Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,005 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 Game Cover
Castlevania Lords of Shadow is a must play game on the PlayStation 3 that really draws you in from the start to give you a spectacular journey of good versus evil in this beautifully presented sequel.
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In Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, Dracula returns to confront his past and defeat Satan, who plans to bring about the apocalypse. Navigating a vast open world, players control Dracula, utilizing his enhanced combat abilities to battle dark enemies and solve puzzles. The game combines brutal combat with intriguing narrative, offering a satisfying conclusion to the Lords of Shadow saga.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,005 reviews
story606 positive mentions
grinding96 negative mentions
  • Engaging story that explores themes of redemption and sacrifice, with a compelling portrayal of Dracula as a conflicted anti-hero.
  • Visually stunning environments and character designs, with impressive attention to detail and a gothic atmosphere.
  • Fluid and satisfying combat mechanics, with a variety of abilities and weapons that encourage experimentation.
  • Forced stealth sections that feel out of place and disrupt the flow of gameplay, often leading to frustration.
  • Inconsistent enemy design and combat mechanics, with many enemies feeling repetitive and lacking challenge.
  • The story can be convoluted and lacks a satisfying conclusion, leaving many plot threads unresolved.
  • story1,925 mentions

    The story of "Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2" continues the narrative of Gabriel Belmont, now Dracula, exploring themes of redemption and inner conflict. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and character development, many criticize the story for being convoluted, poorly paced, and filled with plot holes, particularly in its abrupt ending and reliance on stealth mechanics. Overall, the story is seen as a mixed bag, with some enjoying its gothic elements and twists, while others find it lacking compared to its predecessor.

    • “The story picks up flawlessly from the first game, delving deeper into the struggles of Gabriel Belmont, now the fearsome Dracula.”
    • “Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is a masterclass in storytelling, voice acting, and dynamic gameplay that will linger in your thoughts long after the final credits roll.”
    • “I truly loved Gabriel and was able to bond with him, and wept as the story mode ended.”
    • “The story is mediocre and the ending leaves a lot of loose ends as if there should be a third installment.”
    • “The story is just a convoluted mess.”
    • “The story is weak, doesn't give a closure and nothing great happens.”
  • gameplay839 mentions

    The gameplay in "Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its combat mechanics and the ability to switch between forms, which adds strategic depth. However, criticisms often focus on the frustrating stealth segments, repetitive gameplay, and pacing issues caused by excessive cutscenes. Overall, while the game offers solid combat and engaging boss fights, it struggles with some design choices that detract from the overall experience.

    • “The ability to switch between different forms adds a unique twist to the gameplay, allowing for creative strategies in overcoming challenging enemies.”
    • “Each boss encounter is a distinct challenge, ensuring that the game never feels like it's recycling content, as well as rewarding clever gameplay and careful combos.”
    • “The gameplay is great, the combat is solid, even a little more fast-paced than the first game - but still feels like Gabriel, which is good.”
    • “My biggest complaint would be the somewhat annoying stealth mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay humiliates the character of Dracula even more with annoying stealth sequences that make you hide from some demonic space marines – these sections of gameplay have zero freedom of approach and challenge – you just have to make progress the way it was intended or you will face ridiculous fail states or invisible walls.”
    • “The gameplay is a blend of the 3D actiony combat and beat 'em up that Devil May Cry and God of War pioneered and refined, also seen in Lords of Shadows; it is similar enough to that game that it doesn't feel brand new, but still new enough to not feel rehashy.”
  • graphics578 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, particularly in the gothic environments and boss battles, which enhance the overall atmosphere and immersion. While many players appreciate the detailed artwork and smooth performance, some critiques highlight inconsistencies in quality, especially in modern city settings, and a few technical issues. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a strong point, showcasing impressive art direction and design that resonate well with fans of the genre.

    • “Graphically, the game is stunning!”
    • “If you're a fan of action-adventure games, compelling storytelling, and gorgeous graphics, you owe it to yourself to dive into this masterpiece.”
    • “The graphics are especially impressive and good looking for its time and can still be enjoyable even today.”
    • “The graphics are sub-par.”
    • “The modern world graphics are so bad, it is a shame.”
    • “After much experimentation with the graphic settings, I have come to the conclusion that they used motion blur to cover up the shortcomings and inadequacies of their game engine.”
  • music341 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and atmospheric quality, with many reviewers highlighting its orchestral compositions that enhance the overall experience. While some noted that it may not reach the heights of previous titles in the series, the soundtrack is often described as beautiful, fitting well with the game's gothic aesthetic and narrative moments. However, a few critiques mention that certain tracks can feel generic or forgettable, particularly during less engaging gameplay segments.

