Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

[Floex]

It's about when you grapple a character none of the enemies on screen can attack you and you're impervious to attacks

Explaining a joke has proper killed that for me

[mr_woo]

Finished this there now and overall just loved it. I really felt like I had been on a big epic adventure by the time it had finished. I certainly got my moneys worth too, around 20 - 25 hours or so. Brilliant epilogue also. I'm knackered now though so time for bed Fallout New Vegas and Vanquish for the weekend now, yay

[Okotta]

I love this game. I'm on Chapter 4 and I just love playing it. Even the boss fights have been good. I'm playing it on Warrior difficulty.

Two things I've found strange; There's no "quit game and return to title screen" button and in the open environments the framerate never stutters as it sometimes does in the more closed environments. Shouldn't it be the other way around, since open environments should tax the engine a little harder?

[macosx]

Up to Chapter 6 tonight after a days play. Loving it. Truly epic.

[Paulando]

Hey, I had a quick go of the demo to this last week and it seemed to be some kind of Devil May Cry/Bayonetta type thing (both of with I dislike). Does the full game resemble the Metroidvanias in any way (which I love), or is it a more linear, beat-the-bad-guys-and-move-on game?

[mr_woo]

Hey, I had a quick go of the demo to this last week and it seemed to be some kind of Devil May Cry/Bayonetta type thing (both of with I dislike). Does the full game resemble the Metroidvanias in any way (which I love), or is it a more linear, beat-the-bad-guys-and-move-on game?

It's more like the original Castlevania games not the Metroidvania games in terms of it being a linear action adventure game, with Super Castlevania IV being a big influence. Combat wise it's more or less a more involved God Of War, a lot of blocking and dodging.

[Triple A]

Hey, I had a quick go of the demo to this last week and it seemed to be some kind of Devil May Cry/Bayonetta type thing (both of with I dislike). Does the full game resemble the Metroidvanias in any way (which I love), or is it a more linear, beat-the-bad-guys-and-move-on game?

its more linear than the metroidvanias but not as much as the likes of SCIV, as there are some extras/secrets to explore and find especially compared with the earliest CV games.

a key thing differentiating CLOS to DMC/Bayo is CLOSs very cool atmosphere, especially later on.

[sandman]

Was tempted to pick this up earlier today, but the huge amount of pre-owned copies in Gamestation put me off a bit.

How hard is it? Does it compare to the GOW games 'cause I can play them fine.

I liked the demo and the drop in price is tempting, but if its anything like as hard as the GBA Castlevanias then I won't stand a chance!

[mr_woo]

Was tempted to pick this up earlier today, but the huge amount of pre-owned copies in Gamestation put me off a bit.

How hard is it? Does it compare to the GOW games 'cause I can play them fine.

I liked the demo and the drop in price is tempting, but if its anything like as hard as the GBA Castlevanias then I won't stand a chance!

If you can play GOW I think you'll be fine. It requires more work from the player such as a lot more blocking and dodging but there's nothing insurmountable that you shouldn't be able to get passed. It will make you work for it a bit anyway (on normal that is, never tried it on the higher difficulties)

[macosx]

Ive been playing it on novice and the combat had been hard enough for me. As tough as GOW on normal I reckon, I like to experience the game and story and not fight it really. I haven't used block once.

The only problem I've had is that the game does a poor job of explaining some of the moves. They aren't in the book/menu and sometimes they are used so sparingly and contextual that during the long length of the game its hard to keep track. I've had to resort to faqs a few times ie eartquake punch and a dash move for a specific set of puzzles.

The art of this and the music is really top notch though although I do miss a free look camera to take it all in.

[robdood]

Erm, all of the moves are explained perfectly well in the in-game movelist..?

[Yobo Ahoy]

I finished chapter 2 last night and I can't work out how I feel about this game. In theory it's merely a passable action game - the invisible walls and Crash Bandicoot-style into-the-screen corridors are absolute relics of last-gen, the voices and story are laughable so far and everything is a spectacular ripoff of games that did it better (and ages ago to boot).

But having said all that, I've played it more or less every spare minute I've had since buying it Saturday lunchtime. I don't know what's going on anymore.

[Sergeant Squid]

It gets under your skin. The story is dodgy, the voice acting is passable at best, the combat is repetitive and used far too much, the invisible walls are annoying and the last few levels are horrible, but it is still one of the best games I've played this gen and I loved every single minute of it.

[CandyBob]

I finished chapter 2 last night and I can't work out how I feel about this game. In theory it's merely a passable action game - the invisible walls and Crash Bandicoot-style into-the-screen corridors are absolute relics of last-gen, the voices and story are laughable so far and everything is a spectacular ripoff of games that did it better (and ages ago to boot).

But having said all that, I've played it more or less every spare minute I've had since buying it Saturday lunchtime. I don't know what's going on anymore.

