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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD Game Cover
76%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, character development
76% User Score Based on 955 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD Game Cover

About

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD is a single player role playing game. It was developed by MercurySteam and was released on March 27, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate HD, Trevor Belmont, a knight of the Brotherhood of Light, seeks vengeance for his mother's death at the hands of his father, now known as Dracula. Explore Dracula's castle, combat enemies with 30 moves, magic, and secondary weapons, and test your skills in 'Boss Rush' mode. This sequel delves into the Belmonts' history and their fated confrontation with destiny.

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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD screenshot
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD screenshot
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76%
Audience ScoreBased on 955 reviews
story163 positive mentions
grinding22 negative mentions
  • The game features a compelling story that ties together the events of the Lords of Shadow series, providing depth to the characters.
  • The combat system is enjoyable, with a variety of combos and abilities that keep battles engaging.
  • The visuals and art style, especially in cutscenes, are well-executed and create a gothic atmosphere that fits the Castlevania theme.
  • The game suffers from linear level design, making exploration feel limited and often requiring tedious backtracking to collect upgrades.
  • Controls can feel clunky and imprecise, leading to frustrating platforming sections and combat encounters.
  • The soundtrack is generally forgettable and lacks the memorable themes found in previous Castlevania titles.
  • story
    510 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate" is a complex narrative that intertwines the fates of three characters from the Belmont lineage—Simon, Trevor, and Alucard—as they confront Dracula across different timelines. While some players appreciate the depth and connections to the broader lore of the series, others criticize it for being predictable, poorly executed, or lacking emotional weight, often feeling like a bridge between the first and second games rather than a standalone narrative. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a mixed bag, with engaging moments overshadowed by convoluted plot points and a reliance on familiar tropes.

    • “The story is a complex tale of family, betrayal, and the cyclical nature of good versus evil.”
    • “Each character's storyline is interwoven, revealing their personal motivations and connections to the overarching conflict against Dracula.”
    • “The story is well-crafted, intertwining the legacy of the Belmonts and their struggles against the forces of darkness.”
    • “The story is so lacking and shallow that I wish I had just read plot points on the wiki.”
    • “The most hilarious is how the story tries to be really clever with a plot twist and it's painstakingly obvious what it's going to be well before you're halfway there.”
    • “The story tries to link both lords of shadow games (which is recapped in the introducing cinematic of los 2), so it feels better for those who are in context, because many things are not explained for a newcomer - what is the brotherhood of the light, what are the lords of shadow, how gabriel became dracula, etc.”
  • gameplay
    251 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate" has received mixed reviews, with some praising its blend of classic metroidvania elements and modern combat mechanics, while others criticize it for being repetitive, linear, and lacking depth. Players appreciate the character-switching mechanics and exploration aspects, but many find the controls clunky and the combat uninspired, leading to a generally underwhelming experience compared to previous entries in the series. Overall, while the game offers nostalgic elements and decent visuals, it struggles to fully engage players due to its inconsistent gameplay quality.

    • “The gameplay is tight and satisfying, mixing fast-paced combat with puzzle-solving and platforming.”
    • “The game beautifully combines classic elements of the franchise while infusing it with fresh mechanics and visuals, making it a worthy addition to the series.”
    • “Switching between characters, each with unique abilities and gameplay styles, keeps the experience fresh and engaging.”
    • “I wish I could elaborate on how nothing the actual levels and core gameplay is, but the problem is that it's so lacking that there really isn't anything I can say.”
    • “The areas are monotonous and most fail to distinguish themselves from the others; the gameplay isn't very tight (very simplified compared to the previous games) but is repetitive.”
    • “The game tries to return to the classic Castlevania in terms of gameplay, but it falls flat and is just not fun at all.”
  • graphics
    219 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate HD" receive mixed reviews, largely reflecting its origins as a 3DS title. While some players appreciate the improved visuals and artistic style, others criticize the dated graphics and simplistic environments, noting that they feel like a downgrade from the previous game in the series. Overall, the remastered graphics are considered decent for a handheld port, but they do not match the quality of more modern titles.

