Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a game that would become a beginning for a different Castlevania franchise. It is for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The Xbox 360 has actually two discs to it thus being a multiple disk set going back to days with the PlayStation having it like The Legend of Dragoon or Final Fantasy VIII.
Looking at the story is simple enough. The heavens and the Earth have been separated by an evil force. The Brotherhood of Light has sent Gabriel Belmont to investigate. He also has his own quest that he wants to fulfill. His beloved wife Marie had been murdered. He intends to try to revive her with the God’s mask. Along the way, he meets Zobek, whom is going to play a role in the entire story. It becomes an adventure as it is about not only putting an end to the Lords of Shadow but also
It should also be mentioned that this is not part of the original timeline from the original series. It is its own timeline thus creating an alternate universe. Think of it as just a new beginning. It could have fit in Lament of Innocence but it does not because it was declared to be its own timeline.
The graphics for Lords of Shadow was actually described as pretty good. The scenery is nice and the detail is really noticeable. It does have the look of a CG film. If you’re into those types of films, then that can only be a good thing.
The voice acting was pretty good. Everyone sounded the way that they should and it was almost as if they fit the roles perfectly. Much like in a movie, everyone sounds the part that they are indeed playing without question.
The gameplay is easy to control. The camera can be a little annoying but just a minor hindrance. Controls are very responsive. It saves automatically at a check point and also after completing a level. In other words, there is no need to worry about losing track. There are skills to buy that can be of use. The combat cross can be used as a combo attack.
One feature is that there are multiple difficulty modes. It has become a trend to have in games based upon observation. Going back to some of the games like Wolfenstein or Doom for example, it just shows that it can add to the challenge thus giving the player an opportunity to see how they do at a higher level of difficulty. The only recommendation would be to wait until completing the game and then try on the harder level.
The other feature would be achievements that are most noted for the Xbox 360. There are many different challenges that are there and it will just further serve the purpose of attempting to complete the game. While it will not be easy, it will be one that can be worth trying. Some can be done throughout the story and others through completing certain events.
There is actually more content to be downloaded to extend the game even further. There are two chapters that go further into the story of what happened after the first game albeit briefly. Nevertheless, there are two levels that can be purchased thus giving you more to enjoy.
It’s actually a fun game to play if you like Castlevania games and would like something new. While it is not the same as the later games like Symphony of the Night, it does show that a good 3D Castlevania game can be made as it had been done before. There will be sequels in the future known as Mirror of Fate and Lords of Shadow 2 to continue the timeline.
