love about this game, such as the soundtrack composed by Michiru Yamane, the character customization, the awesome bosses, etc...It terms of content and gameplay, this game beats all the other Igavania titles in the Castlevania series without a doubt.
    Now I heard that some people say that this game isn't very original or creative, and that it doesn't really do anything new. Frankly, I'm okay with that. We didn't need something new or different like what Mighty No 9 did by adding a dash mechanic or a back-shoot when it wasn't in any of the Mega Man games. If maybe in the sequal or in another game, we get something new...I wouldn't mind it as long as it's good. For me, this felt like bringing the Castlevania fans back together and giving us a game that had everything we loved about the series. And I don’t see a problem with that. It knows this is a spiritual successor to Castlevania and it is not afraid to bring back all the things that was loved throughout the Castelvania franchise.

    Now there are some problems that I had too and was not a big fan of. I feel like the Lava/Inferno Cave was not well designed. I felt that the Oriental Sorcery Lab segment and the train sequence was out of place with the rest of the castle. Like was it necessary for the train boss to have a timer? The 2.5D isn't great sometimes, but I'll cut them some slacks because at least they tried to make the game look better when fans said that it didn't look great. But certain moments like Johannes walking/running looked weird.

    Other than that, there's not much I can say about this game. This is a great game and it delivered what was promised. I always had a hard time thinking which game between Aria of Sorrow, Symphony of the Night and Order of Ecclesia was the best Igavania title...and now with this game, I'm even more frustrated because this game is on par with the other three.    … Expand
  22. MatthewDavisMed
    Oct 17, 2020
    9
    A love letter to those who grew up playing Castlevania SOTN. With it's challenging and addictive gameplay and beautiful artstyle. This is a truly great Metroidvania experience.
  23. Rickrbrum
    Aug 29, 2020
    8
    A respectable return to the legacy of Castlevania SOTN.
    Through an extremely fluid and fun gameplay, with a memorable soundtrack and a total respect for the fans, Bloodstained delivers what was promised.
  24. RushBwithNegev
    Aug 27, 2020
    9
    Good game, good desgin, still worth to buy but
    Too many quests look same
    Can't change character cloths
    Sometime got stuck by talking with NPC
  25. moothemagiccow
    Aug 13, 2020
    9
    This is an amazing game. It hooked me from the start and I put in 29 hours to beat it in under a week. Rarely does a game hold my attention so well. I finished it and I still want more.

    Some will call it a follow-up to Symphony of the Night, but it is far closer to Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow for the DS. That means there is a lot of collecting items and abilities from monsters. There is    This is an amazing game. It hooked me from the start and I put in 29 hours to beat it in under a week. Rarely does a game hold my attention so well. I finished it and I still want more.

    Some will call it a follow-up to Symphony of the Night, but it is far closer to Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow for the DS. That means there is a lot of collecting items and abilities from monsters. There is also a 'crafting' mini-game where you cook food. I was addicted to this instead of the main game for a while. There is a lot to do other than just exploring the castle.

    It would have gotten a 10 if it didn't inexplicably crash so much. Save regularly.    … Expand
  26. Johnnyls
    Jul 24, 2020
    8
    A clássic metroidvania. The details could be more polished and the story more deep, but even that is very enjoyable
  27. Fubuism
    Jul 22, 2020
    9
    I am a castlevania fan, my childhood was a castlevania filled good times, to the point where I have decided to go to Romania and visit the original castle. Bloodstained checked all the right boxes, and added on them. Graphics are great, music is fab, battle system is so diverse and enjoyable. Story is normal, nothing groundbreaking here but who cares! It only gets a minus point forI am a castlevania fan, my childhood was a castlevania filled good times, to the point where I have decided to go to Romania and visit the original castle. Bloodstained checked all the right boxes, and added on them. Graphics are great, music is fab, battle system is so diverse and enjoyable. Story is normal, nothing groundbreaking here but who cares! It only gets a minus point for multiple bugs of game which aren't game breaking but kinda annoying, am not able to get platinum trophy at time of writing because of an update bug. Otherwise worth every moment!… Expand
  28. LeoChross
    Jul 15, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. So good so good. Nr 2: after, CSoTN. … Expand
  29. abaduba
    Jul 9, 2020
    9
    It is not an exaggeration when I say this was one of the greatest games I ever played. I could nitpick about a few things but the overall experience was a blast in every way.

    Artistically, the game has OK graphics, beautiful music and minor details that will win you over. But the gameplay is where this masterpiece really shines. The difficulty is just right, hard enough to keep it    It is not an exaggeration when I say this was one of the greatest games I ever played. I could nitpick about a few things but the overall experience was a blast in every way.

    Artistically, the game has OK graphics, beautiful music and minor details that will win you over.

    But the gameplay is where this masterpiece really shines. The difficulty is just right, hard enough to keep it engaging, but not so hard that you can't beat it, and it has (mostly) no cheap tactics by bosses and can be learned with each try.

    If I could define this game in one single sentence, it is a Symphony of the Night but with better difficulty. And that is saying a lot, considering how much I love that game.    … Expand
  30. hauwhian
    Jul 7, 2020
    10
    I am very satisfied with this game. Lots of FREE DLC, great fans service. Music is very good, graphic is awesome, great gameplay. Only lack in story quality, but overall I recommend this game.

    Some user complained about the game was too easy, I guess they never play the NIGHTMARE DIFFICULTY. Try NIGHTMARE from scratch (without New Game PLUS), and you will get the best from this game.
  31. Voat_Goat
    Jun 28, 2020
    10
    A few games a year reach this level of masterpiece. A perfect modernization of the Metroidvania. Smooth game play and excellent story, with enough hidden secrets to keep you on the edge of your seat.
  32. jpacor
    Jun 27, 2020
    10
    I would give this game a 9.5 out of 10, so will round up. This is an exceptional game, and everything us Igavania fans wanted. I was very nervous when this came out after the disaster that was Mighty No 9, but this exceeded expectations.

    This game is Castlevania/Igavania at it's purest, along with some new modern gameplay touches. A wide range of weapons, including guns with several    I would give this game a 9.5 out of 10, so will round up. This is an exceptional game, and everything us Igavania fans wanted. I was very nervous when this came out after the disaster that was Mighty No 9, but this exceeded expectations.

    This game is Castlevania/Igavania at it's purest, along with some new modern gameplay touches. A wide range of weapons, including guns with several types of bullets, many different spells absorbed from enemies, a huge castle and hub that is satisfying to explore and find upgrades/items in, and fun boss fights. There is also a new upgrade system for your magic abilities, and a fun, cute new addition is being able to cook meals that restore your health with ingredients that you find.

    I played on Normal, and found the difficulty level to be perfect. The boss fights were not too hard, yet still demanded focus and frequent use of potions. I did find the final boss fight to be ridiculously hard, but other than that no frustration.

    My only minor gripe is that it can be very hard to know what to do next, and I was stuck often. I had to use a guide several times, and the solutions on where to go next were sometimes unreasonable.

