Cursed Castilla EX might look familiar to 3DS owners since it launched on that handheld in 2017. The pixel art is grand, with enough detail to elevate it just above what would have been possible in the 80s or 90s on NintendoвЂ™s original home console while also showing enough restraint to keep its inspiration recognizable.

Cursed Castilla EX wouldnвЂ™t appear out of place running on an NES. Rounding out the package here is LocomalitoвЂ™s penchant for retro-inspired graphics. Balancing the difficulty is a progression system which allows players to sacrifice their high score for another go at a level, which is a brilliant way of appeasing people with rookie and longtime skill levels, alike. The same can be said of the bosses, all of whom will have even the most seasoned of players on the edge of their seats. That point about the variety of enemies is especially integral to how Cursed Castilla EX manages to feel so inspired throughout its campaign enemies attack and move in a range of different ways, taxing the player to be mindful of their movements as they make her way around Tolemero. Locomalito has stuffed in a litany of stages (eight in total) with 19 bosses and dozens of enemy types to encounter. Speaking of levels, there are quite a few to comb through. Combined, it provides the player with a good deal of customization in terms of how one approaches each level. There are also buffs that can be activated, like a shield to help save hearts and a fairy to bolster attack power. Some attacks fair better against one type of enemy over another, meaning players have to be strategic about which weapons to use and when. The upgrades to RamiroвЂ™s weapons arenвЂ™t just for show, either. As the game progresses, however, RamiroвЂ™s attacks and movement are all capable of being upgraded, making him much more powerful and resilient as a result. Players can hurl blades in four different directions all while bounding over hordes of hostile foes. Initially, Cursed Castilla EX tilts much more towards the original Ghosts вЂN Goblins. Locomalito brings along a variety of Spanish myths and tales to Cursed Castilla EXвЂ™s narrative to make it a very unique exploration of this particular sub-genre within the industry. In the land of Tolemero, Ramiro must vanquish hordes of monsters and restore peace. Don Ramiro stands in for Sir Arthur of that series, while the backdrop of this game is rooted in the Spanish romance AmadГs de Gaula, a piece of prose whose roots can be traced back to the 14 th and 13 th centuries. LocomalitoвЂ™s capacity for creating a fresh take on tried and true video game styles of play is a real feather in his cap, and itвЂ™s something that heвЂ™s continued to do with Cursed Castilla EX.Д¬ursed Castilla EX is an interpretation of CapcomвЂ™s beloved (and perhaps equally reviled) Ghosts вЂN Goblins formula. Most recently, Nintendo fans were able to enjoy his work on the shooter Super Hydorah, a title which harkened back to the classic shmups of the 80s and 90s but with a modern spin.

Spanish programmer Juan Antonio Becerra (who develops under the name Locomalito) has quietly been building up a very respectable catalogue of games over the years.

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