Review by gamepro.com who gave it a 4/5
here's the review:
One of the most-loved franchises among its fan base, Castlevania returns from the grave for a second Playstation adventure, Curse of Darkness. But where its predecessor, Lament of Innocence, breathed 3D life into what was essentially a 2D series, Curse gets stuck in a rut. The game delivers the prerequisite good-versus-evil conflict (here you play one of Dracula's servants who fell from grace) against a narrative that stems from one of the earliest Castlevania titles--1990's Dracula's Curse for the NES. Love at First Bite?
As Hector, a so-called Forgemaster hot on the tail of his nemesis Issac, you hack-n-slash through Dracula's Castle, while taking time out to customize weapons, armor, and shields. But the real hook of the game is the Forgemaster system: you can find one of many Innocent Devils--spirits that accompany Issac and lend a hand with their distinctive powers. Half the challenge is deciding which Devil to power up and use in certain situations, a key strategy aspect that enlivens an otherwise rote hack-n-slash play engine. There's also no shortage of real estate to tour, and most of Dracula's estate is peppered with secret areas waiting to be re-explored, warp points to tag, and shops to visit.
After Midnight
Yet as innovative and inviting as the Forgemaster system and customization facets are, Curse is slightly hexed by a repetitive play scheme: enter room, kill enemies, exit room, repeat. Add atmospheric, gorgeous visuals that are annoyingly stymied by an uncooperative camera angle, and you have an otherwise solid action game that's marred by distracting, unfortunate flaws. Troubles aside, Curse of Darkness is a game that gradually becomes more engrossing with each passing hour. It's also a title that will probably be more appreciated a bit more by series fanboys than mainstream players.
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