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

[Chernabogue]

Great game. Disappointing plot.

[ChibiMaddiChan]

Don't you think it's striking that the most Castlevania-ish title in the Lords of Shadow series was one that Mercurysteam had to make because the real sequel to Lords of Shadow wasn't ready? I think that's a bit telling.

Heck, wasn't there a previous post in this very thread previously where the Spainish director dude was complaining about having to change shit to suit fans and regretting it?  LoS 2 probably would have been more 'in name only' than Lords1 would have been if he'd gotten his way. 

But see, I look at LoS as a Frankenstein  Monster that can be interpreted in two ways that technically aren't wrong.  You can argue it isn't 'Castlevania' and be right, but you can defend it's  'Castlevania' and still be right. There is enough wrong with it where it's so vastly different from the original where and does come off more like "the movie of the game, the game".  But if you're deranged like I can get, I see it like this:

Lord1 = movie-esque retelling of Lament except Zozo is Mathias, Satan is Death and Gabe is. Leon...who happens to turn into Dracula. 
Mirror = a more 'castlevania' feeling mash of Castlevania 1 and 3, with metroidvania like gameplay.
Lord2 = the 1999 game where Soma (or Dracula as a good guy, just go with the basic thought on this one) is the good guy.  And looks hotter.  And shows sexy chest.

See?  Tilt your head and believe--it works.  And if you can't, just take Castlevania out of the title and it's not hard to see in the veins of a game like Legacy of Kain as it's own vampire tale.  Both sides win! 

[Maedhros]

Even though I finished Agreus fast, I can say for sure that it's the worst design for a stealth section so far on the game.

[Viskod]

I think you are all greatly over estimating the influence Cox has on the game design of this series. He intermediates between Konami and Mercury Steam and does some PR. Mercury Steam tells him what they are planning on doing and that's all he has to go by. If he relates something to the public that later gets changed or cut, that is not his fault and there's nothing he can do about it.

He's also probably a step removed from the world of petty semantics and hair splitting a lot of you seem to live in. The optional bosses in the Kleidos Challenges, are optional bosses and you cannot fault the man for not knowing that doesn't fit your narrow opinion of what an optional boss is.

He may very we'll believe that getting a trophy or achievement  for hitting 110% counts as a reward because he doesn't understand that players might not think that's good enough.

We all apparently have one egomaniac to direct our collective ire at for how disappointing the story in Lords of Shadow 2 ended up, and it's not David Cox.

[e105beta]

I think you are all greatly over estimating the influence Cox has on the game design of this series. He intermediates between Konami and Mercury Steam and does some PR. Mercury Steam tells him what they are planning on doing and that's all he has to go by. If he relates something to the public that later gets changed or cut, that is not his fault and there's nothing he can do about it.

He's also probably a step removed from the world of petty semantics and hair splitting a lot of you seem to live in. The optional bosses in the Kleidos Challenges, are optional bosses and you cannot fault the man for not knowing that doesn't fit your narrow opinion of what an optional boss is.

He may very we'll believe that getting a trophy or achievement  for hitting 110% counts as a reward because he doesn't understand that players might not think that's good enough.

We all apparently have one egomaniac to direct our collective ire at for how disappointing the story in Lords of Shadow 2 ended up, and it's not David Cox.

I agree with that last point, I do, but if Cox is as big a Castlevania fan as he claims, and he claims he's a pretty big one, he knows EXACTLY what "optional bosses" implies.

[crisis]

the irony is that if lords of shadow had indeed dropped the castlevania title & been its own series, we'd prolly be arguing how it could still be an "honorary castlevania" due to its similarities

[Kamirine]

the irony is that if lords of shadow had indeed dropped the castlevania title & been its own series, we'd prolly be arguing how it could still be an "honorary castlevania" due to its similarities

Ironically, this.  I am actually replaying LoS now to see maybe if I 'appreciate' it better.  Or rather see it better as a CV title because I already like the story. 

I think you are all greatly over estimating the influence Cox has on the game design of this series. He intermediates between Konami and Mercury Steam and does some PR. Mercury Steam tells him what they are planning on doing and that's all he has to go by. If he relates something to the public that later gets changed or cut, that is not his fault and there's nothing he can do about it.

He's also probably a step removed from the world of petty semantics and hair splitting a lot of you seem to live in. The optional bosses in the Kleidos Challenges, are optional bosses and you cannot fault the man for not knowing that doesn't fit your narrow opinion of what an optional boss is.

He may very we'll believe that getting a trophy or achievement  for hitting 110% counts as a reward because he doesn't understand that players might not think that's good enough.

We all apparently have one egomaniac to direct our collective ire at for how disappointing the story in Lords of Shadow 2 ended up, and it's not David Cox.

This could very well be true and if so, I feel sorry for Cox.  He's getting a lot of headache he doesn't deserve when he does mean well.  It's believable, considering if the employee's complaints are in fact true, it goes to show that incredible lack of communication he complained about.

Being the face of this series has to suck for Cox.

[Flame]

Well, the guy on gamefaqs beat the game at 110%, still no change.

So I guess the reward was the achievement. Amazing reward huh?

[ChibiMaddiChan]

Being the face of this series has to suck for Cox.

Oh, I dunno.  Maybe if he does it just right, he'll find the release he was loooking for.

[Flame]

so i thought up how the ending could have been better.

(click to show/hide)

you fight victor as the final boss, and give him the combat cross to do it. you want release,  but yknow, you wont just lie down and die. so you do one last fight with the belmonts. in the end, you come to a narrow win, but victor impales you catching you off guard.  you accept defeat, and go out with a bang of light or something, promising marie you will see her soon.

[Dremn]

so i thought up how the ending could have been better.

(click to show/hide)

you fight victor as the final boss, and give him the combat cross to do it. you want release,  but yknow, you wont just lie down and die. so you do one last fight with the belmonts. in the end, you come to a narrow win, but victor impales you catching you off guard.  you accept defeat, and go out with a bang of light or something, promising marie you will see her soon.

I had a pretty similar ending in mind, Victor really should have been the one to end Gabriel's immortality.

Oh, I dunno.  Maybe if he does it just right, he'll find the release he was loooking for.

Pfffft

[ChibiMaddiChan]

What? Might be all Cox needs: a good release to relieve stress this game provides. I mean, I would help Gabe find the release he needs.  I'd show him men can be more than a miserable pile of secrets.  So

[e105beta]

so i thought up how the ending could have been better.

(click to show/hide)

you fight victor as the final boss, and give him the combat cross to do it. you want release,  but yknow, you wont just lie down and die. so you do one last fight with the belmonts. in the end, you come to a narrow win, but victor impales you catching you off guard.  you accept defeat, and go out with a bang of light or something, promising marie you will see her soon.

Thanks for that. It's my new head-canon.

[JayDominus]

In my head-canon being stabbed with VK only brings Satan back to hell, Drac follows him there, there's a grand three phase epic battle of Prince of Darkness vs The Lightbringer and after the battle Dracula uses his raw power of both Lord of Shadow and God's Chosen One to transform into his dragon form and end Lucifer for good. And then he has a choice - to either join Marie in Heaven or stay in Hell as the new management.
If someone from MercurySteam is reading you have my blessing to steal this idea for a post-ending DLC.

[Chernabogue]

I had so many ideas for great endings I was very disappointed with the actual one.