Well, I do not know, to me love this story. Not a castlevania as before but even if you take away the name of castlevania remains an incredible saga. You will be others like the old Castlevania (like good hope because there is everything in the last 15 years ....) now at least have brought something different but it's very good.
Do not like them to put the name of clastlevania?, Okay, thinks it's another game and play it or not, the market is now full of good games. Dark Soul, Torchlight 2, Fire Emblem .. hundreds.
I do not know, I sometimes get angry with a saga, with Mass Effect3 and dragon age 2 but I recognize that my problems were due to fanboy. I will be sure to buy a dragon age, a mass effect ... psss is that I start to hate EA, I do not know, but if the game is good I'll buy no doubt.
In summary, many years of playing games have taught me to have a more open mind and just enjoy the good games and good stories. I always liked the theme of castles, Vampires (supernatural creatures in general) and medieval age. So Lord of Shadow (without castlevania) seems a saga that will be memorable.
I really was a fan of Fallout (1 & 2), Baldur's Gate (1 & 2), Arcanum. When I saw the evolution of the genre of these games in the last years, I dropped a tear, but then I played and I realized how great they were (even better than some of the originals), an open mind, to 3D, the new system combat, and even the history .. just enjoy the game ..
If even Final Fantasy it may be considered the most successful franchise in history and every game is reinvented, some better and some worse but all are good to enjoy.
Honestly I do not like the life of Hater, is more rewarding enjoy what you find along the way. If next year for Konami makes a Metroidvania for PSPVita i enjoy it like the LOS, without problems.
But this speech is just my opinion.