Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 demo impressions thread
- Thread starter Tizoc
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Samir Sedlar
Member
What a horrible night to have a curse.
and if worse comes to worst, then I suggest you rent the game or borrow it from a friend, if you come to like it against everyones opinion, then buy a new one, if not, oh well ......
Exactly, you mirror my feelings, I too am bothered by all the negative, and another thing this game is something I have been craving for long time, I can't remember the last time I played as a Vampire, let alone Dracul, so with Kain dead for like 10 years, LoS.1 ending was the light at the end of the tunnel for me.
Over all I think those who are open to MercurySteam and won't wave due to all the negatives will probably end up with a great experience, maybe more people will come to enjoy it as time goes like what happened with LoS.1, less than 2 weeks to find out.
Dio Brando
Banned
guess we'll just see next week how things will develop.
b0uncyfr0
Member
I've just had my third play through and I don't think the camera is a problem. Serious players should disable the camera assist. This gives 100% control over the camera.
I much prefer this option since the camera does do a decent job of panning towards enemies in the demo but it takes a while and seems to prefer having them at an sidewards angle. Then again this is only versing those knights.
But for me, its definitely manual control. Can't go wrong. I hope that review is just trying to get some attention because I have high expectations from this game.
I much prefer this option since the camera does do a decent job of panning towards enemies in the demo but it takes a while and seems to prefer having them at an sidewards angle. Then again this is only versing those knights.
But for me, its definitely manual control. Can't go wrong. I hope that review is just trying to get some attention because I have high expectations from this game.
NoirVisage
Banned
NOT konami, they just pay the checks, blame it on Mercury Steam , or Cox.
but I don't want the Castlevania series killed.
So uh. Didn't the first get shit reviews too? I think it's a pretty good game. Same with Mirror of Fate (which would have benefited a whole lot from a stable 30 frames/sec).
You can tell MSteam thinks way too highly of themselves though. Like in that developer diary where they show footage from SCIV and LoS2 side by side. They have a clip of that giant badass chandelier room from SCIV, comparing it to two tiny little chandeliers in LoS2. SO SIMILAR GUYS, GOING BACK TO THE ROOTS.
I hope the game is good though, as I said, I enjoyed the first one.
You can tell MSteam thinks way too highly of themselves though. Like in that developer diary where they show footage from SCIV and LoS2 side by side. They have a clip of that giant badass chandelier room from SCIV, comparing it to two tiny little chandeliers in LoS2. SO SIMILAR GUYS, GOING BACK TO THE ROOTS.
I hope the game is good though, as I said, I enjoyed the first one.
F0rneus
Tears in the rain
85 on Metacritic for the PS3 version.
Gameinformer scored the first LoS a 9, Edge an 8. So make of it, what you will. Different reviewers for GI though. But the reviewer of LoS2 does mention he loved the first game.
Sanctuary
Member
Darksiders wasn't a mess though, and DS2 may have had a lot of hidden things to find that didn't make a whole lot of sense in regards to pacing, but it was a really fun game overall and didn't feel like a chore to me (and I hate most "collect X" type mechanics).
I really enjoyed LoS during my first playthrough (PS3), but then the pacing issues didn't bother me the first time around. On my second playthrough though (PC), especially after knowing what to expect, it was rather difficult to finish all the way. Ridiculously imprecise and mundane "platforming" along with ridiculously dull puzzle padding is something I can totally live without. I don't need 5-10 hours of that shit.
Ahasverus, you turned 180degree
That's what I was thinking as well. I've never seen someone go from ultra hyped/biased/fanboysim to detractor that quickly.
Samir Sedlar
Member
I think DS1 had some dull moments of its own, like I never enjoyed that level
were Azrael was trapped
Respect that opinion, I still remember how the ending of LoS.1 fueled me to replay the whole game again, never felt bothered, but I CAN SEE why some people may not like those slow parts, but again for me, the whole 8hrs SP is really frustrating, I finish the game and feel like I didn't get enough of it, sure I can replay it, but still, LoS was different, and the sheer number of boss battles were a joy to experience over and over again.
He is/was a huge fan of MercurySteam and LoS, just like me, and I believe LoS.2 may bring him back, as for me you will find staying the same along the road, for better or worse.
Either that or it was Kojima Productions input with the first game, Kojima had some sort of supervisor role if I recall correctly.
He's a bit of a sloppy eater.
How do you make GIFs look like that? I thought they always end up looking like ass because of the 256 colours limit...
