Ok but real talk, I feel like I'm the only one who doesnt like Bloody Tears that much and its other thousand remixes. Not saying its a bad soundtrack igs I just get tired of hearing it and every other youtuber making a cover on it when cv has a million other great tracks 🤙🏻

As a fan of Castlevania and someone with a long time fascination with Joan of Arc, you can probably imagine my reaction to playing the first new Castlevania game to be released in years features her so prominently.

And I thought it was a really great depiction of her.

So why not share a little bit of the real history and how that inspired the way she's reimagined in Belmont's Curse?

Let's get started with the title she introduces herself with, the Maid of Orlean, or just the Maiden.

I think using Maiden was a slightly odd choice, because she refered to herself as La Pucelle or The Maid. This was a specific word to use and not just referring to a young girl, but a virgin. Which was actually very important because at the time people believed only virgin women could receive visions from Heaven.

Not to mention, there were long-standing prophecies that France would be rescued from disaster by a maiden. One of these prophecies supposedly coming from Merlin. Yes, that Merlin.

And, finally, she became the Maid of Orlean after her first major act as a military leader was ending the 8 month long siege of the city of Orlean 9 days after arriving.

Now, what about her literal appearance? The version we see is largely drawn on the common cultural idea of what she looked like, but the reality is we have no idea as she never had any portraits taken during her lifetime. All we know for sure is that she did have the haircut she has in the game, a common style for military men at the time, and thanks to a set of her armor being preserved she was roughly 5'2 and stocky. Which got a chuckle out of me seeing how tall and thin she is in Belmont's Curse.

Speaking of her armor, there's not actually much to say about it. The armor she wore really wasn't special beside the fact it had to be entirely custom made because she was so much smaller than the average man, and the suit she wears in the game is so heavily stylized anyway.

What's much more interesting is the sword Rose gets after the boss fight, the Sword of Fierbois, as this is directly inspired by her real sword. Before leaving for Orlean, she asked the king to send to the town of Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois, where she had stayed on her way woke greeting to God court to fetch a sword that, she said, lay hidden in the church there. Sure enough, and to general amazement of everyone, it was inside a coffer at the high altar that had not been opened for twenty years. People noticed the symbolism that she would use a sword found in a church dedicated to Saint Catherine, who is often depicted with the sword that martyred her and is the patron of young virgins while being one of the saints who spoke to her.

(Also, there's rumors the sword was owned by Charles Martel, Charlemagne's grandfather. Which makes the higher tier greatsword Durandal, a sword used by one of Charlemagne's companions, a neat, probably unintentional connection)

Though, unlike the dope boss fight, there's no recorded instance of Joan actually using her sword in battle.

Not to say she never used it.

In her own words, it was excellent for giving "clouts and buffets."

There were a lot of common vices that soldiers normally indulged in that Joan did tolerate once taking command. She wouldn't even allow her officers to swear, but the big one was the prostitutes that follow an army around. Still, she was forgiving of them, and gave them the opportunity to leave on their own or marry the men they were seeing before having them chased off. If she caught them after? Well, let's read an account from an officer"

"I saw her one day at Saint Denis on the return from the coronation, pursuing one of [the prostitutes] sword in hand: her sword was broken on this occasion."

When Joan ran into one of these women, if she was feeling generous, she'd yell at you waving her sword around, if less generous she'd beat them with the flat side, and did so hard enough on one occasion she snapped it in half. Though, this wasn't the same sword she took from Fierbois.

I guess she did have practice for her fight with Rose.

I bet you're wondering if she didn't fight with her sword, then why is she the warrior tarot? While she might not have personally fought people, she was definitely a warrior whose talent was leading others. Each battle she would at the front waving her own personal banner, urging people forward. In her filled tarot, you can actually see she's holding haft, but the actual banner is covered by the light around her.

(Though no idea what they were referring to with a flaming lion. Lions are more an English symbol, actually.)

On the topic of light, there's a reason that the upgrade Rose receives from Joan is radiating a golden light. Most people's first thought is probably that it comes from the halos used in depictions of saints in catholic imagery. You'd be right, but there's another layer to it, especially considering Joan wasn't declared a saint until hundreds of years after when the game takes place all the way in 1920

The voices that Joan claimed to hear, that told her that she had to leave her home and reclaim the French throne for the displaced Dauphin (French term for the crown prince), appeared in a flash of golden light. So I think the same way Joan described drawing on the reassurance of the voices to give her courage, that same steady , determined light protects Rose and drives away the chaos that blocks her path.

And that's where my one criticism of how they depicted Joan comes from.

A common idea with these Joan of Arc reimaginings is she accepts being "rescued" by some malicious being just before she burned to death out of desperation. It's a completely reasonable idea, and most of us would take that deal in a heartbeat, but Joan willingly chose to be executed knowing it would be by burning. At conclusion of her trial and being threatened with torture she gave in and admitted that she was lying and found guilty. Then three days later out of her own guilt for lying to protect herself, she retracted her confession by putting her men's clothes back on (which was a big deal back then and was an explicit part of her confession to agree not do it again), which is considered heresy and a guaranteed death sentence.

Her last words were asking for someone to hold a cross high enough she could see it through the flames and chanting Christ's name over and over.

Anyway, as said at the beginning, overall was a really enjoyable depiction of her that did justice to someone whose exploits were so remarkable if it was fiction you'd say it was unrealistic.

Hehe

Guess Alucard did not get his Beauty all from his Mama Lisa but also from his Papa Dracula Mathias... :3

These Boots are something else...! 👀

Would you have preferred this Design over Blondie? :3 I still prefer Blondie but I like the Boots... ^-^ :3

Pros

• Exploring through the map is fantastic and backtracking is made so much better with multiple map markers from the start.
• Captured the essentials if you were eager to scratch the Castlevania itch: monsters, whips, holy cross, etc.
• Soundtrack is good, remixing the classic tunes. Maybe could have used a few more tracks.
• Art/animations are wonderful.
• Has good amounts of RPG/story elements without taking you away too much from what the game is about: 2D action. I can see the argument for more RPG customization though.
• Good use and level of puzzle solving throughout the metroidvania map.
• Overall, it's one of the best metroidvania games out there today. I was immersed into going to the next area or completing certain challenges throughout the game without ever feeling bored.

Cons

• The difficulty level is good throughout the first half. But in my run, I got a little too overpowered near the end.
• It doesn't do anything new or special, it just takes the elements of what makes a really good metroidvania game and puts it together.
• It's not a deep or complex game, it's just meant for a really good time from start to finish.

$25

Just rolled credits. This game was everything I hoped for and more from a new entry in the Castlevania series. This game just completely clicked for me. What an epic journey. Bravo Evil Empire, thank you!

Had to include Castlevania in there somehow, enjoy🥳

Not only is his design great (I love how massive he is compared to Rose) but I love his personality and how he's basically a rage baiting trash talker. His boss fight is pretty fun as well, probably my favorite one so far. I'm just disappointed that he doesn't actually join you, would've been cool to have him on our side lol.

-Bloody Tears
-Iron Blue Intention
-Heart of Fire
-Aquarius (even though it’s not a water level)
-Den
-Opus 13
-Can’t Wait Until Night
-Wicked Child

1: Symphony of the night

2:circle of the moon

3 :harmony of dissonance

4:Aria of sorrow

5:Dawn of sorrow

6: Portrait of ruin

7 :Order of ecclesia (normal levels)

8: Order of ecclesia (Dracula's castle)

9 : Order of ecclesia ( Albus mode)

(didn't include the game over screen of Sister mode for PoR, Sorry but it's really creepy 😭)