{
  "id": 6593465,
  "title": "Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse proves Dead Cells' developers were the right fit for a revival in this blessing for the Belmonts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/castlevania-belmonts-curse-proves-dead-cells-developers-were-the",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-10T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Rock Paper Shotgun",
    "slug": "rock-paper-shotgun",
    "url": "https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/castlevania-belmonts-curse-proves-dead-cells-developer-were-the-right-fit-for-a-revival-in-this-blessing-for-the-belmonts"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Castlevania: Belmont's Curse marks a successful revival effort for the Dead Cells developers, Evil Empire, who were entrusted by Konami to bring the series back to life after a ten-year hiatus. The game introduces a new female protagonist, Rose, who is the daughter of two former series protagonists, Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades. As a cursed character with a demonic right arm, Rose embarks on a quest to vanquish Dracula in Paris, an area ravaged by monsters.\n\nThe game offers a non-linear, search-action experience, known as a Metroidvania, which encourages exploration and the discovery of items and abilities to progress through the adventure. Despite Evil Empire's previous work on the fast-paced roguelike Dead Cells, this game does not include roguelike or roguelite elements. Lead designer Sandro Bordier explains that the level design is spacious and expansive, allowing players to optimize their movement and enjoy Rose's Alucard-esque speed while also incorporating mystery and curiosity into the design.\n\nEvil Empire's decision to create a Metroidvania proved successful, as it balanced the need for speed and curiosity, which is essential for a successful Metroidvania. The game features stunning anime-inspired visuals, vibrant 2.5D levels, and a captivating Parisian setting characterized by a blood-red color palette. The game's standout boss fight against The Fallen, a monster with sharp claws, a holy cross, and a golden whip, tests players' reactions and precise movement. Upon defeating The Fallen, Rose gains his soul, granting her his booming voice, the classic boomerang holy cross, and the legendary Vampire Killer whip.\n\nThe developers successfully blended the fast-paced action of Dead Cells with the exploration-focused gameplay of Castlevania, creating a unique experience that appeals to both series fans and newcomers alike. Despite the pressure to live up to previous games, Evil Empire managed to strike the right balance, satisfying fans from various eras while introducing fresh gameplay mechanics and maintaining their signature action-oriented style.",
  "summary": "\"You're not the last Belmont anymore\", Trevor reminds his daughter Rose, as they gently sail into a Paris ablaze and ripped apart by monsters. Rose knows it well, as do indie developers Evil Empire. Following their success with roguelike Dead Cells (and its own Castlevania DLC), Konami gave them the keys to Dracula's kingdom, trusting the French team to bring the series back to life after a ten…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}