(PREVIEW) Hands-on with Saint Slayer - an Awesome Looking Blood Soaked 8-Bit Homage to Old School Castlevania

by Gamatroid 🕹️ 

The year is 1698. A mysterious figure named Father Pacer has shattered the peace negotiated after the War of the Grand Alliance, obsessively and violently stealing Catholic relics throughout the Holy Roman Empire. Can the ex-soldier-turned-farmer Rudiger protect his people from a power-mad priest and his horde of monsters and minions? 

Can he become Saint Slayer?

You play as Rudiger, a 17th-century soldier-turned-farmer who picks up a spear to defend the Holy Roman Empire from a relic-stealing, power-mad priest. It’s a blood-soaked homage to the 8-bit era that doesn't just copy the aesthetic, it embraces the beautiful "stiffness" of retro game design.

 GAME FACTS

• TITLE: Saint Slayer - Spear of Sacrilege
• EXPECTED RELEASE: 4/20/2026
• MSRP: $9.99
• DEVELOPER: Lillymo Games
• PUBLISHER: Lillymo Games
• PLATFORMS: Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and PC

VIBES

This is "crunchy" retro-styled gaming at its finest. The high-contrast pixel art creates a grim, gothic atmosphere that feels heavy and dangerous. The soundtrack is a standout, featuring high-energy chiptunes that drive the action forward. 

Controlling your character feels meaningful and there’s no "air control" here; once you jump, you’re committed. This makes the platforming feel like the old school games we know and love, rather than a modern reflex test. 

While most of it seems like a direct influence from old school Castlevania, there will be some differences like:

The Pogo-Spear: Wielding a spear looks to provide a different rhythm than the traditional whip, and the ability to bounce off enemies’ heads adds a verticality that will likely help diversify the gameplay and keep things fresh. 

 

Two-Player Bloody Co-op: It’s rare to find a high-fidelity 8-bit platformer that supports local co-op, let alone one that includes "friendly fire." I'm sure all the times you hit your friend will be "accidental". LOL. 

There may be additional twists but these are two I saw mentioned so far. 

 

HERITAGE

The DNA here is pure old school Castlevania (1986), but the developer, Barry Johnson, has also cited influences from DuckTales for the movement. 

The overall vibe is very much inspired by Castlevania

Elements like the "pogo" ability were clearly influenced by DuckTales

With writing by Colin Moriarty, the game aims to fit into the "modern retro" space alongside titles like Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon or Shovel Knight.

IMPRESSIONS

I had a chance to get hands-on with a demo of Saint Slayer on Steam, and it's looking really good. Graphics appear NES accurate at first, but then you notice an extra level of polish that goes beyond Nintendo's original 8-bit powerhouse, to this game's benefit. 

The controls are tight and the action feels just right. The story is just detailed enough to keep you interested but not drawn out so you're mashing the skip button. Castlevania inspirations are apparent but the game isn't nearly as punishing to play. I had a great time with the demo and you should check it out if you get a chance.

HYPE LEVEL: 5/5 

It is nice to see a developer lean into the limitations of the 8-bit era to create a specific type of experience and challenge. With a demo already showing off impressive polish, a killer soundtrack, and the addition of two-player co-op (with friendly fire!), this is a day-one priority for anyone who still has their NES hooked up to a CRT.

Saint Slayer looks like it’s going to be a masterclass in "stiff" action-platforming. It’s unapologetic about its roots, and for my type of gamer, April 20th can't come soon enough.

You can watch my demo playthrough on PC in the YouTube video below:

For upcoming game previews, like this, I'm trying out a new "Hype Level" approach that is a call back to game reviews of old (I'm sure you can guess the inspiration). 

It's cheesy I know, but... what can you do? lol