Compare End of Abyss vs Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse

The fixed and shifting isometric camera is effective at making Cel feel small and vulnerable, and its framing contributes meaningfully to the game's mood.

The camera can drop ahead of Rose during falls, making incoming hazards difficult to react to in time.

Polish is the most repeated weakness after navigation. Numerous sources encountered map errors, collision problems, softlocks, crashes, audio glitches, or other prerelease issues that made the game feel less finished than its art direction suggests.

The core action and presentation are often described as polished and carefully executed. That finish helps the revival make a strong impression.

Lighting is a standout visual effect, balancing deep darkness and visibility without requiring much manual brightness adjustment.

Flashes and impact effects can overwhelm the screen or feel distracting. These touches do not work equally well for players who value restrained, readable action.

Resource recovery can become an unwelcome grind when failed boss attempts force players to revisit cleared areas for more crafting materials.

Opinions split on repetition: some enjoy farming enemies for experience and testing combinations, while others find prescribed spell-upgrade tasks taxing.

Fragments become too common in several playthroughs, making glowing pickups and fragment-heavy rooms feel less rewarding than meaningful upgrades or supplies.

Exploration rewards are valued for giving hidden chests and optional routes a tangible payoff. Weapons and useful passive equipment make discoveries feel worthwhile.

Enemy behavior supports tactical play: aggressive foes can be manipulated into groups, and one source specifically praises their behavior and variety as a combat strength.

Enemies can track jumps and time attacks around dodges with frustrating precision. That behavior makes already demanding traversal and gauntlets feel less forgiving.

Slow sprint speed makes repeated backtracking feel heavier than it needs to.

Whip-assisted movement often feels fluid, acrobatic, and exciting, especially as new abilities arrive. Early sluggishness and awkward grapple follow-ups frustrate some players.

The hands-off philosophy can go too far; missed scannable objects or subtle routes can lead to hours of wandering, and a light scanner cue or extra guidance would help.

Tarot clues can make investigation satisfying without simply placing an objective marker. Their clarity varies, and some players find the hints too cryptic or too limited when stuck.

The infinite-ammo pistol is often too efficient, discouraging use of limited-ammo alternatives and weakening survival pressure. Several sources also find ammo economics or upgrade incentives skewed toward sticking with the starter weapon.

Distinct weapon styles reward experimentation and situational choices. Strong upgrades and dominant late-game options sometimes make other weapons feel redundant.

Despite obvious inspirations, the combination of top-down sci-fi horror, Metroidvania exploration, and twin-stick combat develops a distinct identity that several sources feel stands out.

Some see a distinctive identity, but many feel the game borrows too safely from established Metroidvanias. A competent revival does not always feel like a new benchmark.

Cel is a deliberately quiet lead, but the limited personality leaves the protagonist underdeveloped for at least one critic.

Rose’s growth and vulnerability give her arc emotional weight for many. Others see a determined heroine who changes too little or remains an underdeveloped archetype.

Technical reliability is a major concern in much of the pre-release coverage, including map-state errors, invisible barriers, stuck geometry, softlocks, broken interactions, and falls through the world. A smaller number of playthroughs reported few or no issues.

Several players encounter few bugs, but others report windowed-mode problems, a fast-travel glitch, or an HDR pop-up that prevents loading. The issues described vary substantially.

Performance reports are strong where frame rate is discussed, including smooth 60 FPS on PS5 hardware and solid results on a high-end handheld.

Some versions maintain smooth action, while others show noticeable drops or limiting frame caps. Switch 2 reports are generally more favorable than original Switch and Steam Deck accounts.

Visual quality is consistently strong, with smooth presentation, striking lighting, grotesque creatures, and cinematic industrial spaces repeatedly singled out.

The game can look striking in motion, but character models and image clarity receive mixed reactions. Nintendo versions draw repeated complaints about blur and low resolution.

The first boss can arrive before the aiming and control scheme feel natural, making the opening combat lesson harsher than it needs to be.

Learning the core moves is often handled well, but important systems are not always explained clearly. Mirror travel in particular is easy to discover late.

Optional collectibles can unlock an alternate ending and additional context, making thorough exploration worthwhile, though the unreliable map can make that hunt less inviting.

Meaningful hidden rewards make optional searches worthwhile. Weapons, equipment, and upgrades help give discoveries a useful payoff.

Enemy variety is broadly praised, with creatures and machines using distinct looks, attack patterns, and environmental themes. A few sources note derivative designs or behavior that becomes less threatening after repeated encounters.

