Just a very nice and slow game to play when you want to listen to podcasts. The art is pretty striking.
5 bosses and 30% of the map in, I have to say this: I had no idea how much I missed an authentic, Koji Igarashi produced, Castlevania. Other games have successfully adapted the formula, but there is something in the flair of his games, that only this director can apparently add. But my feelings aside, Bloodstained is the best we could have wished for. A great explorative platformer with good movement and hitboxes, diverse weapons, an almost hilarious amount of different attacks and a wonderful soundtrack. I don't even mind the Kickstarter portraits in the game, since they add to the slight level of camp that has always been essential to the great mix of gothic horror and Hammer Studios cheese that made Castlevania its own thing. Bloodstained fits in marvelously and if anyone liked Castlevania or any Metroidvania, buy without regret. And David Hayter is in it, so... bonus star!
Among all the games I played (and I have played a lot, being the sad b'''' that I am) this game is probably my favourite. It has a tight, claustrophobic and frightening atmosphere. It plays with the players fears and expectations and doesn't use cheap jump scares to do so. And finally, it is one of the few games that completely reward the player for both exploring every last bit of the game AND thinking about it. While I enjoyed both Bioshock and Bioshock Infinite, THIS is the game that I will always return to, if I want to get this special feeling only S.H.O.D.A.N. and THE MANY can give: Paranoid, sickening dread and desperation beyond rational. Truly a marvel of storytelling, atmosphere and depth.
Playing this game feels a bit like playing a crossover between a good JRPG (the Mario and Luigi Superstar games come to mind) and the Charlie Brown and Snoopy show. It's colorful, creative, absorbing and incredibly charming. The combat is not very deep, but seeing a cardboard robot costume turn into Optimus Prime is surprisingly engaging and I was looking forward to hunting down another costume. Personally, I do not celebrate Halloween (me being Austrian) but Costume quest holds a dear place in my heart.
