Topic: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (Review)

[The Great Reviewer]

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow: 3 stars out of 5 stars.

MercurySteam almost achieved the unthinkable.

Part 1:

There was much talk of the new Castlevania in recent months. Everywhere out pictures, all felt on the internet ... But no one had us a close view of a fan of the series, to tell them whether it be called Castlevania or not, and whether or not what they all say.

First, I have to say what I thought it would be: same worldwide. A copy modeled on games like God of War, Shadow of the Colossus and Prince of Persia. The fault that everyone thinks this, is that the images and videos that are touted everywhere belong to the first two chapters of the game. Maybe Konami's interest to capture gamers from other sagas, thinking that Castlevania fans in any way they were going to end up playing. Matched me, but many Castlevania fans are not going to give a chance to this game, because they were frightened by what was shown of him publicly. And rightly so.

Second, remember that the first title was alien to Castlevania, which was simply called Lords of Shadow, Castlevania and only had his name added when Konami marketing strategy took shape. Konami thought, "Let's add Castlevania, and Castlevania fans and capture and other sagas". This is because the previous 3D Castlevania were not well received by fans of the series or by the critics. I personally love the Castlevania Nintendo 64 and Playstation 2, and consider them superior to PS3. That make it clear. They are classic unmatched. Legacy of Darkness with its intuitive and fluid, Lament of Innocence with the best story in the series, and Curse of Darkness with the best soundtrack that had a game (perhaps matched by a handful of titles in the same series as Portrait of Ruin, to name one).

But I am naming these games did not sell well, and ultimately that's what matters to Konami. They were looking for a change, and Lords of Shadow saw an opportunity, and I commissioned a completely new team. Within the other hand, what bothered me most was the music, which was completely out of what is Castlevania, but again: the promoted tracks seemed bad imitations of Remote Control, probably belonging to the game when it was only Lords of Shadow, without being Castlevania. Both the music (to a lesser extent), as the gameplay and level set (in large measure) would reflect the dual nature of the game. Castlevania's partly and partly not.

What happened at the end was that to play all my prejudices were met by two whole chapters. The game has 12 chapters, each consisting of between 5 and 10 themed levels.

The graphics are amazing (so far the best I saw on PS3). But the gameplay was monotonous and boring. Just press buttons for 2 whole chapters, taking a couple of puzzles. Everything copied God of War, Prince of Persia, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus ... (Say that Assassin's Creed too, but have not played yet, do not know).

[The Great Reviewer]

Part 2:

I am sure that Lords of Shadow was 5 chapters when they decided to add Castlevania development and change what was to be the final product. These were the chapters 1, 2, 10, 11 and 12.

At the end of Chapter 2, comes what we were all waiting for: a huge amount of levels of all Castlevania should have. So, we can have whole chapters entrance to the castle, Clock Tower, library, laboratory, graveyard, old European villages, and all scenarios that through the years we have become accustomed Castlevania. It also changes the gameplay in those chapters. We use the whip to hang us and balancearnos as Castlevania IV Super NES, many movements are added, and the puzzles are the best I saw in a game. The weapons are those that we saw in all games in the series (even improved Curse of Darkness), and movement through the level design is very similar to Lament of Innocence.

Chapters 3-8 (6 in total) are those that developed after deciding to put Castlevania. And they did it to perfection. Even the music, while not what one expects of a Castlevania, very reminiscent of the 2 games Nintendo 64. Create atmosphere and general help to the aesthetics and atmosphere of the game. There are even a couple of subtle remixes of classic tracks.

These 6 chapters always kept us looking forward to playing, always waiting to see what was coming, because every time improved more.

Then came Chapter 9, you will be bad started to decay. It's kind of mixed with other Sleepy Hollow Tim Burton movies. And the last 3 chapters (10-12) are the most boring and mediocre I saw in a game. In every sense. No point in going into detail, but these chapters were already made before deciding to be a Castlevania, and put the end of the game.

The final battle is good, but a little easier (for my taste is fine since the bosses never attracted much attention). And the end of the game is good. And here I refer to the story, which was, in short, the biggest disappointment. I expected great graphics of this game, and had. Hoped he did not seem in almost anything to a Castlevania, but those 6 chapters are the cutest levels set I saw in a game, and is a universe that is only surpassed by few games, and are well Castlevania: the Castlevania perfect world in 3D and HD. I hoped that the music was very bad, but in the end did not bother and had some nice and emotional issues. I hoped that the management were flat and mediocre, and it was fun, intuitive, and yet complex fluid. But the story, I expected to be epic and cut through the Lament of Innocence, actually fell far below expectations. It acted perfectly, and is a pleasure hearing hearing so many great actors lend their voices to it. But ultimately, after a relatively epic beginning, almost nothing happens until the end. And that's a big bump of 20 hours that can not be ignored. And criticized.