    • “The remastered HD graphics are simply stunning.”
    • “The game beautifully combines classic elements of the franchise while infusing it with fresh mechanics and visuals, making it a worthy addition to the series.”
    • “Outstanding graphics, great gameplay, top-notch storytelling, old school 2D sidescrolling, and Dracula!”
    • “However, I was very surprised to see the downgrade in graphics; looking into why made it make sense, but if you are someone like me who was looking for a similar experience to the other 3D games, this is quite different.”
    • “The graphics and animations are horrible due to it being a DS port.”
    • “It's absolutely hideous from a graphical and design standpoint, but the gameplay is similar enough to the originals that it's somewhat passable.”
  • music
    167 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it bland, repetitive, and forgettable compared to previous entries in the Castlevania series. While some appreciate the atmospheric qualities and orchestral elements, others criticize it for lacking the memorable themes that defined earlier titles. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the overall experience despite some positive notes on its ability to complement the game's mood.

    • “The musical score is hauntingly beautiful, perfectly complementing the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The soundtrack complements the mood perfectly, blending orchestral scores with eerie melodies.”
    • “The music is amazing, it adds a lot to the atmosphere of Dracula's castle.”
    • “The music is awful.”
    • “Music is so dull it may as well not exist.”
    • “The music is the worst factor.”
  • atmosphere
    48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its rich gothic aesthetic, detailed character designs, and haunting musical score that effectively captures the essence of classic Castlevania titles. While some players noted a decline in visual quality and a lack of variety in the soundtrack, many found the overall ambiance immersive and fitting for the dark fantasy setting. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay pacing and sound variety, the atmospheric elements remain a standout feature, enhancing the exploration and storytelling experience.

    • “The character models and environments are richly detailed, and the atmospheric design truly captures the gothic essence that Castlevania is known for.”
    • “The musical score is hauntingly beautiful, perfectly complementing the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Few games managed to conjure the gothic atmosphere and sheer solitude of a moonlit Carpathian castle like Mirror of Fate did.”
    • “It even fails visually when it introduces the game with a genuinely fantastic looking shader and visual flair before it crumbles away to the attempt at janky realism with half the flair and atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is very much in the realm of being 'gothic, vampiric, castlevania, light horror'.”
    • “Visuals, music, gameplay, even atmosphere felt subpar.”
  • grinding
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with many describing combat as slow and lacking impact. While some appreciate the attempt to balance grinding with a level-up system, the navigation and backtracking are often seen as cumbersome, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, a few players still find enjoyment in the game, particularly in its story and atmosphere.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The combat is largely tedious; they pretty much directly ported the combat for Lords of Shadow into a 2D game, so you have direct attacks that hit a quarter of the screen, and area attacks that do less damage and hit about half of it.”
    • “The movement when navigating the map is relatively sluggish, making it slow and tedious to explore.”
    • “The puzzle platforming sections were already overly long and tedious by this point, with nowhere near enough action-combat to break it up, and what combat there was I found lacked impact and was extremely unsatisfying.”
  • replayability
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting a lack of RPG elements like leveling and customization that typically enhance replay value. However, features such as a boss rush mode and various difficulty levels provide some incentive for replaying, though many feel that once the game is completed, there is little motivation to return aside from achievements. Overall, while there are elements that can extend playtime, the linearity and repetitiveness detract from its overall replayability.

