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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

Castlevania: Lords of the Shadow borrows several game play elements from popular games, but the fact that it implements them so well makes it one of the year’s finest action-adventure games.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Game Cover
76%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
73% User Score Based on 5,708 reviews
Critic Score 82%Based on 7 reviews

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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Game Cover

About

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a single player hack and slash game with horror and fantasy themes. It was developed by Climax Studios and was released on August 27, 2013. It received positive reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

In Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Ultimate Edition, a dark power threatens the world's alliance with heaven, causing the souls of the dead to wander without peace. Gabriel Belmont, a member of the Brotherhood of Light, seeks vengeance for his murdered wife and embarks on a quest to defeat the malevolent Lords of Shadow. This edition includes the Reverie DLC, where Gabriel revisits the castle on a new mission.

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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow screenshot
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73%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,708 reviews
story1.4k positive mentions
grinding200 negative mentions
  • Great art direction and visuals that still hold up well today.
  • Engaging story with interesting characters and excellent voice acting.
  • Fun combat mechanics with a variety of combos and magic abilities.
  • Fixed camera angles that can hinder gameplay and navigation.
  • Over-reliance on quick time events that disrupt the flow of combat.
  • Some puzzles are tedious and can feel frustrating, especially with the platforming.
  • story
    3,224 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Castlevania: Lords of Shadow" is a mixed bag, with many players praising its engaging narrative and character development, particularly the journey of Gabriel Belmont as he seeks to resurrect his wife and confront dark forces. While some found the plot compelling and well-executed, others criticized it for being predictable, convoluted, or poorly paced, often feeling like a collection of clichés. The voice acting, especially by Patrick Stewart, received acclaim, but the storytelling method—primarily through narration and cutscenes—was seen as a drawback by some, detracting from the overall gameplay experience.

    • “The most interesting part of the game is the story and incredible cliffhanger for a sequel.”
    • “Great story, voice acting and stunning soundtrack with a unique spin on traditional gameplay in the series.”
    • “I would absolutely recommend this game for its rich lore and for being the foundation for Mirror of Fate and Lords of Shadow 2, as well as for its character design, astonishing sceneries of magical places, the variety of monsters, the captivating voice acting and the fantastic story and character of Gabriel Belmont.”
    • “The story is garbage, the voice acting is garbage, the 'puzzles' are garbage, the guided platforming is garbage, the camera system is garbage.”
    • “With no identity of its own, a lackluster story, and a terrible camera, I had a really hard time forcing myself to play this, instead of just playing one of the games it unsuccessfully attempts to rip off.”
    • “The story is bland and boring and so are the characters.”
  • gameplay
    1,692 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Castlevania: Lords of Shadow" is a blend of hack-and-slash combat, platforming, and puzzle-solving, drawing heavy inspiration from titles like "God of War" and "Devil May Cry." While many players appreciate the fluid combat mechanics and engaging boss fights, criticisms often focus on the game's linearity, reliance on quick-time events, and frustrating camera angles, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game is noted for its stunning visuals and compelling story, making it a mixed but generally enjoyable experience for fans of action-adventure games.

    • “The gameplay is fun and fluid.”
    • “I loved the variety of enemies and bosses, each requiring unique strategies to defeat, which keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting.”
    • “Overall, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Ultimate Edition is a fantastic mix of stunning visuals, compelling storytelling, and thrilling gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay feels like it drags heavily, the boss fights are copy/pastes of God of War games, and the beat-by-beat exploration just doesn’t feel rewarding.”
    • “It's a shame because I love Castlevania but this game is seriously just unplayable with the mechanics.”
    • “The game suffers from far too many mechanics.”
  • graphics
    1,352 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Ultimate Edition" are widely praised for their stunning visuals and artistic design, which have aged well since the game's release in 2010. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a captivating gothic atmosphere with impressive attention to detail, although some note issues with graphical glitches and dated cutscenes. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.

    • “The graphics are absolutely breathtaking, bringing the dark and gothic world to life with amazing attention to detail.”
    • “Graphics and music are 10/10 for me judging for their time of release, it holds up well in 2024.”
    • “The art direction and presentation in general is wonderful and very eye-catching compared to its peers at the time, without sacrificing too much of the gothic aesthetic of the classics.”
    • “However, Lord of Shadow 1 has some crazy graphical glitches.”
    • “Had pretty horrendous graphical bugs that made the game virtually unplayable (geometry vertex errors).”
    • “The graphics are the only thing it has going for it.”
  • music
    936 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Castlevania: Lords of Shadow" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its orchestral score and emotional depth, while others find it less memorable compared to classic entries in the series. Some tracks are highlighted as excellent and atmospheric, enhancing the game's gothic setting, but several players noted a lack of iconic melodies and a tendency for the music to feel generic or repetitive. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-composed and fits the game's tone, it does not consistently reach the heights of previous "Castlevania" titles.