    I had a ton of fun with this game, if you are a Metroidvania fan, you are a mortal lock to love this game. Give it a try!    … Expand
  33. Rhamer
    Jun 23, 2020
    8
    É um típico Castlevania Symphony of the night. O jogo em si é lindo, a história por mais clichê que seja, ainda é boa, faltou um pouco mais de puzzles e enigmas para deixar o jogo mais desafiador, os chefes por sua vez não apresentao muita dificuldade em nenhuma das opções de dificuldade do game, parece que só a vida deles aumenta. Nota 8.
  34. DrewHLMW
    Jun 21, 2020
    8
    My first foray into the world of metroidvania style games and I can't complain, there's tons to do with a huge map to uncover, countless weapons and magical abilities to explore and discover. The combat is fast and fun and the boss battles are highly entertainin. a Great Game that any metroidvania fan should play.
  35. SplitMind
    May 10, 2020
    8
    Bloodstained is a fantastic game with only some minor issues. It is well worth the investment and can become very fun and addictive.

    The graphics could be the game's main weakness. It is not intended to be a graphical powerhouse, however the running animation in particular stands out as unconvincing. The designers did a very good job of providing a variety of environments and there are    Bloodstained is a fantastic game with only some minor issues. It is well worth the investment and can become very fun and addictive.

    The graphics could be the game's main weakness. It is not intended to be a graphical powerhouse, however the running animation in particular stands out as unconvincing. The designers did a very good job of providing a variety of environments and there are just enough enemy sprites to avoid repetition.

    The gameplay is where this game truly shines. There are crafting systems for food, weapons, armor and potions. These are all very well done. Some of the rarer items can be a pain to obtain and I found myself having to use online guides for these, however they are not essential to finish the game. The combat is also enjoyable, with the shards concept making for a very fresh feel and variety. The downside is that some enemies, especially bosses, can be quite cheap and not being able to save the game instantly can lead to some frustrations. Once or twice I almost gave up but the compelling nature of the game always brought me back and this should be commended.

    The story is very minimal and this works very well. The quests given can be very homogenous and occasionally you are left without direction which may necessitate a walkthrough, which is where the game lost some points for me. Having multiple endings is a nice idea but having bad endings makes the concept a bit pointless and it frustrated me having to reload and repeat sections of the game.

    Overall, this is a fantastically compelling and addicting game. Levelling up and crafting equipment is a tried and true model in RPGs and is very well executed here.    … Expand
  36. ZXSth
    Apr 5, 2020
    8
    While understandably short (similar to its spiritual predecessor, Symphony of the Night), this game takes the best ingredients found across the journeys of Alucard, Soma Cruz and others (and even some minor elements from the Belmonts' adventures), and kicks it all up a notch. While somewhat lacking in polish and story, Bloodstained knocks it out of the park in terms of the element IWhile understandably short (similar to its spiritual predecessor, Symphony of the Night), this game takes the best ingredients found across the journeys of Alucard, Soma Cruz and others (and even some minor elements from the Belmonts' adventures), and kicks it all up a notch. While somewhat lacking in polish and story, Bloodstained knocks it out of the park in terms of the element I believe most players care about: Gameplay.

    Every bit of the mechanical superiority of the Metroidvania games that Koji Igarashi worked on before Bloodstained is here in spades. The game controls excellently, and the transition to the new generation of consoles hasn't seemed to cause Bloodstained to suffer through excessive technical issues. Though the game has crashed once on me over 40 hours, which was mildly annoying, I rarely encountered any discouraging issues. And while I can't say the graphics are anything to write home about (the character models seem a bit slipshod, if I'm going to nitpick), I can think of little else to critique this game for.

    I would dare to suggest that I enjoyed Bloodstained even more than Symphony of the Night, and at least as much as I enjoyed both Aria and Dawn of Sorrow. High praise (perhaps unduly so, for many), but understandable, as it seems to refine everything positive that its wonderful predecessor brought to the table.    … Expand
  37. Enzomoss
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    Buen juego, las mecánicas me gustaron bastante, para pasar el rato y jugarlo perfecto, aunque quizás le faltó mas tiempo de juego
  38. Metacriticaller
    Mar 9, 2020
    10
    This real time video game is so addictive and fun!

    I enjoyed a lot playing it, having 100% completion in everything, and also all the DLCs that have been released after it. Miriam is indeed both pretty and beautiful, although at the beginning of this real time video game she is weak, but she gets stronger the more time you play with her, level her up more and find for her better    This real time video game is so addictive and fun!

    I enjoyed a lot playing it, having 100% completion in everything, and also all the DLCs that have been released after it.

    Miriam is indeed both pretty and beautiful, although at the beginning of this real time video game she is weak, but she gets stronger the more time you play with her, level her up more and find for her better items, such as weapons, armors and etc, like in all Castlevania games.

    Also the shards she collect from slaying the demons make her much more powerful, but you have to use them wisely.

    Of course that you cannot ignore the facts that every shard has a mana cost and she has limited mana (that can be increased) and you must take these facts into consideration.

    Okay I admit it, not all the shards have a mana cost, there are some passive shards that just increase her stats, some that summon an entity that both helps and assists her in her fights, but she can use only one of them at a time, so you still have to decide which one is best for her at the present, but most of the shards are active and require particular amount and quantity of mana in order to use them.

    Of course that all of these active shards are excellent, because these shards allow Miriam to cast magic! And magic is awesome!

    At the end, just before you finish the game, Miriam is extremely strong and powerful unlike how she was at the beginning of this real time video game and you will know this once you finish this real time video game.

    All the characters in this real time video game are very awesome like in all Castlevania games.

    This real time video game requires you to both explore the world and backtracking a lot like in all Castlevania games.

    The world in this real time video game is both huge and enormous and divided to many very both large and nice areas like in all Castlevania games!

    There are many hidden secrets that very easily you will miss most of them, some are very hard to find and you will have to work very hard to find all of them like in all Castlevania games!

    There are many places that are reachable only when Miriam collects specific shards and items that allow her to reach these places, very similar to all Castlevania games.

    There are many quests to complete that will make you very busy in this real time video game unlike in many Castlevania games!

    There are also many bosses in this real time video game, some of them are secrets and most of them are challenging like in all Castlevania games.

    There are two different alternate endings, one is considered good and the other is considered bad, like in many Castlevania games!

    The bad ending is easily unlocked but the good ending is very difficult to unlock like in many Castlevania games.

    If you want to finish this real time video game, you also have to both open your mind and think outside of the box.

    The story of this real time video game is amazing and if you follow the story of this real time video game then you are going to be surprised a lot, because the story of this real time video game contains a lot of twists and spins offs like in many Castlevania games!

    All arts, animations, graphics and designs are excellent unlike all the Castlevania games!

    All the voices of the characters are excellent, sound effects and background musics of each area too like in Castlevania Symphony of the Night!

    Experience in this real time video game is very positive and all the events and scenes are memorable.

    There is also new game plus and harder modes to unlock so you have a reason to replay it again like in all Castlevania games!

    All the controls of this real time video game are also very convenient.

    This real time video game is an example of how a successful metroidvania game supposes to be and you definitely can learn from it what makes a metroidvania game so successful.

