Latest news with #Castlevania
Business Upturn
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
Devil May Cry Season 2: Everything we know so far
By Aman Shukla Published on May 24, 2025, 17:30 IST Last updated May 24, 2025, 10:52 IST Netflix's Devil May Cry anime has taken the streaming world by storm, delivering high-octane action and a gripping storyline that has fans clamoring for more. Following the explosive first season, which premiered on April 3, 2025, Netflix quickly confirmed Devil May Cry Season 2, much to the delight of fans worldwide. With a cliffhanger ending that left viewers on edge, anticipation for the next chapter is at an all-time high. Here's everything we know so far about Devil May Cry Season 2. Devil May Cry Season 2 Release Date Speculation While Netflix has officially renewed Devil May Cry for a second season, an exact release date has not been confirmed. Based on the production timeline of Adi Shankar's previous hit, Castlevania , which typically saw a 15-month gap between seasons, we can speculate a potential release window for Devil May Cry Season 2 in summer or autumn 2026. Cast and Characters The voice cast for Devil May Cry Season 2 is expected to see the return of key actors from Season 1, though some changes may occur due to the passing of notable performers. Confirmed and potential returning cast members include: Johnny Yong Bosch as Dante: The charismatic demon hunter, voiced by Bosch, will remain the central figure. Bosch, known for roles in Bleach and Power Rangers , brings a fresh yet faithful take to Dante. Scout Taylor-Compton as Lady: Despite mixed fan reactions to her portrayal, Lady is likely to return, though some X posts suggest her role may be reduced in favor of focusing on Dante and Vergil. Robbie Daymond as Vergil: Vergil's emergence as a key antagonist sets the stage for a significant role in Season 2, with Daymond's performance expected to capture the character's intensity. Hoon Lee as White Rabbit: While the White Rabbit was defeated in Season 1, the series could introduce new villains or revisit his legacy. Chris Coppola as Enzo Ferino: A supporting character who may see further development. Plot Expectations for Devil May Cry Season 2 Devil May Cry Season 1 ended on a dramatic note, with Dante captured and placed in cryostasis by DARKCOM, while his brother Vergil emerged as a formidable antagonist, declaring war on humanity as 'The Knight' under King Mundus. Season 2 is expected to dive deeper into the complex relationship between Dante and Vergil, exploring their sibling rivalry and contrasting paths. The narrative will likely focus on Dante's escape from DARKCOM's facility and his mission to confront Vergil and thwart the demonic invasion. Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
Forbes
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
You Should Watch This Perfect 100% Scored Netflix Show This Week
Netflix At this point it's well-established that Netflix is doing good work with a lot of its animated productions, and many of them, from Arcane to Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, are some of the highest scored series on the entire service. But one show can often get overlooked because it's not adapting a big video game. That would be Blood of Zeus, which will return for its third season on Thursday, May 8 this week. Why should you bother with an animated series based on Greek Mythology? Well, how about the fact that it's really, really good. Both seasons of Blood of Zeus have a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, something we almost never see in the entire scope of Netflix content. It also has a 92% audience score with a 97% just for season 2, so many fans are expecting something similar out of season 3. Blood of Zeus Here's the synopsis for Blood of Zeus: If the animation looks familiar, it's because it's the same place that did Castlevania on Netflix, Powerhouse Animation Studio, still doing work on Castlevania Nocturne as well. And if you've seen either Castlevania, you know how good that animation is. This is in fact the final season of Blood of Zeus, ending on its own terms. That means when season 3 airs this week, you'll be able to binge the entire series, which is about four hours per season of eight, half hour episodes. You can't say that about all that many shows on Netflix at this point. Blood of Zeus is a unique Netflix production as it's not an adaptation of anything, but rather an original work created by Charley and Vlas Parlapanides for Netflix specifically. They did once say they were going to shoot for five seasons, but ultimately it was condensed into two. There are at least some echoes of the ultra-hyper violent God of War, the famed video game series, and that is getting a live-action adaptation on Amazon Prime Video down the road. But God of War certainly does not have a monopoly on Greek Mythology (just ask Christopher Nolan). Blood of Zeus I would highly recommend Blood of Zeus even if I haven't seen season 3 in advance. The level of quality has been stellar and it's nice to watch something fully original for a change. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
