Topic: "The Dragon Returns" - Castlevania Lords of Shadow Sequel (HERE BE SPOILER INFO)

[Dremn]

Didn't think I'd lose this much respect for a guy this fast. Hell Cox is looking like a saint compared to him.

Cox isn't a bad guy (I think), he just says more than he should and has an issue with lieing. A lot.

Or, perhaps, to give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe some of the things he's said and promised were in the works but were shot down by Enric early on? Now I feel like I'm wearing a tinfoil hat, I'm gonna stop myself there.

[Little Dracula]

Didn't think I'd lose this much respect for a guy this fast. Hell Cox is looking like a saint compared to him.

Are you serious?, he is retweeting positive reviews, that's all, he never said that he blame the fans. And about the employee stuff, I don't know if is true or false but is sad that some random guy said something like that with not proof and people believe like it is fact, I guess this is perfect for those who hate LoS.

[derision]

And so, according to our friend Enric Alvarez (and a CVG review):

https://twitter.com/Enric_Alvarez/status/439019647933759488

Of course. It's all our fault.

That review is highly critical and isn't exactly excusing MS for its divergence from the first game.

If you walked away from that review thinking "it's the fans' fault" I have to question whether you actually read anything other than the headline or the last paragraph.

Also, Did someone here just consider the idea that THIS review was bought out? This one? Really?

[Flame]

WOW, that ending.

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Im smelling not sequel bait, but DLC bait. Just like LoS1. Just you watch, the DLC will take place after the game and actually conclude the story. Only this time you play as Alucard.

Unless that's the case, then WOW, what were they thinking with that ending. Sequel hook..? See I'd appreciate the ending better if this wasn't supposed to be a trilogy that ends with LoS2. Something tells me Konami wants to leave it open for sequels. Or Alvarez. Who knows. Cox was pretty intent on finishing off with 3. Though from what I remember, leak guy did say that Konami was interested in continuing LoS, with or without Mercurysteam. Which makes me nervous.

[Maedhros]

I'm not having fun anymore... I'm just going automatically on my "complete everything 100%" mode now.

Reggreting this a lot... I should have waited.

[Flame]

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So what's the deal with the castle? They never really explain what the deal is. Are you going back in time? the castle map shows the remains of the Siege titan, do you go back in time to after Dracula's sealing by Alucard? Is it the ghost of the castle in another dimension a-la Aria? if so how the fuck are Knights still going in and attacking the castle? should be just monsters. is it all actually some kind of mind dimension inside Dracula? I know, he took the acolyte there, but that doesnt mean much when this is all magic to begin with. it would make sense that the Acolyte's powers would be poor inside Dracula's "Mind castle", where HE'S the one large and in charge. It would also explain the Inner Dracula being, and the cursed blood that tries to kill him all the time. His vampire blood is rebelling against his resurfacing Humanity, represented by Marie and Young Trevor. Also, I'm not quite sure I understood the existence of the white wolf. One of the scrolls in the city mentions that the wolf appeared when Dracula was defeated, and so people take it as some kind of good omen or something.

I mean, i suppose it works best if it's left unanswered, it adds to the mystery factor of the castle, where you are never quite sure if it's real or not.

Personally I'm leaning more towards alternate dimension/spiritual remains of the castle. It is after all, a haunted castle, posessed by a demon. The castle crumbled when Alucard and Simon defeated Dracula, but it was right back up again when he returned some time later, some time before the brotherhood siege. I doubt razing it and building a city on top of the remains would truly eradicate the castle's existence. I'm thinking that the actual physical remains of the castle still left, the areas with the wolf, are able to basically serve as doorways to the spiritual/exdimentional phantom of the castle.

though it still doesn't explain brotherhood knights and inner dracula/cursed blood AUGH

[Shinobi]

Well, he IS the villain of the series for a reason. Besides, if it's gameplay-wise, mostly everything THIS Dracula can do, so can Alucard(original canon and LoS).

Besides, I love my Dracula to be evil. Maybe turn up the notch and have him extra sadistic in whatever new CV story/reboot they go with next. I want one where he's abducting villages and having them impaled in his courtyard or skinning them alive in his dungeon.

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Killing a helpless family in LOS2 might be close enough for being evil

[RichterB]

Did Kurt or Jorge sign off on their thoughts about the game yet?

I'm not having fun anymore... I'm just going automatically on my "complete everything 100%" mode now.

Reggreting this a lot... I should have waited.

Sorry to hear this. I've been there before with games. The first time I recall feeling it with a Castlevania game was Curse of Darkness I believe (though it did introduce a fully functional 3D camera). I was afraid I'd get the same feeling with LoS2, so I just had to hold my ground after caving in on LoS1. What would you say is the biggest problem: Level design, combat, or the Lords of Shadows universe story?

[Flame]

What DOES Jorge think?

WE SUMMON THEE, OH MIGHTY ADMINISTRATOR OF DARKNESS!

[e105beta]

There's NOTHING wrong for you on this game.

It's like every game is perfect for some people... good god,just admit that some games have problems. There's nothing wrong in stating negative things about a game, it won't make the game worse for you anyway. But saying that that POS design is good actually makes me pissed off!

Alright, let me give it a shot...

FUCK, THIS TOOK ME FIVE WHOLE FUCKING MINUTES! COME ON MERCURYSTEAM, GET WITH THE FUCKING PROGRAM!

Seriously, your anger is amusing. What's my opinion to you? I honestly have no problem with the Agreus part. Put on your big boy pants and deal with it.