    In short this real time video game is a masterpiece, must play, and very recommended to play it.    … Expand
  39. houjo2000
    Feb 2, 2020
    10
    At least one game developer out there can hear the fan's say 'we want this' and give the fans 'this'.

    Bloodstained is this. It's amazing, it's worthy of praise, it needs a sequel. I found myself wanting to keep playing, to keep exploring. I didn't find myself thinking 'well once I get out of this slog I'll get to do the fun part of the game, maybe'- which is something I find myself    At least one game developer out there can hear the fan's say 'we want this' and give the fans 'this'.

    Bloodstained is this. It's amazing, it's worthy of praise, it needs a sequel. I found myself wanting to keep playing, to keep exploring. I didn't find myself thinking 'well once I get out of this slog I'll get to do the fun part of the game, maybe'- which is something I find myself thinking with far too many games these days.    … Expand
  40. Kai82
    Dec 14, 2019
    9
    Finally a true successor for Castlevania. Koji Igarashi has delivered an awesome game with deep combat and ability options. The combination of abilities are nearly endless. I think I have only used 10% if even that. Each weapon plays different. My preferences were boots (fast martial arts attacks, small range), swords (slower but with better range) and occasionally guns (ranged combat).Finally a true successor for Castlevania. Koji Igarashi has delivered an awesome game with deep combat and ability options. The combination of abilities are nearly endless. I think I have only used 10% if even that. Each weapon plays different. My preferences were boots (fast martial arts attacks, small range), swords (slower but with better range) and occasionally guns (ranged combat). There are also many skills that can be equipped with shards. They give you additional attacks, effects, summon creatures and more. My favorite was a shard which summons portraits for protection that also damage enemies (I think that the portraits show Kickstarter backers). Also the abilities can be leveled for better effects or damage. Game play wise it is a very well made Metroidvania with good graphics and awesome music. The levels are designed very well with tons of hidden passageways and items which will open gradually as you get new skills. Explorations is king in this sort of games and should put a smile of your face. The story is fitting and provides multiple endings. Overall this is a must play and I hope we get a series of follow up games.… Expand
  41. simopoz
    Aug 6, 2019
    9
    Degno erede della serie Castlevania, che per quel che mi riguarda si conclude con SOTN. Meccaniche di gioco fantastiche, atmosfera e colonna sonora coinvolgenti. Non do il 10 perché ad oggi il gioco soffre di qualche bug.
  42. Juliangatao
    Sep 24, 2019
    10
    O Begin to play This game yesterday on gamepass and It feels amazing, every fan of Castlevania should play This game It is "Awesome"
  43. Puozzo
    Sep 18, 2019
    9
    Ótimo jogo. Muitas referências do Castlevania Symphony of the Night. Bons gráficos. Ótimos desafios nas batalhas. Muitas opções de armas, itens. Alguns bugs.
  44. SomaKurusu
    Sep 17, 2019
    10
    Bloodstained tiene todo lo que necesita un Metroidvania. Gráficos en 2.5D muy bonitos, una Banda Sonora sublime como todas las de Mishiru Yamane, un Apartado Artístico de 10 y mucha exploración, es un juego bastante largo para su género. Este juego es un Castlevania con otro nombre y uno de los mejores Metroidvanias de la historia. Koji Igarashi ha vuelto.
  45. LioloucoPlays
    Sep 10, 2019
    9
    They did it. They really did it. After a lot of not well received games made by Kickstarter croudfunding, someone really did what was promissed.

    Iga and his team nailled the coffin of criticism and showed that with commitment and hard work, it can be done. Althought the history is not brilliant and there´s hickups and fails that has not been solved yet, as the floating itens you cant    They did it. They really did it. After a lot of not well received games made by Kickstarter croudfunding, someone really did what was promissed.

    Iga and his team nailled the coffin of criticism and showed that with commitment and hard work, it can be done.

    Althought the history is not brilliant and there´s hickups and fails that has not been solved yet, as the floating itens you cant get, it´s been a long time we do not have an outstanding classic Metroidvania,

    Kudos for IGA    … Expand
  46. TricksterZero
    Sep 8, 2019
    9
    A Metroidvania title true to form for the modern generation without having to re-release a game from back then. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night for the PS4 is a treat to the eyes and a blast to play through and if you loved SOTN, you'll love this one, just don't get the Switch Version, that port is absolute garbage.
  47. blasron
    Sep 1, 2019
    10
    IGA did not disappoint. Damn that mad man. I hope has hell he sell enough to make other project.

    The game is EXACTLY what it was suppose to do. Castlevania symphonies of the night V2.

    If you liked that one you will love bloodstain.
  48. RiPlays
    Aug 27, 2019
    9
    I absolutely love this game! The only thing that really holds me back from giving it a perfect 10 is the spelling errors and bugs that are fairly common, and I had the game crash on me once, but I hope that the next patch fixes those issues.
  49. Arma15
    Aug 13, 2019
    10
    An amazing game. it's a mixture between Sypmhony of the night and the DS games, simply amazing and entertaining, if things continue like this being the indies listening to what people want and the big developpers ignoring them, indies will take the lead. Same with hollow knight, even better than most of the plataformers of the big companies. The game is full of easter eggs (the nameAn amazing game. it's a mixture between Sypmhony of the night and the DS games, simply amazing and entertaining, if things continue like this being the indies listening to what people want and the big developpers ignoring them, indies will take the lead. Same with hollow knight, even better than most of the plataformers of the big companies. The game is full of easter eggs (the name itself) from symphony of the night. A must play.… Expand
  50. citan67
    Aug 2, 2019
    10
    The beginning of a new series that I hope lasts longer than Castlevania did. SoTN has always worn the crown for the Castlevania series imo and while I am not quick to dethrone it, if RoTN had come first it, would be king. I went back and played SoTN right after beating RoTN and found myself quickly missing many things from RoTN. Any fan of Castlevania has a duty to play this game andThe beginning of a new series that I hope lasts longer than Castlevania did. SoTN has always worn the crown for the Castlevania series imo and while I am not quick to dethrone it, if RoTN had come first it, would be king. I went back and played SoTN right after beating RoTN and found myself quickly missing many things from RoTN. Any fan of Castlevania has a duty to play this game and support the future! Just do yourself a favor and input the cheat code to play on Hard your first play through (hunting down all the shards and crafting ingredients made me OP). Oh and if anyone solves Celeste's room, you will be a legend ;)… Expand
  51. MaximumD
    Aug 2, 2019
    9
    I'm and older game, so I was worried that perhaps some rose colored nostalgia goggles would hype me up too much for this release. Many Metroidvania clones have disappointed me over the last decade or so and I would always gravitate back to a playthrough of SOTN or one the classic Metroid/Castlevania games on the GBA to get my fix. After all these years, SOTN is still the best in the genre.I'm and older game, so I was worried that perhaps some rose colored nostalgia goggles would hype me up too much for this release. Many Metroidvania clones have disappointed me over the last decade or so and I would always gravitate back to a playthrough of SOTN or one the classic Metroid/Castlevania games on the GBA to get my fix. After all these years, SOTN is still the best in the genre. I was worried that this game too may not live up to that high mantle. Man was I wrong to worry.