[The Great Reviewer]

Part 3:

In short, I recommend it for fans of Castlevania for Chapters 3-8 make it worthwhile. If a 3D Castlevania universe can be done to perfection, this game is so far the one that came closest to accomplish. Levels of asthmatic tour is fascinating and decipher the riddles. We find characters of almost every game in the series making their appearances (from Cornell to Brauner, through Carmilla, Rinaldo Gandolfi and many more), as well as all the classic enemies a Castlevania should have. We really feel that we are in these locations and beautiful Gothic saga.

The first two chapters are getting used to the game, and become quite boring. Then comes the marvelous. And then in Chapter 8, if you got there, play a few more hours to see the end, but do not expect anything else because everything good is over. Particularly chapters 9-12, are as 4 hours after the last image of old games, repeated over and over again (the vacuum in a deserted mountain completely random enemies, with the difference that other games lasted two minutes and was the final battle, and it made sense with regard to the story). Only Wii Super Mario Galaxy had caused me feelings as found, with levels that are the most fun I had in 3D and other more boring than I saw in my life. The difference is that the alternating Mario game, and instead to Lords of Shadow all good is followed. But believe me it is worth it, because the good thing about this game is overwhelmingly spectacular (as mediocre as this game is mediocre in capital letters).

It deserves a 6,25/10 if we average, considering that in me the good half of the game outweighs the bad. If they would have to separate a 9.5 to a part, and 3 to the other.
That is why 3 out of 5 stars.

And as a final note, I want to mention something that is worth being taken into account is the game that reminded me of beautiful landscapes what PS2, and that's always a good thing. The part where we by old European villages (a classic Castlevania) reminded me to old feelings and all those beautiful scenes of a magic game so far unique. It may sound to knods drawers of palmer, does not fit into a world of Castlevania, but it does. That is to say as an example that the village of Castlevania 2 NES is exactly what are the villages of here with his this these villagers, their buildings and darkness covering everything slowly.
Magnificent.

[The Great Reviewer]

Part 4: Overview:

Graphics: 5/5. The best I saw on PS3 so far, and is saying something, because I played more than 50 games (including almost all of the best) and so far none approaches the level of definition, detail and beauty of this game.
Imagine Lord of the Rings + Van Helsing.

Handling: 4/5. It is very good, and although greatly inspired other games, these "inspirations" are well implemented, and a good portion of them are from the same series that gives its name to the game. The difficulty has some peaks, but never annoying and always appropriate. And most importantly it is fun. Lots of replay value, since when to acquire new skills in older areas are new parts (a classic Castlevania). Keep questing mode of recent titles in the series.
Imagine God of War + Shadow of the Colossus + Prince of Persia.

History: 1,5/5. Is the most common and low seen on the series, which in turn was never characterized by dazzling stories. It is wonderfully acted, very well written, but lacks essence. It's a nice touch to have included many classic characters as part of the story. Somehow they managed to put together the story of an order inspired by the Knights Templar with Castlevania and make any sense, if is possible. Good work for the spanish developers. And the ending is really original. But not enough to save 20 hours of redundancy.

Music: 2,5/5. Create great weather and rarely attracts attention. Some tracks are very good and very well arranged, without being memorable. Lords of Shadow 2 For the composer will start working on the soundtrack and knowing you are making music for a Castlevania (which was not the case here). Hopefully this will be reflected in the final product. On the other hand, the voices are sublime. Hopefully have better script then (have nothing, if you know how to give the right direction after what was the ending).

Overall rating: 3/5. It is unfair to the greatness that is well made half the game, but a half mediocre game can not be overlooked. Recommended from every point of view for any fan of Castlevania, but know that you will have to bear half the game if only it was called "Lords of Shadow". Fortunately, the excellent half game lasts much longer hours than the boring half. If Mercury Steam is decided that the sequel is 100% Castlevania and not parts of fantasy settings and old ruins out of place (which logically should be so, since from the beginning know that they are developing a new title in the series, and not something else completely disconnected as it was when they started with this game), and if Oscar Araujo is steeped more in what is the music of the series and gives the necessary touch from the beginning, an opportunity that did not this time, most likely we will be, with Lords of Shadow 2, upon the perfect 3D Castlevania.