Sounds bad enough.
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Castlevania Lords of Shadow 2 - |OT| - Dead and Loving It!
- Thread starter Ahasverus
- Start date
Sounds bad enough.
"Agreus" review Requoted for new page justice!
Aaaand. guess who just (half and hour ago lol) came back home with the game?
It was a honor gaf.
So, everyone, I think I'm out. Well, perhaps I'll stay around all this day but my time is coming to an end. It's my time for the final words.
Castlevania Lords of Shadow2 is quite an achievement. There are so many, so many things and could have go wrong and they didn't. It's finally the 3D castlevania game we always wanted, big, epic, with lots of exploration and platfforming, gorgeus (for the most part) setting and of course amazing combat. It's really nice to finally play as Dracula, you can't imagine the grin on my face the first time I did a "Hellfire" for example. The game treats both Castlevania series with uttermost respect, but is not afraid to make things feel new. That's what I want for the future. I don't want to go back to old predictable stories and settings, I want Castlevania to keep this path of boldness, it feels amazing, you feel as part of something you can't comprehend. I missed that feeling in gaming for many years (since the Legacy of Kain series) and I don't want it to go away.
So, as a summary, my (non so spoilery but kinda) pros and cons list.
Pros.
- Metroidvania. I can't stress how well done this is. The first big cohesive and fun 3D Castlevania metroidvania ever made. Finally the basic formula was nailed, this is the new SOTN in the way that future games of the series will emulate it.
- Combat. The skill trees are very long, I didn't unlock everything and I finished the game, the three weapons add variety and strategy to the game. Animations are fluid and the action is frenetic.
- Technical Aspect. The game features a dynamic resolution solution that feels weird in the demo part (pixelated enemies) but for some reason it never repeats itself latter in the game. This game is a technical marvel, almost no loading times, seamless connections, variety of textures, the most detailed enviroments you have seen this generation of consoles. There were compromises that you can feel but they are nothing compared to what is going on. Oh, and I had ZERO, and I repeat, ZERO framerate drops. I was expecting them but I didn't have them! on 360! What sorcery is this?
- The Castle. Pure porn. Lustfully designed, gothic, big, caves, forests, water streams, everything in between, Icy tops at daylight, stormy electric towers, statues and paintings everywhere. The throne room staircase is simply breathtaking. Mercury nailed the grandiosity and chaos of Dracula's Castle. Sadly, even if the game featured it prominently, I just want to see more.
- Attention to lore, travel book. MercurySteam are the best in this regard. every little item you get has a travel book page with illustrations and story. Every. Single. One. You get to know how Dracula's whip works, what's the deal with the subweapons, everything. Also every character in the game, enemy and friend has another page lustfully illustrated. Attention to detail is amazing, they didn't let a hole left filling.
- The bossfights. Not much to add here, just good. They always have you at your toes.
- The Last bossfight. The best of the western contributions to the genre this generation.
- Not trying to put the story in an historical context. The game's city knows where it came from, everyone knows Dracula existed and knows about what happened. I was afraid they were going for the "but the church hid everything from the world" IGA trope. Thank god they didn't.
- The atmospheric/calm parts. They are not many, but they are memorable, which lead me to..
- The Toy Maker Chapter. Probably the highest point in the game, the most inventive puzzle I've seen in a while, beautiful set up and resolution.
- Characterization. Each character behaves the way it should be.
- Significance. You will end the game thinking about yourself and your relationship with the series. It's an end as it is a celebration of everything Castlevania.
- Score. It was in my opinion not as good as the first one, but for some reason it's more memorable. Highlights: The rat form theme, the toymaker's theme, the Death theme.
Cons.
- FUCKING AGREUS. By far and far far far the worst part of the game, one that will certainly make people quit it. The mist form is not as useful as it lasts about three seconds, it's more about luck, I think the game was scripted to make it easy if you follow its whole path with the boxes, that worked for me, once I stopped taking "shortcuts" Agreus started to behave more stupid and I could do it. It seems there is no AI running, it's scripted. The bossfight was also not stellar.
- 2 of 4 stealth sections. The second and the last one. A good rule of thumb is, you have to use everything (mist, bats, possession) it's just a matter of guessing when. The second one is hard because you are stuck on a ledge and if yuo fall down you risk yourself to be spoted as the AI of those Golgoth guards is werid. They can't see you if you get behind them but a mere diagonal position spots you. The last one IS bullshit, because there are three guards, one is at a door that requires mist to cross, and two are guarding the hallway, you use bats in those 2, then pass them without using mist while they ar ebeing distracted but being careful of not touching the last guard's light AND then become to mist and cross in less than 3 seconds the remaining stairs and cross the door. I'm going to be honest, that one was pure luck. I don't know how I did it. That said, stealth sections are not really that, they are puzzles, that's why they only have one way to pass them.