    I've been playing this for many hours and so far I'm coming away impressed. It really feels like Iga has brought this genre to the next gen finally, after years of having to slog through handheld versions and smaller indie titles that used the Metroidvania formula but just had something off here and there. Not that those versions are bad, but it feels nice to be able to play a game like this natively on my PS4 and 70" TV. Iga is the master of this genre and only the few metroid games like Samus Returns and Zero Mission can even compare as a rival to his great releases.

    The only thing that bothers me about this game a little are the graphics. There's something wierd about the hybrid 2d/3d format, but I'm getting used to it. As usual, the enemies are spectacular and cleverly designed. The Floating Pig thing makes me laugh everytime. The difficulty on normal is fair because the gameplay is very tight as to be expected. Every weapon class has it's own pluses and minuses and they all feel very unique. There is a purpose or situation for every weapon in the game, so none of them ever feel obsolete or useless. There is no one uber class of weapon. Sometimes a fast light weapon is ideal, other times you want to equip a high damage but slow claymore for max effectiveness. The special shards are basically magic, and also offer an insane amount of variety. These are basically like Souls from before.

    Also, the presentation gets a major upgrade here and I guess that's why it's a bonus to go with a 3d engine. Cutscenes are not like the traditional side view style, but zoom in and out all around offering close up views of characters and monsters. This really fleshes out the storytelling and improves upon one of the main flaws of the original 2d sidescrolling Castlevanias. The story is good, fairly interesting but kind of a been there done that tale, very closely mimicking the previous games. I mean, once again there is a castle to infiltrate. LOL.

    It matters not though, the action, level and monster desing, and pacing of upgrades is perfect. When it comes to side scrolling adventure, Iga has proven that he is the undisputed master of the craft. I hope this game does really well so we can see more AAA titles like this make it to our consoles. Extremely happy with this game and it's probably the best game I've played this year since RE2 Remake. Old school is new again this year! Giving it a 9 solely cuz I feel the graphics are bit to anime/cartoony style for me. Others probably love it though and the characters are definitely charming enough.    … Expand
  52. Si3g
    Aug 1, 2019
    10
    Excelente jogo. Honrou em muito o legado deixado por Castlevania Symphony of The night.Quem dera todo jogo de Kickstarter tivesse essa qualidade
  53. Legault
    Jul 30, 2019
    10
    Really amazing game with plenty to discover, collect and unlock. Very fun once you get the hang of it and hard mode is actually a challenge which is welcome.

    Soundtrack is varied, fitting and wonderful. Graphics is not the strong point but it is more the style that I disagree with otherwise the castle itself is quite beautiful with a bit humour sprinkled in there. Love the directional    Really amazing game with plenty to discover, collect and unlock. Very fun once you get the hang of it and hard mode is actually a challenge which is welcome.

    Soundtrack is varied, fitting and wonderful. Graphics is not the strong point but it is more the style that I disagree with otherwise the castle itself is quite beautiful with a bit humour sprinkled in there. Love the directional input special moves.

    Well done Iga!    … Expand
  54. Dariem
    Jul 30, 2019
    9
    Exceptional game! Super fun ! Metroid like game for castlevania franchise fans. It lacks on difficult but i enjoyed playing. Super recomended
  55. SSPP
    Jul 28, 2019
    10
    Fantastic Metroidvania game from the legendary Koji Igarashi. Bloodstained is basically a "greatest hits" of IGA's best Castlevania entries:

    - Giant map with amazing visuals, great OST, and hundreds of different enemies; - the familiar system is taken straight form Symphony of the night, and it's still as fun as ever; - the shard system is an adaptation of Dawn of Sorrow's amazing    Fantastic Metroidvania game from the legendary Koji Igarashi. Bloodstained is basically a "greatest hits" of IGA's best Castlevania entries:

    - Giant map with amazing visuals, great OST, and hundreds of different enemies;
    - the familiar system is taken straight form Symphony of the night, and it's still as fun as ever;
    - the shard system is an adaptation of Dawn of Sorrow's amazing souls system, even improved;
    - The quest system, much of the main character design, and some of the plot points are inspired from Order of Ecclesia.

    Let's be real here: this is pretty much the new Castlevania game that Konami will never give us. Thank you Igarashi, you gave your fans all they could ask for.    … Expand
  56. dogboy
    Jul 15, 2019
    10
    Loved this game. Finished it quite quickly then realised I had missed 2/3 of the game. Now going through and completing the rest of it and just don't want it to end. It is awesome.
  57. SailorSonic
    Jul 14, 2019
    8
    It's great! Kinda surprised it turned out so well! Great gameplay, memorable music. It's all here!
  58. Nastynate81
    Jul 11, 2019
    10
    Love it but fix the switch version. ,after all they are the biggest install base.
  59. bitts
    Jul 8, 2019
    9
    if you liked Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, you will love this game. There are more systems to sink your teeth into like crafting, ability enhancements, equipment loadouts, quests, food/buffs, etc. Also David Hayter, the original voice of Solid Snake from MGS, lends his voice acting to this game. Highly recommended if you like Metroidvania type games.
  60. Phantom5
    Jun 19, 2019
    10
    Genuine Masterpiece! From start to finish to replaying to farming to grinding to crafting and all points in between....Exceptional! This game will capture you and refuse to let go! Comparing this game to other IGA games is needless. We simply have another one to enjoy but I will say that SotN and AoS have a new blood brother...or should I say blood sister! The circumstances surrounding theGenuine Masterpiece! From start to finish to replaying to farming to grinding to crafting and all points in between....Exceptional! This game will capture you and refuse to let go! Comparing this game to other IGA games is needless. We simply have another one to enjoy but I will say that SotN and AoS have a new blood brother...or should I say blood sister! The circumstances surrounding the creation of this game make it a work which should go down in gaming legend! Thank you IGA for your vision and to those who’s brands are on the introductory screen who provided the necessary support and to the vast sea of names in the credits who should all celebrate their part in the cause and to the gamers who put up the collateral, without which, this game would still exist only in IGA’s head! And finally, another nod to IGA for those greatest of components in this game....GAMEPLAY & OPTIONS! Thank you for empowering us!… Expand
  61. iMustang
    Jul 5, 2019
    10
    After many kickstarters that disappointed the fans, this is definitely one that lived up to all it's promises and surpassed it. So much love and quality was put into this game and it really shows. The beautiful graphics, the stunning gothic art style, the amazingly diverse cast of characters and enemies, and the ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS MUSIC! Like seriously there were times I stopped playingAfter many kickstarters that disappointed the fans, this is definitely one that lived up to all it's promises and surpassed it. So much love and quality was put into this game and it really shows. The beautiful graphics, the stunning gothic art style, the amazingly diverse cast of characters and enemies, and the ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS MUSIC! Like seriously there were times I stopped playing the game just to listen to the amazing soundtrack for several minutes on end, especially if I hit a new area. What also blew me away was just how big the map of this game was! Every time I thought "Oh surely this next area is the last one", it wasn't! It lead to new corridors, new enemies, new bosses, and just new fun to be found. The game is also just the right kind of challenge with a fair amount of save points that recover your HP, enemies that you can overcome with skill and natural progression, and bosses that you can figure out the strategies for after a series of deaths. This game just really hits everything I've been looking for awhile, and it amazes me that there's such a huge amount of content in a $40 or less package. Even upon beating the game there's still so much I can do; quests, extra bosses, things to cook and craft, I know I can easily spend another 20+ hours just having fun! I'm definitely going for a Platinum Trophy on this one, and looking forward to every second of it! A high recommendation for everyone!… Expand
  62. aosan
    Jul 4, 2019
    9
    Great game! This is one of those types of games in which you can disappear for hours. Also, the game has an excellent soundtrack and good level design, which is very interesting to explore. For me personally, this is the game of the year.
  63. brachypelma44
    Jul 3, 2019
    9
    Excellent game, with a few nit-picks: The environments look great, but because the characters were forced to be these weird 3D cartoon models, they look like they belong in a different game. They just don't mesh well with the environments. I wish they had done really nicely animated 2D sprites instead (something like Dragon's Crown.) The music is above average, but not anywhere near theExcellent game, with a few nit-picks: The environments look great, but because the characters were forced to be these weird 3D cartoon models, they look like they belong in a different game. They just don't mesh well with the environments. I wish they had done really nicely animated 2D sprites instead (something like Dragon's Crown.) The music is above average, but not anywhere near the brilliance of the soundtrack of SOTN or Super Castlevania 4. Combat is great, level design is decent, and there are enough RPG mechanics for it to be satisfying as you level up your character and get more powerful familiars, shards, weapons, and armor.

