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Castlevania Lords of Shadow 2 - |OT| - Dead and Loving It!
- Thread starter Ahasverus
- Start date
Sanctuary
Member
Unless what was recorded on Youtube was the first run by this player, it doesn't matter at all how long it took them in that video. Kotaku is known to have scrubby players anyway, but then so is Giant Bomb.
Man, 4 hours. The game gets tired of your bs and tells you how to do it in the game over screen. As I said, reviewers didn't like Rising either, and some of them don't have a single piece of patience. I'm shocked.
4 hours? Really?
Don't worry, the modern section is ok, only 2 modern levels are boring but the game moves at a fast pace, you don't stay 20mins in the samem place.
Punished_Snake
Member
loool, I did most of them on my first try and I think I know which one reviewers are referring to( it took me 5 tries to figure it out). It seems that most reviewers are bad at playing videogames. Overblown bullshit.
Can't look at them but what are the main complaints in the reviews? This game seemed like a game that reviewers wouldn't like anyway, skill based combat plus no "deep emotional cinematic experience" plus marketing budget of less than $100m usually means "lower than 8" for reviewers on bigger sites. Feom the demo the game seemed to a bit clunky and I can see how a couple badly designed sectiona can be frustrating, but come on, the game is 10+ hours long.
infinityBCRT
Member
Well, at least that section of the game is longer than Ground Zeroes. *bada boom tish*
Phil Kollar's review sounds just like what I saw when I played the demo, and I couldn't stand the first game, so I'll be giving this one a pass. With any luck, we'll see the return of the style used on the fantastic handheld games (not the most recent one), or some other crazy new direction entirely.
matrix-cat
Member
So, a couple of days ago I posted in this thread that I was on Chapter 6 in the first game, and it was feeling like a slog. I was pretty close to giving up on it, but I gave it one last shot and, to my surprise, actually started really enjoying it from about the middle of the castle onwards. Suddenly it all seemed to click for me, and I sailed right through to the end of the game in a couple of sittings. My biggest sticking point was that I never really enjoyed the combat, but when I started trying out some more advanced manoeuvres it at least made it more of a pleasant distraction. It's mostly that I just don't really enjoy whip/chain-based weapons in my character action games; I'm steering well clear of the GOW-clone moniker here, because I think LoS has a way better combat system, but, ultimately, you're basically using the same weapon, and the dynamics of whipping dudes aren't my favourite.
Anyway, after that ending, with Patrick Stewart chewing scenery in the most glorious way, I came right around on this whole Lords of Shadow thing. I watched all the Mirror of Fate cutscenes on Youtube, played the LoS2 demo, and now I'm pretty sure I'm in. The additional weapons in 2, not to mention the increased speed, make for a completely different experience that I really enjoyed in the demo's few brief fights. Then they drop you into a Titan fight, something I absolutely hated in the first game, and it was actually fun! Dracula Gabe climbs so much faster than dorky old human Gabe, it's almost a joy to monkey around on stuff
I would never have expected it a couple of days ago, but here I am pre-loading Lords of Shadow 2. Can't wait to get started.
EDIT - Wow, only 6.4GB? I wish all devs would get on the real-time cutscene bandwagon.
Anyway, after that ending, with Patrick Stewart chewing scenery in the most glorious way, I came right around on this whole Lords of Shadow thing. I watched all the Mirror of Fate cutscenes on Youtube, played the LoS2 demo, and now I'm pretty sure I'm in. The additional weapons in 2, not to mention the increased speed, make for a completely different experience that I really enjoyed in the demo's few brief fights. Then they drop you into a Titan fight, something I absolutely hated in the first game, and it was actually fun! Dracula Gabe climbs so much faster than dorky old human Gabe, it's almost a joy to monkey around on stuff
I would never have expected it a couple of days ago, but here I am pre-loading Lords of Shadow 2. Can't wait to get started.
EDIT - Wow, only 6.4GB? I wish all devs would get on the real-time cutscene bandwagon.
Necromanti
Member
Wait, so according to a comment there, it seems there are a few more reviews that I didn't know were already out in the wild.
SlasherJPC
Banned
I read some off the reviews and they're criticisms are just that. I don't think what they say matches with the scores though. Yet hearing some folks beat this part that took hours for some reviewers and yet minutes for players does make me chuckle. I wonder if some of these people are the same folks that would get frustrated at a flying medusa head platforming sequences in the past games and rage quit. Lol well I'll be getting my copy today and sinking my teeth in. Enjoy everyone!