    • “Moreover, the soundtrack is phenomenal!”
    • “The music of this game is astonishing and full of emotion, focus, and macabre beauty.”
    • “The visuals remain stunning to this day and the orchestral soundtrack and spiritual hymns fit the overall mood flawlessly.”
    • “This could be easily remedied by only playing music when something is going on--not while wasting time backtracking through a tedious map with few shortcuts and constantly being held captive by tedious fights.”
    • “There is no outstanding music to remember for the entire game!”
    • “Another thing that bothered me is how utterly uninspired and generic the soundtrack is.”
  • atmosphere111 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its beautifully crafted environments, ranging from haunting castles to dark urban streets, which enhance the overall experience and complement the action. Many reviewers highlight the rich, gothic themes, exceptional visuals, and immersive music that create a memorable and engaging atmosphere, although some express disappointment that it doesn't fully capture the classic Castlevania feel. Overall, the game's atmospheric design is considered one of its strongest aspects, contributing significantly to its storytelling and gameplay experience.

    • “The environments are beautifully crafted, from the haunting castles to the dark, atmospheric streets of modern society.”
    • “The presentation is fantastic—all the graphics, music, sound effects, and amazing gothic-styled vistas mesh together perfectly to create a haunting and memorable atmosphere.”
    • “The animation is fantastic, the atmosphere is gorgeous and captures Castlevania to a T, while reminding me of Devil May Cry and Vampire: The Masquerade; this all creates a neo-gothic feel that perfectly suits this game.”
    • “Pretty terrible clone of God of War that fails to be mildly entertaining; ruins established Castlevania lore and atmosphere.”
    • “Much like the first Lords of Shadow, this game just fails to capture the Castlevania atmosphere.”
    • “I feel like it was a game that was held back by its need to appeal to a teen audience; if they had had the opportunity to include more nudity and graphic violence, it would have completed the dark atmosphere that this game achieved.”
  • grinding100 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tediousness, with players expressing frustration over repetitive combat, backtracking, and the need to farm enemies for experience and mastery levels. Many found the stealth missions and platforming elements to be particularly boring and unengaging, contributing to an overall sense of monotony that detracted from the enjoyment of the gameplay. Despite some fun combat mechanics, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding experience feels more like a chore than a rewarding challenge.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “I wanted to love this game, but it's just too tedious to actually play.”
    • “The story isn't as good as the first game, the gameplay gets really stale really fast and it just all feels like it comes to a grinding halt when you've done the same thing over and over and over.”
    • “Wandering around the city looking for an objective is tedious and frustrating, especially when the enemies continuously respawn.”
  • optimization64 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with many users reporting smooth performance, no stutters, and consistent frame rates even on older hardware. While some players encountered minor issues with full-screen rendering that required adjustments, the majority found the game to be well-optimized for PC, offering excellent graphics and responsive controls. The game is considered a solid port from console, running effectively across a range of systems.

    • “Superb performance, no stutters, or fps drops.”
    • “Overall this is an awesome game super optimized for PC... I run it all maxed out with v-sync on and there was not a single time where my frames went below 60fps.”
    • “Great controls, well optimized with a perfect game length and plenty of exploration and replayability; it's a game where you'll get your money's worth.”
    • “Performance is not great even on my machine with 2 GTX 780 and AMD FX8320.”
    • “Motion blur has clearly been implemented to bridge and smooth the gaps between stuttering frames rather than to create a more realistic sense of motion.”
    • “That should have been removed/optimized.”
  • emotional44 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by powerful scenes and a story that intertwines deeply with the gameplay, exploring themes of good versus evil and familial bonds. While some players found the narrative to be less impactful than its predecessor, many appreciated the emotional depth and character dynamics, particularly the father-son relationship. However, criticisms arose regarding voice acting and character design, which detracted from the overall emotional experience for some players.

