Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse debuts new gameplay trailer

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During the Triple-i Initiative presentation on Thursday afternoon (April 9), Konami unveiled a new trailer for Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, showcasing fresh gameplay and developer insights.

The footage confirms that the title will follow a traditional 2D action and exploration structure, explicitly moving away from the roguelike elements previously associated with its developers.

Gameplay and setting: supernatural Paris

The trailer features the protagonist, Sonia Belmont, wielding her iconic whip across a version of Paris overrun by supernatural forces. Key highlights include:

• Iconic Locations: Landscapes such as the Notre Dame Cathedral are shown.
• Boss Fights: A corrupted figure inspired by Joan of Arc appears as a major adversary.
• Level Design: Developed by Evil Empire (led by former Motion Twin members) with Motion Twin acting as consultants, the game emphasizes verticality in urban settings and fluid transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces.
• The Map: The world layout maintains the visual complexity of series classics while utilizing a continuous territory with save rooms and fast-travel points.

“Symphony of the Night” influence

Konami producer Tsutomu Taniguchi stated that the team drew significant inspiration from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night to establish the game’s exploratory direction. Lead level designer Sandro described the 1997 masterpiece as a “genre-defining masterpiece” that served as the architectural foundation for Belmont’s Curse.

Addressing public speculation, Matt from Evil Empire stated directly to the camera: “The new Castlevania will not be a roguelike.” Instead, the trailer showcases Sonia leveling up, confirming the light RPG progression system characteristic of the era started by Symphony of the Night.

Branding and the “Metroidvania” terminology

Konami is officially labeling the project as a “2D action and exploration game.” This specific phrasing stems from a corporate restriction:

• Copyright Constraints: As Konami owns Castlevania but not the Metroid franchise, it avoids using the compound term “Metroidvania” in promotional materials.
• Legacy Terms: The community-favorite term “Igavania” (used for games overseen by Koji Igarashi) is also restricted following Igarashi’s departure to create Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.

Despite these institutional branding choices, the gaming community has already categorized the title on digital platforms. On Steam, the Belmont’s Curse page, much like Bloodstained and the Castlevania Dominus Collection, is already officially tagged by users as a “Metroidvania.”

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Amanda Torati

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Amanda Torati is a linguist and postgraduate researcher who specializes in the intersection of storytelling and interactive media. With a deep fascination for the gaming ecosystem, she focuses on deconstructing game narratives and technical trends to make them accessible to players of all levels. At ABWaves Game, Amanda combines her academic background with in-depth research to deliver reviews and guides that are both precise and engaging, ensuring readers stay informed in a fast-paced digital world.

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