Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2

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Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 Image
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82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 32 Ratings

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  • Summary: Koji Igarashi and Inti Creates are back with more retro sword-and-whip action!

    Curse of the Moon 2 brings classic 2D action and a dark, 8-Bit aesthetic together with modern playability. The multi-scenario structure of the previous title returns with an epic new story supervised by IGA    Koji Igarashi and Inti Creates are back with more retro sword-and-whip action!

    Curse of the Moon 2 brings classic 2D action and a dark, 8-Bit aesthetic together with modern playability. The multi-scenario structure of the previous title returns with an epic new story supervised by IGA (Koji Igarashi) himself.
    Players take control of Zangetsu, a swordsman from the far east who bears a deep grudge against demonkind and the alchemists who summoned them. Zangetsu must battle his way to the demonic stronghold, but he doesn't have to do it alone! Zangetsu can ally himself with a brand new cast of characters he meets along the way and add them to the playable roster. Each new character adds a variety of gameplay options, abilities, and ways to complete the game's many stages.
    Game Flow
    Battle through stages filled with fearsome enemies and dangerous traps, each with a massive boss waiting at the end. A chance encounter with a potential ally awaits you after defeating a boss. Will they serve as a trustworthy partner on your perilous journey?

    Increase Combat Abilities
    You can instantaneously switch between allies you have recruited at any time! Allies have their own life bars, so with each ally you recruit, you're survivability is greatly increased!
    Shortcuts that Only Allies Can Access
    Allies have special, unique abilities which allow them to use shortcuts to skip parts of stages or access new areas! There are no special items obtainable by taking the long way around, so take every shortcut you can find! If your allies are out of commission, you'll have to take longer routes, where stronger enemies await! When your life gets low, be sure to switch then out so they'll be available when you need them.

    Multiple Episodes
    The story is told over the course of multiple episodes. Only the first episode is accessible at the beginning, but more episodes will unlock as you progress through the game. The events that unfold in each episode continue into the next one, so be sure to unlock all the episodes to see the true ending.
    Curse of the Moon 2 had two play styles, "Veteran" and "Casual".
    Veteran Style
    Choose "Veteran" style to experiment a difficulty reminiscent of older games. An enemy's sttack knocks the player to their death...something very familiar to retro game fans.
    Casual Style
    Even if you're a fan of challenging games, sometimes you just want to take it easy! Casual mode is perfect for times like that. On Casual Style, things are more forgiving. Attacks don't knock the player back and lives are unlimited, alongside other changes.
    Changing Style
    Style can be changed when starting a game, loading a save file, or on the Game Over screen.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Siliconera
    Sep 15, 2020
    100
    Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 is a superb sequel. It has everything that made the first game a surprise hit, but expands and adds to it with a level of care that shines through the whole thing.
  2. Destructoid
    Jul 10, 2020
    90
    Inti Creates could've done "more of the same" and called it a day, but the new characters lend Curse of the Moon 2 a ton of flexibility, the co-op support is commendable, and the subtle refinements can be found far and wide if you go back to play the original game after spending a weekend with the sequel. Curse of the Moon isn't just some quaint offshoot of Bloodstained. It's leading the charge.
  3. Cubed3
    Jul 29, 2020
    90
    In many aspects, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 reiterates all the good things of the first instalment, and goes beyond just enough to justify its existence. All qualities of its predecessor are in place, with an extra dose of wackiness and originality on top. The classic Castlevania 3-inspired recipe works just as well now, and the retro-stiff but tight and satisfying controls are a joy to experience for any fans of the genre. Inti Creates did it again!
  4. Video Chums
    Jul 10, 2020
    80
    Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 is a worthy successor to the original and I'm very happy that Inti Creates and Koji Igarashi decided to make this sequel. With a cool co-op mode and a wonderful new cast of playable characters, it's one fun retro-inspired game.
  5. TrueGaming
    Aug 10, 2020
    80
    Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 is a great mix of old and new, and one of the best 2D action games you can get on any platform right now, especially with how replayable it is and how varied your options as a player are, now if only the jump mechanic was more flexible.
  6. IGN Italia
    Jul 24, 2020
    80
    Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 might annoy those who find this continuous use of 8-bit style graphics redundant. If it may appear pimply and technically "comfortable" in development, in reality the pillars that decree a good video game are always the same. Inti Create has created an intriguing action platformer with excellent gameplay potential. With an unexpected endgame for such a "small" title, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 brings with it the legacy of a gameplay of yesteryear, endowed with a rhythm and difficulty not for everyone, but with an internal consistency and a playful force worthy of a triple A.
  7. DarkStation
    Jul 24, 2020
    70
    Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 is a somewhat uneven sequel. On one hand, its new playable characters create some of the most ingenious stretches of retro platforming in recent memory. The myriad abilities at your disposal create an open-ended experience, and dismantling tricky challenges with your broad toolset is one of the game's greatest pleasures. But difficulty spikes and a few sequences that clash with the game's fixed trajectory jumps can make some stretches feel a little tedious. At its best, the game synthesizes the appeal of NES platformers with great boss fights and simple but nuanced systems. At its worst, it emulates the frustrating elements of games from this era with a little too much accuracy.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. FilipWit
    Jul 28, 2020
    10
    I absolutely love this game and I think it's a masterpiece. But there's a lot you might want to know before playing.

