Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon - Nintendo Switch [Digital]

Captures the feel Iga's older Castlevania platforming adventures with a great retro soundtrack. One casual playthrough isn't too long, but additional difficulties up the challenge and replay value. Plus, there are many secrets in the walls! Four characters to play and switch between, each with their own ability, allow you to mix (and combine) powers. It's a premium price to pay for this physical release of a $10 download, but if you are a fan and backer of the new Bloodstained game (or Castlevania fan), it is a must have for the collection. Besides the Nintendo Switch cartridge, you get a case and little character manual with it. I wish the manual would have included control instructions, like game manuals back in the day, but it is really just a character introduction manual with artwork. Fairly light manual, at with only five spreads. This is created with the diehard fan in mind, so, being a diehard fan, my review is skewed to 5. But then, if you aren't a fan, why would you be reading all of this? I included images for clarity on what is included. A great intro to the new Bloodstained series!

Amazing game. The looks, the controls, gameplay and characters are amazing. This is a must buy for the switch.

Truly incredible game, especially if you are fan of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. It really mirrors the gameplay and spirit of SotN. The rpg mechanics work exceptionally well, the boss fights are a blast. However, I can't recommend this on the Switch. Graphics, crashing, and outright freezing are rampant. The developers are working on patches but until they are addressed, it is HIGHLY recommended to purchase on another console (I returned my Switch version for the PS4 version). Iga forever.

What an amazing & nostalgic experience! Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon takes you back in time to the NES days, to the days of Castlevania 1 & 3. A platformer that plays very much like Castlevania, with a few new more modern twists. This game is basically a reimagining of Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse... where you can play up to 4 characters. A Swordsman, an Alchemist/Mage, Long range & high jumping woman with a whip & a Vampire/Dark Magic user type of character with the ability to fly long stretches... all characters with different attack patterns, sub weapons, strengths & weaknesses. Game takes you through 8 levels, with diverting paths filled with peril or just plain shortcuts. Each playthru can feel like a fresh experience! Game features multiple endings, 3 modes & a Boss Rush mode that is unlockable. Game is all about experimenting and pattern recognition like the old NES days... and the game provides quite the challenge for those that decide to tackle the Veteran mode difficulty playstyle and for those that want to have an easier time, the game provides with a 'Casual' mode difficulty. Getting a physical copy of this game with as much replayability it had, was the definitely worth the extra $20 in its price tag, quite the collector's item from Limited Run Games' partnership with Best Buy. 5/5 game with countless of hours to sink in for all the different playthroughs and endings to acquire & see.

Curse Of The Moon takes you back to the days of the great Castlevania games, especially Castlevania III. It has that atmosphere (something sadly lacking in a lot of games nowadays) and perfect controls. It is a side scroller, allowing you to switch between protagonists, something which is essential to explore all of the environment. All the playable characters and almost all the monsters show up again in the excellent Ritual Of The Night, which connects the two games nicely and builds a sense of lore and belonging. Beating the game unlocks harder difficulties, and this is a game that has a good replayability factor. It's a little short, but that's okay, because you'll want to dive right back in. But be sure to pick up Ritual... because that is another excellent game in the vein of Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night. I just wish the actual recent Castlevania games were this good