- The explanation of those stealth sections. Yes, I get the golgoth guards have a weapon that fires hell into its prey, but it's Dracula he should be able to fight back.
- Some modern locations. The city itself is great and fits perfectly, but the Acolyte's headquarters are generic modern buildings and labs, it's all grey, dark blue and the occasional red. They are boring. Pipe halls are as boring as always.
- Dead City. I know the city is under attack, and people are hiding, but I think more context was needed, we don't meet their inhabitants or know about them. Missed opportunity there.
- Kinda lame scrolls. The first game's scrolls expanded the lore greatly, this game's scrolls tell almost all the same story of the Castle siege from different points of view.
- It ends.
Phew, that was a long one. Hope I helped you. Castlevania fans, you get your well deserved reward for all your fidelity. This game will be remembered fondly by history and is well deserving of all the praise it can get. It has flaws that can be corrected and, why not, perhaps a good DLC will put the icing on the cakeBravo Mercury, Bravo and thank you! You changed my low expectations with awe and admiration!
Aaaand. guess who just (half and hour ago lol) came back home with the game?
ME!
It was a honor gaf.
rocketskates
Member
Richard Madden does such a good job as Alucard, it's like a match made in heaven! Err....hell.
I will try to gaf while playing, posting my impressions along the way! I'm skipping the beginning parts cutscenes as I watched them online.
- There is indeed a dynamic resolution thing in the first room, I just passed the prologue and it's not there anymore.
- The dreaded stealth section is.. one single room? Really? I did it in 2 minutes.
- Rat form is awesome, love the music.
- Why does Dracula still trusts Zobek. Heh.
- BEAUTIFUL story recap. MercurySteam artists, hats off.
- Just entered the castle.
Will come back later.
- There is indeed a dynamic resolution thing in the first room, I just passed the prologue and it's not there anymore.
- The dreaded stealth section is.. one single room? Really? I did it in 2 minutes.
- Rat form is awesome, love the music.
- Why does Dracula still trusts Zobek. Heh.
- BEAUTIFUL story recap. MercurySteam artists, hats off.
- Just entered the castle.
Kinda wtf moment. very Arkham Asylum-y
Will come back later.
That sounds like the 3D CV game everyone wanted.
Kamina
Golden Boy
There is, didnt find it to be that bad.
BEWARE OF SPOILER:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwSRYhRdAa8
GavinUK86
Member
if you're playing it, i have on quick question about the recap. does it fill in the blanks if you didn't play mirror of fate? i watched a summary of it on youtube but i still feel a bit left out.
- The castle is ridiculously gorgeus.
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I'm lost with the story, but I guess that's their intention.
Good enough, it has the most important details. The rest is clarified if you want via travel book (That's how the in-game menu is called - gorgeusly illustrated too).
No, no, I'm not lost of why things are happening, I'm lost of what is happening lol it's designed in that way for Dracula too, he has no idea either.
I'm nowhere near the infamous one (Agreus) but the one I just played was piss easy, it's not stealth it's a puzzle, it's one single room.
Thank you! and it was Trevor
PeregrinSe7en
Member
so the complaints regarding the stealth section is unfounded?
very happy to read some of these impressions even though i won't be getting it (waits for definitive edition)
very happy to read some of these impressions even though i won't be getting it (waits for definitive edition)
Necronomikon
Member
INCREDIBLE OT! Props to both Ahasverus and brandonh83.
Can't wait for this game. The LoK saga similarity references are accurate, and it gives me even more hype!
Also, didn't know the events on MoF, and that twist that Victor turned into Alucard, and thinking about a despaired Dracula blew my mind. AWESOME Mercury Steam... AWESOME!
Only days to go!
Can't wait for this game. The LoK saga similarity references are accurate, and it gives me even more hype!
Also, didn't know the events on MoF, and that twist that Victor turned into Alucard, and thinking about a despaired Dracula blew my mind. AWESOME Mercury Steam... AWESOME!
Only days to go!
Spoilers: Here it is. the infamous Agreus part, the worst section of the game desigbed by satan himself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flgE1_bjrtg
The section took less than 2 minutes?
Didn't seem too bad, though I'll have to play it myself and see. I do find the stealth segments to be horribly dumb in theory just because you're dracula. I don't want to watch too much of it so I'm not sure if there's some justification for that enemy to have a section like that when it ends in a fight anyway.