Enemy variety is disputed: familiar monsters delight some players, while others tire of recolors and repeated types. Combat combinations sometimes compensate for the smaller roster.

Environmental clues and hidden notes can sustain mystery, but the amount of concrete lore feels thin to players who want clearer answers about the facility and its events.

Franchise callbacks and ties to earlier events reward familiarity with Castlevania’s history. French historical references add another layer of interest.

Objective structure can become repetitive, especially when progression leans on successive activation tasks instead of more varied goals.

Optional objectives can encourage fresh approaches and exploration. Repetitive or uninspired combat challenges are less successful.

The blend of cinematic horror, survival mechanics, twin-stick shooting, Souls-like ideas, and Metroidvania structure feels fresh to many sources, even when the pieces do not always fit together cleanly.

The whip and tarot systems bring welcome fresh ideas for some. Others find the exploration tricks and movement upgrades too conventional.

Handheld impressions are excellent, with strong reported performance on both MSI Claw 8 AI+ and Xbox Ally X hardware.

Handheld play can be enjoyable, particularly on Switch 2’s smaller screen. Steam Deck performance and cropped menus require more compromise.

The transit system helps connect sectors, but several sources still find backtracking too slow and wish travel between important safe areas were more convenient.

Fast travel helps with backtracking, but its locations, discovery, and extra transitions often feel cumbersome. Several players find revisiting distant areas slower than it should be.

The main path commonly lands around a compact 10-13 hours, with optional exploration extending playtime. Some appreciate that it does not overstay its welcome, while others feel wandering pads the runtime or that the ending arrives just as momentum builds.

The main adventure and optional discoveries generally feel substantial without overstaying their welcome. One player finds it a little short despite its density.

Restoration pods are generally well spaced and create relief, strategy, and fast boss retries, though bug-related reloads can still cost meaningful progress.

Checkpoint spacing is one of the most disputed design choices. Distant save rooms can mean tiring runbacks, while optional boss-door respawns considerably reduce frustration.

The understated writing can reinforce mystery and tone, but vague exchanges and delayed answers leave some players wanting clearer, more substantial storytelling.

The writing is praised for personal stakes, thematic clarity, and eccentric characters. Other reactions point to weak scripts or dialogue that gives away too much.

Progression is most satisfying when new keys, tools, mods, and upgrades reopen old routes and make exploration pay off. In some runs, power growth eventually reduces combat tension or leaves certain systems underused.

New abilities and equipment usually make Rose’s growth satisfying. Slow access to mobility tools and small level-up bonuses leave some players underwhelmed.

Atmosphere is the clearest consensus strength: the facility feels eerie, oppressive, isolated, and cinematic, with lighting and sound repeatedly making simple exploration feel ominous.

A burning Paris, gothic interiors, and evocative audio create a strong sense of place. Brighter visuals and frequent chatter dilute the mood for some traditionalists.

Overall enjoyment ranges from exceptional to uneven. The atmosphere and discovery loop frequently carry the experience, while bugs, navigation friction, repetition, and balance issues are the main reasons enthusiasm drops.

The strongest reactions describe a highly enjoyable, absorbing adventure. Combat and discovery keep those players eager to return even after setbacks.

The opening hours create strong unease through darkness, sound, ambushes, and threatening spaces. Tension often fades once enemy placements repeat, the pistol becomes dominant, or progression makes combat too easy.

The horrors are intimidating without overwhelming the empowering rhythm of play. That balance gives the macabre setting tension without making it oppressive.

Pacing impressions are split: one source praises a tight, well-paced adventure, while another finds the plot slow to gain momentum and technical or navigation problems can stall progress.

The adventure often improves once the castle opens up, but the early hours can drag. Repeated backtracking and long stretches between useful travel points are recurring interruptions.

Optional rooms, secret bosses, upgrades, weapons, notes, and alternate-ending content give the campaign more to uncover than the main path initially suggests.

Distinct weapon families, spells, and encounter combinations give the action welcome variety. The available toolkit feels more expansive to some players than to others.

Resource balance is uneven: early scarcity can encourage careful choices, but Fragments and crafting materials often become so plentiful that ammo tension and loot excitement fade. Other sources dislike being forced to farm when supplies do run dry.

Limited healing makes long gauntlets and crowded encounters stressful. Mana-supported spell combinations are appreciated, but scarce restoratives and interrupted casts can make resource management feel punishing.