    • “The story is not just a backdrop to the action; it's an integral part of the experience, enriching the gameplay with emotional weight and a sense of purpose.”
    • “The story uses themes, such as the divine conflict between good and evil, and bonds between family, and by using these themes, the work forms content of both sensitive and insensitive nature, and levitates between being heartwarming to downright gruesome.”
    • “The whole father-son dynamic between Trevor and Gabriel was really well-written and enjoyable to listen to, and although I complained about him being too emotional, I really liked the parts that Gabriel's human side showed in the scenes with his family.”
    • “10,000,000 cutscenes with nothing in them, boring characters, boring story, boring dialogs, shitty controls, slow fighting system, and a very flat skills system.”
    • “Boring story.”
    • “10,000,000 cutscenes with nothing in them, boring characters, boring story, boring dialogs, shitty controls, slow fighting system, and a very flat skills system.”
  • character development38 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some praising the portrayal of Dracula as a conflicted anti-hero and noting emotional engagement in the sequel, while others criticize the overall lack of depth and fulfillment in character arcs. The character designs are generally well-received, but the execution of character development often feels limited to gameplay mechanics rather than meaningful narrative progression. Overall, while there are standout moments, many players find the character development inconsistent and lacking in substance.

    • “The character development is top-notch, especially the portrayal of Dracula as a conflicted anti-hero.”
    • “I really liked the character development and how much the characters in the game actually changed.”
    • “Music, voice acting, character development, boom, blow your mind.”
    • “The combat system expands as the plot progresses, and character development is limited to purchasing new attacks. There is an incentive to use all attacks because leveling up a given type of weapon increases its attack, also strengthening its visual effect.”
    • “I will admit it is an unfair trial, but the lack of story and character development doesn't make up for the game.”
    • “Inconsistent character development of Dracula.”
  • replayability36 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players noting a moderate amount of replay value due to collectibles and challenge modes, while others criticize it for being lackluster compared to modern titles. Although features like New Game+ and difficulty settings offer some incentive to replay, many feel that the overall experience is short and doesn't encourage multiple playthroughs. Overall, while there are elements that can extend gameplay, the consensus leans towards limited replayability.

    • “The gameplay mechanics are solid a la Darksiders and the added bonus of a 'New Game+' feature that allows you to keep all your abilities and found items and give them a try on the highest difficulty level adds a nice replay value to this game.”
    • “Great controls, well optimized with a perfect game length and plenty of exploration and replayability, it's a game where you'll get your money's worth.”
    • “Other than that, lots of places to explore and collectibles all over the place will give you replayability over the already lengthy main course.”
    • “I'll only recommend it if you don't mind a short game with almost no replay value and very little exploration like in past Castlevania games, and you are a 'true' Castlevania fan.”
    • “7.5/10 - fun journey, but replayability is a bit lackluster.”
    • “Put it in mind, I recommend it, but not for more than $20; it is not long, and not short, and it lacks replayability.”
  • stability31 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting unexpected shutdowns, freezes, and various glitches, particularly on modern systems. While some users experienced a smooth and bug-free experience, others noted significant issues that detracted from gameplay, including problems during tutorials and frustrating game mechanics. Overall, the game appears to have stability concerns that can impact the user experience, despite some players enjoying it without major issues.

    • “The PC version is bug-free from the start, offers very good performance, and has good graphics for my rig.”
    • “It runs great, looks great, and is fun to play.”
    • “The game is not very stable on modern systems; I had a couple of unexpected shutdowns and freezes. If that happens, just restart the game.”
    • “The game has too many glitches and it fails in a few areas to deliver a good experience with the very basic functionality of a game (UI is lame, in-game application options are lame, cinematic controls are really bad).”
    • “Game completely freezes on tutorial.”
  • humor24 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of grim and awkwardly entertaining moments, with players finding joy in unexpected scenarios, such as sneaking mechanics and hide-and-seek moments involving iconic characters like Dracula. While some aspects of the humor may not be intentional, it adds a layer of charm that resonates with fans, despite criticisms of the overall story and gameplay. Overall, the humor is seen as a nostalgic nod to classic gaming styles, blending elements of fun and absurdity.

    • “Nice game with a grim humor.”
    • “In the end, it is very funny, entertaining, dramatic and inspiring.”
    • “Also believe it or not, there are two hide-and-seek moments; the first one was hilarious and put a big smile on my face, seeing as the person who was looking for me couldn't find me... and the thought that the great Dracula had to hide was funny to me.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization model of the game is perceived as outdated, reminiscent of a pre-live service era, lacking modern features such as microtransactions and day-one patches.

    • “The game ultimately feels like a relic from a time before live services, day-one patches, and microtransactions.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

Buy Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2

Play time

5hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
15hMain story
31hCompletionist
3-18hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 22 analyzed playthroughs

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