He has a cool design tho.
Didn't seem too bad, though I'll have to play it myself and see. I do find the stealth segments to be horribly dumb in theory just because you're dracula. I don't want to watch too much of it so I'm not sure if there's some justification for that enemy to have a section like that when it ends in a fight anyway.
He has a cool design tho.
BIONIC-ARRRMMM!!
Member
I recently cancelled my Amazon preorder, but now I have the urge to order it again. Maybe I'll just for the first price drop or something.
liquidekkah
Member
Krusenstern
Banned
Edge is british though.
Still, mainland europe seems to like this game more than others.
liquidekkah
Member
Well I'm not not British, so I don't feel comfortable making blanket statements about their gaming prowess.
Sounds like mainland Europe still knows how to have fun, however.
liquidekkah
Member
Thanks.
princemarth23
Member
Not really. The game has a recap at the beginning so you're good to go. The LoS series is a standalone trilogy. There is a video on IGN on the front page that recaps the story as well if you want to watch that.
Chance Hale
Member
Where is the cheapest place to get the pc version given it is region-locked?
Region lock and I think GMG has a 10% discount. It was 20% off like 2-3 days ago.
Chance Hale
Member
The ending to the first game was satisfactory? Both the main game and DLC end on such shitty notes.
Chance Hale
Member
How long is it compared to the first game?
Necronomikon
Member
Thank you! and it was Trevor
You're right! My mistake... still, what an awesome turn of events! I just bought it in GMG at $40 (10% discount + 25% discount vouche) which is pretty awesome for being a completely new game and one of my most wanted games. PC Gaming FTW!
They have it on GMG for 25% off right now.
Code:
O61269-BIMBGU-JRDM3J
And it works for multiple games got Thief and LOS2 for 75.
Never played through the DLC, and yes, the ending was satisfactory. Gabriel at the end is a complete and utterly broken man despite his feats. At the end, he's still lost. The Brotherhood is not what he believed it to be, Zobek (his friend) betrays him, and everything is for naught because Marie can't be brought back. It didn't need to say anything more, as it had successfully set up Gabriel's downfall for what would eventually be Dracula.
You're more than welcome to disagree, but I felt contented with that ending.
princemarth23
Member
Totally agree. I expected the worst when I played it around release on 3DS and had a good time with it. It definitely has blatant flaws, but overall it's a decent game with a pretty compelling story for a Castlevania fan.
You saw the youtube video huh. The ending alone means nothing without the buildup. Nothing.
Chance Hale
Member
Oh good, comes out to $40.50 which is more than fair. Thanks!
Dominic_Shade
Member
Ah, thanks for the heads-up. And here I was, resolved to wait for a price drop, but $40.50 at launch works just as well for me.
Beeblebrox
Member
Does anyone know if this will work for Europeans? I can't see the game on GMG when I open their page (only Castlevania I can see is first Lords of Shadow), but when I use VPN, I can see it and even add it to basket and apply the code.
I'd like to buy it, but I wouldn't like to end up with regionally restricted code that I can't redeem on my Steam account.
I live in Puerto Rico and that happened to me. I just went on my phone, logged in, added game to basket then went to PC and it was there. I added the code, checked out..all fine.
By the same logic wouldn't buying from Nuuvem be the best option?
It's $38.25 there but it has a warning about the region lock. I imagine the same goes for the gmg version since it's invisible in the EU gmg store.
So i guess that if you are from the EU and u want to buy from either nuuvem or gmg (a.k.a the America version) you'd have to redeem the game via VPN.
It's $38.25 there but it has a warning about the region lock. I imagine the same goes for the gmg version since it's invisible in the EU gmg store.
So i guess that if you are from the EU and u want to buy from either nuuvem or gmg (a.k.a the America version) you'd have to redeem the game via VPN.
brandonh83
Banned
Lol, I didn't read the spoilers, so I'm not sure if this is a positive or a negative reaction, lol.
I can confirm that. Why wasn't that played more prominently in marketing? It' great, I'm greatly surprised. Newsflash: Game of the forever
I'm halfway through I think.. Had to make a pause to eat. In short this is Lords of Shadow on esteroids with Symphony of the Night thrown in good measure. Any questions?I can confirm that. Why wasn't that played more prominently in marketing? It' great, I'm greatly surprised. Newsflash: Game of the forever
Yeah, actually.
There are no chapters anymore afaik, but are there still Zobek like monologues?