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. 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
  2. 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
  3. The_BlueRose
    Mar 16, 2020
    7
    Bloodstained es un metroidvania clásico, puede que demasiado clásico. Y eso afecta negativamente a varios aspectos del juego.

    - La historia es bastante floja, en un inicio te interesa el universo y los personajes pero apenas se desarrollan. - Técnicamente esta bien, resultón pero con un 2.5D que no va más allá de lo aceptable. - Jugablemente es donde más flojea, recordáis cuando    Bloodstained es un metroidvania clásico, puede que demasiado clásico. Y eso afecta negativamente a varios aspectos del juego.

    - La historia es bastante floja, en un inicio te interesa el universo y los personajes pero apenas se desarrollan.

    - Técnicamente esta bien, resultón pero con un 2.5D que no va más allá de lo aceptable.

    - Jugablemente es donde más flojea, recordáis cuando dije que el juego era demasiado clásico, pues en este apartado es donde más se nota. Ya no estamos en los 90, un sistema de combate tan tan simple como el de este juego le quita bastante calidad.

    Bosses que se basan el machacar el botón de ataque y con fases, (algunos ni eso) muy poco inspiradas.

    El que haya varios finales esta bien, pero una vez más apenas aportan nada. Y el backtracking no es nada del otro mundo.

    - En conclusión, es un metroidvania desfasado que pretende vivir de los éxitos pasados en vez de buscar una nueva formula.    … Expand
  4. 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.
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. SonowRaevius
    Jun 19, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. There are a few issues, like slowdown in some areas due to too many elements on screen or the sheer size of the current map segment, and the various issues that came with the fix.

    Some of the quests, besides the ones for just killing demons can be a bit tedious as well, mostly due to RNG and not knowing what drops where.

    There is also a bit of confusion near the end because they don't exactly tell you the limit of what one power can do, so if you don't try you might get stuck for a moment depending on how well your puzzle solving skills are .

    That being said the game is great overall.

    The powers and gear in the game allow you to create whatever kind of build you want, including a powerful mage build if you so wish.

    Gathering items to make new food items is worth it on two levels, not only is it improving your stats each time you initially eat an item and providing good healing items on the road ahead.

    It's a fun and challenging game still though, even on the starting difficulty, but never so much that it feels impossible, ||including fighting the secret bosses ((which are re-fightable at any time)).

    This game is pretty much if they took Order of Ecclesia, Symphony of the Night, and Dawn of Sorrow, perfected the bad elements of each game, mixed them back in with the good, and then released it to the players.

    It's not perfect, but it's pretty goddamn good and easily worth the $40.    … Expand
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. th3w1ll
    Jun 22, 2019
    9
    A fantastic game with incredible depth and high replayability. Iga is back in action.
  12. liquidEvolution
    Jun 18, 2019
    9
    Yeah, another Kickerstart backer here, and for good reason. The game delivered on so many levels.

    Snappy input/ output, gorgeous settings, beautiful atmospheric music, player customization is spot on and not just from a visual perspective either. With a host of techniques to learn (think Street Fighter, Tekken combo inputs) but are not forced/ mandatory for success, to spells/ abilities    Yeah, another Kickerstart backer here, and for good reason. The game delivered on so many levels.

    Snappy input/ output, gorgeous settings, beautiful atmospheric music, player customization is spot on and not just from a visual perspective either. With a host of techniques to learn (think Street Fighter, Tekken combo inputs) but are not forced/ mandatory for success, to spells/ abilities (shard magic) that can be active, passive, and even passives-made-permanent (without having to equip them!), once max level’d up. Weapons, onto the host of weapons and armor that can change your stats and appearance (some can be toggled on/ off, accessories, etc.).

    Want a tank that hits hard or a glass cannon spell caster using a flaming two-handed axe? Whatever your style, chances are you’ll have it soon or not and maybe you have to find/ farm some enemies. That’s the fun though. It helps promote exploring, and explore you want to, for bonus loot and stat enhancements that are permanent.

    In he meantime, there is crafting to help fill the blanks for weapons and armor, and, yes, food! Recipes to find, farmers to give seeds to, which can then grow food for you. Quests. Yes, there are eve quests.

    All of that reads like an RPG, and rightly so. The director was responsible for changing the way 2D side-scrollers’ mechanics work.