The blue-lit industrial horror aesthetic is a major strength, with striking lighting, shadows, grotesque creature imagery, and carefully staged spaces creating a distinctive look.

The vivid gothic art, tarot illustrations, and painterly backgrounds are widely admired. Its brighter, more stylized look is less appealing to players who want a darker traditional aesthetic.

The explore-scan-unlock-return loop can be highly addictive, but repetition and navigation friction make the same structure feel inconsistent when the map or combat starts getting in the way.

Hunting bosses, gaining powers, and opening new paths creates a compelling loop for most. One disappointed demo player found the loop slow and unrewarding.

Most players can adapt to the controls after a short adjustment, but the unusual aiming scheme remains a lasting obstacle for some and never fully clicks for the harshest critic.

Boss patterns and combat rhythms become satisfying as they click. Animation commitments and unfamiliar movement timing can take some adjustment.

Enemy animation helps sell the creatures as strange and dangerous, while Cel’s movement animation also receives specific praise.

Fluid movement and expressive combat animations are consistent highlights. The transitions between running, jumping, and grappling help sell the acrobatic action.

The restrained, cryptic story suits the eerie setting and works well for players who enjoy piecing mysteries together. Others find the buildup too vague, the protagonist underexplored, or the strongest story beats delayed until very late.

Rose’s curse and her captured companions give the adventure more story presence than many expected. Reactions split over predictability, excessive explanation, and a tone that can feel more anime than gothic.

Twin-stick combat is often tense, tactical, and satisfying, especially when dodging through crowded encounters. Its simplicity, repetitive enemies in reused routes, awkward arenas, and uneven weapon economy keep it from landing equally well for everyone.

Combat is the clearest strength, combining weapon-specific attacks, grappling, spells, and parries. Crowded encounters and occasional sluggishness can interrupt that flow.

The facility is visually rich and communicates decay, infection, scale, and former function through its spaces, though some areas can look too similar for reliable navigation.

Layered backgrounds, gothic architecture, and detailed vistas make many locations memorable. One sharply negative demo impression found the environments bland instead.

Weapon and suit upgrades can make exploration feel valuable and materially change survival odds, but some sources find suit customization shallow and the upgraded pistol too dominant.

Works of Mercy encourages experimentation by tying spell upgrades to practical challenges. Repetitive requirements and uneven weapon upgrade rewards can make advancement feel like busywork.

Exploration is the game's biggest point of disagreement. Its interconnected routes, secrets, upgrades, and discovery loop can be deeply rewarding, but weak guidance, backtracking, dark visibility, and map problems can turn the same design into exhausting wandering.

Hidden rooms, meaningful upgrades, and optional areas make exploration rewarding. Cryptic progression, repeated routes, and distant travel points can turn discovery into a chore.

Aiming is one of the most divisive mechanics. Some found it manageable or skill-based after practice, while others struggled with touchy sticks, movement spread, a fussy laser, or shots that felt less predictable than they should.

Precise whip aiming can be finicky, with missed anchors or unintended targets disrupting traversal and combat.

Crash reports are inconsistent: some playthroughs were crash-free, while others suffered multiple hard crashes that interrupted progress.

Crashes and freezes affect a handful of playthroughs. Reports include repeated Switch crashes and two freezes on PS5 Pro.

The sparse dialogue approach divides opinion. One source finds character exchanges too vague to be useful, while another likes the short, concise subtitles and notes for keeping the game moving.

Companion banter can make the journey lively, funny, and less lonely. Frequent interruptions and overexplaining wear on players who prefer a quieter atmosphere.

Frequent loading screens between areas are called out for interrupting an otherwise immersive world.

Loading is a recurring frustration, especially when mirror travel adds multiple transitions. Waiting repeatedly can make useful shortcuts feel slow.

The scanner is the standout mechanic, turning doors, objects, enemies, and map completion into an active exploration system. Its manual nature is engaging for some players but can cause major backtracking when an important object is missed.

The whip and tarot abilities connect traversal, combat, and progression in satisfying ways. A minority find the individual mechanics inconsistent or too familiar.

Challenge is frequently rewarding and fair in regular play, but the curve is uneven. Early spikes, one notably punishing centipede boss, later bosses that become too easy, and upgrade-driven power swings can make progression feel inconsistent.

The challenge can be rewarding, with learnable patterns and meaningful skill tests. Difficulty spikes, crowded rooms, and overpowered late-game equipment create an uneven curve for others.

