Although many old-timers don't agree with the new 3D style, I think the new Castlevania is brilliant. It brought life into the weird fantasy elements of the franchise. Now the characters can fully express the dramatic gestures that the 2D games could never show. The 3D action also melds together well with the fighting style of Castlevania. Patrick Stewart also gives the series a new, medieval edge.

Being that I love the Castlevania series so much, I did like the 2D games, but I waited for so long for this franchise to evolve in the 3D realm. Not only is this my favorite 3D Castlevania, but it's one of my favorite games of all time, evolving the Vampire-hunting franchise I loved into a 3D Action hack-slasher. As much as people like to say it's not Castlevania, it very much is. There's platforming, a level-by-level progression, there's remix of older Castlevania music in it (subtle) and the story involves the Belmont clan. The music is just amazing and immersive, this game sends an epic breeze through me. I love how the action works and how slower-paced the levels are that let you soak this beautiful game in. Thank you MercurySteam.

My biggest disapointment of this generation. Not that the game is bad, but I was expecting something else. I was hoping this would be what Ocarina of Time and Metroid Prime were to their respective series. Instead we got a linear beat them all. The game has plenty of qualities though, like beautiful graphics, amazing art direction, touching and memorable music, a nice plot, nice references to European folklore, a deep combat system. However it also has some unforgivable flaws. It's segmented into short linear levels, the camera is fixed (the graphics are no THAT good to warrant it, especially when compared to other beat them alls that have a free look camera). It's a current gen game in appearence, but an archaic game in design.

Lords of Shadow is my first Castlevania game and I was not disappointed. The story is well done and beautifully told. The gameplay is very similar to God of War and can be very challenging at times (Oh boy The forgotten One!!).
The music is also nice enough to deserve a mention.
The game has a wordeful ending and I'm now curious to see what Mercury Steam has in store for us with Lords of Shadow 2.
100% complete btw :)