    • “For replayability, the game has a boss rush mode, where you face all bosses from the game (QTE-based excluded) and leaderboards.”
    • “It also has great replayability with an unlockable boss rush mode and a 100% ending.”
    • “It's riddled with secrets and places/objects to collect when you are able to later on, making the replay value high.”
    • “It's missing a lot of the RPG elements that gave those games their depth and replayability – things like leveling up, equipment, and stat customization.”
    • “~ little to no replayability - after getting 100%, there is no point to redo the game, except for the achievements. I would love to see some modifiers like in Blasphemous.”
    • “Just too linear, too much sameness, and little replayability.”
  • humor
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as inconsistent and often unintentional, with players finding the dialogue and cutscenes to be awkward and poorly executed rather than genuinely funny. While some moments, like the ending and certain plot twists, elicit amusement, the overall tone is criticized for being bland and lacking character development. The game attempts to blend serious themes with slapstick humor, resulting in a disjointed experience that fails to resonate with many players.

    • “The most hilarious is how the story tries to be really clever with a plot twist and it's painstakingly obvious what it's gonna be well before you're halfway there.”
    • “It's funny to me how this game has somewhat negative reception everywhere else but highly positive reviews on Steam.”
    • “The gameplay is much funnier: puzzle, boss fight, exploration, the story is the better part, full of twists.”
    • “The cutscenes feature horrid dialogues with awkward pauses, where characters stop moving and look like statues - it's just strange, if not outright unfunny.”
    • “The attempts at humor fall flat, often feeling forced and lacking any real wit or charm.”
    • “I found the jokes to be stale and predictable, making it hard to engage with the comedic elements of the game.”
  • emotional
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its engaging and dark narrative, which evokes strong feelings through character development and poignant cutscenes. While some players found the story moving enough to shed tears, others felt that certain relationships lacked sufficient development for a satisfying emotional payoff. Overall, the game successfully combines thrilling gameplay with a heartfelt story, despite some pacing issues and less impactful voice acting.

    • “I will continue playing beyond the end, having shed a tear with Dracula at the very end.”
    • “The character development is intriguing, adding emotional weight to the journey.”
    • “A fun metroidvania-style hack-and-slash 2.5D platformer that manages to keep a touching narrative, although the voice acting isn't top-notch.”
  • character development
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is mixed; while some reviews highlight intriguing emotional depth and improvements in narrative through titles like "Mirror of Fate," others criticize the lack of growth and generic character designs. The overall character design quality varies, with some praising the gothic art style and detailed environments, while others find the character aesthetics bland and unoriginal.

    • “The character development is intriguing, adding emotional weight to the journey.”
    • “Mirror of Fate helps to flesh out character development and some unanswered questions from the story.”
    • “Character designs and animations are pretty damn awesome.”
    • “There is no character development, though the ending is somewhat funny and references Star Wars.”
    • “And the new character designs look like generic Western RPG characters - big, bulky, and ugly - there is nothing original or elegant to be found here.”
    • “There’s good environmental art mitigated by some ugly character designs and bad animation.”
  • stability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with most users noting it is functional and not plagued by significant bugs or crashes. However, some players have experienced minor glitches and freezing issues, which can detract from the overall experience. While the game is playable, it lacks engaging gameplay elements, leading to a mixed reception regarding its stability.

    • “It's not buggy, it's functional.”
    • “Crappy bugs and glitches make the game unplayable and freeze the PC.”
    • “Personally, I'm playing this more because Lords of Shadow 1 is a buggy port, although a fantastic game I'd recommend people check out first.”
    • “The graphics are very clean, though with some minor glitches.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the optimization of the game is mixed; while some users report smooth performance at 60fps, others have encountered bizarre performance issues that detract from the experience, particularly when compared to the 3DS version.

    • “No performance issues that I saw.”
    • “The optimization is impressive, leading to a smooth gaming experience.”
    • “The game runs flawlessly, showcasing excellent optimization.”
    • “And there's a performance issue, which is very bizarre.”
    • “Such performance is kind of unacceptable.”
    • “With that out of the way, what a difference playing this at 60fps compared to the poor performance of the 3DS version.”
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10h Median play time
8h Average play time
2-13h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD is a role playing game.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 8 hours playing Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD was released on March 27, 2014.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD was developed by MercurySteam.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate HD 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 Mirror of Fate HD is a single player game.

Similar games include Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, Darksiders 3, Strider, Ys Origin and others.