Home Gaming Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 review round up

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 review round up

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Lordsofshadow2

I loved what Mercury steam did with Castlevania in Lords of Shadow. Certainly an underappreciated flawed gem, it appropriated gameplay more common to games like God of War, even Devil May Cry and gave it a gothic workover. Better still, it had a cliff-hanger story that left me wanting its conclusion. I even liked the divisive handheld Mirror of fate, which played a little ore like a traditional Castlevania game. so yes, I’ve been rather excited for Lords of Shadow 2, which concludes Gabriel’s terrible tale. Pity it’s not all that good.

Here’s what critics have had to say about the game. Reception is mixed, mostly swinging to the negative.

Polygon –  5/10: That’s really the biggest shame in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2: It carries over all of the original game’s weaknesses but fails to live up to its strengths. Three years ago, it seemed like MercurySteam had an intriguing vision for its rebooted Castlevania universe. But what we’re left with at the end of the trilogy is a couple of cool ideas with no momentum. It’s not payoff — it’s anticlimax.

Gamespot –  7/10: Lords of Shadow 2 should have been a much shorter game. Still, though the game’s stealth sections and drab modern settings represent the worst elements of the three-part saga, the tail end of the game contains the best of every aspect that the series is currently known for. It’s the stuff you expect Castlevania to be made of, and after contending with forced stealth gameplay and a weak narrative at the start, it feels good to be home.

GameInformer (print) – 6/10: This shambling monstrosity is composed of chunks from other, better games. Rather than blend them together into something new like its predecessor attempted, this one just feels like a patch-work mess.

IGN – 6.5/10: Lords of Shadow 2 may have gained an open world, but a poor story, uninteresting enemies, and a bland cast of characters came with it. Combat might be improved, but forced stealth sections cause nothing but dismay and frustration. The end result is something that doesn’t come near the level of overall quality found in the original Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.

CVG – 8/10: The true irony? The story is about a man brought low by listening to the advice of others. Just as Gabriel was wrong to answer the call of fate, so MercurySteam should know to tread its own course, instead of swaying to satisfy the Castlevania old guard. In trying to be all things to all people it offers less to those that loved it for what it was. Forget the dead family and vampiric curse – that’s the true tragedy of this Dracula.

Joystiq – 4/5: Like Dracula himself, his latest adventure is imperfect – its listless, poorly presented evils sometimes warring against its better, more exciting nature. I won’t spoil Dracula’s fate, but as for the fate of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, the better half wins out.

Eurogamer  – 5/10: Sharpening the disappointment is the fact that the team at MercurySteam has already made a good game, and perhaps had an opportunity here to make a great one. The first Lords of Shadow was a sweet surprise. The follow-up is a hostage to a story it tells badly, and a prisoner within a dull urban maze that refuses to become a characterful exploratory playground. To live on but to be diminished – that’s the fate of the vampire in Castlevania’s lore. Sadly, it’s a bit of an epitaph for this well-meaning but bloated game as a whole.

This is, of course, deeply disappointing stuff. I’ve been looking forward to this game for ages, and the bits of it that I’ve played have been rather good. Hopefully it is a bit of a marmite thing; and it’s a game that I’ll love despite negative reviews.

Last Updated: February 25, 2014

31 Comments

  1. LAblak22

    February 25, 2014 at 10:45

    Pre-order cancelled. Now let us see if Kal-Hal: Last Son of Korrypton will actually refund me.

    Reply

    • RinceandLeSIGH

      February 25, 2014 at 10:56

      lol

      Reply

  2. RinceandLeSIGH

    February 25, 2014 at 10:57

    This is the one with the so-called rape scene?

    Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      February 25, 2014 at 11:10

      yes

      Reply

    • Mathew Haight

      March 4, 2014 at 04:43

      There is no rape scene in this game.

      Reply

    • Sir Daniel Fortesque

      March 23, 2014 at 00:40

      This game raped my wallet… I will never pre order again.

