VonGarland Castle : Beyond Blood

The game isn't in a good state. I loved the premise, the visuals, the idea, but the execution left something to be desired. I love metroidvanias, so when I found this game, I was immediately excited. But the game doesn't deliver. The initial menu freezes and lacks fluidity, which already gives you an idea of ​​what the game will deliver. The controls and character movement aren't fluid, and to be honest, they're in a state that wouldn't even be considered early access or alpha. Crouching or walking is a challenge; you first crouch, then you can walk. The gameplay is also completely clunky and lacking fluidity. The character looks like it was animated with three sprites... The battle with the first boss (which was the furthest I shot) is a horrible experience. The boss doesn't show that he's been hit, you don't understand when to attack, and his attacks have no signal or even rhythm. To give the game a chance (because I was thinking the devs might fix these issues over time), I played the previous title in the same series and realized that this is the game's current state, because the other one has the same issues. I had to request a refund, unfortunately.

The dev is active and implementing polish and changes based on user feedback... That's a great reason to jump on early access imo! Anyways the game itself has a unique look to it... perfect for a Resident Evil inspired 2D platformer featuring vampires and monsters. ...I've not played far enough yet to decide how refined or janky the combat is... I just know the bosses are pretty sick to look at. You do have a parry, limited ammo for weapons, and melee. There does seem to be a fair amount of exploring and searching for secrets as well. Keep an eye out for traps and puzzles! ...I think there could be something special here if the dev keeps at it. I'll edit this as I play more. Check it out? Or keep an eye to see how it turns out in the end ;D I'll give it a thumbs up hoping for the best

VonGarland Castle plays like a fantastic combo of Symphony of the Night and classic Resident Evil games. It’s a 2D, side-scrolling survival horror experience that perfectly blends the thrill of exploration with the tension of resource management and puzzle-solving. The presentation is outstanding. The hand-crafted art style gives each area a haunting personality, while the soundtrack nicely complements the atmosphere. Enemy designs are imaginative and grotesque in just the right way, and the boss battles are memorable highlights that test both skill and strategy. What impressed me most, though, was how the game balances challenge and reward. Exploration is never mindless—it demands patience and cleverness—but finding a new weapon, unlocking a shortcut, or finally solving a tricky puzzle is always satisfying. For fans of metroidvanias who also appreciate the dread and atmosphere of survival horror, this is a gem. It’s tough, atmospheric, and unforgettable.

Sadly the game is a stuttery mess, with no graphic options aside from choosing from normal or ultra wide resolution and I'm on a 4090. The main menu audio hits your eardrums like a freight train. Especially if you're using headphones and for some reason the audio settings don't save, so you have to lower them every time you go back to the main menu. I dunno, the premise of the game and it's visuals looked interesting to me but after a few minutes playing with the frame rate just dipping all over the place I couldn't keep playing. I'll hold off refunding for now and hope the dev can fix these issues down the line but as it is, this game needs a lot more work on the performance end.

ゲームシステムは２Dのバイオハザード４？が近い、非常に面白いが、かなりバグが多い 敵が地面に埋まったり、声はするけどいなくて急に現れたり ボスが壁に埋まって出て来なくなり倒せなくてセーブポイントからやり直しになったり スキル画面から戻れなくなってセーブポイントからやり直しになったり やり直しが頻発する中セーブポイントが少なく進んだ所までまた行くのに結構イライラする。 また説明不足な所がありショップや一部アイテムがどういう組み合わせで効果が上がるか分かりにくい 翻訳も一部適応されないので英語が読めないと分からなくなる。 弾やお金は多く手に入らないので、宝石をしっかり確保する事 雑魚戦は近接武器とパリィを交えて処理する事をお勧めする。

ES: Un juego que mantiene la esencia de los clásicos survival horror con un sistema de exploración 2D similar a los juegos metroidvania. La ambientación y el estilo visual es una delicia y totalmente único. Combina lo mejor de los juegos de zombies con los juegos de vampiros en un survival horror de exploración, puzzles y supervivencia donde la toma de decisiones tienen importancia y todo ello en una historia interesante donde acompañaremos a nuestra magnífica protagonista Ransom VonGarland, carismática y con una personalidad bien definida, en busca de su hermano. Si eres fan de los survival horror, de los metroidvania o simplemente te gusta la ambientación, no dudes en comprarlo. 100% Recomendado. ----------------------------------------------- EN: A game that maintains the essence of classic survival horror with a 2D exploration system similar to Metroidvania games. The setting and visual style are delightful and totally unique. It combines the best of zombie and vampire games in a survival horror game of exploration, puzzles, and survival where decision-making matters, all within an engaging story where we accompany our magnificent protagonist, Ransom VonGarland, charismatic and with a well-defined personality, in search of her brother. If you're a fan of survival horror, Metroidvania, or just like the setting, don't hesitate to buy it. 100% Recommended.

Прикольная игра но много багов меню не отображается нормально язык норм не меняется в целом пока раний доступ надеюсь поправят! It's a cool game, but there are a lot of bugs, the menu doesn't display properly, the language doesn't change, overall it's early access, I hope they fix it.

Cool Resident Evil style game but in 2D. Captures a lot of the vibe of a RES game. look forward to see where this goes.

Another banger from Monster Robot Studios! I loved the mashup of Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 into a side-scrolling platformer. The developer Ash is very engaged with his community and I appreciate him keeping the game updated throughout early access. The art style is amazing and I sensibly chuckled at all of the jokes hidden throughout the game world. In summary: You want S.T.A.R.S? I'll give you... FIVE STARS!

I really did enjoy this little throwback to NewGrounds.com Flash Games. It tickles my brain with the puzzles, got some fun little easter eggs, and is a love letter to Castlevania & Resident Evil. The developer is very responsive and is making adjustments and bug fixes quickly (It's early access, gonna be buggy). If you enjoy Dust: An Elysian Tail, Death's Door, or any Indie Survival Horror (Alisa, Acre Crisis, Flesh Made Fear) I would recommend this one