I still listen to the LoS2 soundtrack sometimes and remember how I thought the game was going to go when I first listened to it after it was ripped from the demo. Then I get frustrated with how it actually went. Lords of Shadow 2 is hot garbage as far as I'm concerned. I recognize there is good in it, namely the combat and the atmosphere in the castle, but the bad completely overshadows everything else. I mean, who cares how good the patty in your hamburger is if the chef served it with a bun covered in mold and instead of ketchup used shit?
I still like Mirror of Fate for what it is. Between the story, the art, the moody atmosphere, and the exploration I still remember my initial playthrough fondly, but after roughly 5 playthroughs that's worn off and the flawed combat really stands out. It's shallow and easy to abuse, and doesn't compliment the rest of the game. When I look at it now, it's a nice attempt with a good thought behind it, but the game designers weren't brave enough (or allowed enough freedom) to really stretch their arms and do their own thing, which is a shame.
7 years later, Lords of Shadow is still one of my favorite games in the Castlevania series. It's somewhere up there with Symphony of the Night, Rondo of Blood, and Portrait of Ruin. It's already been said earlier in this thread, but while the combat feels a bit clunky in the face of LoS2, as a complete package the game is fantastic.
I really miss Castlevania.