I thought the demo was alright combat-wise because it felt like just more of the same, but the stealth sections sound atrocious. I'm playing through the first game again on PC right now and I do think 60fps makes a huge difference in the gameplay. There's no way I'd play it on consoles at this point. I'll wait for a Steam sale and judge for myself, but I'm definitely not buying this game anywhere near release.
SO i've read the review. PC gamers might want to see the review as a 5/6 seeing as EDGE reviewed the PS3 copy and some of their grievances were related to poor textures, 720p resolution, fog, loading times etc. Judging by the demo, this will look and run beautifully on a good PC.
EDGEs issues seem to be that LoS2 doesn't copy the combat systems of other games by giving you invinicble frames during rolls and your attacks not knocking your opponents back/making them stumble, thus making combat a bit more stop start.
EDGEs issues seem to be that LoS2 doesn't copy the combat systems of other games by giving you invinicble frames during rolls and your attacks not knocking your opponents back/making them stumble, thus making combat a bit more stop start.
That's weird.
The combat in the first game is very "stick-n-move." You don't have a combo hit counter like other games in the genre, and I suppose that's off-putting to some people. I don't hold games in the genre to all the same standard, though, so I'll probably be able to enjoy this one, too. I mean, I was able to enjoy Remember Me ffs.
brandonh83
Banned
Damned if you do. Damned if you don't.
Ravensmash
Member
Hmm, I just tried the demo and have to admit that I thought it was pretty awful.
Doesn't help that I despise demos that are pumped full of unnecessary cutscenes - I don't need to see an animation of a group of enemies dropping down for the third time
But just generally, the combat didn't feel particularly exciting and the platforming segments felt really awkward - less like I was navigating around an environment and more like I was playing dot to dot.
Probably also doesn't help that the demo seemed to be full of cliched lines from enemies - I almost cringed when the 'boss' thing shouted "you shall not pass"...
Doesn't help that I despise demos that are pumped full of unnecessary cutscenes - I don't need to see an animation of a group of enemies dropping down for the third time
But just generally, the combat didn't feel particularly exciting and the platforming segments felt really awkward - less like I was navigating around an environment and more like I was playing dot to dot.
Probably also doesn't help that the demo seemed to be full of cliched lines from enemies - I almost cringed when the 'boss' thing shouted "you shall not pass"...
brandonh83
Banned
It's literally the part of the game that's like "this is how you play the game" and you're judging the combat excitement from that? Did you try it on a harder difficulty?
Just read the post script bit as well, they say "poor audio design" and "wonky" camera mean there are mistakes in combat out of your hands and that getting hit causes your focus meter to reset so I imagine that annoyed them too.
Sounds to me like EDGE were trying to play it like any other slash/hack game rather than adapting to the new combat design, but maybe that's me...
Tbh, bad pacing was one of the things levied against Darksiders 2, and I saw past that and enjoyed the game. I'm still gonna give this a go, cannot wait.
Sounds to me like EDGE were trying to play it like any other slash/hack game rather than adapting to the new combat design, but maybe that's me...
Tbh, bad pacing was one of the things levied against Darksiders 2, and I saw past that and enjoyed the game. I'm still gonna give this a go, cannot wait.
Ravensmash
Member
Should I have to? I'm usually fine with tutorials in games, but the combat didn't feel enjoyable to me at all.
brandonh83
Banned
I mean generally combat scenarios, if you don't find them fun or challenging, usually get better and more intense as the game goes. But you're entitled to your opinion, I just wouldn't judge the entirety of the combat system or difficulty based on a tutorial section.
Ravensmash
Member
Oh, that's fair enough - maybe I'll boot it up again sometime but I just didn't enjoy what I played of the demo as a whole - I'm picky though
Sanctuary
Member
This was actually my biggest grievance with the combat in the first game as well. If they are going to copy mechanics from other games, fucking copy them correctly. A dodge without any i-frames at all is just silly. I did think that the dodge in the demo felt somewhat better compared to the first though, but it's hard to explain why. It's not just the animation (which looked silly in LoS).
Your attacks in the first game sounded like they had weight behind them, but it was really obvious that they didn't actually since they never stopped enemies from advancing at all, nor did they interrupt enough to matter. The combat was very much hit, dodge, hit, hit, dodge which negated the point of 90% of the combos and special attacks that required a three button starter. You could not interrupt enemies, but they sure as hell could interrupt you...again, and again.