Sound, lighting, environmental scale, minimal interface, and controller feedback can make the facility highly immersive, although loading screens and repetition occasionally break the spell.

The blend of French history, gothic locations, and compelling exploration makes the world absorbing. Strong atmosphere helps sustain the desire to investigate.

One source specifically praises the final graphics for matching the visual quality presented in the trailers.

The short demo is criticized for underselling the full game. Later movement options and stronger areas make the adventure feel different from its opening slice.

Where raw performance is tested, optimization is a strength: high-end PC, PS5, PS5 Pro, and handheld runs all receive positive reports.

Performance varies by platform and build, with solid experiences alongside frame drops, menu hitches, and disappointing handheld results. A stable presentation is not consistent across all reports.

The score is consistently praised for being restrained, ominous, and responsive to action, reinforcing the industrial horror atmosphere without overwhelming it.

The soundtrack sharply divides opinion: some love its orchestral and electronic blend, while others miss the memorable melodies of older entries. Reworked classics are a particular point of disagreement.

PS5-specific DualSense support is a welcome touch, with haptics and adaptive triggers adding texture to scanning and other actions.

The absence of a native Switch 2 version disappoints players who want the newer hardware used more fully. Resolution and control concerns strengthen that criticism.

Value impressions are strongly positive where discussed: the $29.99 price is considered excellent for the amount and quality of the experience.

The lower price earns strong approval, especially given the amount of exploration and optional content. Players repeatedly describe it as good value.

Secret areas, missed upgrades, alternate-ending collectibles, and route knowledge create reasons to return, although there is no New Game+ in the coverage that discusses it.

Multiple endings and unfinished discoveries give reasons to keep playing. The lack of New Game+ and concerns about shallow upgrades limit the appeal for some repeat players.

Cel's quiet, minimally defined personality leaves the lead less compelling than the world surrounding them.

Rose is often praised as a confident, vulnerable, and engaging new Belmont. Her headstrong personality is less convincing to those who want more agency or complexity.

Movement and shooting generally feel responsive once learned, but the unusual aiming scheme can feel awkward on controller and creates a steeper adjustment period for some players.

Many find the controls responsive, but others report input delay, long animations, or unreliable grappling. Platform and build differences matter when judging how crisp the action feels.

The invented, gibberish-style speech is surprisingly effective, with delivery conveying seriousness and intimidation even without a real spoken language.

Voice performances are mostly well received and help bring the cast to life. Some find the English delivery uneven, while the Japanese dub receives a particularly favorable comparison.

Sound design is one of the strongest areas, using distant clangs, wet creature noises, reverberation, weapon impact, and industrial ambience to make unseen threats and vast spaces feel tangible.

Snappy whip cracks and impactful combat sounds help the action feel satisfying. One review criticizes the overall audio quality.

The map is both essential and one of the game's biggest risks. When it works, scanning and charting routes are satisfying; when doors fail to update, layers are hard to read, or cues are too vague, navigation becomes frustrating and time-consuming.

Map markers, completion tracking, and tarot clues help organize exploration. Even so, unclear objectives and awkward connections leave some players wandering for long stretches.

Boss quality varies sharply by source. Some praise creative grotesque designs and pattern-based fights, while others find several encounters repetitive, cramped, or poorly balanced across the campaign.

Boss battles frequently stand out for inventive patterns, striking designs, and demanding use of movement. A smaller group finds them uneven, forgettable, or frustratingly spongy.

The derelict facility is a compelling character in its own right, with distinct sectors, infection, machinery, environmental clues, and spatial scale doing much of the storytelling.

The ruined Paris setting and its history make the world engaging. A few reactions miss the ordinary people and encounters that would make its spaces feel more inhabited.

The minimal HUD is praised for cleanliness, but the map interface can malfunction or fail to load, creating a sharp contrast between presentation and usability.

Tarot-themed menus are attractive and generally easy to understand. Cropped item information on Steam Deck undermines their usability.

The interconnected facility can be intricate, dense, and rewarding, with strong shortcuts and vertical layering. Less favorable impressions point to confusing flow, overly linear stretches, hidden progression cues, and areas that are hard to read.

The castle’s distinct rooms, secrets, and shortcuts earn broad praise. Opinions are less enthusiastic about the early areas and how well the larger regions connect.

