What a great game! I had a lot of fun playing, despite that there are a lot of annoying and bad things/ bugs/ features, too.

Let´s start with the negative points first:

-- fixed camera spots: The fixed camera is not in every case a bad thing (see pros), but especially in corners or spots among 2 camera locations, the fixed camera can be really annoying and bad for the smooth and trouble-free gameplay.

-- autosaves points: This problem apears in a lot of games within this genre. At some bosses the game let´s you retry at beginning of the second phase for example. Other, harder bosses haven´t got these autosave points and you have to do everything from the beginning. Furthermore there could be many more checkpoints at some parts of the game. It can be really frustrating to do everythink from beginning, although there were at least 2 great chances, to place a fair checkpoint...

-- structure of the (boss) battles in combination with the fighting system: The game got a great fighting system (see pros) with a lot of diffrent attack possibilities. Unfortunately many bosses and creatures doesn´t allow you to use this various system. It will end up at smashing the X or Y button and adding some special skill secondarily.

- rough air controlls: Fortunatly air combat is just a nigligibly part of the game, but certainly you will jump alot. At some parts of the game, especially some parts, where you have to long-jump (run and jump) its kinda hard to hit your destination. Some times you will just jump beyond the platforms, or other times you randomly jump of a cliff... Since you are losing some health every time you fall of a cliff, it can be rally annoying over time....

- few smaller balance problems

- many blurry textures



Altough it looks like Castlevania: Lords of Shadows got a lot of problems, the positive things outweigh them significantly:

++++ atmosphere: The, in my opinion, biggest advantage of the game is the atmosphere. The soundtrack, the fixed camera view, the setting, the scenery, the story, the level, boss and creature design, the protagonist... all these things just build up a awesome atmosphere at many parts of the game. You can easily just blinde out the negative and annoying things and just immerse in the great amosphere. I played the game with my Logitech Z906 5.1 Speaker System, which additionally intensifed the great atmosphere.

+++ soundtrack

+++ climbing parts

+++ boss battles and design: Fight against giant creatures in breathtaking boss fights, or slay the Lords of Shadows and send them to hell.

+++ Gabriel: What a badass.

+++ diversifed level design: The levels go from a muddy swamp (without shrek, but with creapy scarecrows) to giant castles to a giant-graveyard.

++ fighting system and possibilites: That all-purpose cross is ♥♥♥♥♥ awesome. You will have a lot of diffrent ways to slay your enemys.

++ light and dark energy bars, which allow you to perform special Magic abilities.

++ Story: I liked it.

+ After credit-scene: Forces me to buy the second part.

+ game length: It took me about 20 hours the complete the main story. The the right length for these kind of games - in my opinion.


All in all i give it a 9/10 and i can definitly recommend it!