Scottish Sun
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘Best of all time' PlayStation game is ‘now worth £675' – or £1,600 if you have special mark on disc case from the '90s
AN ALL-TIME favourite PlayStation game could fetch hundreds of pounds if you've got a copy. Check your drawers as soon as possible because collectors might pay as much as £1,670 for the classic title. 4 Gamers in the nineties loved the original PlayStation – and obsessed over a classic Castlevania game at the time Credit: Nikos Pekiaridis/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock 4 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is a treasured piece of gaming history Credit: Konami / PlayStation / PriceCharting It's Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, which is considered to be one of the best games of all time. The action RPG landed in 1997 and wasn't an instant hit – but eventually caught the attention of gamers and now holds a legendary status for collectors. Konami's classic title is valued at £614 if you have a new copy for the original PlayStation, according to video game collectibles price tracker PriceCharting. And even an unsealed but "complete in box" unit would fetch £327. The loose disc on its own is said to be worth £146, while the box has an estimated value of £79. Even the manual on its own is listed with a £130 valuation. But the best price for a regular copy of the game is one that's been totally sealed and has been professionally graded, potentially netting you £676. PRICED UP But there's a way to bag even more money. Some copies of the game are stamped with a Limited Edition badge, and these are potentially worth much more to collectors. For this, you'd be looking at as much as £1,669 for a professionally graded "new" copy – or £1,517 for a sealed unit without grading. Little-known free PS5 trick lets you instantly beat hard parts of game – three taps will get you unstuck while playing A "complete" box that's been opened is valued at £584, while the loose disc is said to be worth £384. The box itself is estimated at £203, while the manual would potentially fetch £75. This particular version of the game includes an "exclusive artbook and music CD". It's important to note, however, that PriceCharting simply tracks previous sales of games to create estimates. 4 The title is even rarer if you have a Limited Edition copy Credit: Konami / PlayStation / PriceCharting So there's no guarantee you'd get these exact sums if you decide to auction off your old game. You could potentially end up with more – but offers could also come in far lower. It's also worth remembering that these games could even climb higher in value in years to come (or drop off completely), so keep that in mind. CASTLE CRAZED Castlevania: Symphony of the Night was a direct sequel to Castlevania: Rondo of Blood – a less-well-known game that initially only released in Japan in 1993. OTHER PLAYSTATION HITS TO CHECK FOR Here's how much PriceCharting says some of these classic PlayStation 1 games are now worth... Doom [Black Label] Professionally Graded: £1,331 New: £1,210 Complete: £465 Loose: £24 Box: £179 Manual: £128 Tekken [Long Box] Professionally Graded: £44,275 New: £15,949 Complete: £52 Loose: £- Box: £16 Manual: £18 Doom [Long Box] Professionally Graded: £6,617 New: £6,016 Complete: £64 Loose: £- Box: £22 Manual: £22 Rayman 2 The Great Escape [Watch Bundle] Professionally Graded: £1,217 New: £1,106 Complete: £401 Loose: £238 Box: £160 Manual: £100 Final Fantasy VII Professionally Graded: £4,015 New: £752 Complete: £38 Loose: £16 Box: £12 Manual: £15 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Professionally Graded: £1,417 New: £625 Complete: £184 Loose: £108 Box: £80 Manual: £35 Batman Forever Arcade Professionally Graded: £1,390 New: £525 Complete: £202 Loose: £105 Box: £41 Manual: £69 Picture Credit: Nikos Pekiaridis/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock The 1997 sequel Symphony of the Night had an unimpressive launch but ultimately sold hundreds of thousands of copies. An initial Japan launch in March of 1997 was followed by a US debut on October 3, and then a November release for Europe. It was well-reviewed by critics, who particularly enjoyed the large and freely explorable game world. The title is now considered to be one of the best games ever made, and is an iconic part of gaming history. 4 Castlevania has since become a gaming mega-franchise for Konami Credit: Konami / Wikimedia Commons And the Castlevania series went on to become a hit franchise for Konami.
