Mini Review: Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege (PS5) - A Strong Action Platformer That Celebrates Classic Castlevania
Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege is a PS5 action platformer that draws direct inspiration from Konami’s classic 1987 NES Castlevania, filling a gap in a genre largely dominated by Metroidvania titles. The game stars Rudiger, an everyman farmer protagonist who becomes embroiled in a political conflict involving Father Pacer, a power-hungry priest, set against the backdrop of 1698.
The title delivers solid action platforming gameplay paired with sharp and amusing writing that propels the narrative. The combat system starts straightforward, allowing players to jump, attack, and perform pogo-stick-like movement mechanics reminiscent of classic platformer designs. The game features fun, engaging combat alongside surprisingly well-crafted set-pieces that showcase thoughtful level design.
Saint Slayer distinguishes itself as a strong entry in the action platformer space by celebrating the side-scrolling era of Castlevania rather than defaulting to the Metroidvania formula that saturates the PlayStation Store. The combination of capable action mechanics, well-written characters, and homage to classic game design creates a compelling experience that appears to successfully bridge nostalgia with modern platforming sensibilities.