    I did lose 5 hours of progress because the 1.02 patch screwed up the treasure chests from all version 1.01 save files, so that wasn't great. It's a good thing that it's so much fun to play, as I went through all that again to get back where I was.

    This is my 3rd favorite Metroidvania behind SOTN and Aria of Sorrow. Well done, and worth the price.    … Expand
  64. whiskeyknight
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    What a wonderful pseudo sequel to the ever brilliant Castlevania Symphony of the Night. Despite a few bugs, this is the definitive unofficial follow up to the best game of all time. Have at you!
  65. Anthor
    Jul 2, 2019
    9
    El regreso del IGA-vania por la puerta grande. No llega al nivel de SOTN pero se queda muy cerca. Divertido y completo. De lo mejor dentro del género. Muy recomendado.
  66. SnakeLeon
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Es el sucesor de Symphony of The Night, con eso digo todo, no tengo nada más que decir.

    El juego es una joya, todos sus aspectos están bien cuidados, si van a comprar una versión solo no compren la de Switch ya que no lo levanta, pero en PC y PS4 fluye demasiado bien. Uno de los mejores juegos de toda la generación.
  67. SWERY_51
    Jul 1, 2019
    10
    If you're looking for a new Igavania game like Symphony of the Night, Order of Ecclesia or Aria/Dawn of Sorrow, then this is a must have! It's very addictive, and it's easily one of the very best Metroidvania i've played since 15 years.

    The game is not flawless, i have encounter few glitches, but nothing one or two updates can't resolve. Pros : + It's like a sequel of the fabulous    If you're looking for a new Igavania game like Symphony of the Night, Order of Ecclesia or Aria/Dawn of Sorrow, then this is a must have! It's very addictive, and it's easily one of the very best Metroidvania i've played since 15 years.

    The game is not flawless, i have encounter few glitches, but nothing one or two updates can't resolve.

    Pros :
    + It's like a sequel of the fabulous Castlevania SOTN!
    + OST is a blast
    + Alucard's back-step AND Richter's slide!
    + Lots of gears, magic and weapons to craft or loot (hello powerful rare drops)
    + You can customize Miriam's look quite early in the game
    + Gameplay is satisfying and becomes deeper after few hours by adding new mechanics
    + Plenty of things to do (side quests, collecting shards, many secrets to find...)
    + Good replay value with 3 difficulty settings, boss rush, speedrun and more to come
    + Interesting story introducing many characters
    + Technical part is strong with smooth 60-fps on PS4 PRO (except for very few areas)
    + A bunch of free DLC to come

    Cons :
    - Still few glitches
    - Crouching do not lower the camera so you can see what's below you
    - Some animations are a little clumsy    … Expand
  68. kasparius
    Jun 30, 2019
    9
    I was very pleased to discover that this was a great Igavania. Early impressions and previews had been fairly negative. I would say quality wise this is in the same vein as Symphony of the Night, Aria/Dawn of Sorrow and Order of Ecclesia.

    The few issues I have is that if you grind a bit, the bosses become ridiculously easy, this was a problem in older Igavanias, but IGA had found a    I was very pleased to discover that this was a great Igavania. Early impressions and previews had been fairly negative. I would say quality wise this is in the same vein as Symphony of the Night, Aria/Dawn of Sorrow and Order of Ecclesia.

    The few issues I have is that if you grind a bit, the bosses become ridiculously easy, this was a problem in older Igavanias, but IGA had found a great balance in Ecclesia, a game that was quite challenging even if you grinded a bunch. I haven't tried Nightmare mode, but the problem is that the bosses are simply not that interesting, which is quite surprising, because even when the bosses weren't tough, they were definitely memorable in previous titles. This is not the case here, however the rest of the monsters are just as good as they used to be.

    Another slight let down is the music, it's really kind of forgettable, which again for an Igavania is kind of a shock. It's not bad by any means, mind you, I simply can't remember a single tune.

    It's also worth noting that this feels kind of like a throwback, not in a bad way, this is a great and fun game, but it is very much a by the numbers Igavania. The systems in place are more in depths than in previous titles, perhaps, but this is not the step forward that games like Hollow Knight, or SteamWorld Dig brought to the conversation.