    First up is that    I absolutely love this game and I think it's a masterpiece. But there's a lot you might want to know before playing.

    First up is that there's a really big difficulty spike after around the 1/3rd of the game. After that the game stays REALLY HARD. Like, NES Castlevania 1 hard, or maybe even Castlevania 3. However, the game is always fair, it's just really unforgiving. There's 2 difficulty settings and make no mistake, the "veteran" difficulty lives up to its name. There is no shame in switching to "casual", it can save your nerves and a lot of time. "Veteran" really requires you to learn the ins and outs of everything in the game, to fully understand all abilities and skill of each character, enemy and boss. Learning that was VERY rewarding for me, but many might find it too difficult so that's important to keep in mind.

    Second is that the game takes around 20 hours to TRULY finish. There's many "final" bosses, but to reach the final final boss you have to kinda beat the game 3 times. On the second run there's the difficulty spike, and every run has different level design, but the themes of the levels and bosses at the end of them stay the same.

    Third is that, personally, I think reaching the end is super worth it. The ending section is absurd amazing in all the right places and the true final boss is one of my favourite final bosses in gaming. There's a ton of unexpected things in the ending, and they are only in the ending section, so to really see everything this game has to offer you have to reach the "secret" final boss.

    If you like hard platformers and Castlevania aesthetic, then this game is a must buy.    … Expand
  2. Jdd2102
    Jul 20, 2020
    10
    Es una gran secuela tanto a nivel jugable como a nivel artístico recomendable
  4. SomaKurusu
    Jul 16, 2020
    10
    Bloodstained se ha consolidado como la saga sucesora espiritual de castlevania, y este Curse of the Moon 2 amplía y mejora en todos losBloodstained se ha consolidado como la saga sucesora espiritual de castlevania, y este Curse of the Moon 2 amplía y mejora en todos los aspectos al primero. Los niveles son mucho más largos y con un diseño más complejo, Los personajes son mucho más útiles gracias al diverso plataformeo de las fases. Los jefes son más espectaculares y retantes. Hay un total de 7 personajes. Hay un multiplayer incorporado. En fin, me ha parecido un juegazo.… Expand
  5. Jamesa7x
    Jul 21, 2020
    10
    This is the best castlevania game to come out in years. It’s a must buy. Buy it now
  6. JazGalaxy
    Jul 16, 2020
    9
    I don't believe in "nostalgia", so I will refrain from using that word when talking about Curse Of The Moon 2. Instead, I will say that CurseI don't believe in "nostalgia", so I will refrain from using that word when talking about Curse Of The Moon 2. Instead, I will say that Curse Of The Moon is a brand new game that focuses on forgotten and underused game design that relies on timing, trajectories, reflexes and item management. In these things, the game is exceptionally well designed and a great deal of fun. If you loved Curse OF The Moon, there is no reason not to get COTM2. It is more of what you love with some streamlining of things that didn't quite make sense like the interplay of "lives" and "continues". If you have not played COTM, this game is a must-play for fans of reflex driven action games that emphasize precision and self preservation.

    The only reason I give it a 9 Instead of 10 is because it's too much like COTM1, in the grand scheme of things. I would have loved to see COTM2 reference Castlevania 2 in design instead of Castlevania 3, yet again.    … Expand
  7. Marco_1UP
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
    piola piola piola piola piola piola piola piola piola piola piola piola piola piola
  8. Steyraus
    Jan 13, 2021
    2
    Can't sit through more than 10 minutes of the first level before wanting to smash my head against the wall. The distorted tinny music loopCan't sit through more than 10 minutes of the first level before wanting to smash my head against the wall. The distorted tinny music loop drive me crazy. It overwhelms the entire experience and all I hear for the next hour is that horrible music. I know all the want to be cool kids will say oh you gotta listen to the retro music cuz it's so cool. But piss off I listend to that music for two decades now I want the option to turn the music down. I know the first game didn't have the option either that wasn't a standalone title it was a side project by now as a stand alone release it should have audio sliders. I wanna see the games not doing anything that new or interesting.… Expand

See all 10 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Best Switch Game of 2020

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