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Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement is a new adventure set in the world of Bloodstained, but its story takes place long before Miriam’s journey in Ritual of the Night. Rather than continuing that story, the game travels back 200 years to 16th-century England, where two heroes face a demon lord and explore a setting shaped by a supernatural threat.
Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement introduces two heroes
The original Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night established itself as a spiritual successor to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, a landmark in the Metroidvania genre. After years of updates and fulfilled crowdfunding stretch goals for the 2019 game, developer ArtPlay is developing a full-fledged follow-up. ArtPlay was co-founded by Koji Igarashi, a principal designer on Symphony of the Night.
The new story is set in a version of England terrorized by the Demon Lord Elias. Elias resides in the sprawling Ethereal Castle, which serves as the center of the danger facing the land. The game’s central premise pairs two protagonists rather than placing the entire adventure on one hero.
Leonard and Alexander have different strengths
Leonard, an apprentice of the Black Wolves, joins Alexander, the last surviving knight of the White Stags. The two characters can both use melee and magic attacks, but they have distinct strengths: Leo is the more capable spellcaster, while Alex is better suited to physical combat.
This difference gives players a straightforward way to think about combat choices. When a situation calls for magic, switching to Leo may be the more suitable option; when physical attacks are preferable, Alex is the stronger fit. Since both heroes can use either broad attack type, their roles are specialized rather than completely exclusive.
Switch characters or play together in co-op
Players directly control one hero at a time, while the other acts as an AI companion. A button press lets players switch control between Leo and Alex on the fly. This setup means both characters can take part in an encounter, while the player decides which hero to guide at any given moment.
The game also supports co-op, allowing a friend to control the second hero. For players who prefer shared play, this offers an alternative to relying on the AI companion. In either mode, the two-character design makes switching and coordinating the heroes a central part of the experience.
What the setup means for the adventure
By setting the story centuries before Miriam’s adventure, Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement can explore an earlier period in the series’ world without presenting itself as a direct continuation of her story. Its main points of distinction are the historical setting, the threat of Elias and the Ethereal Castle, and the partnership between two playable heroes.
Players interested in the series can look to the character-switching system to understand the basic appeal: choose between Leo’s stronger spellcasting and Alex’s physical combat strengths, or share control in co-op. Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement brings that two-hero approach to a new chapter in the Bloodstained timeline.