    • “Great story, voice acting and stunning soundtrack with a unique spin on traditional gameplay in the series.”
    • “The music is amazing and the dialogues are really well written.”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely amazing, the graphics and landscapes are just stunning.”
    • “The music was decent as well.”
    • “For a series with such iconic music, the soundtrack here is entirely unremarkable.”
    • “The music is hardly inspiring to keep playing and the overall design is almost insulting to the player.”
  • atmosphere
    254 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of "Castlevania: Lords of Shadow" is widely praised for its beautifully crafted environments, ranging from eerie forests to grand castles, which immerse players in a rich gothic setting. The orchestral soundtrack and strong voice acting further enhance the game's mood, creating a haunting and adventurous experience. While some players note a departure from traditional Castlevania elements, the overall aesthetic and atmospheric design are considered standout features that contribute significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The environments are beautifully crafted, from eerie forests to grand castles, each location immerses you in the rich atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The orchestral score sets the perfect tone for the game, immersing you even further into its gothic atmosphere and heightening the sense of adventure and danger.”
    • “What I particularly liked was the amazing atmosphere in each of the environments, with every nook and cranny intricately detailed, making every location feel real - even environments that you’d scarcely spend more than 30 seconds in.”
    • “I adore the gothic horror atmosphere of earlier games in the series, but here, there is as much atmosphere as your local Walmart.”
    • “Once again, the bad mechanics take away from the atmosphere and instead of being enraptured, you're left wondering when it ends.”
    • “The atmosphere here feels a bit disjointed, like they had a few really good settings and just mashed them together.”
  • grinding
    204 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tediousness, with players noting that combat becomes repetitive and lacks depth, often devolving into button-mashing. Many reviewers found the abundance of puzzles and platforming sections to be overly drawn out and frustrating, detracting from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciated the game's visuals and settings, the general consensus is that the gameplay is marred by a lack of engaging mechanics, making it feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.

    • “There is no grinding for XP; you will have plenty to not only upgrade all the combat abilities but also to buy all the artwork as well.”
    • “The game has some good fights but it is mostly tedious; you can't make combos because you don't stun enemies but they stun you. There aren't a lot of attacks and the level design is just horrible. It's okay for the first minutes but after a while it becomes so repetitive, also the quick time events suck.”
    • “This game was a slog; I struggled to want to play it knowing full well that the puzzles will eat up 90% of the time played, making it tedious and boring.”
    • “The whole thing is just such a tedious chore of a game.”
  • replayability
    112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game offers a mixed but generally positive replayability experience. Many players appreciate the inclusion of trials, collectibles, and multiple difficulty settings that encourage revisiting levels, while some express frustration with unskippable cutscenes and the linear structure. Completionists will find significant replay value, especially with the added content from DLCs and the challenge of unlocking all achievements.

    • “The ultimate edition includes all the DLC, which adds even more content and enhances replay value.”
    • “Replayability is extremely high due to the myriad of hidden upgrades and the need to revisit levels for trials and unreachables.”
    • “The game has lots of replay value, with secrets and challenges that range from 'I got it by accident' to 'tear your hair out while searching a million guides to try and get it.'”
    • “There's not a lot of replayability though, unless you want to go for the challenge mission 'trials' that unlock for each level after you beat them for achievements.”
    • “Only downside to this game is the replayability value; once you get all upgrades, you only have to redo the chapter once or a few times to get a 110% rating.”
    • “Good story, okay controls, no replayability.”
  • optimization
    82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is praised for its strong optimization, running smoothly on various hardware configurations, including less powerful systems, with many users reporting a consistent 60 fps. While some minor issues were noted, such as the cinematic frame rate and occasional control problems, the general consensus is that the game performs well with minimal bugs, making it an enjoyable experience.

    • “The game is well-optimized and ran beautifully.”
    • “Aside from those minor nitpicks, the game is very well optimized and runs at a silky smooth 60fps.”
    • “Masterful visuals paired with smooth and optimized 4k performance make for an eye-popping experience.”
    • “In fact, when you watch reviews on the original consoles, there were many complaints about the game stuttering during important moments where the action is heavy.”
    • “Just be aware this is essentially a poorly optimized adaptation to the God of War series though.”
    • “It does look stylish and pretty, although artistically, not technologically (pretty low res textures and pre-rendered movies, rather poor optimization, other small issues).”
  • emotional
    70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its powerful character development, particularly Gabriel Belmont's journey, which resonates deeply with players. The orchestral soundtrack enhances the emotional experience, featuring both sweeping and heart-wrenching melodies that effectively convey the game's poignant themes of love, revenge, and personal struggle. While some players found the story engaging and impactful, others felt detached from the characters, indicating a mixed reception regarding emotional investment.