    In short, a lot to do and see and while there is a lot of freedom to theory craft builds that suit your play-style, as well as help overcome situations, it doesn’t fall short of delivering that classic atmosphere of an A+ Igavania gem. That’s what it is, a gem.    … Expand
  13. Orvar83
    Jun 19, 2019
    10
    Magnificent return to Metroidvania type games, amazing music, tight gameplay, loads of content. Koji Igarashi has delivered and amazing game, filled with care and details for the fans to enjoy.
  14. bear00766
    Feb 6, 2021
    10
    The best game is a metrolvania very very good is grand history and gameplay good
  15. 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
  16. BelcrowHD
    Jul 13, 2021
    10
    Increíble juego, sin duda es lo mejor y supero a Casttlevania SOTN… me duele admitirlo
  17. SailorSonic
    Jul 14, 2019
    8
    It's great! Kinda surprised it turned out so well! Great gameplay, memorable music. It's all here!
  18. Mbuckets
    Jun 18, 2019
    10
    It’s exactly what you want it to be. A great Castlevania game in the same vein as SOTN and the Gameboy renditions of SOTN style gameplay.
  19. LeoChross
    Jul 15, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. So good so good. Nr 2: after, CSoTN. … Expand
  20. Josef217
    Jun 20, 2019
    9
    This game is a love letter to Castlevania fans, especially if you love symphony of the night.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. 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
  24. 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.
  25. Oinkmoo
    Jun 18, 2019
    10
    Dont listen to AceAscendus, hes an idiot giving 0 / 10. He's a moron.

    If you like Metroidvania style, get this game/

    Why 10/10? This game plays like Aria of Sorrow, need to say more?
  26. BongoYoda
    Jun 18, 2019
    9
    I may have to bump this up to a 10 after the patch comes out but I'm very pleased with this game. I backed the kickstarter and have been following the release notes for years...Iga and his team have poured their hearts into this and after 3 hours of gameplay...it shows. Tons of secrets and SotN homages. My only complaint is that it seems a bit glitchy but I feel like the patch will fixI may have to bump this up to a 10 after the patch comes out but I'm very pleased with this game. I backed the kickstarter and have been following the release notes for years...Iga and his team have poured their hearts into this and after 3 hours of gameplay...it shows. Tons of secrets and SotN homages. My only complaint is that it seems a bit glitchy but I feel like the patch will fix the text and cutscene jumps. If Iga delivers on the largest (inverted) castle he's ever made, we're in for a wild ride. Final gripe...Gebel is a stupid name but Zangetsu totally makes up for it!! Great music, smooth gameplay, macabre Metroidvania setting...all for $35....go buying this! game!!… Expand
  27. jpsnow85
    Jun 19, 2019
    9
    A spectacular game. There's so much love poured into this title that any fan of Symphony of the Night will feel like they're wandering the halls of their childhood home.

    With that being said, it's not strictly a SOTN clone either. The crafting and cooking systems are a fantastic addition that are a great example in how to encourage people to engage in these systems without making them    A spectacular game. There's so much love poured into this title that any fan of Symphony of the Night will feel like they're wandering the halls of their childhood home.

    With that being said, it's not strictly a SOTN clone either. The crafting and cooking systems are a fantastic addition that are a great example in how to encourage people to engage in these systems without making them needlessly complex.

    The visuals are fantastic, with the cel-shaded graphics really causing the colors to pop off the screen.

    The music is from the same composer who did SOTN, so you get a new iteration of the sweeping instrumentals that transport you to castle halls and underground waterways.

    Controls and combat are razor sharp, with various weapons having unique abilities that are triggered with fighting game-style inputs like quarter-circle forward + attack. Layered onto this is the shard system, which allows you to have passive magical boosts, an additional magic attack, and even summon familiars to your side. The loadout options are insane, and in time you'll unlock "shortcuts" to quickly switch between them.

    There are easter eggs and tributes to the fans throughout the game. Minor details in equipment and bestiary notes bring a smile to your face.

    So many games get caught up in wanting to be "intense", wanting to channel the difficulty of "The Game Which Shall Not Be Named". Bloodstained isn't particularly interested in that. Are there some challenging fights? Sure. Will you break a controller in the process of exploring this vast castle? Likely not.

    Now, there are still some hiccups and bugs here and there, but nothing game-breaking. Still, the blemishes are enough to mar a perfect score.