It gets much much better from now on up until about chapter 10. I felt exactly the same at the end of chapter 2 but after that the quality, especially the level design, really goes into over-drive. In fact if you could take those 8 chapters in the middle and that's the game, it would be a 9 for me. As it is the quality of the opening levels and the finals chapters pull it down to a 7/8.

[Professor_k]

This game has made me so mad... It makes me want to record myself being an enraged emo baby and upload it onto Youtube, smashing my fists into my bedroom wall, ranting and crying as I bleed

Just as you feel everything is starting to click and you're enjoying yourself, you'll be served an instant death for dropping off a wall and a checkpoint will kindly plonk you right before the last unforgiving scrap you barely just made it through.

Oh christ, I don't have a Lovefilm envelope to return it until my next rental arrives... I know I'm going to turn it on tomorrow, it's like this game is the puzzle box out of Hellraiser.

P.S Can anyone confirm for me that I completed a puzzle at some point which barely made any sense at all but featured a fairy with her tits out? I mentioned it to my friend who has completed the game and he claims he has no idea what I'm talking about.

[Sergeant Squid]

Yes, on the level where you meet Pan and find the glowing shields to get the correct sequence of runes.

[Mr Ben]

How the flying fuck do you do the Dracolich level in under 5 minutes?!? I got to the last rune on the flying bit and thought "Fuck yeah! I did it" only to be humbled by the timer going to zero at the bit where you need to do the one in the mouth "Trial failed"

Theres no way you can do it in 5 minutes, even with a crystal

[macosx]

I almost threw my controller last night on the music box last night. I'm finding I'm crap / some of the times moves very unforgiving.

[Mr Ben]

Found a little bit more info on dlc. Its not much, but better than nothing.

Producer David Cox shed the first details of the game’s upcoming DLC. According to his recent tweet via Twitter, the first DLC to hit Lords of Shadow will feature Gabriel returning to the Castle with Laura. There is currently no release date to this DLC but we should see it by the end of the year.

‘… no firm date but Gabriel will return to the Castle and Laura will also return.’

[Tailfly]

PS3 Patch is out, helps with the corrupt save situation apparently.

[Cthulhu Steev]

PS3 Patch is out, helps with the corrupt save situation apparently.

Ah, I wondered what that update was doing! Thankfully I haven't been affected by the problem anyway.

What I have been affected by are the

SPIDERS

fucking hell they're horrible

[Tailfly]

I had a corrupt save 'i think' after quitting out of the game from completing a section right near the beginning, before i realised that it autosaved on the next screen. Only had to replay the first chapter so no set back really.

The Spiders are gruesome but excellent enemies.

Now going through Chapter 5 and have loved what its thrown at me so far, day off tomorrow and I can't wait to put some decent time into this.

[Guest]

It gets under your skin. The story is dodgy, the voice acting is passable at best, the combat is repetitive and used far too much, the invisible walls are annoying and the last few levels are horrible, but it is still one of the best games I've played this gen and I loved every single minute of it.

Is this the Halo thread?

[macosx]

The polish; in regard to pathfinding and jumping had just fallen away on the last few levels. Taking the shine off a great game.

[Triple A]

god mask collector's edition get.

the mask is very nice quality actually, made of a quite heavy metal with pretty intricate details (but not full size).

worth it if you're a fan of the game, an item to keep.

[Triple A]

gone a bit quiet the last couple of days.

no-one playing or have the collector's edition yet?

i'm now going back and mopping up the 110% scores. and i must have played the last chapter half a dozen times by now - reckon its such a great ending - proper goosebump-inducing.

also, picked up the strategy guide too - plenty of nice artwork inside - those who have unlocked some of the concept art from the game should know that it is really good quality stuff.

[macosx]

I'm still playing and hopefully finish it today. Love and hate it in almost equal measure and doubt if I would have finished it without a FAQ. It's a bit like Darksiders where it chucks masses of puzzles at you at the end of the game and I've found a few more areas where only a reload sorts out a button that won't activate etc. It's a impressive flawed gem of a game that IMHO is too long. They should have shortened it and spent the time on polish.

The next one should be great if they sort out some of the needless deaths and inconsistencies with the jumping and some of the shocking pathfinding.

[macosx]

Also I've seen some areas in the early levels that obviously need you to go back and replay with your upgraded move set. These seem to dry up after the first few levels??

[Hexx]

Also I've seen some areas in the early levels that obviously need you to go back and replay with your upgraded move set. These seem to dry up after the first few levels??

From memory the last "upgrade" is the

Double Jump

at the end of Chapter 8 - after that you can get everything on your first time through, but it might be down a side route.

I don't think I ever went back to the earlier levels of gems/upgrades - and I still managed the game without difficulty (On normal ). I might go back through at some point.

[boybrown]

I've just ordered the 360 version from Zavvi for £17.99. Bargain.