    This game is "simply" an excellent Metroidvania, and if you are into that, then go right ahead and play it, because you will have a real blast. (Just don't get it on Switch)    … Expand
  69. Eskie64
    Jun 30, 2019
    8
    If you're a fan of the Castlevania SotN or Super Metroid, then you should probably try this game. But still, this game feels like a clone of the Symphony. But a very good clone, though. It's like playing the spin-off of Symphony with better graphics and new mechanics. So you probably have to try this.
  70. jonmax11021981
    Jun 29, 2019
    10
    Olha... tem muito tempo que não jogo um game tão bom. Comprei para o Xbox One X, que está fantástico, rodando a 60fps liso e lindo!!! O jogo basicamente segue a linha de Catelvania, com uma grande variedade de itens para pegar e evoluir. Além disso, por se tratar de um RPG, habilidades também podem ser adquiridas e desenvolvidas ao longo do jogo. Nota 10 sem dúvida.
  71. MXFCN
    Jun 29, 2019
    10
    It is the true successor of Castlevania. IGA is the man who knows Castlevania most.
    10/10 masterpiece.
  72. Fissile-Materia
    Jun 27, 2019
    8
    This game accomplishes everything it set out to do. Many crowd funded games fail, but this is definitely one of the most successful and polished, no question. A lot of love was put into it and it shows. It has a lot that made SotN so great, but exceeded expectations by adding deeper RPG mechanics, crafting, cooking, and best of all, a really awesome system that allows you to use theThis game accomplishes everything it set out to do. Many crowd funded games fail, but this is definitely one of the most successful and polished, no question. A lot of love was put into it and it shows. It has a lot that made SotN so great, but exceeded expectations by adding deeper RPG mechanics, crafting, cooking, and best of all, a really awesome system that allows you to use the abilities of ALL the demons you kill in tens of thousands of combinations. It’s not perfect, has minor bugs, but you probably won’t care.… Expand
  73. DPtdryste
    Jun 26, 2019
    10
    This review is long on purpose, spoiler free and meant to convey my deepest thanks to everyone that was a part of making this game possible. That includes the KickStarter backers. I was not a part of you guys, but I think this game shows something amazing that is possible in gaming. Imagine if the same amount of people that backed this game each gave MORE money, what could we fund?!This review is long on purpose, spoiler free and meant to convey my deepest thanks to everyone that was a part of making this game possible. That includes the KickStarter backers. I was not a part of you guys, but I think this game shows something amazing that is possible in gaming. Imagine if the same amount of people that backed this game each gave MORE money, what could we fund?! Anyways...

    I get it. You value your money and you're now considering whether to buy another 2D game. Maybe you bought Dead Cells or Salt & Sanctuary some time ago and didn't get into those too much, and maybe you never played SotN or any of the other Castlevanias (like myself), so the hype from the fans feels distant and perhaps irrelevant to your tastes. This review is here to assuage your fears: go ahead and buy the game, my friend.

    About the game: fighting is serviceable by itself, but when put in tandem with sheer amount of abilities, both active and passive, you will be playing this game over and over and over. No one is really here for the story, but the characters are surprisingly likeable and deep when you consider how little we interact with the story. The music... omg, the music... lovely, beautiful and rocks pretty hard all in the same game (check out Dominique's Theme, it makes me hate when I'm done shopping because I have to leave the room with beautiful music). You WILL love the art style by the middle of your playthrough, guaranteed, idc how you feel about it at the beginning. You can't play as a male (at least not that I'm aware of rn, maybe in the future, or maybe cheat codes), but Miriam is a convincing badass. Every enemy drops a move that you can potentially add to your arsenal. With hats, armor, 2 ring slots, and a cape + picking 5 magic/shard types (each with their own category) + the surprising unique passives some items you can equip give you + the fun parts of grinding with little of the downsides (you don't have to do it) + map traversal moves you procedurally get in metroidvanias + on-the-fly loadout swapping and item use... with all this you have a game that you can play ANY way YOU want.

    Wanna spam Teps Oceus and Igar Storaema, filling the screen with lighting and fire while your passive decreases the rate in which you us MP? You can do that.

    Wanna exploit the fact that the game just came out and some weapons are just completely lolbroken, and way better than some other weapons? You can do that.

    Wanna walk around in armor that damages things you touch, so you just have to double jump into the torch/fire things from all the Castlevania games that give you mana, while your pet follows you around casting holy spells at your enemies? You can do that, too.

    Wanna do all these things at once? The above examples practically describes my character that I beat the game with! And I'm leaving some stuff out! Think about the unique character YOU could create! I ran a Luck and DMG build, but you can go ultra-tanky, high-speed, more wizardly than myself or go full melee and save your mana for the techniques you can perform with weapons.

    Honestly, I never bought a crowdfunded game, but GOTDAYUM this game is good.

    I have like 2000 characters left, so to be fair, bad parts: (1.) the economy is not balanced and can be broken, but I would suggest not breaking the economy on your first playthrough on purpose, don't read any guides or tips, just go in blind! (2.) some mid-to-late game main story objectives are really hard to figure out. I can see 2-4 points in the game people maybe saying "Lol, I would have NEVER figured that out myself." (3.) The drop rates for things should be higher, and monsters should drop more than one thing more often. I don't say thing because the grinding is boring, NO, actually it's fun, I say this because the current system makes you grind more and longer than you would if things dropped more often, making it easy to overlevel without trying, just because you want some more copies of a spell to make it stronger, or you want to farm the alchemy materials to make certain things stronger. To be fair, one doesn't have to grind at all to beat the game, but idk if I'm that hardcore yet.

    To conclude... I was pleasantly surprised by Bloodstained. I can't think of my Top 20 video games of all time all right now, but I'm pretty sure Bloodstained's gonna be there and stay there. I LOVE this game, and I thank everyone that was a part of it for making this for longtime fans and new fans (like myself). I can't believe that in the same year as DMC5 I get THIS too. I'm gonna be swapping between Bloodstained and DMC5 until the first price drop for next-gen consoles lol, and as someone in the military I want to say that these gaming experiences are much appreciated for emotional moral, insane fun and to get away from the real world of hard work every once in a while.

    Using my final ~60 or so characters to say thank you:

    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!    … Expand
  74. Mgraham237
    Jun 26, 2019
    10
    I baked this game and was pleasantly surprised that all of my expectations were well exceeded. The only weak link present is the disjointed story for the game. If they put a bit more time into it, it would be absolute perfection. Despite that, this game deserves every single 10 it receives. The launch had issues, but they didn’t want to delay it any longer than they absolutely had to.I baked this game and was pleasantly surprised that all of my expectations were well exceeded. The only weak link present is the disjointed story for the game. If they put a bit more time into it, it would be absolute perfection. Despite that, this game deserves every single 10 it receives. The launch had issues, but they didn’t want to delay it any longer than they absolutely had to. Kudos to Iga and 505. The game is a complete and polished treasure. Sound, graphics, and gameplay are all beautifully done and satisfying. Thank you for making a true SotN successor.… Expand
  75. Carlos8287
    Jun 26, 2019
    9
    Simply put the best Metroidvania I've played since Symphony of the Night and up there as one of my favourite "Castlevania" games. Let's face it this is Castlevania in all but name and it looks absolutely beautiful, with a wealth of customisable options and many fighting styles plus some brilliant secrets there is plenty to get your teeth into. This is comfortably the best game of 2019 so far
  76. AgriasReign
    Jun 25, 2019
    10
    A lot of us have been waiting for this game's release and it does not disappointed. The true Metroidvania spiritual successor created by the original game director himself. With the many games that come out these days, you simply lose interest after a few hours. However, this game is designed so well with the gameplay, music, and RPG elements that I can't stop playing it. Kudos to allA lot of us have been waiting for this game's release and it does not disappointed. The true Metroidvania spiritual successor created by the original game director himself. With the many games that come out these days, you simply lose interest after a few hours. However, this game is designed so well with the gameplay, music, and RPG elements that I can't stop playing it. Kudos to all those that backed this game on Kickstarter. With all the reviews so far, we can just hope that there will be sequel in the near future and that this game would be the 1st of many. If you are a fan of this genre then I implore you to purchase it to support the developers.… Expand
  77. Vivid_Trance
    Jun 25, 2019
    9
    Quality product worth the wait.