      Reply

  3. Umar Reborn

    February 25, 2014 at 10:57

    Don’t care about the reviews..AT ALL, this game is game is a must have, I have to see Gabe’s story conclude even though the original LoS’s ending was sooooooo horribly done. I am, up till today, pissed off at that god damn ending of the DLC….ARRRRGH

    Reply

    • RinceandLeSIGH

      February 25, 2014 at 10:58

      It’s okay bro, you can get Thief instead… Trololo

      Reply

      • Umar Reborn

        February 25, 2014 at 10:58

        Will rather get Rambo…Damn whats up with the shitty games this month

        Reply

        • RinceandLeSIGH

          February 25, 2014 at 10:59

          know man. Not a great start to the year…

          Reply

          • Umar Reborn

            February 25, 2014 at 11:00

            Indeed….Next month is DS 2 at least…..

          • RinceandLeSIGH

            February 25, 2014 at 11:02

            If that bombs man…

          • Umar Reborn

            February 25, 2014 at 11:03

            I’m taking up knitting, I swear, can’t deal

          • RinceandLeSIGH

            February 25, 2014 at 11:03

            Me too. We can share patterns 0-O

          • Umar Reborn

            February 25, 2014 at 11:04

            LOL Oh yeah, Co-op knitting…..next gen sweaters!

          • RinceandLeSIGH

            February 25, 2014 at 11:05

            You want 2 sleeves, DLC motha!

          • Umar Reborn

            February 25, 2014 at 11:08

            EA Clothes: It’s in the seams

        • TiMsTeR1033

          February 25, 2014 at 11:13

          anything but Rambo.

          Reply

    • Mathew Haight

      March 4, 2014 at 04:45

      I am on my third playthrough. Other than the challenges, which I never like in any game, I have been having a blast and cant wait for the Alucad DLC.

      Reply

  4. Hammersteyn

    February 25, 2014 at 11:09

    But, but you can turn into a freaking DRAGON! Even if it was Marmite and Bovril I’d still eat the sandwich so despite the negativity I’m still getting this even if it’s not on the PS4.

    Reply

  5. TiMsTeR1033

    February 25, 2014 at 11:09

    WTF!! I was waiting for this to be sooo good so I could get the first and then this. Bloody hell devs what is wrong with you guys, like since next gen consoles came out all smoking crack or something. sheesh. Either way I will get the 1st one and if story is good enough get the second.

    Reply

    • Mathew Haight

      March 4, 2014 at 04:45

      Both games area really good. The first is flawed, but good. This one is a blast.

      Reply

  6. oOqUiS

    February 25, 2014 at 11:15

    Gamer’s got such high expectations now days…..can’t really blame them,especially after playing something like The last of us. That’s just my opinion off course.

    Reply

  7. JHN

    February 25, 2014 at 11:18

    Im going to let my pre order on this play out, I think its going to be epic.

    Reply

    • Mathew Haight

      March 4, 2014 at 04:46

      It is

      Reply

      • JHN

        March 4, 2014 at 09:00

        Yeah finished it last night but it is definitely a great game and well worth the money.

        Reply

        • Mathew Haight

          March 4, 2014 at 10:05

          The only thing that made me mad were the challenges. Beat them, but never doing those again.

          Reply

  8. FoxOneZA

    February 25, 2014 at 11:45

    There has to be something good in there if Joystiq gave it such a high score.

    wonder how much the average Metacritic rating is swaying the negative review scores.

    Reply

  9. Kagutsuchi

    February 25, 2014 at 12:24

    Still getting this. Still looks excellent.

    Reply

  10. Nathan George

    February 28, 2014 at 15:41

    I downloaded the game via PSN. Fan of LOS1 and was HIGHLY anticipating this one. But unfortunately, it does fail to deliver. Got bored about 1/3 way through. I’m going to finish it, but this was a total let down. If you haven’t already bought it, wait for it to go to the bargain bin. $60 was not worth it.

    Reply

  11. Smith

    March 10, 2014 at 00:28

    70/100 on Metacritic for 360 version. 62/100 for PS3 version. All user reviews on Metacritic round the game up to an 80/100 user score. Critics seem mixed on it, regular players seem to think it’s a good game. I think all the negative reviews (at least the ones I’ve read) have a problem with the crappy stealth system which is what influenced the ratings for them but most of them still praise the actual combat and gameplay.

    Reply

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