Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Demo Is Out Now Ahead of October 15 Launch

Konami releases a demo today for its new game Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. After a long absence, the franchise that helped give a genre its name finally returns to the platforming scene. The Belmont’s Curse demo is now playable on multiple platforms, and your progress can be transferred to the full game.

This time, players take on the role of Rose Belmont, daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, who is called upon by her father to help clear the streets of Paris after they are overrun by monsters of the night. Dracula’s iconic castle also returns, playing a central role in the story.

The Beginning

It all begins with a letter sent to Trevor by the Bishop of Paris, Claude Champigny, asking for help fighting the monsters that have taken over the city. After trying everything they could to defend Paris and failing, the Belmont clan of vampire hunters becomes the city’s last hope.

Trevor himself takes our protagonist to the streets of Paris by boat, but suspicious of the letter they received, the two split up. Rose is left alone to explore the city while Trevor returns to investigate the Bishop and his intentions.

Before leaving, Trevor gives his daughter the tarot cards, a magical item left by Sypha to be given to Rose at the right moment. This is where the player takes control.

How the Game Works

The game has the same feel as the iconic Symphony of the Night, following the formula that helped establish the franchise. The character has access to weapons, magic, and passive effects. The magic comes from the tarot cards left by Rose’s mother, with each card containing a specific spell that can be upgraded as the player completes certain actions. You start with one, while new spells and unique special abilities can be obtained by defeating bosses, which are then imprisoned within the cards.

The game also features seven weapon categories, each with its own abilities, as well as relics with defensive and offensive effects that can be equipped to create different playstyles.

The map uses the traditional design seen in other games in the franchise, with interconnected lines showing where the player has already explored. Players can also mark locations they cannot yet reach to come back later.

The controls are very responsive and include attack, dodge, jump, slide, interaction, and much more. There is a health bar, a magic bar, and potions to restore health. The famous hearts that used to restore the magic bar after dropping from destroyed objects have been replaced by energy that goes directly to the character when certain objects in the environment are destroyed.

The leveling system is also still present, with the character gaining experience as monsters and bosses are defeated along the way.

The whip is back as well and can be used both to attack and to swing through the environment, helping Rose move around and reach places that a normal jump would not allow. This ability is unlocked later in the game.

From what I saw in the demo, the game looks like a great addition to the franchise. After so many years of waiting, I was finally able to return to the Belmont clan and destroy hordes of monsters along the way, bringing back a sense of nostalgia that reminds me of the days of Alucard sliding through Dracula’s castle in the iconic Symphony of the Night.

The demo takes us through the first chapter of this new saga, and all progress can be carried over to the full game when it launches on October 15. The demo save file must be kept in order to transfer it to the full game, and progress cannot be transferred between different platforms.

Availability, Prices, Editions, and Requirements

The demo version of the game is now available on PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. Pre-orders are also now available on these platforms.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a new entry from KONAMI, Evil Empire, and Motion Twin, published by KONAMI. Prices and PC requirements are as follows:

You can find the official release announcement here and the official game page here.