9.5 / 10, The Nostalgia Strikes Back

Bloodstained : Ritual of the Night is a phenomenal title to add to most people's game libraries these days as Koji Igarashi outdoes himself with the latest IP. If you enjoyed playing Castlevania :SotN style games, this is definitely up your alley as the newest protagonist, Miriam, fits the bill, becoming our new Alucard.


Gameplay: 9/10 - Miriam is allowed a whole assortment of equipment ranging from Whips to Swords, Lances, Halberds, Staffs, Guns, and even boots for her own feet. The dynamics of the compelling and enticing game-play continue when you encounter "shards", demonic upgrades as the core mechanic of the game. These shards allow you to do a variety of things which include passive abilities, active summons, spell casts such as fireballs or iceballs, and even transform Miriam into a demon succubus with kick ass moves. Literally! The complexity of the combat ranges well, allowing the player to choose how they want to play. Anything will work in essence and the compounding accumulation of these "shards" works as a story element as well which is clever. These "shards" may or may not corrupt Miriam if left unchecked.

Instead of Relics, Miriam undergoes shards that are necessary to progress the game as certain areas are blocked until you acquire specific shards. Similarly to SotN, Miriam can learn techniques adding more depth to weapons. Each weapon/weapon class has its own set of techniques that can be discovered through various book shelves found in the game. Don't expect "Dark Metamorphosis" or "Soul Steal" however!

Another aspect of the game-play is the status table and resistances. Each enemy has their own weaknesses and resistances and can be displayed once killed in the player's encyclopedia found in the menu. Nasty statuses such as Curse which limit your max HP and Mana can properly dismantle a healthy Miriam, so come well equipped for every encounter!

Each equipment item is also essential, allowing Miriam to bolster certain stats such as LUCK, STRENGTH AND CONSTITUTION. LUCK for example, enables crit chance and item drops which is handy when farming for rare equipment!

Miriam can create food through alchemy, acquiring buffs and stat bonuses through eating! Just as well, the player can upgrade shards, create new equipment, and even find new recipes. On top of the already stellar gameplay, Bloodstained showcases a well-thought out crafting system.

All in all, a great, intuitive design that flows well and plays just like SotN. Welcome to the family Miriam!

Story: 7/10 - The story follows a cursed land ransacked by Demons, and in an attempt to counter this, Alchemists forced humans to undergo procedures to acquire Demonic power to combat the evils that plagued them. This created shards, and rarely a shard user was the byproduct of both miracle and curse as very rarely the procedure is a success. Miriam, being a shard user that was saved from ultimately dying from the procedure, follows after Gebel, another shard user into a castle of horror in this twisted strand of events.

Overall, the story is good, but isn't as complex as the game-play. Certain characters are just dull and stay the same. Plot holes open up here and there. But don't look to the game for an amazing story, look to it for game-play! The story is solid, but nothing intriguing.

Sound: 10/10 - The sound design is impeccable, and the musical composer is the very same from SotN! When delving into each section of the game, a different piece of music is there! Great music track and sound design make for an amazing unforgettable experience! Its a game you can't put down!

Graphics: 8/10 - Fixing the issue with the lighting alleviated the issue of dull atmosphere! But there are blemishes here and there. Elements of the game can be fixed in time however. The backdrops are amazing, and going through new rooms feels rejuvenating! A completely new adventure that will overtake you! Just like SotN!

Fun Factor: 9/10 - Overall, the game is NOT lackluster in the slightest! It's f*cking fun as heck! New playstyles, techniques, shards, and upgrades add limitless replayability and fun to the game. It feels good on the controller, just as well as with keyboard. If you want a new game to try out and have an itch for a new RPG, this is it!

Value Factor: 10/10 - Promises of a Co-Op/Multiplayer, DLC, and more content add potential to the already great package. Hours will add up after playing the game for a while through replays, and new characters will make extra playthroughs fresh and exciting! For about $40, you're getting a game that should be worth $60! Its a steal!

Buy the dang thing!

- John