Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Release Date: October 5, 2010
Action, TPP, hack'and'slash, 3D platformers, puzzle elements, vampires, PS Plus Premium, singleplayer
Steam
Another full-fledged installment in the legendary series of action games, developed by the Spanish developer Mercury Steam in cooperating with Konami - the creators of all the previous installments. The protagonist is called Gabriel and he is a member of the Brotherhood of Light. The organization fights evil forces, and Gabriel is given a mission to eliminate the titular Lords of Shadow.
Videos and Screens
[2:53] Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Graphics comparison PC vs PS3
[4:56] Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Ultimate Edition trailer
The main pros of the game
- Visuals and Art Direction: The game is praised for its gorgeous graphics and level design, even considering its 2010 release. Many users appreciated the variety of locations and the overall aesthetic.
- Story and Voice Acting: The narrative is highlighted as a strong point, with an engaging storyline and excellent voice acting that enhances the gaming experience.
- Combat and Gameplay Mechanics: While opinions vary, many players found the combat enjoyable and reminiscent of classic hack-and-slash games. The progression in combat abilities as players advance is also noted positively.
- Music and Soundtrack: The music is frequently mentioned as memorable and fitting, contributing to the overall atmosphere of the game.
- Replayability: Some users found the game to have good replay value, particularly for fans of the Castlevania series or action-adventure games.
The main cons of the game
- Camera Issues: A recurring complaint is the problematic camera, which can hinder gameplay by obscuring enemies or causing disorientation during fights and platforming sections.
- Combat Limitations: Some players felt that the combat system was simplistic or lacked depth, especially in the early stages of the game. The reliance on quick time events (QTEs) was also criticized.
- Difficulty Spikes: Many users mentioned that the game can be frustratingly difficult at times, particularly in the early game, where players have limited combat options and face strong enemies.
- Tutorial and Controls: The tutorial was described as poor, and several users reported issues with the controls, which could lead to unintended actions during gameplay.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Variety in Combat Options: Some users expressed a desire for a broader range of combat mechanics and more diverse weapon options, particularly in the early game.
- Improved Camera Control: Players noted that better camera mechanics could significantly enhance the gameplay experience, especially during combat and platforming.
- Less Reliance on Quick Time Events: Many reviews indicated that the game overuses QTEs, which can detract from the overall enjoyment and create frustration.
- More Unique Identity: Some players felt that the game lacks its own identity and too closely emulates other successful titles like God of War, suggesting a desire for more originality in its design and gameplay.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 2621 votes. 1316 players anticipated the game.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Description
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow for PC, PS3 and X360 is another installment in a legendary franchise having its roots in the 80s. The specific atmosphere of the series was recreated by the Spanish Mercury Steam studio this time. Interestingly, the legendary Kojima Productions with its creator participated in production of the game. As a result, the players receive a dynamic third-person action game.
Plot
In Castlevania: Lords of Shadow for PC, PS3 and X360, the protagonist is called Gabriel. He is both a dark-haired young guy and a member of the Brotherhood of Light - an organization fighting evil forces. The protagonist is entrusted with a task of eliminating the dark legions of the Lords of Shadow. He sets out for a long journey across the lands occupied by the dark forces. Also, he hopes to obtain a magical mask that would allow him to resurrect his murdered wife. In his dreams, she has been trying to transmit an important message to him.
Mechanics
The player is put in the shoes of Gabriel, who can travel both on foot and by horse. The world is full of large enemy groups and huge bosses. The protagonist makes use of several basic types of weapons, including the inherent combat cross mainly. Going through subsequent locations, the player develops the protagonist in terms of his combat skills, mainly enabling him with the abilities to create two magical auras (one healing and the second increasing the damage dealt) several toys.
In Castlevania: Lords of Shadow for PC, PS3 and X360, Gabriel faces entire armies of monsters often associated with evil. Thus the player encounters werewolves, goblins, trolls or gigantic spiders. Interestingly, the protagonist is capable of taking control over certain creatures for a short period of time in order to take advantage of them in combat or to clear the way ahead. It has to be mentioned that the game features epic battles against titans, during which, the player climbs gigantic bosses resembling the classic Shadow of the Colossus in this aspect. The new Castlevania pays tribute to older installments, for it features numerous platform sections requiring the player to climb, jump and solve puzzles.
Technical aspects
In terms of the visuals, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow for PC, PS3 and X360 is a very impressive game, for it features a variety of dynamically changing, amazing landscapes. Although the potential of the game engine was taken advantage of to the fullest, the animation fluency is often reduced. When it comes to the audio, it is worth noticing that voice acting was delivered by popular actors and actresses. Among them, one can find Patrick Stewart, Robert Carlyle, Jason Isaacs or Natasha McElhone.
Last updated on April 12, 2016
20
GAMES
in Castlevania Game Series
Game Series
Castlevania Series
A series of platform action games starring vampire hunters. The series is one of the major brands in the publishing portfolio of Japanese company Konami, with development support from Mercury Steam Entertainment studio, among others.
20 video games
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows August 27, 2013
PlayStation 3 October 5, 2010
Xbox 360 October 5, 2010
Developer: Mercury Steam Entertainment
Publisher: Konami
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Quad Core i5 3.0 GHz, 2 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB (GeForce GTX 480 or better), 15 GB HDD, Windows XP(SP3)/Vista/7, Internet connection
Game Expansions for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Resurrection
Expansion
Action
June 7, 2011
The second story-based expansion for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - a third-person hack and slash game created by Konami and the Spanish team at Mercury Steam, the latter popular mainly for Clive Barker: Jericho. The Resurrection expansion brings a finale to both the stories of the core game and the first DLC - Reverie. The player participates in subsequent adventures of Gabriel Belmont who travels to the Underworld in order to strike the ultimate blow against the evil awakened after the defeat of the titular Lords of Shadow. The expansion does not bring any changes to the gameplay mechanics of the core game, focusing mainly on the plot and a spectacular ending of the entire story.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Reverie
Expansion
Action
March 30, 2011
The first DLC expansion for 2010's Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. The Reverie expansion is set between the ending and the epilogue of the core game. The player once again assumes the role of Gabriel Belmont, who decides to help the Queen of Vampires by the name of Laura - a former subordinate of Carmilla, whom Gabriel defeated in the base game. Both the characters set out for a dangerous journey, during which they encounter powerful, dark forces awakened after the defeat of Lords of Shadow. What was not the case in the core game, is an opportunity to play as a different character - the expansion puts the player in the shoes of Laura as well. Contrary to the base game featuring real-time cutscenes, the expansion offers an impressive equivalent in the form of an animated comic strip.