    Starting with the only bad thing.. 1. The game experiences lag spikes where the screen freezes for a few seconds, typically this happens after entering a new room and getting a drop. But from what I've read with the Switch version of the game - we got off very easy. This is the only real problem I have experienced with the game in a complete    Quality product worth the wait.

    Starting with the only bad thing..

    1. The game experiences lag spikes where the screen freezes for a few seconds, typically this happens after entering a new room and getting a drop. But from what I've read with the Switch version of the game - we got off very easy. This is the only real problem I have experienced with the game in a complete playthrough.

    Everything else with this game is amazing

    1. The graphics are great. Characters and enemies are a pleasure to look at and the environment is exactly what you would want from a igavania game, full with a bunch of interesting castle subareas.

    2. The gameplay is deep, hundreds of weapons and spells to choose from, special weapon attacks, and different movement options.

    3. Level progression feels good, you will be struggling at the start and by the end of the game you will be an untouchable god.

    If it wasn't for the occasional lag spikes this would get a 10 from me. I have a 100% completion file and I look forward to all the DLC coming in the future.    … Expand
  78. elrubeng5ESP
    Jun 25, 2019
    10
    It is simply INCREDIBLE. Of the best games I've played in many years. When I played I felt like I was going back to my childhood playing Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow and Symphony of the Night. Bloodstained is made exclusively for Castlevania fans and for Metroidvanias fans. 100% I have had a lot of fun.
  79. guiguidasgata
    Jun 25, 2019
    9
    The game is sensational. The graphics are beautiful and neat. epic soundtrack and metroidvania-style gameplay. My only note is not higher because I still want an update to improve the performance of the game. At times when fps crashes and has very constant loadings.
  80. Juash
    Jun 25, 2019
    9
    It's been a long time since I got excited about a video game.

    They kept all their promises :D

    Thank you very much for everything Mr. IGA & team
  81. RodVal
    Jun 24, 2019
    10
    Amazing game! All we wanted is here, another metroidvania from koji igarashi, just a masterpiece o this game type. Looks like Castlevania Sotn, great feeling you will get when playing this game.
  82. VirgoCave
    Jun 24, 2019
    9
    The same way we destroyed MIGHTY n9 for bein trash , we must give love to developers that love his baby. This is case of Iga and Bloodstained. The only problem i have with it is that is a little stiff, but the item and weapon variety and secrets it has is underwelming , ande you can tell that is game made with love and not only for the money.
  83. John_S_Jr
    Jun 24, 2019
    10
    Awesome Metroidvania, worth the wait, I was a little hesitant about the 40$ price tag but it's worth every penny!
  84. Douglas1989
    Jun 24, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Simplemente genial y maravilloso, tremendo lo hecho en este clonico de castlevania, bien logrado… Expand
  85. MEGADUDE
    Jun 23, 2019
    10
    Omg. Symphony of the night has been remade for a modern audience totally worth every penny graphics action fun factor too too amazing Igarashi has lived up to all expectations get ready for a castlevania experience that will blow your mind Maybe KONAMI will stop sitting on that gold mine and make some games again
  86. GamergodsFail
    Jun 23, 2019
    9
    iga delivers yet again. Ritual of the Night may very well be the greatest metroidvania since Symphony of the Night. Sure, it's not currently in a perfectly tuned state. There are a couple of glitches and framerate issues that I'm sure will be fixed overtime, but nothing is game-breaking as long as you play it post-patch.

    With so many different features such as shops, crafting,    iga delivers yet again. Ritual of the Night may very well be the greatest metroidvania since Symphony of the Night. Sure, it's not currently in a perfectly tuned state. There are a couple of glitches and framerate issues that I'm sure will be fixed overtime, but nothing is game-breaking as long as you play it post-patch.

    With so many different features such as shops, crafting, upgrading, loot, dozens of different magic shard powers, familiar summoning, side quests, and one hell of a story, there is more than plenty to love here from metroidvania fans to RPG vets alike. You can even change your hair and the colors of your clothes! For only $40 it would be hard to find a better 20+ hour long game this year.    … Expand
  87. Ale1991
    Jun 23, 2019
    10
    An instant classic and one of the best games of this generation. Just buy it and support this developer.
  88. Leomattoso
    Jun 22, 2019
    10
    Masterpiece. A evolução de SotN. Tudo que SotN ofereceu com gráficos atuais. Aguardo ansiosamente as DLCs. Thanks, Iga!
  89. Tonocruise
    Jun 22, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Increíble juego. Se ven las ganas de hacer un buen juego. Un solo fallo... Algunos textos en castellano no están bien… Expand
  90. Hired_Sword
    Jun 22, 2019
    10
    A resounding success in reviving the genre that Iga helped to establish. Fun, with deep mechanics and a well designed map that begs to be explored.
  91. th3w1ll
    Jun 22, 2019
    9
    A fantastic game with incredible depth and high replayability. Iga is back in action.
  92. nicksoulng
    Jun 22, 2019
    10
    I can't stop playing this! I love Metroidvania games! and this is the best for me!
  93. Asthmatic_Glock
    Jun 21, 2019
    10
    At an affordable price, bloodstained rotn contains a wealth of content. The visuals, attention to detail, the music all get a 10.

    The gameplay is fluid, and faster paced than symphony of the night. So I would give it a 9.
  94. Wrath_4givnez
    Jun 21, 2019
    9
    Woof. What do I SAY about this game!? Maybe a preface first...

    I'm not a die-hard, super purest, extra particular fan of Castlevania, nor am I a casual "I'll take anything named Castlevania" fan either. I don't have too many games in my collection under the IP, but I can safely say that Symphony of the Night is what made me fall in love. Unfortunately, it wasn't the PS1 version of the    Woof. What do I SAY about this game!? Maybe a preface first...

    I'm not a die-hard, super purest, extra particular fan of Castlevania, nor am I a casual "I'll take anything named Castlevania" fan either. I don't have too many games in my collection under the IP, but I can safely say that Symphony of the Night is what made me fall in love. Unfortunately, it wasn't the PS1 version of the game way back in the late 90s. It was the bonus unlockable updated version that was predominantly featured in the Dracula X Chronicles for the PSP. I had to earn the right to play the game, and when I did, holy hell was it one of the more satisfying games I've ever gotten into (hence the fact it made me fall in love with the series)

    Skip ahead the ups and downs (and near murder of the series at large), and in comes Igarashi being a straight up BOSS, saying he wants to bring the magic of those "IGAvania" games back to the forefront, and releasing a Kickstarter trailer to prove it. I dunk in my pledge, hoping I'd get another magical journey like Symphony, and four years later...

    This game, while not my game of the year, or my favorite of all time (both titles belong to DMC5 for me), is one HELL of a game!

