Konami announced during gamescom, in Cologne, Germany, that Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 will be released on February 25, 2014 in North and South America for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Windows PC. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 marks the conclusion of KONAMI and MercurySteam’s celebrated Castlevania: Lords of Shadow story with an epic tale of evil and redemption. Following extensive consultation with Castlevania’s enviable fan base, the sequel expands upon its predecessor with a new storyline, villains, visuals and additional features, providing a more extensive open world and immersive experience.
Here are our reviews of the original Lords of Shadow and the 3DS continuation Mirror of Fate.
Taking place in modern day, in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 players assume the role of a weakened Dracula, who’s been resurrected by an old ally in exchange for his help in defeating a powerful threat as old as time itself – Satan. Satan’s returned to the world to bring about the apocalypse and settle an old score for his defeat years ago.
“We have come to the conclusion of the Castlevania: Lords of Shadow story,” said Dave Cox, Producer on the title and Studio Head of European Production at Konami Digital Entertainment. “As such, we have gone all-out to create a fitting climax to one of the most warmly-welcomed series resurrections to date. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is bigger, more epic and more challenging – and tells a tale that will live on in video game lore forever.”
The world of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 breaks new ground for the series, offering for the first time a truly open play area, which can be freely explored. Despite its modern setting, the game’s city shows a Gothic legacy that harks back to Dracula’s past, and is inhabited by a varied menagerie of Satan’s hordes. Players can freely wander the city, returning to previously explored areas as they accrue new abilities, while an all-new fully moveable camera allows users to pan around as they explore, highlighting the wonderful art direction the series is famous for.
The central combat elements have also been thoroughly enhanced, with the addition of a Void Sword that is used to steal life force from stricken foes, and Chaos Claws that can smash through even the strongest protection. These also tie in with Dracula’s ability to strengthen his powers using the blood of his foes, allocating the resources he collects to build up specific skill attributes. Thus, from his weakened state, the player can determine the attributes that will assist him in his quest.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 will be released for PlayStation®3, Xbox 360 and Windows PC in the US on February 25, 2014. For more information, please visit www.konami-castlevania.com