Cox isn't a bad guy (I think), he just says more than he should and has an issue with lieing. A lot.

Or, perhaps, to give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe some of the things he's said and promised were in the works but were shot down by Enric early on? Now I feel like I'm wearing a tinfoil hat, I'm gonna stop myself there.

That's...exactly the thought I had early today.

It's all part of the twist: While Enric presented the whole nice guy face, and Cox took the heat for being the big bad producer, it turns out Cox only had the fans in mind while Enric was off playing MS Dictator.

He will die a martyr. He also confirmed that there IS a 100% reward. No idea what it is, but damn now I'm going to be hunting like crazy for artwork.

EDIT: AND THEN HE TWEETED "Oops gotta watch them spoilers!" GOD DAMMIT DAVE! GET YOUR CLAWS OUT OF MY EMOTIONS!

WOW, that ending.

(click to show/hide)

Im smelling not sequel bait, but DLC bait. Just like LoS1. Just you watch, the DLC will take place after the game and actually conclude the story. Only this time you play as Alucard.

Unless that's the case, then WOW, what were they thinking with that ending. Sequel hook..? See I'd appreciate the ending better if this wasn't supposed to be a trilogy that ends with LoS2. Something tells me Konami wants to leave it open for sequels. Or Alvarez. Who knows. Cox was pretty intent on finishing off with 3. Though from what I remember, leak guy did say that Konami was interested in continuing LoS, with or without Mercurysteam. Which makes me nervous.

Let's hope it's DLC bait. I need some damn closure.

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That ending left me with a giant, bloody hole in my soul. The build up was great from the twist, to the immediate Zobek fight right after, just hype, hype, hype, hype then BAM, over. Done. Dracula still alive, Alucard still alive, and yet everyone's supposed to be satisfied? Give me a break. Ugh, I loved this game too, but the story punched me in the dick a few times, i.e. Victor's death.

Also, the two parts that dragged on the most were finding the antidote in the city and the second acolyte. Aside from the Victor fight, which was ridiculously good, the whole part from Raisa part 2 to The Riders of the Storm was pretty lackluster.

I don't know how I feel right now. 6/10 at it's worst, 9/10 at it's best, averaging out to about a 8/10? I dunno.

I'm just really frustrated by that ending. MoF still holds the award for being my favorite Castlevania of all time.

[Flame]

That's...exactly the thought I had early today.

It's all part of the twist: While Enric presented the whole nice guy face, and Cox took the heat for being the big bad producer, it turns out Cox only had the fans in mind while Enric was off playing MS Dictator.

it is very possible. VERY possible, and i would believe it.

He will die a martyr. He also confirmed that there IS a 100% reward. No idea what it is, but damn now I'm going to be hunting like crazy for artwork.

EDIT: AND THEN HE TWEETED "Oops gotta watch them spoilers!" GOD DAMMIT DAVE! GET YOUR CLAWS OUT OF MY EMOTIONS!

Welp, time to go item hunting I guess. I only have 1 upgrade left to find for health, and 2 each for chaos and void... other than that, artwork time i guess. Time to star smashing things everywhere. I swear to IGA if they pulled a SoTN fake ending, I might just strangle someone. Then again, probably shouldnt get my hopes up. probably an unlockable or something.

speaking of smashing- barrels only take one hit!

Let's hope it's DLC bait. I need some damn closure.

i just need my alucard fix

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That ending left me with a giant, bloody hole in my soul. The build up was great from the twist, to the immediate Zobek fight right after, just hype, hype, hype, hype then BAM, over. Done. Dracula still alive, Alucard still alive, and yet everyone's supposed to be satisfied? Give me a break. Ugh, I loved this game too, but the story punched me in the dick a few times, i.e. Victor's death.

Also, the two parts that dragged on the most were finding the antidote in the city and the second acolyte. Aside from the Victor fight, which was ridiculously good, the whole part from Raisa part 2 to The Riders of the Storm was pretty lackluster.

I don't know how I feel right now. 6/10 at it's worst, 9/10 at it's best, averaging out to about a 8/10? I dunno.

I'm just really frustrated by that ending. MoF still holds the award for being my favorite Castlevania of all time.

[/quote]
I'd say 6.5/10 is about right. 7/10 depending on the time of day and my mood at the moment. Also I liked the Second Acolyte battle. it was too easy, but it was cool and fun.

[e105beta]

i just need my alucard fix

My fiancee spent the whole game asking me "Is Alucard on yet? Has Alucard shown up yet?"

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When the cutscene with the whole twist happened, I think she almost died.

I'd say 6.5/10 is about right. 7/10 depending on the time of day and my mood at the moment. Also I liked the Second Acolyte battle. it was too easy, but it was cool and fun.

6.5 is just too low for me. I just can't rate this game lower than Final Fantasy XIII.

[Flame]

I wonder, what counts as 100%? Do achievements count? Do Kleidos challenges count? or just collectibles like in MoF?

I wonder because there's an achievement for completing 110% of the game. wheres that 10% come from?

[e105beta]

I wonder, what counts as 100%? Do achievements count? Do Kleidos challenges count? or just collectibles like in MoF?

I wonder because there's an achievement for completing 110% of the game. wheres that 10% come from?

Ideally 100% would unlock something, then 110% would be after completing the unlocked content.

I've got time. I'm just going to do everything, see what happens. If this turns out to be some secret boss leading to a real ending, I will be floored. I'm expecting a skin.

[Flame]

They set the bar pretty high in MoF as far as 100% content goes. Just a skin unlockable would be the worst.

EDIT: question, where does the Konami code go? what part of the menu?