I had to weigh in on this one. First, this is a Castlevania game not a Metal Gear Solid, Tenchu, Assasins Creed, Batman Arkham's Series, etc. title. If Dracula is to hide for the sake of stealth it should be for the sake of a boss fight against him not him as the weakened POD having to dodge lesser bosses and enemies for the sake of storyline. This stuff has no business being in here. Tolerable at best.
Second, the DLC with Alucard was WAYYYYYYYYYYYY more fun that the actual game and really felt like it could be taken in good direction. Sadly, the game was not based on him but daddy. Dracula did not get his due in this game playing as the anti hero. Shame I thought they would have given him more power, flight/bat abilities, wolf abilities and such and such.
Third, the platforming and jumping as someone stated in this game was just not very tight. I did not like the climbing aspects in this game and the jumping animation for Dracula himself seemed sloppy for the outfit he was donning. Maybe it was just his look that made it seem very loose and poorly executed. Also he runs slow with no speed power up for running except with the void and chaos mist abilities and that fucking hair of his. Damn it. Four, the lack of really dangerous areas pitfalls, spikes, traps and diverse enemies in the castle. The city had mechs, MECHS. For fuck sake, why? At least the outside had some traps even though city-scapes and tech labs are not what I want to see. The Art District was fun, but why is it that you can not access Dracula's church or his throne room but one time. Both are destroyed during the game. Those were the most fun areas to access in my opinion. Five the Boss fight that was supposed to be epic was repeated. You face the armored leftenant twice as the final boss in both the game and the DLC. Yo David what happened to the Final battle with Big Red being the battle to end them all? He hides behind someone else. What kind of bullshit is that?
All of these things I can tolerate and forgive somewhat.
But there is one thing that happens in this game one too many times that is inexcusable. One thing that totally spits on every hard working imaginative game designer. Something they would if they have any integrity distance themselves from this scenario, this presumed attempt of compelling game design.
Assembling that fucking mirror not once not twice but three damn times and having it as a supposed puzzle. THAT IS BLASPHEMY AS FAR AS GAME PLAY GOES!!!!
The first LOS did justice with the puzzles in the game. As flawed as that game was it ran circles around this wretched sack of
wet brown butt biscuits.