Quick Look: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate

I love Simon's design, really cool looking.

...save management is a fine art?

They probably would have made more money making an HD version and throwing it up on PSN, XBLA and Steam.

I got more of 11hs in game.Tks, Mercury Steam! I like Mirror of Fate. ;D

my profile:

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/2616/dsc07249vo.jpg

By the Holy Combat Cross, this runs at like 15 frames per Zobek.

I knew there were 2 ways to kill a werewolf - silver bullet, and spine trauma.

I never finished LoS, but one of the things that annoyed me was not having a clue which "thing I couldn't use yet" was in which area and having to run around looking. I could have written it down but this system seems far more elegant.

@paulwade1984: It's a DS game. They have to show both screens. That would be like if they showed a quick look of a game on consoles and edited out the HUD.

"Step on a craaack!... Break a werewolf's back!"

How is it that Simon's character design has only gotten worse since Simon's Quest?

MAN, that soundtrack. Just gorgeous.

Wow...so that shitty Lords of Shadow line of games has actually been squeezed into the 2D Castlevania realm now?

Game looks floaty and slow (bad framerate?).

ZOBECK

Was it just their capture setup, or is this game super dark? It was hard to tell what was going on unless there was a candle or something right next to Simon.

God's that's a bad framerate.

Holy god that framerate is bad. Not that it's keeping me from playing it, since I've become too much of a slut for metroidvania styled entries.

@rocospi: You probably didn't get the memo but Lords of Shadow is great.

Your sentence is lacking a sheepish laugh and a "I'll be here all week!"

@roycampbell: Matter of taste, but LoS is not a bad game. It may not be "great" for everyone, but It has it's 85 metacritic and operated within the expected for a modern twist on a Castlevania game.

@gasparnolasco: I think that's pretty foul to cite Metacritic and think that hoists your opinion of it over any other. I had a hunch someone would mush Metacritic in my face, but figured I was just being cynical. Internet!

Well, it's an aggregator, that's what it is for. I particularly would give it a better grade, but the general media basically said it is alright, not great, but not shitty.

@suicidepacmen: But it's not a metroidvania...

@gasparnolasco: I tend to not put much stock in what the "general media" has to say about anything.

Sure, I can already predict a dismissive "so diversive" or "such an intellectual individual thinker" retort but I have my reasons. That and they're just like you and I. Just because they write for an online publication doesn't put their assessments over anyone else's.

Usually I think the guys can be over critical of bad framerates, but this is pretty awful.

@roycampbell: Well, as I said, a matter of taste. It's not like I was sourcing one guy or publication, it's a general consensus of the media opinion (you can check each individual publication for a detailed depiction, but it will sum up to an 85 in the end). If that helps, the public opinion was about 8.2, which is right about average to good too (given how videogame scores work). And of course there's also the fact that it paid for itself and warranted a spinoff and a sequel.

You can and should value your own individualistic opinion, just don't state it as a fact.

I can't imagine, because "metroidvania" isn't an actual thing. Do you mean Metroid-like?

I got an ad for this game before the quick look so for a second I was like why are they not talking yet. haha

Lords of Shadow might be the one good Castlevania game we've had since SoTN.

It's time to stop using terms like "metroidvania" to describe games with open areas and ability/equipment gating.

"We could either make a pretty nice looking 2D Castlevania for the 3DS or a 3D one that looks like shit ... better make the 3D one."

I am not a fan of this 3D polygonal 2D adaptation of a 3D adaptation of a 2D sprite game series. :/

Everyone's head in this game is too small for their body. I understand doing that for Gabriel to make him look extra broad of shoulder, but his girlfriend's head is also too small.

Anyone who thinks Simon doesn't look Simon clearly has no idea what Simon has looked like recently.
http://matteomazzali.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/simon-belmont.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/Saccitysaleen/simon-03.jpg

If anything, I find this look to be a major improvement.

Brad continues his graphics snob with this game given the hardware.

Metal Gear?!

Except that "since SoTN" would have to include the GBA and DS Castlevania games, all of which ranged from good to great?

It really is.

@mattclassic: None of them is as good as SotN and they went way too far into anime territory. LoS at least brings the good old European feel of the series back.

Wouldn't be shocked if that was how the meeting went.

Fuck, they could at least aim for a nice FPS.

There is something to be said for Dawn of sorrow though. That game was awesome! :D

Am I the only one who thought that Brad tried to hate the game too hard? Vinny seemed to find it alright. Maybe he was bitter that it wasn't an Igavania/Metroidvania. I would've loved another one as well, but come on, I bet he didn't play all the handheld games. Graphically, it's one the better looking 3DS games and actually seems like something they put a lot of effort into. I didn't like the demo, but the full game looks much more interesting.

"The demo was horrific, the framerate made it unplayable for me. I have no doubt that Brad Shoemaker never played Order of Ecclesia...a lot of people missed out on that one but it was unbelievable and actually changed up the formula quite a bit. The day Iga makes a 3DS Castlevania I will throw down my money right away, because it will be fantastic!"

- Counterclockworth87

I heard a lot of great things about that game, but sadly never had a chance to play it. It had a hub town where you could talk to people and buy stuff, right?

I think I'll skip this.

I still have hope that I'll enjoy Lords of Shadow 2, most of my problems with the first one were design and pacing issues (also story and expectations, but I guess that could just be more easily ignored this time around) and these are all things I feel could be fixed in the sequel assuming the developer has learned their lesson. This game isn't really instilling me with confidence that this is the case, but who knows.

Wait, so Brad actually had a shoemaker lineage in his family? That's so cool! It's like those old English names that explained everything about the person.

If you ever see a book burn it! It's evil and will summon werewolfs to try and kill you.

Why do people love to hate this series? I just finished this game in 11 hours and I really enjoyed it all the way through. Yes the framerate could be better but it really did not affect my enjoyment. Great boss fights, great atmosphere, and I really enjoyed the platforming too.

Read this comment before watching the video, saw the part about frame rate, knew that Brad would be on the Quick Look.

Holy shit, and I thought THIS was the worst Simon design they ever came up with!

I can't wait to get this and a 3DS.

Metal Gear?

Man, Simon Belmont has NEVER had a good character design. For such a classic name, he's never had a solid look to him.