Okay Geek Farm
Xbox 360 Review: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Okay Geek TeamStory: Lords of Shadow is a reboot of the series; its own free standing tale within the universe based off of the Belmonts’ curse, Whips, and Dracula. It’s the the same old Castlevania world we’ve come to love but this time told in a refined narrative new to the series. Gabriel Belmont seeks revenge for the death of his wife, Marie. And so chooses to follow down a dark path that will have him confronting the 3 Dark Lords of Shadow to bring back the light of God to the world, and piece together the God Mask - said to be able to resurrect those who have fallen away in sleep. It’s a story that takes him through Lycon and Vampire territory, which might as well be Hell on Earth - a journey that tests his humanity, and gives the player the impression that he just might not make it out to the end as a man anymore…
Gameplay: While nothing ground breaking, Lords of Shadow hosts the same stylized action seen in games like Devil May Cry and God of War but with its own additions that that don’t quite push the action/adventure genre forward but do improve upon basics and keep it original. While various attacks and combos are what will make the gameplay addictive, the proper use of Shadow Magic and Light Magic, your offensive and defensive spells, will make sure that the action stays non-stop. Beyond attacks, other Castleavania staples such as the dash, shoulder impact, and double jump will become available as the journey progresses. Bosses are colossal, and perhaps that is a bit of understatement, since they perhaps may be even bigger than those seen in Shadow of the Colossus! There’s no level-up system seen in most of the handheld games, but defeating enemies do provide experience points that you can spend on attacks and abilities. And once levels are completed for the first time, you will view a completion screen that notifies you of any missed collectible items, as well as unlocked trials - challenges such as “Finish the stage without healing” - which give you a reason to play the entire game over again, and that’s certainly not a bad thing!. Who said you need multiplayer to have replayability?
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Visuals/Audio: Right out of the gate MecurySteam wants you to know that Castlevania was handled with the proper respect and care it deserves. Everything from the look, sound, and feel of Lords of Shadow screams effort and style. But the one thing that really captured my attention while playing the game was the landscapes of the various locality’s. The gothic architecture of the towering Vampire Castle, the mystical nature of Pan’s Forest, and the desolate Wasteland of the Dead are all breath taking in their level of detail, and it somehow all just feels right. These types of locations have never been hosted in a Castlevania game, save the castle obviously, but MercurySteam found a way to set an original and gorgeous stage for a new saga in this epic retelling of the curse of Dracula.
In the voice department, reading that Gerard Butler was meant to play Gabriel does make me wonder, “what if?”, but Robert Carlyle does such a fantastic job that it’s a fools errand to think anyone could do better at playing the somber and disheartened Belmont. However, Patrick Stewart sets the mood the second you set the disc into you console; his voice narrates each step of the adventure, it’s a shame that he doesn’t appear more often as his character.
Difficulty: As a Castlevania game it stands along past releases as an average to hard experience. The game is meant for the hardcore without a doubt, and while it’s mostly just button mashing and some platforming here and there, a number of bosses and puzzles will test your noggin’ - that’s unless of course you use the hints provided.
Hours to Complete: 15 - 30 hours. The main quest takes can be completed in the minimum amount of game time, but throw in all the collectibles and trials, which force you to play the entire game completely over again, and you got yourself an extended action/adventure game that stands heads above its competition in terms of length and replayability. And playing the game all over again is certainly not a bad thing!
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Opinion: The Belmonts have always had a rough gig when it comes to being rendered in 3D, but this time the crowd can go easy on them. The game is flawless in the way it’s presented and played. The only issue comes with the fact that it isn’t a groundbreaking project, but I can live with that. Lords of Shadow has a compelling plot that kept me asking a very suitable question, “What is a Man?”, as Gabriel’s travels take him to the brink of humanity. In terms of gameplay, it never grew stale, regardless of how far I was into it. Harder enemies with various weak points kept me on my toes, and as a veteran Castlevania player I was in constant glee when I recognized baddies that were brought over from previous games. Oh, and hearing a couple classic tunes from the original games, such as Vampire Killer, hit me with a slap of nostalgia that made me smile from ear to ear. The only downside in Lords of Shadow I can think of is all the constant wall climbing, reminiscent of Uncharted 2. I mean, c’mon! Why is this even in here? Although, the whip-repelling was pretty darn sweet!
All in all, I’m so glad MercurySteam could save Castlevania from the MegaMan effect - constant releases of the exact same game but with a new castle layout. And while Hideo Kojima may have played a small role in the overall development, his presence can be felt in just how theatrical the game plays out, and how serious it takes itself. The actors who portrayed each of the characters put their soul into them, and it shows. Lords of Shadow is by no means a One-Hit-Wonder.
Play or Pass: Without any doubt in my mind, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a must play, fan of the franchise or not. For an action game it has just enough platforming, puzzles, and non-stop action to quench any gamer’s thirst. And with trials and collectibles to extend the game past one playthrough, paying the $60 price tag, or at least renting it, will come with absolutely no regret.