The sword and claws at least felt like they were shoring up some of those weaknesses, even if it was just that they were hiding behind attacks that didn't actually have much of a startup at all, unlike most of the whip attacks.
This is the first time I've read something like this. Well, I guess the argument about FFXIII "getting good" after 10 hours of bullshit is similar, but I've never ever heard the suggestion to keep playing a game that someone doesn't really find the combat all that exciting, because they "usually" get better. There's honestly only ever been one game where a demo wasn't enough for me to know whether or not I would like the game overall in regards to the combat mechanics. The demo had many (most?) of the whip attacks already unlocked and you had the blade and claws. You don't start out with all of that, so if he didn't like what he saw from the demo, he's going to like the parts of the game preceeding those skills being unlocked even less.
brandonh83
Banned
Oh, that's fair enough - maybe I'll boot it up again sometime but I just didn't enjoy what I played of the demo as a whole - I'm picky though
I'll admit that with the first game, while I found the combat to be really good, I played through that one on hard my first time through and it made for some incredibly long and grueling, but fun enemy encounters. I imagine the same may apply here. I'll be doing the same and playing my first time on the hardest difficulty.
I also loved switching, on the fly, between sword, whip, and claws and I like that each one has their own mechanics and usefulness for certain enemy types. I'm hoping that the game eventually starts throwing various enemies at you with various takedown methods so that you're switching between the needed weapons and skills to match each situation.
Yep the first combat scenario is what to expect from the rest of the game. Games never get harder or have more variety or get more challenging as they go. And I said usually because obviously not every single game ever made can relate, but most games I've played tend to start out on the lighter side of things-- this goes for DMC, Bayonetta... well, er, a lot of games. I'm not sure how many great action games I've played that start out blowing my mind with the combat system. They introduce more and more elements as they go, enemy types, etc. Hence my post-- judging the entire game's combat system by a demo tutorial isn't terribly wise.
And it took FFXIII about 20 hours to get good.
CouchMaster
Member
This was my biggest issue with the first game. Looks like they haven't learnt anything from it.
FunkyMunkey
Banned
Loved the demo! Will buy day 1 most likely.
Sanctuary
Member
Read my edit. And if someone has issues with the fundamental gameplay, it doesn't matter what skills open up later, or how challenging some of the fights may become.
I like how you're trying to be all facetious and sarcastic, but I have never, ever played a demo that had combat mechanics that I did not like aside from one (Dragon's Dogma), only to do an about face after playing the retail version. If I didn't like what I was playing in the demo, I never liked the main game, where typically if I liked the demo, the gameplay was good enough to see me through the retail version, even if there were some parts that really bogged it down.
Just finished reading the EDGE review and it isn't particularly kind.
Disregarding the tech issues due to playing the PS3 version the stealth mechanic may be an issue. I'm struggling to see the merits of stealth sections in a game where part of the appeal is playing a character as powerful as Dracula. As the review suggests this would make sense at the beginning due to being initially weak, but not after the story and character progresses.
Reviews never steer my purchasing decisions so my PC preorder remains.
Disregarding the tech issues due to playing the PS3 version the stealth mechanic may be an issue. I'm struggling to see the merits of stealth sections in a game where part of the appeal is playing a character as powerful as Dracula. As the review suggests this would make sense at the beginning due to being initially weak, but not after the story and character progresses.
Reviews never steer my purchasing decisions so my PC preorder remains.
brandonh83
Banned
Look, definitely not trying to start something here or get on your bad side or whatever so I apologize for my snarkiness full-stop. That being said, I don't think he actually said he felt that the fundamental mechanics weren't to his liking; and if that's the case, very well. I just suppose in my case that pretty much every action game I've played gets considerably better as they go. Again, my apologies. I thought the combat was fine myself and I expect (or, hope) that it does keep changing things up as it goes along. Kind of the point of this game is that Dracula loses his powers and has to slowly retrieve them, so that makes it seem like the gameplay will keep changing up.
Chill Penguin
Member
Pains me to see what this franchise has become. I used to be such a Castlevania fan but mediocre entry after mediocre entry just has me completely indifferent to it now. If this many reviews are crapping on the game, no matter how much you want to deny it it's probably a bad game. I just don't have the time to waste on mediocre filler anymore. The fun and joy i used to get from great Castlevania games has been replaced by the Dark Souls series.
Samir Sedlar
Member
What the !!!, it is the freaking system of Lords of Shadow, this is beyond stupid from them, it is meant for you to perfect your blocking, dodging, and attacking, don't like it, fine, but don't shit on it as if it is a design fault.
brandonh83
Banned
You liked the first game right? Do you even recall how many sections of the first game were ripped apart? People hated the Titan fights with passion for example.
