Seven years after its original debut on the Nintendo Switch, Castle of Heart returns as Castle of Heart: Retold – and this time, it finally feels like the game it always wanted to be. Developed once again by 7Levels and published on PlayStation 5, this remade version refines almost every aspect of the original experience, from combat flow to visual presentation, while still staying true to its classic 2.5D roots.
The premise remains the same: players take on the role of Svaran, a cursed knight turned to stone, forced to fight through waves of Slavic mythological creatures to save the priestess Mira and stop the Sorcerer serving the god Chernobog. It’s a striking setup that stands out among modern platformers, giving the game an identity anchored in dark folklore. Where the original’s storytelling was limited to brief cutscenes and text blurbs, Retold fleshes out the world with rewritten dialogue and fully remade scenes, bringing more emotional weight to Svaran’s doomed struggle. The tone is still grim, but the cleaner pacing and visual cues make the story easier to follow, and the mythological elements come through with greater clarity.
Where the PlayStation 5 version truly flexes its muscle is in gameplay responsiveness. The original was notorious for stiff controls and input lag, but Retold makes combat feel tighter and more deliberate. Enemies now react to hits with satisfying knockback, giving fights a rhythm and sense of control that was missing before. Sword strikes, blocks, and ranged attacks connect with impact, while platforming benefits from smoother movement and more forgiving jumps. Although some minor stiffness remains compared to genre standouts like Dead Cells, this rework feels like a major step up, transforming the once-clunky action into something genuinely enjoyable.
That sense of refinement extends to the game’s presentation. Retold has been visually rebuilt from the ground up, with richer lighting, improved textures, and newly animated character models. On PS5, these upgrades shine bright, delivering crisp detail, stable performance, and near-instant loading times that eliminate the sluggish transitions seen in the Switch version. While some occasional rough edges remain in close-up scenes, the new materials, particle effects, and enhanced depth of field give each of the four Slavic environments a painterly atmosphere. The result feels much closer to the “modern classic” the original had aspired to be.
Audio has also been remixed, with a darker and more dynamic soundtrack that better matches the tension of Svaran’s cursed existence. Sound effects now hit with more presence – from shattering stone limbs to echoing sword clashes – helping the game feel more alive. The PS5’s 3D audio even adds subtle immersion when playing with headphones, making the clatter of combat and distant moans of enemies more directional and vivid.
Despite these improvements, Castle of Heart: Retold doesn’t completely shed its rough edges. The movement can still feel weighty, and combat – while vastly improved – remains a bit rigid compared to more fluid contemporaries. There’s also the occasional difficulty spike that feels unevenly balanced, likely a relic of its old-school roots. Still, the PlayStation 5 version benefits enormously from its technical polish and responsive design, offering a smoother, more consistent experience.
Ultimately, Castle of Heart: Retold is a bit of a redemption story – not just for its protagonist, but for 7Levels’ vision of a modern classic action-platformer. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it finally delivers on the promise of its concept: a challenging, mythic adventure with style and substance. For returning fans, this is the definitive way to experience Castle of Heart; for newcomers, it’s a strong reminder that even stone can shine when refined with care.
Score: 7.6/10
Press Play Media 