Inti Creates’ Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon certainly captivated me with its immersive journey through perilous lands. It’s got this nostalgic feel of the NES era and, as the first Steam user review points out, it serves as a loving homage to games like Castlevania III. Even though the controls are quite a retro touch, reflecting the sluggishness of the old times, the adventure is worthwhile. It’s like stepping back into an open world of vintage gaming filled with hidden secrets and battles.
Absolutely, NewGamer. The game is very meticulous about item usage and exploring the environment. For example, each character’s power-ups are unique and tied to them – a detail that is easy to overlook but very crucial. Also, the skeletons within the game that function as guides, pointing towards the easiest paths, amplify the game’s exploration aspect.
Putting mechanics into perspective, the characters, Zangetsu, Miriam, Alfred, and Gebel are astoundingly unique with their abilities that are crucial to navigate through the tricky areas of the game. The interaction among characters and their development makes it really strategic. Plus, the challenge is heightened when one character dies, the game must continue until you lose all characters or reach the end — a challenging way to test a player’s adaptability.
The game design also leverages speed and efficiency. Exploring different paths and mastering individual character abilities can significantly optimize completion times. It does come with its share of challenges though. For instance, controlling character movements precisely during jumps or dodging attacks is key to progressing swiftly.
I totally agree, SpeedyGamer99. Now, the graphics and visuals of Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon are an absolute treat. The 8-bit retro style is a visual feast, and perfectly complements the game’s vibe. It’s intriguing how the style prevents the game from becoming dated while enhancing the overall gaming atmosphere, making players feel like they’re actually in a perilous land battling demons.
Agreed, NewGamer. Sound design-wise, they nailed it perfectly to create that dark, demonic castle ambience. Although, there’s no voice acting, the sound effects do a great job in enhancing players’ experience. The soundtrack is spot on, providing a sense of urgency and suspense that aligns well with the narrative.
When it comes to challenge level, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is quite balanced, neither too easy nor too hard. With skeletons guiding the easiest paths, the battle-worn players have an option to prevent frustration. A nod to Inti Creates for such a thoughtful mechanic!
Exactly, CompletionistMaster. And it’s worth noting that replayability is encouraged by different paths and varying levels of difficulty. Achieving different endings depending on the characters recruited and mastered develops a strong motivator for replay.
Speaking of which, Inti Creates really stands unique in the sea of retro-style platform games, moreso due to the depth of the characters and their strategic impact on gameplay. But of course, there’s always room for improvement. Maybe they could work on making controls a bit less sluggish in their future projects.
True that, NewGamer. I would love to see how they evolve in their upcoming projects or sequels. Maybe a multiplayer mode would be great for some competitive gameplay.
And as a speedrunner, I am eager to see the developer adding more elaborate design aspects helpful for speedruns.
Well overall, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is a commendable retro blast from the past, thanks to Inti Creates. I for one, won’t miss plunging into whatever else they develop next.
