May not be the quintessential Castlevania game, but it has a few things to offer to the series.
Graphically, Curse is kind of all over the place. Some things look great while others look pixilated. The enemies are perhaps the most detailed in the game and some of the levels look great, but other levels seemed to have been rushed. The main character is very detailed and animated well and so are the many weapons you use. Overall, I thought the graphics could have been better for a system like the Xbox. The music is typical Castlevania fare with its mix of Gothic style and modern guitars. It isn’t the most memorable music found in a Castlevania game, but it adds to the game’s experience. The sounds are nicely done. My personal favorite is the sound of the skeleton wolves when they are defeated.
Game play differs from most other Castlevania’s in that you aren’t in control of a Belmont and hence isn’t using a whip as a weapon. Since you aren’t confined to just a whip, you have a variety of swords, axes, spears, and other special weapons you create from different materials you get from fallen foes or steal from them. Some of these materials are quite rare and hard to get.
You also have an AI assisted companion called an innocent devil. Depending on the type of innocent devil you have, they have the ability to heal, cast spells, or perform some other devastating move. They have many different evolution paths, so you can create one that fits you needs. I found these allies to be quite helpful and not buffoons who just get in your way.
Control is simple and has a decent amount of depth to it. It isn’t Ninja Gaiden deep, but enough to make combat fun. I really didn’t find control to be frustrating, overall. The only exception is when trying to steal from certain enemies, since you only have a certain window to steal from them that is specific to each different enemy. Other than that, I didn’t get to the point where I wanted to bash in the TV.
Curse of Darkness is a worthy addition to the Castlevania lineage. I don’t think it will attain classic status like its legendary predecessors, but it isn’t a disappointment to the series. Any fan of Castlevania will enjoy this game and people who are new to the series may find some enjoyment with Curse of Darkness as well.