So it seems the game is being slammed for the stealth sections mostly. That's the biggest complaint I've heard about so far. Wow.
I can't believe that people are so bad at games that they feel the game deserves 3 less points than what the game really deserves because of 4-5 5-min sections. I feel so bad for Mercury for getting their game slammed for this crap.
I can't believe that people are so bad at games that they feel the game deserves 3 less points than what the game really deserves because of 4-5 5-min sections. I feel so bad for Mercury for getting their game slammed for this crap.
Cyber Caesar
Member
I've read some criticisms about the story. How much better or worst is the story compared to LoS1?
Sanctuary
Member
Yeah, I mean I can get really not liking certain things about the game, but many of these really low scores seem like they are being criticized in a mostly subjective manner. I get that it's really difficult, if not impossible to give an entirely objective review, but when I see a 4 or 5, it makes me believe there's something profoundly wrong on a technical level.
Since there's not been anything that leads me to believe that the game suffers from terrible loading times, terrible texture pop in or other issues that might be due to the limitations of the consoles, these reviewers are docking significant points due to the really bad sections of the game. This is just a guess, but I have a feeling the combat is going to be around an 8.5 to me, while the graphics and music around the same. Factoring in the shitty parts (puzzles and stealth) might drag the overall experience down, but I can't believe that those sections would be so invasive as to warrant trashing the entire game as though the good doesn't outweigh the bad.
Reading all of the good and bad reviews makes me think it's about a 7.0 - 7.5, which is about what the first game was for me (my initial run felt like an 8.0 - 8.5 while actually playing it). After finishing it, and replaying it again a few years later the flaws got to me a bit more, but it was still overall an enjoyable game. Plus, if some of these scores docked points because of the console limitations, I don't really need to worry about that since I'll be playing it in two hours on the PC.
Dragon1893
Member
The transition to player controlled camera seems to have gone smoothly at least according to the reviews I read, it's something I was hoping the GoW franchise would introduce with GoW:A.
Vinterbird
Member
When I finished the game this past weekend, it felt like the definition of "middle of the road". The game really is neither bad nor great, it is just decent.
Except for the story, which doesn't even try to make sense or explain itself in any way, shape or form.
Except for the story, which doesn't even try to make sense or explain itself in any way, shape or form.
Sanctuary
Member
Don't worry. Soon enough the usual suspects will proclaim how boring and unremarkable the "wannabe Lord of the Rings" score is.
They did say that you don't need to play the other two games to play LoS2, but that it helps you understand the story. Is that false?
Sir_Crocodile
Member
Review from Metro Gamecental(pretty much the best game journalists in the uk):
http://metro.co.uk/2014/02/25/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-review-dracula-sucks-4317289/
4/10
http://metro.co.uk/2014/02/25/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-review-dracula-sucks-4317289/
4/10
Cyber Caesar
Member
That is sad to hear. I was hoping that the return of some key characters would help answer some questions and tie it all up. I was afraid the modern sections would hurt brilliant the art direction from LoS1 too, it seems the reviewers also wanted more forests and villages as well. The country side is a major part of the charm. Decent is just such a waste of potential. SoTN and SC4 never to be dethroned...smh
Steam didn't do anything to you, bro.
brandonh83
Banned
God is this game EVER going to come out?
oh wait
oh wait
Vinterbird
Member
I would say that both games seem to be required reading. If you haven't played LoS1 then you have no clue as to why people are so intent on killing you, who they are, what the relation is to the player and what is generally going on.
The game really should have been better at doing flashbacks or general explanation that is not hidden away in the lore book. The game seems to think that you start LoS2 after having finished LoS1 and Mirror of Faith the day before.
And Mirror of Faith is needed to understand the game completely. At least I had no idea what the mirror was, what it could do and why I had to waste an hour looking for pieces of it.
The art itself is great, there's a ton of unique assets everywhere and they make it seem surprisingly well put together.
Cyber Caesar
Member
Castlevania must be playable as a speed run game. The next game has to remember this as a design philosophy. It should be the Castlevania commandment #1.
Wait, so what's going on?
I pre-purchased on Steam and preloaded last night... did it not unlock yet?
Edit:
So this is the norm? I had no idea...
Sanctuary
Member
Midnight launches are quite rare these days. They are usually reserved for high-profile AAA titles (apparently LoS2 isn't one of those?).
brandonh83
Banned
After Wonderful 101, Lightning Returns, and a slew of other games I found to be a lot of fun, even terrific, I can't pretend to give more than one rat's ass about game reviews. People bash games journalism, but seem to hold their scores in such high regard. Makes no sense to me but okay.
