Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, PlayStation 2

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness was the second game released for the PlayStation 2 by Konami, initially coming out in 2005. Much like its predecessor (Lament of Innocence), this game is also a hack and slash 3D action game, with horror and RPG elements.

Curse of Darkness is set in the year 1479, three years after the events of Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse. In it, you play as Hector – a “Devil Forgemaster“; a vampire ‘sergeant’ who once worked for Dracula, but relinquished his powers to go live with humans instead. When Hector’s wife is burnt at the stake for witchcraft, he discovers that the vampire responsible is a Devil Forgemaster he knows, so he sets out after him, inside an abandoned castle.

Curse of Darkness has a number of new features that make playing the game a bit more enjoyable and detailed than the Lament of Innocence. Firstly: you can combine items to craft new weapons and armour, and you can do this anywhere and anytime (although you do need to make sure you collect enough consumables to be able to do what you’re trying to do). Secondly: you have companions, called “Innocent Devils“, who follow you around, and provide help and services. The Innocent Devils level up the more you use them, and you can change them at any time. Thirdly: another layer of detail to Innocent Devils is that you can evolve them a certain way, by using different types of “I.D. Evolution Crystals” on them. As they evolve, they become more powerful.

Story and gameplay in Curse of Darkness start off fairly ‘normal’, then the game takes a surreal twist, when a parallel world called “The Infinite Corridor” is opened, and everyone jumps in…

There are some funny touches – like the soothing “Therapeutic Chair” – and the level of detail in the item and crafting systems give the game another added dimension. Overall, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness is the game Lament of Innocence wishes it was… Is it up there with the very best of the 3D Castlevanias? Mmmm… That’s debatable. Maybe… It’s good!