Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Nearly Went Full Dark Souls

Ever wonder what a Castlevania game would feel like if it borrowed Dark Souls' slow, punishing combat? Well, according to Evil Empire, that almost happened with Castlevania: Belmont's Curse.

In an interview with PCGamesN, Evil Empire head of business Ben Laulan revealed that the game went through many iterations before settling on its final form. "We had much slower versions, more like a Dark Souls kind of vibe with even more heavy combat and slow rhythm," Laulan said. "Then we realized it wasn't really Castlevania because it was too slow, too intense, and just too hard."

So they cranked up the speed—and accidentally veered into Dead Cells territory. "Then it was too much Dead Cells because it was too fast-paced, and the exploration wasn't there as much as it needs to be in Castlevania," Laulan explained. Given Evil Empire's experience supporting Dead Cells post-launch, that influence makes sense, but the team knew they had to stay true to Castlevania's identity.

Fortunately, they found the sweet spot. Belmont's Curse has launched to critical acclaim, including a 4/5 star review from our own site. "Beautiful and challenging, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse offers a rich, gothic world of puzzles to solve and enemies to whip," wrote social media editor Serena Cherry. "With a stunning blend of fast-paced traversal action and compelling storytelling, this game proudly honours the Belmont legacy in exciting new ways."

It's a relief that Evil Empire avoided chasing trends. As fans know, Castlevania's essence lies in its whip-cracking action and exploration, not in punishing dodge-rolls or breakneck speed. The developer's willingness to iterate until it felt right shows their dedication to the series.

Belmont's Curse was born out of "a sense of urgency," according to its producer, who noted that if we have to wait 10 years for the next game, "the whole thing is meaningless." That urgency paid off—this is a return to form for the long-dormant franchise.

So, are you glad Evil Empire ditched the Dark Souls vibe? Or would you have liked to see their take on a slower, more methodical Castlevania? Let us know in the comments!