    At the end of the day - this game is fun. It's damn fun, and one of the best titles I've played in the last few years. Buy it.    … Expand
  28. sctthydn711
    Jun 19, 2019
    10
    I will admit when I first seen the first pics and videos of the game I was on the fence about backing it on Kickstarter. I love Castlevania and it was one of my favorite 2D side scrolling games when I was a kid besides Contra. Symphony of the Night was my favorite out of all the Castlevaina games and I have pretty much played them all. When Koji seen all the hate the game was getting; himI will admit when I first seen the first pics and videos of the game I was on the fence about backing it on Kickstarter. I love Castlevania and it was one of my favorite 2D side scrolling games when I was a kid besides Contra. Symphony of the Night was my favorite out of all the Castlevaina games and I have pretty much played them all. When Koji seen all the hate the game was getting; him and his team took that to heart and made a lot of changes to make the game look so much better. When I found out what they did and seen the game I had to get it. One of the best choices I made and I wished I backed it. I played it last night and it was so hard to put down. I got a little emotional cause it was so great and so worth the 4 year wait. I'm not really far into it but just blown way by everything such as the look, music, playability, upgrading system and much more. I can't wait to leave work to get home and play more. All hail Koji Igarashi for knowing what fans wanted and that's a kick ass Castlevania game. Many many thanks!!!!!… Expand
  29. mrenanpx
    Jun 19, 2019
    10
    simply fantastic, SOTN's true spiritual successor, the game I always hoped for, thank you Iga..
  30. Escher
    Jun 20, 2019
    9
    Igavania is back! This game feels like a sequel to Symphony of the Night (Gebel may as well be Alucard!), but it comes with advanced graphics and new gameplay elements. The graphics have beautiful 3D renderings, and many of the cutscenes actually pull the camera into the scene, creating a greater sense of immersion. The gameplay took the best of Symphony of the Night and the DS and 3DsIgavania is back! This game feels like a sequel to Symphony of the Night (Gebel may as well be Alucard!), but it comes with advanced graphics and new gameplay elements. The graphics have beautiful 3D renderings, and many of the cutscenes actually pull the camera into the scene, creating a greater sense of immersion. The gameplay took the best of Symphony of the Night and the DS and 3Ds Castlevania games, while using the best of modern dual-stick controllers to add more to the gameplay. This is a side scroller that feels wholly new and modern. And within 10 minutes of playing, you forget the fact that it is a side scroller, it is that immersive and addicting. Even on normal mode the game is challenging, but in way that feels rewarding. You will find yourself experimenting with various moves in order to defeat various enemies, but it never becomes tedious. A quick button function for potion/item uses would be nice, so that may be one of the few reasons I am giving this a 9. A skill tree associated to leveling up may have also been nice, but with Castlevania games, your skill/attributes are largely determined by your equipment and level. Great voice cast, great dialogue, great story! This game definitely has dozens of hours of playtime. Looking forward to the online co-op modes and local split screen!… Expand
  31. Bon2
    Jun 20, 2019
    9
    Ele mantém toda a essência do estilo de castlevania e a trilha sonora é espetacular valeu a pena a espera
  32. 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
  33. 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.
  34. 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.
  35. 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
  36. Leomattoso
    Jun 22, 2019
    10
    Masterpiece. A evolução de SotN. Tudo que SotN ofereceu com gráficos atuais. Aguardo ansiosamente as DLCs. Thanks, Iga!
  37. Ale1991
    Jun 23, 2019
    10
    An instant classic and one of the best games of this generation. Just buy it and support this developer.
  38. 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!
  39. 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.
  40. 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.
  41. 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
  42. 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
  43. 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
  44. Nastynate81
    Jul 11, 2019
    10
    Love it but fix the switch version. ,after all they are the biggest install base.
  45. 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!
  46. 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.
  47. Chain_Affinity
    May 22, 2020
    7
    This game should be called Bloodstained: Farming of the Night, because you'll be farming well into the night. Or Bloodstained: Ritual of the Farming, because it'll become a ritual every time you play. There's so much farming in this game, it's practically a farming simulator. I've never farmed so much in a game, and I've played some pretty intense MMO's throughout the years. You get theThis game should be called Bloodstained: Farming of the Night, because you'll be farming well into the night. Or Bloodstained: Ritual of the Farming, because it'll become a ritual every time you play. There's so much farming in this game, it's practically a farming simulator. I've never farmed so much in a game, and I've played some pretty intense MMO's throughout the years. You get the point.

    Bloodstained should be a good game. It has all the elements to make a pretty engaging Metroidvania styled game. Here's the problem if you would like to get the most out of the game: It's 1% story, 6% actual gameplay, 15% exploration, and 78% farming.    … Expand
  48. 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.
  49. RuriGokou
    Oct 5, 2019
    7
    Bloodstained is a decent game, and not without flaws. The initial 10 hours were a lot of fun, but after that I started to notice levels were getting smaller. They also felt rushed because of their design and the different colored enemies types didn't help. The levels looked very generic and lacked any kind of connection. We got our fire stage, water stage, cathedral, even a train stage andBloodstained is a decent game, and not without flaws. The initial 10 hours were a lot of fun, but after that I started to notice levels were getting smaller. They also felt rushed because of their design and the different colored enemies types didn't help. The levels looked very generic and lacked any kind of connection. We got our fire stage, water stage, cathedral, even a train stage and Japanese-like stage.

