Topic: I knew it! Castlevania: Lords of Shadow!(SPOILERS HERE, PLZ USE THE SPOILER TAG)

[The Silverlord]

Just a done a bit of digging (via Wikipedia I might add, so facts may be in question).  The game is set in 1047, 11th Century, beginning of the High Middle Ages.  Here's what happened back then in our own history (not out to prove (much) anything here):

• Populations north of the Alps began to settle new lands, some of which had reverted to wilderness after the end of the Roman Empire
• In what is known as the "great clearances", vast forests and marshes of Europe were cleared and cultivated
• Household heavy cavalry (knights) became common in the 11th century across Europe
• The still-powerful Roman Church called armies from across Europe to a series of Crusades against the Seljuk Turks
• Rapidly increasing population of Europe, which brought about great social and political change from the preceding era
• The East-West Schism of 1054 formally separated the Christian church into two parts: Western Catholicism in Western Europe and Eastern Orthodoxy in the east. It occurred when Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael I excommunicated each other, mainly over disputes as to the existence of papal authority over the four Eastern patriarchs.
• In architecture, many of the most notable Gothic cathedrals were built or completed during this era.

So I think some of the wilderness of Lords of Shadow could be explained in those first few points, but it obviously doesn’t take into consideration the use of orcs or goblins (not that real-world history could, mind)

Also, at this stage one could go off rather wildly and assume/take our old 100 year rule, and guess that Dracula was last staked circa 900-950 and has returned with legions of darkness.  We have a Belmont reference in the teaser trailer, possibly spoken by old Drac: this hints at 1047 being the year/time of his potential resurrection.  Note that medievalist and historian of technology Lynn White said that "to the modern eye, it [10th century] is very nearly the darkest of the Dark Ages", but concluded that ". . . if it was dark, it was the darkness of the womb."

• In 917 the Bulgarians destroyed the Byzantine army in the Battle of Anchialus, one of the bloodiest battles in the Middle Ages
• 927: official recognition of the first independent national Church in Europe
• Factoid for the day: Reindeer become extinct in Scotland

Just outlandish thoughts, but gives you a background into that kind of era.

The lighting effects look amazing btw.

[thernz]

There's also:



...

But most of those are joke enemies, anyway. They did detract from the atmosphere but they were really just nagger for a few seconds and left. I will admit I have much hatred for that grinning tree and Peresphone. Now, coxgoblins, I'm sure, will be busting the roof up in here. Enemy designs, I'm a bit iffy on, not particularly because of what they are, just in how they're designed per say. I mean those enemies you posted while contradicting the Castlevania mood stirred up interest. These coxgoblins just make me go, "How borning."

I'm quite pleased with the environments on the other hand. More than pleased. I find them...

[UnManuel]

These coxgoblins just make me go, "How borning."

Oh, but you are ignoring the possibility of these creatures being the bottom notch of the whip-feeding tree, as many already pointed out here. Much like if you go bashing the original Castlevania because of "WTF hunchbacks aren't scary" or "wow, skeletons! that's worth a headache".

[Profbeanburrito]

I don't like those Goblin things at all. It reminds me too much of Lord of the Rings or World of Warcraft or one of those other typical fantasy things. Sure Castlevania has a lot of creatures from other stories, but they never seemed so generic before.

[angevil]

yuck..I would prefer even Portrait of ruin 2 with the same levels, but different colored this time! lol

[thernz]

There's this whimsical charm the skeletons have. They have this vintage allure despite their incredibly generic appearance. The coxgoblins are just too serious to forgive. That's kinda the benefit of Castlevania not being so serious, you know. Castlevania I was a mash up of Universal monsters, after all. I am also looking at this with nostalgia-tinted glases.

[shelverton.]

yuck..I would prefer even Portrait of ruin 2 with the same levels, but different colored this time! lol

Now you're just being a troll.

Anyway, I wanna see these goblins in action, not just stills. Maybe they look cool when they...y'know.. move, or summin.

[Kingshango]

Anyway, I wanna see these goblins in action, not just stills. Maybe they look cool when they...y'know.. move, or summin.

I imagine them moving and hoping around really fast. And since they have bombs I expect them to go into kamikaze mode when in danger.

[DragonSlayr81]

There's this whimsical charm the skeletons have. They have this vintage allure despite their incredibly generic appearance. The coxgoblins are just too serious to forgive. That's kinda the benefit of Castlevania not being so serious, you know. Castlevania I was a mash up of Universal monsters, after all. I am also looking at this with nostalgia-tinted glases.

It kinda makes you wonder, considering that Cox is using a LOT of inspiration from SCV4, IF Dracula, indeed, is present, will he look like his SCV4 counterpart(Bela-Drac, clean cut, slick-backed hair) or the more modernized IGA-Drac(long hair, goatee).

[shelverton.]

It kinda makes you wonder, considering that Cox is using a LOT of inspiration from SCV4, IF Dracula, indeed, is present, will he look like his SCV4 counterpart(Bela-Drac, clean cut, slick-backed hair) or the more modernized IGA-Drac(long hair, goatee).

I think he'll look more like the original Dracula, and less like the IGA one. Or maybe he'll look completely different. I can only imagine what kind of demon he'll turn into in the final battle. 
I expect epic things.

[Munchy]

Since they're little, I wonder if the goblins are some kind of flea man substitute? I can see them being annoying buggers in large groups...

[Inccubus]

You're assuming they're fleaman size. They could just as easily be taller.
We don't have any comparison pics yet with which to judge.
Although, I will concede that their proportions imply a child-like stature.

[e105beta]

They're probably just a replacement for Fleamen. Think about it. Considering the game has set a more serious tone than previous Castlevanias, would it really make much sense for little jumping Igors to be running around in the jungle?

[Reinhart77]

Super Castlevnia IV did use gremlin-like creatures instead of Hunchbacks or Fleamen, they were rather nasty little critters. 

[thernz]

It kinda makes you wonder, considering that Cox is using a LOT of inspiration from SCV4, IF Dracula, indeed, is present, will he look like his SCV4 counterpart(Bela-Drac, clean cut, slick-backed hair) or the more modernized IGA-Drac(long hair, goatee).

iirc, SCV4 Dracula was a handsome and blonde gent. Well, until Simon whipped it off and made it apparent that it was actually a mask that hid the face of a skeleton. Though, personally I wouldn't mind the return of that. It's quite the handsome little diamond alongside with Chronicles Dracula.