Adjustable damage, healing, and boss respawns make the game easier to tailor to different skill levels. Most welcome that flexibility, though a few dislike the toggles or find they do not solve platforming frustrations.

A familiar returning voice is especially rewarding for a longtime fan. The casting continuity adds an appreciated connection to earlier games.

The wider cast earns praise for interesting, distinct personalities. Creative companions help the journey feel lively beyond Rose’s own story.

Some players can read attacks clearly even in hectic fights, while others lose track amid projectiles and effects. That split matters in a game built around precise defensive timing.

The game is packed with ideas, but at least one source felt several systems were not fully implemented or developed as far as they could have been.

Crafting special ammunition can become tedious when a failed encounter consumes supplies and forces the player to make them again.

Keeping progress and experience after death can make retries feel productive. Poor respawn positions and lengthy returns to danger still create frustration.

Family loss, personal growth, and moments of redemption give the story unexpected emotional pull. Rose’s relationships provide much of that impact.

Optional sectors, alternate-ending collectibles, and extra narrative material give curious players meaningful content to pursue beyond the straightforward ending.

Franchise identity is a central disagreement. Many celebrate a thoughtful modernization, while others miss the RPG detail, atmosphere, and signature oddities of earlier Castlevanias.

PC graphics options are criticized as sparse or absent, leaving little room to recover performance beyond changing resolution.

DualSense haptics and adaptive-trigger support are appreciated as worthwhile immersion extras, even if they do not fundamentally change play.

The minimal HUD earns praise for staying clean and keeping attention on the art rather than cluttering the screen.

Bickering companions and eccentric personalities bring welcome humor and levity. These lighter exchanges help make the dark journey feel less lonely.

Streamlined equipment removes the routine of constantly equipping whichever armor has the highest stats. That reduced busywork is appreciated.

The overall response is favorable, with many calling it a strong or excellent comeback. More reserved reactions see an enjoyable foundation held back by uneven difficulty, technical issues, or a weaker franchise identity.

The steelbook earns direct praise for its appearance, adding appeal to the physical package.

A full physical release is enthusiastically welcomed, especially by a player planning to keep it in a collection.

Platforming can be exhilarating when jumps, grapples, and light abilities click together. Its tight timing and repeated hazard rooms also produce some of the strongest complaints.

The leaner RPG systems divide opinion: some appreciate less equipment busywork, while others miss richer statistics, loot drops, and build depth.

There is some freedom to choose routes and approach the ending early. Players hoping for extensive sequence breaking may find the progression rules surprisingly rigid.

Captured bosses bring distinct personalities and rivalries to Rose’s journey. Some players wish the wider cast contributed more, while others find the constant commentary excessive.

The knife and occasional opportunities to approach enemies quietly feel underused; one source wanted smarter positioning to enable more meaningful stealth takedowns.

The survival layer works best when secondary ammo is scarce and safe-room choices create pressure. Infinite pistol ammo, abundant materials, repeated respawns, or forced farming can undercut that tension.

The opening teaches movement and combat through practical encounters, making the basics approachable without removing the challenge.

The macabre presentation is praised for restraint rather than for sheer intensity. Its intimidating horrors remain stylized instead of excessively grotesque.

The scanner makes doors, objects, weak structures, and route information feel actively discoverable, rewarding players who deliberately inspect the environment.

Weapons, spells, and three relic slots allow enjoyable combinations without excessive complexity. The freedom to adapt builds is a strength, though frequent menu use can interrupt experimentation.

The physical edition appeals to collectors, with enthusiasm for owning the game and praise for the steelbook presentation.

Menu reactions split between quick, clear operation and interruptions to combat flow. Frequent equipment swapping, cropped text, and occasional hitches are the main complaints.

Refreshed classic monsters can look imposing and give combat personality. Criticism centers on generic designs, excessive health, and enemies that feel more annoying than interesting.

Some later objectives feel mundane and overly dependent on activating chains of systems rather than introducing more meaningful tasks.

The open-ended world leaves room for branching discoveries while keeping the main route manageable. Its initial linear stretch gives way to a more inviting search for secrets.

Environmental clues, portraits, and room-specific mechanics produce satisfying discoveries. Some puzzles cross into obscurity or become frustrating when progress depends on finding a particular trigger.

Tarot investigations give boss hunts a clear purpose, with late-game searches attracting the strongest praise. Familiar tricks make those quests less surprising for some genre veterans.

Sparse save points magnify the cost of crashes and softlocks, because technical failures can force large sections to be replayed.