DeVuego ES_COR

Cursed Castilla EX is a punishing but ultimately rewarding love letter to the classic action platformers of the coin-op industry's golden years, and while its brutal nature may prove off-putting for some players, those who appreciate the '80s and '90s era of gaming will find plenty to enjoy here. The original game was strong enough to be sold on its own merits but this 3DS port is augmented with some tasteful autostereoscopic 3D effects, and the fact that it takes the quest on the road makes it even more appealing. If you've yet to sample Locomalito's excellent title on other formats then this is arguably the best way to do it; should you already consider yourself to be a fan then it's still worth a look, purely for those lush visuals and the tantalising prospect of portability.

Although the 2D perspective and Metroidvania-style features call to mind past classics, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate shouldn’t be directly compared to previous games in Konami’s long-running vampire-hunting series, because it tries to do things a little differently. While elements of exploration and item collection remain, they are drastically scaled back when compared to the likes of Symphony of the Night and Dawn of Sorrow — which could be a positive or a negative, depending on your personal taste. Instead, MercurySteam’s vision of Castlevania is built around a deep combat engine which tries to make each and every enemy encounter a rewarding and challenging experience. Factor in some impressive visuals, gorgeous music and taxing boss battles — not to mention a fantastic story and more replay value than you might at first imagine — and you’ve got a game which can stand proud in the Castlevania bloodline. Sometimes, a little change is a good thing.