Sithlord77
Banned
Is this game available to buy digitally on either PSN or XBL from day one?
brandonh83
Banned
Yes.
Rhomega Beta
Member
Vinterbird
Member
It's not a boss fight. It's a terribly designed stealth section that can be done rather quickly if you break the game instead of trying to do what the designers intended.
It's not a boss fight. It's a stealth segment that requires a massive spike in difficulty over anything else in the game to pass. Lots of dead leaves that, if you step on, will alert the boss to your location, sending you back to the beginning and takes off a bit of your health. If he's around you, he'll smell you and slowly begin to skulk around your area, limiting your navigation abilities. Best part: You fight the creature that you must avoid minutes after navigating through the maze of quietness.
It took me 30 minutes at 3 AM on Sunday morning to defeat, and was the last thing I did before going to bed. I think the reason it took me (and others much, much more) so long is that the game gives you top-of-screen button prompts for what to do near every other section that requires you to use a special skill, but not this one.
It's like you've been lulled into a false sense of security for the game's first 6-8 hours, given water wings to swim in the shallow end, then the game decides to pop those wings, throw you into the deep end, while tying a heavy chain around your legs. You better flail if you want to survive!
The area is a graveyard full of climbable ledges around cement sculptures. There are a few bells placed strategically away from your objective to hit with daggers in order to draw him away. They tell you all of this, but leave out how to avoid a seemingly-impossible-to-not-make-sound pile of leaves. I died a handful of times throughout the game, but failed an uncountable amount over 30 minutes.
My guess is that the 4's and 5's took off upwards of 2-3 points from their final score just because it "wasted their time." 4-5 hours? That straight up confirmed my suspicions that low grades are being handed out due to scrub-level reviewers giving out retaliations, trying to surreptitiously dissuade publishers from taking risks with these games again.
That last part is pants-on-head conspiracy level, but man...4-5 hours....sad.
Man. I remember thinking the first game had potential for an amazing sequel that fixed every mistake. Strange to read so many comments about this game taking several steps backwards.
Punished_Snake
Member
I have just finished the game. I will write the positives and negatives:
+ Great and varied combat system.
+ Some great looking areas.
+ good soundtrack.
+ great enemy design (especially bosses) .
- Mediocre story.
- Bad stealth segments.
- Open world structure isn't fleshed out.
- Modern day setting/art direction is not interesting. The first game has more varied environments.
- Few puzzles especially compared to the original.
- Platforming is dumped down.
The combat is really great and it's the strongest aspect of the game. If I have to give the game a score, I will give it 7/10.
+ Great and varied combat system.
+ Some great looking areas.
+ good soundtrack.
+ great enemy design (especially bosses) .
- Mediocre story.
- Bad stealth segments.
- Open world structure isn't fleshed out.
- Modern day setting/art direction is not interesting. The first game has more varied environments.
- Few puzzles especially compared to the original.
- Platforming is dumped down.
The combat is really great and it's the strongest aspect of the game. If I have to give the game a score, I will give it 7/10.
No need for the personal attacks. Just because they found one part bullshit and you didn't doesn't mean they're "scrub-level".
Sanctuary
Member
That's a positive in my book. I don't hate puzzles, but the puzzles in the first were aysmmetrical compared to the majority of the game and felt like they served zero purpose other than padding.
Should be unlocked on Steam now.
edit: Oh, surprise, surprise. We were given false info (10 AM EST). It's not going to be active for another three hours.
Tizoc
Member
PS3 ver. runs really well, and so far I'm enjoying the game.
I just beat the first boss
Also the disable QTEs option is much appreciated ^_^
I just beat the first boss
well its the creepy lab lady, who funnily enough was a really easy boss once you realize what her attacks were.
Block and Dodge being on the same button though is annoying, but I'm getting used to it.
Block and Dodge being on the same button though is annoying, but I'm getting used to it.
Also the disable QTEs option is much appreciated ^_^
AdmiralMikey
Member
This is why people should actually READ the reviews instead of just hinge their decisions on number scores. There's been plenty of games with bad review scores, but when I went through and read the reviews, what the reviewer actually said was good about the game is something I would find good, and what the reviewer said was bad about the game may not bother me as much.
Reviews should be used to find specific information about the game as well as if it's "good" or "bad", and people seem to skip what the reviewer really has to say about the game.