Episode EX -Oath of Reunion- is a special, extra episode in Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2. It is the result of completing Episode 2 without the necessary requirements to directly proceed to the Final Episode.
Description[]
During Episode 2, if Zangetsu does not collect the Zanmato beforehand, and instead wields the Soul Eraser during the fight against Mephisto, he hesitates when faced with the prospect of vanquishing Dominique's soul. His slash avoids Dominique, but due to his hesitation, it is not a fatal blow to Mephisto. The demon gravely injures Robert and Hachi, forcing the group to retreat from the Hellhold. Zangetsu must once again begin his journey anew, leading to Episode EX.
With Robert and Hachi too injured to continue the journey, Zangetsu begins to depart for the castle on his own. However, his companions from his previous adventure, Miriam, Alfred and Gebel, intercept him and give him the Zanmato. Then, they join Zangetsu's quest to save Dominique and make their way back to the Hellhold. Joined by his old companions, Zangetsu faces against Mephisto once again and manages to incapacitate him once more. Now armed with the Zanmato, he slashes through the demon without hesitation, leaving Dominique unharmed. However, Dominique reveals the presence of a new threat not too far behind, working in the shadows to raise an army, leading to the Final Episode.
Gameplay[]
Episode EX is essentially the same as Episode 2, with the bosses now having switched to the hard version of their fights and the stages having more available options for different paths. The key difference of the episode is that this time, instead of Robert and Hachi, Zangetsu is aided by Miriam, Alfred and Gebel; furthermore, because of the Zanmato in his possession, Zangetsu will revert to his "normal" playstyle from the very beginning, and will remain so, unless he picks up the Daizangetsuto during the Final Episode.
Just like the previous episode, all bosses, with still the exception of Vepar and Mephisto, will perform upon defeat a final desperation attack; while thankfully said attacks cannot result in a death blow for the party members during the story (but they'll do so during Boss Rush Mode), finding a way to avoid the damage is the optimal way as, if successful, it will reward extra points and, in some cases in Veteran Mode, even directly an extra life.
Stages[]
Just like Episode 1, Episode 2, and the Final Episode, in Episode EX the stages, while virtually remaining the same, also receive alternative names:
- Stage 1: Final Hope
- Stage 2: The Blue Rose
- Stage 3: One with Alchemy
- Stage 4: Swathed in Sorrow
- Stage 5: Unstoppable Force
- Stage 6: Path to Triumph
- Stage 7: Unwavering Resolve
- Stage 8: Oath of Reunion
The exploration of the stages, thanks to Miriam's ability, shared with Hachi, to destroy with her axe fortified doors, as well her unique skill of breaking certain otherwise out-of-reach blocks with her whip, Alfred's ability to freeze water and lava with his Frostcalibur, and Gebel's flight, is even more open than Episode 2, although Hachi's absence results in certain paths that require his Death from Above technique being unreachable.
The names of the second, third, and fourth stages are clearly themed after the available playable characters themselves, while the remaining ones describe their quest to save Dominique, now with renewed resolve.
Trivia[]
- Due of her predicament in both Episode 2 and Episode EX, Dominique is the only playable character that never has one of the stages named after herself. She is only indirectly mentioned in the name The Words She Spoke.
- Episode EX can be considered a throwback to the first Curse of the Moon, since it involves its party, including Zangetsu with his normal moveset, to go on an adventure together once again, without any of the new members involved.
- It can be considered an optimal strategy to obtain the bad ending in Episode 2 on purpose; since both beating the good ending of Episode 2 or Episode EX will still unlock the Final Episode, with no additional rewards for Episode EX, this will result in the four Episodes of the game to be chained together, avoiding the need to replay Episode 2 a second time just to have the opportunity to go through Episode EX.