    Gameplay is tight, responsive, slick, and rewarding to explore and experiment as you slide kick, jump, backdash, slash, bash, whip, inflame, freeze, electrify, and whatever else it takes to outsmart and obliterate countless Goetian demons in a haunted, messed up gothic castle filled with more than just references and callbacks to previous IGA Castlevanias. Even messing around with one of the more boring features (crafting) was slick, simple, and made me feel like I was making/improving something worthwhile. While it is a tad easier than SotN, I didn't mind as the game itself played so good that I just wanted more (leading to sinking in a fair amount of time on the first day playing)

    The story makes its mark by taking the route of "complex story told simply" with the surface, upfront story being very straightforward, while the background story, character interactions, and lore add extra spice and flavor to the world, characters and even some of the monsters. Voice acting is solid, and all of the characters (as far as I've seen, at least) were interesting and likable. I originally thought Miriam would have been kind of boring from initial impressions during the early stages of development (even though I loved the design), but she seemed to be just an absolute gem (heh, get it?) in the full game. Headstrong, kindly, and responsible, but not afraid to be just a bit childish and sassy when the moment calls for it.

    The music, while not as memorable or interesting as SotN, it comes SUPER close, and has its own flair and flavor that makes it well done and unique, and at the very least stands shoulder to shoulder with it's precursor, even if it's an inch shorter.

    The designs, from characters to monsters to the castle's bizarre interior are expertly well done. I was a little worried at first midway through development, but the updated visuals really showed off the vision that IGA wanted to capture since day one.

    The only downside are the few, small glitches in the game that can be found post patch (such as this annoying little swimming glitch I found when I slide kicked into the water to get out of a very tight crevice, only to find I couldn't jump out of the water at all. Taking enemy damage seems to get you out, but if no enemies are there, you're stuck. Or a glitch where a falling item bag gets stuck in the area geometry, and stays suspended in the air and unable to be collected. Glitches like that are peppered in random points, but don't harm the over all experience. I'd recommend you keep a few Waystones with you, though, just in case you get stuck somewhere weird. That'll get you out for free without needing to reload a save.

    What else can I say about this game, really? It's amazing, and I think this is the beginning of a beautiful new IP. If you have any love for Castlevania, or any metroidvania games, it's a must play. If you just love a fun, action platformer game, this is also a game for you! Hell, if you just love games in general, play it! Just play this game! It's amazing!    … Expand
  95. Rowdain
    Jun 21, 2019
    10
    The game exceeded all my expectations, it is the perfect transition of the Igavania style to 3D. The ambientation is sublime and Michiru Yamane's music is on point as always. There is no doubt that Bloodstained is the rightful spiritual successor of Castlevania. Cogratulations to Koji Igarashi and everyone involveld in the game.
  96. Bloodstained
    Jun 21, 2019
    10
    Other a long loading screen and some loading when transitioning areas there is little to complain about if you are a SOTN fan. The first game to dethrone the best Metrovania game ever made. Love the gameplay, graphics, and especially the soundtrack.
  97. Wimpher
    Jun 21, 2019
    10
    SotN was a true masterpiece for its time. A critically-acclaimed game and heralded as one of the greatest games ever crafted. Stunning musical composition, awesome 2D sprite-based graphics, amazing level design and addictive game mechanics. It's just one of those games that doesn't shy away from being, well...a GAME! It's basically a gamers wet dream. And people have been waiting for AGESSotN was a true masterpiece for its time. A critically-acclaimed game and heralded as one of the greatest games ever crafted. Stunning musical composition, awesome 2D sprite-based graphics, amazing level design and addictive game mechanics. It's just one of those games that doesn't shy away from being, well...a GAME! It's basically a gamers wet dream. And people have been waiting for AGES on a sequel.
    Well, here it is! In spirit. This is EVERYTHING SotN was and maybe more with some top-notch voice talent even. This is a beautiful, beautiful looking game with a gorgeously orchestrated soundtrack and stunning to look at backdrops. I don't think a 2D side-scroller has impressed me THIS much since, you got it - SotN! And dammit that says a lot for me. I was very skeptical that they were going to pull this off but it is even SUPERIOR to what I could have ever imagined. This is one of those games I enjoy so damn much that I want to take my time with it. It is seriously just that good.

    I cannot stress this enough. If you like SotN or Castlevania games in general, this is something you simply cannot miss. This is probably the best Castlevania game that isn't called "Castlevania." And I think simply for that reason people will dismiss it and reviews may not be as high as SotN's. If this had the "Castlevania" name, it would probably get like 95/100 across the boards.

    Guys, IGA did it! Castlevania has basically returned in spiritual form. I'm actually not finished with the game yet but played enough to know when I see a masterpiece. This is already one of the best gaming experiences I've had in a very, very long time.    … Expand
  98. kagekirazuul
    Jun 20, 2019
    10
    phenomenally great. IGA gives what we all wanted and hoped for. Easter eggs, secrets, and now something for the new generation of gamers, backer content. It's cool to see the portraits of people who backed. I can't wait to fight someone's pet turned into an in-game enemy. ROTN is as much a work of art as SOTN, but it has been built upon. IGA has shown his dedication to giving a qualityphenomenally great. IGA gives what we all wanted and hoped for. Easter eggs, secrets, and now something for the new generation of gamers, backer content. It's cool to see the portraits of people who backed. I can't wait to fight someone's pet turned into an in-game enemy. ROTN is as much a work of art as SOTN, but it has been built upon. IGA has shown his dedication to giving a quality experience and his listening to his fans/backers. I am so happy.… Expand
  99. hugos
    Jun 20, 2019
    10
    Grande jogo! Varias referências a sotn. Visualmente muito bonito e trilha sonora agradável. Levei design muito semelhante à qualquer metroidvania.
  100. TOKUKAN
    Jun 20, 2019
    10
    Thanks Mr. Igarashi.
    Took over 10 years to get that feeling again (Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia).
    Mr. Igarashi has done what Mr. Inafune was not able to fulfill with Mighty No.9 ;)
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Awards & Rankings

21
#21 Best PS4 Game of 2019
32
#32 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2019
16
#16 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 54 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 48 out of 54
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 54
  3. Negative: 0 out of 54
  1. Games.cz
    Aug 19, 2019
    90
    An awesome spiritual successor to old Castlevanias. The story is the weakest point, true, but everything else is splendid, especially the level design and the sheer amount of creative ideas. If you want a great action RPG platformer, you’ve got one right here.
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  2. PSX Extreme
    Aug 8, 2019
    85
    Bloodstained has a lot going for it. Satisfying gameplay, many secrets to find, and a huge castle to explore. There is a lot to discover in how you play, especially as you find more secrets and items. The shard system is an interesting way to customize your gameplay style. It is very much more of what you love from Symphony of the Night and other Castlevania games of that era. But Bloodstained doesn’t do anything new with the genre. It borrows many concepts to create a game with more of what people loved about the other games. In short, if you’re a fan then give this one a go. Minus a few iffy aspects, Bloodstained is fun experience. Whether it falls into the realm of one of the greats is unlikely but I enjoyed my time anyway.
    Read full review
  3. PLAY! Zine
    Aug 2, 2019
    85
    The king of Metroidvanias is finally here with a new title. A few bugs and weird animations will not prevent it from sitting on the throne.
    Read full review
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