    • “The character development is impressive, especially Gabriel Belmont’s journey, and I found myself emotionally invested in his quest.”
    • “A personal example would be the moment after the big reveal at the end, which left me in pieces and made me feel as though I was one with Gabriel Belmont, the one you play as, and also made me feel his regret and hatred towards the pointless journey.”
    • “The story is very emotional and poignant in parts with a twist at the end that will leave you open-mouthed the first time you experience it.”
    • “Dull game, boring story, boring music, boring combat, slow paced.”
    • “Boring story.”
  • stability
    62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game is highly inconsistent, with many users reporting a range of graphical glitches, camera issues, and game-breaking bugs that can disrupt gameplay. While some players experienced a relatively bug-free experience, others faced significant problems, particularly with the PC port, which struggles with multi-GPU setups. Overall, the game is described as having a mix of minor and major stability issues that can detract from the overall experience.

    • “In the end, this is a damn solid game that runs great on PC!”
    • “The entire game is highly polished, bug free, and very high quality.”
    • “+no glitches or crashes in 22 hours of playing.”
    • “Ran into game-breaking glitches within an hour both times.”
    • “Constant graphical glitches that ruin what are meant to be set-piece shots and obscure necessary combat areas are jarring.”
    • “A buggy, oddly paced experience coupled with a laughable story and cringe-inducing acting all add up to a thumbs down.”
  • character development
    60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is highlighted by Gabriel Belmont's emotionally engaging journey, with many players feeling invested in his quest. While the character design and visual presentation are praised, some critiques point to a lack of depth in character progression, as it often relies on combat mechanics rather than narrative evolution. Overall, the game offers a compelling story and rich lore, but it struggles with pacing and the execution of character growth.

    • “The character development is impressive, especially Gabriel Belmont’s journey, and I found myself emotionally invested in his quest.”
    • “It has fantastic character development and other various story elements (the twists were very much a genuine surprise each time).”
    • “The story itself is engaging and a great example of character development.”
    • “And then as you start the next level, there is a storybook sequence where the narrator describes everything that is going on inside Gabriel's mind, and somehow these storybook sequences are supposed to resemble character development.”
    • “The only oversight on the character development I found was that as you advance in the story, Gabriel is supposedly going down a dark path and changing, not for the best mind you, but he does not really act like it.”
    • “The story and settings are intriguing, but the linear hand-holding of the player that limits any exploration, innovation, or unique character development or playstyle ruins any enjoyment gained from the story.”
  • humor
    46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding enjoyment in its quirky dialogue and amusing scenarios, such as the goblin grenade antics and references to memes. However, others feel that the humor can become repetitive and annoying, especially when paired with frustrating gameplay mechanics. Overall, while there are moments of genuine comedy, the execution may not resonate with everyone, leading to a polarized reception.

    • “It is just very satisfying to finish enemies off, and it's quite funny to activate a goblin's grenade and throw it towards a group of them.”
    • “However, the game sometimes tries to be funny by saying 'try not to swim in lava' or 'don't fight like a dairy farmer' when you die.”
    • “Oh, I would also like to mention that this game makes a 'hilarious' reference to the 'the cake is a lie' meme, even though there is nothing in that specific scene that would be in any way related to cakes or portals.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy is perceived as exploitative, with players feeling that the game prioritizes profit over quality. The gameplay experience is marred by excessive advertisements and quick-time events, leading to frustration and a sense of being manipulated for financial gain.

    • “This wasn't really a boss fight; it was more about fighting a bunch of ads until a quick time event came up.”
    • “If you are going to waste the Castlevania IP on a cash grab God of War rip-off, at least do a respectable job at it.”
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82%Critics’ scoreBased on 8 critic reviews
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18h Median play time
18h Average play time
18h Main story
39h Completionist
4-40h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 38 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a hack and slash game with horror and fantasy themes.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox One, Windows and others.

The main story can be completed in around 18 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 39 hours to finish. On average players spend around 18 hours playing Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow was released on August 27, 2013.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow was developed by Climax Studios.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a single player game.

Similar games include Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD, Darksiders, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, DmC: Devil May Cry and others.