The Irish Sun
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Best of all time' PlayStation game is ‘now worth £675' – or £1,600 if you have special mark on disc case from the '90s
AN ALL-TIME favourite PlayStation game could fetch hundreds of pounds if you've got a copy. Check your drawers as soon as possible because collectors might pay as much as £1,670 for the classic title. 4 Gamers in the nineties loved the original PlayStation – and obsessed over a classic Castlevania game at the time Credit: Nikos Pekiaridis/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock 4 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is a treasured piece of gaming history Credit: Konami / PlayStation / PriceCharting It's Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, which is considered to be one of the best games of all time. The action RPG landed in 1997 and wasn't an instant hit – but eventually caught the attention of gamers and now holds a legendary status for collectors. Konami's classic title is valued at £614 if you have a new copy for the original PlayStation, according to video game collectibles price tracker PriceCharting. And even an unsealed but "complete in box" unit would fetch £327. Read more on gaming treasures The loose disc on its own is said to be worth £146, while the box has an estimated value of £79. Even the manual on its own is listed with a £130 valuation. But the best price for a regular copy of the game is one that's been totally sealed and has been professionally graded, potentially netting you £676. PRICED UP But there's a way to bag even more money . Most read in Gaming Some copies of the game are stamped with a Limited Edition badge, and these are potentially worth much more to collectors. For this, you'd be looking at as much as £1,669 for a professionally graded "new" copy – or £1,517 for a sealed unit without grading. Little-known free PS5 trick lets you instantly beat hard parts of game – three taps will get you unstuck while playing A "complete" box that's been opened is valued at £584, while the loose disc is said to be worth £384. The box itself is estimated at £203, while the manual would potentially fetch £75. This particular version of the game includes an "exclusive artbook and music CD". It's important to note, however, that PriceCharting simply tracks previous sales of games to create estimates. 4 The title is even rarer if you have a Limited Edition copy Credit: Konami / PlayStation / PriceCharting So there's no guarantee you'd get these exact sums if you decide to auction off your old game. You could potentially end up with more – but offers could also come in far lower. It's also worth remembering that these games could even climb higher in value in years to come (or drop off completely), so keep that in mind. CASTLE CRAZED Castlevania: Symphony of the Night was a direct sequel to Castlevania: Rondo of Blood – a less-well-known game that initially only released in Japan in 1993. OTHER PLAYSTATION HITS TO CHECK FOR Here's how much PriceCharting says some of these classic PlayStation 1 games are now worth... Doom [Black Label] Professionally Graded: £1,331 New: £1,210 Complete: £465 Loose: £24 Box: £179 Manual: £128 Tekken [Long Box] Professionally Graded: £44,275 New: £15,949 Complete: £52 Loose: £- Box: £16 Manual: £18 Doom [Long Box] Professionally Graded: £6,617 New: £6,016 Complete: £64 Loose: £- Box: £22 Manual: £22 Rayman 2 The Great Escape [Watch Bundle] Professionally Graded: £1,217 New: £1,106 Complete: £401 Loose: £238 Box: £160 Manual: £100 Final Fantasy VII Professionally Graded: £4,015 New: £752 Complete: £38 Loose: £16 Box: £12 Manual: £15 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Professionally Graded: £1,417 New: £625 Complete: £184 Loose: £108 Box: £80 Manual: £35 Batman Forever Arcade Professionally Graded: £1,390 New: £525 Complete: £202 Loose: £105 Box: £41 Manual: £69 Picture Credit: Nikos Pekiaridis/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock The 1997 sequel Symphony of the Night had an unimpressive launch but ultimately sold hundreds of thousands of copies. An initial Japan launch in March of 1997 was followed by a US debut on October 3, and then a November release for Europe. It was well-reviewed by critics, who particularly enjoyed the large and freely explorable game world. The title is now considered to be one of the best games ever made, and is an iconic part of gaming history . 4 Castlevania has since become a gaming mega-franchise for Konami Credit: Konami / Wikimedia Commons And the Castlevania series went on to become a hit franchise for Konami.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (Xbox Series X) Review
Fans of the Metroidvania and Souls-like genres are well fed heading into 2025. This action-adventure genre offshoot, as it stands, can be understood by playing Castlevania and Elden Ring (any FromSoftware 'Souls' title fits this bill) — just not at the same time. The popular Metroidvania gameplay style — earning a power-up from a boss fight and backtracking to previously inaccessible paths — has developed a cult-like following. And fans of Dark Souls have come out of the woodwork since Elden Ring won Game of the year. This is where Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree fits in — a cross between the downtrodden Lordran and Dracula's Castle (also known as 'Demon Castle' or Castlevania) that offers intense combat encounters, tight platforming sequences and the Souls fan's all-too-familiar experience of dying many, many times. 'Getting good' is more popular than ever. Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree begins by placing your cookie-cutter protagonist in a dark fantasy world ruled by a character resembling the bishop from the Castlevania anime — the so-called Priest King of Targoviste. You play as an Inquisitor, and your mission is to carry out the King's judgment. However, you're introduced to the King as he tortures a witch on the verge of death. Your character ends the witch's life in an act of mercy before the Priest King can fully indulge in the torment. He then sends you on a mission to find a replacement, but as you leave, you can feel the eerie metaphorical knife of the King slowly slipping into your back. Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree starts as a basic Metroidvania, but with much more nuance. Small encounters with poison-spewing and web-slinging spiders are as dangerous, if not more so, than their boss or mini-boss counterparts. This design choice allows the adventure to take centre stage without relying solely on massive boss monsters to evoke awe. As with every Dark Souls entry, you will die in Mandragora. You will die a lot. Even the death screen recalls FromSoftware's iconic 'YOU DIED' message — except here, the phrase 'Perished' appears in a near-identical red font. Each encounter must be approached with finesse. The dodge roll is your bread and butter. Managing a dwindling stamina gauge while fending off multiple enemies can feel suffocating and intense. That's the point — Mandragora favours throwing players against seemingly insurmountable odds in the hope they either triumph or learn from defeat. Inquisitors can also level up at a bonfire-equivalent Witch Stone, which automatically allows for fast travel between discovered locations. Primal Game Studio does a great job positioning these far enough apart so that level shortcuts — like a knocked-down ladder — never feel wasteful. Mandragora features a variety of biomes for players to explore, and each one is a treat to discover. A dark cemetery awaits, along with a towering cathedral and the traditional catacombs or sewer level. The game's art style draws heavily from Gothic and Victorian inspirations — I could almost hear the bells from the 1400s tolling. The atmosphere suits the title well, and the sound design is spot on. Whacking an enemy with a mace is satisfying from the sound effect alone, and defeating enemies is genuinely fun. Level design and enemy placement can sometimes test a player's patience, so it's worth noting that Mandragora isn't for everyone, especially more casual players. Primal Game Studio understands this and smartly carves out space for its core fan base rather than trying to appeal to a broader audience. Enemies are varied, and they're a true crucible to overcome in the early stages of Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree. Rotting skeletons deal a heinous amount of damage early on, and falling off ledges quickly became my worst enemy. Mandragora features serious fall damage and will send you back to the nearest Witch Stone if you're not vigilant. Normally, in Soulslike or Castlevania titles, dog enemies are the bane of my existence. I'm happy to report the wolves in Mandragora might as well be puppies — they're that irrelevant. Spiders, however, are a whole different story. These things have 100 per cent accuracy and inflict poison worse than my last relationship. They're toxic, in every sense of the word. Boss fights can be a little frustrating. A massive Caretaker swings his mighty shovel and delivers a solid Spartan kick to your Inquisitor. If he grabs hold of you, he'll bite and rip your head off with his teeth, causing instant death. Smartly telegraphing enemy movesets is the key to achieving victory in Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree. While some bosses can be 'cheesed,' most will demand deft hands and a sweaty brow. You'll have to lock in. In later stages, Mandragora reuses enemy designs from earlier in the game, though they may move faster or sport a new colour scheme. Normally, this would be a gripe. But considering Mandragora features such tight, well-balanced gameplay, and given that it's Primal Game Studio's debut title, recycling assets to stay within budget while keeping things fresh is a smart move. I do have a few gripes with Mandragora, particularly with the save system. Unlike the Souls or Castlevania games before it, Mandragora doesn't save when you perform in-game actions, and there are no designated save points. Instead, you're left to trust that Mandragora will track your progress, as in Dark Souls or Elden Ring. But when exiting your file, you're almost certain to lose progress — how much, exactly, is unclear. It's happened every time I've exited the game properly. There's also no warning when losing data — it just happens. The crafting system in Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree could also use some work. To advance each crafter, you must find diagram fragments and bring them to craftsmen near your home hub by the Witch Tree. After finding a new diagram for bronze armour, I rushed back to home base to secure the new suit of metal. But the craftsman needed to be level six to create that armour, even though I had all the required materials. Diagrams are often hidden off the beaten path in Mandragora, so finding one and not being able to use it right away dampens the excitement of the discovery. Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree brings enough nuance to escape the 'just another Metroidvania' label. Novel ideas encapsulate the experience, and each triumph feels like a momentous capstone on a journey that leaves players weary from adventure. The art and sound design are a true treat, and Primal Game Studio has done an excellent job building an interconnected world with smart level design. However, shortcomings such as lost progress and a heavily limited, occasionally confusing crafting system do sour the experience. Still, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is a great adventure that will leave players wanting to give it 'one more try,' like all great Soulslike games before it.