    I liked the crafting system but many of the weapons are kinda useless and that's okay. I liked that eating food permanently boosted stats. Very cool, and made it worth finding materials for cooking.

    The story was pretty generic, but so was Castlevania Sotn's story. It's the gameplay and that is fun. I only played on the normal difficulty and that was all. The normal game campaign did offer some challenge. I did have to grind to beat some bosses toward the end, but generally it wasn't too bad. It's a lot of fun to mow down enemies once you are stronger and trying to collect everything for 100%

    The music was most disappointing. I mean, it's good for the game, but nothing I would listen to on my music player. I'm still listening to tracks from Castlevania Sotn.

    There were a number of bugs I encountered as well. Mostly dealing with the sound. For example, I would be playing and a sound effect would occur. Only the sound effect wouldn't end, but instead it would just keep repeating until I restarted the game. I did encounter one error where the game completely crashed. I was grinding for materials, and luckily the error was after I had made a save. Sometimes the game would freeze for a second, and that bothered me.

    Overall, I'd say it's worth a buy. Bloodstained isn't a perfect game, but they tried. I'd love to see what they have in store next. Hopefully something with even more polish.    … Expand
  50. 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.
  51. 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.
  52. 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
  53. 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
  54. 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
  55. 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.
  56. 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
  57. RedDragon1240
    May 5, 2021
    7
    I was very much hyped about this game. Castlevania SOTN is in my top 3 favorite games ever so I had a very high standard and tbh, Bloodstained ROTH didn't meet my expectations.

    My major concern is that this game is extremely influenced by Castlevania SOTN, so much that it seems "forced" at times. We have a castle that has so much of SOTH in it. We have a library, we have a "clock"    I was very much hyped about this game. Castlevania SOTN is in my top 3 favorite games ever so I had a very high standard and tbh, Bloodstained ROTH didn't meet my expectations.

    My major concern is that this game is extremely influenced by Castlevania SOTN, so much that it seems "forced" at times. We have a castle that has so much of SOTH in it. We have a library, we have a "clock" tower, we have underground lakes. We have different endings, which is good, but the antagonist is controlled by a demon (just as in SOTH). Even the castle is destroyed the same way as in SOTN! They could've done something completely different but no, we have a very similar castle, the story has some things that are very similar to SOTN and even the music is very similar at times!

    The game is just...good. You will have fun and good action but not so much of a very good story. The graphics are really good (but I can't belive my PS4 can't handle a game like this and I have constant fps drops), the music is great, the amont of enemies and types of magic is huge but I would've been happier with a remake of Castlevania SOTN than this game.    … Expand
  58. Bartson
    Oct 26, 2021
    10
    Nahe an der Perfektion. Das beste Spiel das ich seit langem durchgezockt habe.
  59. 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
  60. MantisMind
    Nov 24, 2020
    10
    Beautiful game with beautiful music. I got the platinum trophy (is not very hard to get)
  61. 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
  62. 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
  63. FelipeReis
    Aug 23, 2023
    4
    Depois de jogar jogos como Hollow knight, Blasphemous e Ori, não consegui jogar 30min desse jogo. Se o game tivesse um estilo artístico bonito, assim como os jogos que eu citei acima, os gráficos não seriam um problema, mas como a arte do jogo é horrível, isso torna os gráficos péssimos. A personagem é muito nada a ver, com essas tatuagens horríveis no corpo todo, nem tive vontade deDepois de jogar jogos como Hollow knight, Blasphemous e Ori, não consegui jogar 30min desse jogo. Se o game tivesse um estilo artístico bonito, assim como os jogos que eu citei acima, os gráficos não seriam um problema, mas como a arte do jogo é horrível, isso torna os gráficos péssimos. A personagem é muito nada a ver, com essas tatuagens horríveis no corpo todo, nem tive vontade de aprofundar na jogabilidade, de tão ruim que achei todo o entorno. Não recomendo.… Expand
  64. 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.
  65. MrNorth
    Jan 21, 2023
    5
    Personagens sem carisma e história confusa, porém a gameplay é agradável apesar de alguns bugs, no entanto se você busca os 100% você só fica farmando pra pegar itens e craftar outros itens que você nunca vai usar o que é muito chato e demanda muito tempo, game superestimado pelos fãs.
  66. 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
  67. 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!!!
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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

All reviews »
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.
    Read full review
  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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