Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

Here is my review for the second DLC for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. I listed things pertaining to both DLCs first and then I started the review for Resurrection. These lines are more to mark a difference between the two...

After going through both Downloadable Content packages for Castlevania Lords of Shadow and getting 100% trophies/achievements in the game, I turned to write a review for each DLC having played both packages twice. I waited some time to do so since I had not played many DLCs at the time of their release, but after having played through the Assassin's Creed II and Brotherhood packages and the Red Dead Redemption Undead Nightmare DLC I think I got a good idea of what a DLC should be.

I will start off by saying that Castlevania LOS is my favorite game ever, but in fairness I can admit that the DLCs released for the game are not good. Each package is priced at $10 each, whereas I think it should have been $10 for both considering the extra content it really added and the play time it extended the game for. Reverie is the better of the two, however, but I would strongly suggest against them unless you are a die-hard fan of the series... even then you might feel cheated when you put together price/content/play time.

Resurrection is the combat/platforming version of the two DLCs, and it centers around Gabriel going after The Forgotten One, a supernatural beast of incredible power that had been imprisoned by the Earth versions of the Lords of Shadow while they were still warriors for the Brotherhood of Light. Upon their demise when the Lords of Shadow died at the hands of Gabriel the force that held this creature prisoner broke down. The game starts when you arrive at the lava pit where this beast starts to climb up and breaking out of the prison where he had been incarcerated for centuries.

PRESENTATION: Fair. The same anime style of story telling is continued here, but with no real narration. The voice of the Forgotten One isn't particularly beastly or frightening in any way, so you are only left with Gabriel's account to tune into. The cinematic moments are well done as with the main game, but the scale of the environment and the Forgotten One himself is small, diluting the experience.

GRAPHICS: Excellent. One thing this game is top notch with start to finish is its graphical prowess. Everything looks and creates the effects desired; the molten lava, the rocky cliffs, the old stairways, etc...it captures the exact direction that the arts department wanted to create, and they executed it well. But it also hurts the product in two areas, because the Forgotten One looks unfinished and in contrast with everything else around him, meaning he feels out of place when you see him on screen...and the other is in the level itself, looks great but repetitive palettes do not help the cause towards the end when you actually get to fight the boss.

SOUND: Okay. As noted earlier the voice for the Forgotten One, is, well, forgettable...Gabriel still sounds great but the music is bland this time around when you fight the creature and in many occasions during the fight it ceases to exist altogether. You are left with the sound effects of the boss fight which being as long as it is can get rather stale and uninteresting. It creates a sense of achievement though when you finally break through into another stage of the fight and the Forgotten One comes at you with different attacks.

GAMEPLAY: Poor. This DLC is a combination of combat/platforming and it is a failed attempt at making it an enjoyable experience. The platforming dominates the first part of the level, and it is an upwards climb towards the top as you follow the Forgotten One. This section is good but stretched too long considering the payout you receive at the end. The next platforming section that ensues is difficult to engage in, it contains an overhead camera view in which you have to jump between rocks floating in lava as the same time you follow the beast out of his prison. Just like in the previous section if he spots you he obliterates Gabriel with one look. This power is absent, however, when you do battle with him. Strange...The combat sections are almost limited to the Forgotten One himself, and left a lot to be desired mostly because of the boss and where you fight him, but I will touch on that in the appropriate section.

LEVEL DESIGN: Bad. It just pains me to admit this. I don't understand how they got this wrong in both DLCs after getting it so right in the main game. The platforming is tedious this time around, the camera views are questionable in the more difficult parts and its not like putting the game on easy is going to make this issue go away and keep it from being a complete hassle. The combat levels are like the battle arenas from any other action/adventure game on their extras menu. It is basically a big brown circle where you fight the Forgotten One in both instances with the environment changing from clear to windy. This was a huge letdown to see. The time it will take you to beat Resurrection will only be long in the amount of times that you will die platforming, otherwise it is quite short to traverse through. There is nothing epic to see here.

BEASTIARY: Awful. Being the combat version of the two DLCs it is a big disappointment. There are only two (2!) enemies to encounter which are the grim reapers and there sword like counterparts. You face them in a small entrance into the prison of the Forgotten One. Speaking of, is an embarrassing version of his former self. I know everyone was expecting another Titan-like fight with the Forgotten One, and having played and defeated the creature in Castlevania: Lament of Innocence ( pictured here ) rightfully so.

He is very hard to beat then, still caged and with multiple attacks while you platform up different parts of his body until your encounter him face to face. He was an optional boss in that game but one to remember for sure. Getting back to Resurrection, the pale white figure we face is a midget compared to the monstrosity seen before both in scale, difficulty and overall impact. Beating him takes time yes but his moves are repetitive in both instances and even on hardest difficulty he only moves faster. There are some Quicktime events to finish him off but the lackluster feel, look, and sound of the creature makes this incarnation of the beast a forgettable one.

DIFFICULTY: Hard. Resurrection is a tough one to finish not because the combat is difficult, but more because of the patience it will take to get past the annoying overhead view platforming sections and the excruciating long and repetitive boss fight.

LASTING APPEAL: Poor. There is nothing to go back to in this DLC and furthers more the cause to not get this at all unless you are a die-hard fan or looking to get the 100% trophies/achievements for the game. Other than that, this one is forgettable.

I rate it a 6.2 out of 10.0