Look I haven't played through it so it may be utter shit. However, I think it's a little bizarre to get all up in arms due to some low magazine scores and a couple of sections that sound bad. The first game had TONS of padding and sections that a lot of people hated.
That being said, lowered expectations are always good. Lightning Returns isn't getting favorable reviews either and it has aspects that I absolutely hate, but I'm still enjoying the gameplay, art, music, and atmosphere a LOT-- and the reviews and conversations in the review thread almost turned me off from buying it. In my experience so far, that would have been a mistake.
So far there are 2 reviews.Don't act like there are dozens of them
Damn. This isn't looking good.
brandonh83
Banned
Some things I didn't like about the first game:
-definitely too much padding, but mostly in the first third
-music box section felt rough, sloppy, and the platforming mechanics didn't really work with the design
-same for the clock tower
-same for the maze garden but to a lesser degree
-bad frame rate
-lame writing (though I liked the actual story)
I'm sure there are more, but these aspects could be turned into some very hateful paragraphs or mentions in any review. And I'm not saying that the things that people don't like so far about the game, like that stealth section won't be a drag, I'm merely pointing out that the first game had a share of peculiar and borderline offensive game design flaws as well. This didn't seem to stop those that liked the game from liking it though.
/denial
-definitely too much padding, but mostly in the first third
-music box section felt rough, sloppy, and the platforming mechanics didn't really work with the design
-same for the clock tower
-same for the maze garden but to a lesser degree
-bad frame rate
-lame writing (though I liked the actual story)
I'm sure there are more, but these aspects could be turned into some very hateful paragraphs or mentions in any review. And I'm not saying that the things that people don't like so far about the game, like that stealth section won't be a drag, I'm merely pointing out that the first game had a share of peculiar and borderline offensive game design flaws as well. This didn't seem to stop those that liked the game from liking it though.
/denial
FunkyPajamas
Member
Oh man, this is a deal breaker for me. :/
brandonh83
Banned
I dunno. The attacks felt anything but weightless in the demo. In fact pounding the shit out of enemy shields in particular felt very heavy and satisfying to me.
I quit the game there, didn't have time to put up with that crap. I'd rather play Dark Souls with the Calamity ring while being completely naked in the game and in real life.
AHA-Lambda
Member
Yeah, I love Patrick Stewart, but come guys he was awful in LOS1.
hmm, this is concerning me. I enjoyed LOS1 but yeah the pacing was definitely a black mark on it.
This negativity won't keep me from buying but I damn sure won't pay top dollar for it. This just got dropped in the sales bin and if these reviews continue, I'll have the game by the end of March easy.
Yeah, I think I'll give this one a miss. I wasn't a fan of the demo, and I don't think I can deal with another bloated mess like the original. Seriously, 8-10 hours is more than enough. There's no need to pad it with pointless filler.
Shame. I was hoping things would be different.
Shame. I was hoping things would be different.
FunkyPajamas
Member
Tell me more.
This is true. But for some reason, I felt that the Void Sword didn't have any noticeable effect in the enemies. They seemed to be able to continue their animations even when I was pounding on them with it.
I've played the demo this afternoon, and judging from what I've seen I'll definitely give it a try. I hope the length is considerably less than the first LoS, that shit went on for faaaaaaaar too long. Couldn't keep me interested at all for the remainder of the game. I guess I even missed out on the fact that
, until I read about this sequel.
Gabriel turned into Dracula
Sanctuary
Member
Even after the so far negative reviews, I'm not cancelling my preorder. I mean, how much of a waste of only $40 could it truly be? I do have to agree though that the combat doesn't feel like it has weight behind it, and breaking shields doesn't really feel like there's really much impact behind a bunch of rapid, flaming claw attacks. Why would claws made out of magical flame have much of an impact anyway?
All of the negatives from the first game seemed to have returned, but I feel like some of those issues were alleviated somewhat. The dodge still sucks, yet it sucks less so, and the light/dark attacks being close-ranged weapons somewhat hides the fact that you don't really interrupt enemies, and it's also harder for them to interrupt your own attacks that are shorter, but have a much faster startup. Overall the combat felt more flowing than the first.
Plus, the concerns about framerate, texture pop in, loading, etc don't mean a thing to me. LoS PC ran flawlessly at 60 FPS @ 2560 x 1440 and the demo did too.