What could be more adrenaline boosting and exciting then traversing the Gothic depths of Dracula's castle? No, this is not the premise to an upcoming Hollywood production. I am referring to the latest installment of Castlevania franchise to be released on the Nintendo 3DS platform. Lords of Shadows is a 2D rendition, the hallmarks of which are flashy and really fun to execute combos, some nifty intricately woven in platforming and spectacular boss fights.
Plot
The story of the game unravels by following the exploits of two descendants of the legendary Gabriel Belmont. Players would be stepping in the shoes of Simon Belmont, the mysterious Alucard and finally Simon's father, Trevor Belmont. Most of the story is told in flashbacks which interconnects the events that transpired in the past and leading up to the present. Divulging anymore at this point about the plot, which has some really jaw dropping moments in store for the players, would be truly unfair. Let's just say that the mystery of why the Belmont clan has been facing off against Dracula for generations is finally given a more thorough treatment. This may be akin to rewriting the book as many of the fans would angrily point out, but the end result is quite satisfying.
Game Mechanics
The game puts emphasis on whip play as all the three playable characters wield a variant of it. The developers have minimized (to my utter dismay) the usage of magical spells and have limited to their use to a rare few occasions. The battle system is quite impressive as players are encouraged to try out flashy combos and figure out for themselves which ones are more or less effective against a particular kind of enemy. The combo linking (once you figure out the timing and the hierarchy) is rewarded generously.
Platforming is another very distinctive feature of the game and has been innovatively amalgamated with combat. The players would find themselves facing off against vile monstrosities while attempting to negotiate tricky platforms and crevices. Environmental puzzles are another admirable feature and some are meticulously crafted and would definitely require some brain raking to figure out.
Minor Flaws
With all that I have jotted down in appreciation of this game, it's not without some minor flaws. First off, the over abundance of QTE (quick time events), even when the situation doesn't call for them, can be a bother. The checkpoints follow the same course as the QTE's and lessen the feeling of impending doom, which is a crucial element for a game like this. The individual character developing of the main characters could have been handled better by adding more material and depth.
Verdict
Minor inconveniences asides; Mirror of Fate is a thoroughly enjoyable 2D extravaganza! The producers of the game were brave enough to undertake a huge risk by deviating from the lore of the original game. It was a gamble and if you ask me it paid off. It's an entertaining game which would definitely appeal all the new comers to the series as well as avid followers of the legendary Castlevania series.
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