Castlevania Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate Hd Pc Review
With Lords Of Shadow 2 proving such a thwarting can the PC version of the 3DS spin-off provide a more appealing future for Castlevania?
Due to it being released in the middle of the Christmas rush we missed reviewing this HD update, when information technology first appeared on consoles final year. We played and enjoyed the 3DS original, merely the release of the PC version isn't only an opportunity to catch up on a game we missed; Given the disappointing quality of Lords Of Shadow ii it'southward a chance to ruminate on the whole time to come of Castlevania.
Although all three games were made by Spanish studio MercurySteam in that location'southward no question in our mind that Mirror Of Fate is the all-time of the trio. It's a bridging story between the 2 home consoles games, while the game mixes gameplay elements from Lords Of Shadow, Symphony Of The Night, and the very earliest viii-bit entries in the series.
Such a mishmash usually ends up pleasing nobody – and indeed in that location were many that were upset that the game doesn't feature whatsoever extensive function-playing elements – simply rather than a colourless pap the result of blending all the different stages of the franchise'southward evolution together is something similar a Castlevania greatest hits collection.
The story itself reflects that approach, and follows the adventures of 3 generations of the vampire-hunting Belmont family. The three acts are played out of chronological order, but although the game treats its major story twist as some impossible-to-predict revelation it's then heavily hinted at from the kickoff that it never has anything like the intended effect.
The storytelling is still fairly ambitious for a portable activity game, but what was more impressive most the 3DS release was the visuals. Although the Hard disk drive version lacks the 3D effect the quality of the original graphics and art pattern still smoothen through clearly, even on a PC. In that location'south a loving attention to detail in the backgrounds and monster animations, with a mobile photographic camera that makes the most of the backdrops while never confusing the strictly two-dimensional gameplay.
Whether you've played multiple Castlevania titles before or have never even heard of the series until at present it's a very elementary concept to grasp. The platforming is almost perfunctory and instead the game is focused effectually exploring the open up-ended game world and defeating the various classic horror monsters that live within.
Although Mirror Of Fate doesn't take the more involved role-playing elements of well-nigh of the mod games you withal earn feel points, simply here it'southward to unlock new moves rather than increase stats.
You lot don't accept interchangeable master weapons but each character has their own specific variation of a combat cross (a sort of mix between a whip and Batman's grapnel gun) and their ain unique special abilities. From transforming into a werewolf to summoning a ghostly spirit to shield you, these run off a magic bar which, like your health, is recharged from special fonts.
Mirror Of Fate is not a difficult game though, and indeed if you are a long term fan we'd suggest playing it on Hard mode from the start. At that place's the odd bottleneck in terms of difficultly but the game constantly checkpoints your progress, including multiple times during a long boss battle.
Despite, or maybe considering of this, the dominate battles are a detail highlight and rather than simply mindlessly whipping abroad at an enemy's health similar the old games they're staged in a much more epic mode, with cut scene asides and an evolving threat from the enemy.
Mirror Of Fate always felt more like a portable game that thinks it's a habitation panel championship and the HD version is proof that it wasn't suffering from delusions of grandeur. And although the structure has clearly been designed for shorter play lengths the way the gameplay and narrative has been orchestrated shows few limitations as a event.
In terms of changes for the HD version the graphics accept naturally been improved, although it'southward again to the game'due south credit that it'southward oftentimes hard to tell what textures and character models are new and what'south simply benefited from an increase in resolution. Where the original did endure though was in terms of frame charge per unit, which was stable enough merely stuck permanently beneath thirty frames per second – a compromise for the 3DS hardware that is no longer necessary here.
On top of the visual improvements the controls have been loosened up a bear upon from the slightly rigid original and a very sensible decision has been made to remove most of the QTE sequences. It is a shame the 3D result has been lost, as it is i of the all-time on the 3DS, but in all other respects this is a articulate improvement on the original.
The appeal behind Mirror Of Fate is unquestionably 1 of style over substance, simply the game is however far from existence shallow. The gainsay is more nuanced than previous portable Castelvanias, with dodges, parries, and even advanced techniques similar juggling enemies in the air. And yet information technology streamlines the options and controls to make them, and the franchise'south complicated backstory, attainable to all.
At the fourth dimension of the original release it all seemed extremely promising for Lords Of Shadow 2, which makes it all the more than difficult to understand how things went then wrong. But with it's poor disquisitional and commercial reception, and MercurySteam confirming they're no longer involved with the series, it ways that Castelvania is correct back to where it started before the release of Lords Of Shadow: a half-forgotten retro franchise about which simply a niche few know or care.
And every bit entertaining every bit Mirror Of Fate is we can't see information technology, or more games like it, irresolute that state of affairs. Like many Japanese-made franchises with their roots in the 8-bit era – games like Contra, Mega Man, Gradius, Bionic Commando, Ghosts 'N Goblins, and others – the basis of Castlevania is malleable enough that information technology should be perfectly easy to transform into a modern game.
At it'south heart it'due south a straightforward melee-based action game, with a horror movie theme for its setting and some light role-playing elements. Rocksteady's Batman games seem an obvious template for a modernistic incarnation simply Konami appear unwilling to spend the coin necessary to brand a game with that calibration or ambition. Probably less and then at present than ever.
Only unless that commitment is made then Castlevania, and all these other undead franchises, will remain in limbo, their occasional upkeep-priced revamps enjoyed past fans but never reaching beyond them.
In Brusk: A vastly better game than Lords Of Shadow 2, that smooths the rough edges from the 3DS original and proves that Castlevania need non revert back to a niche retro franchise.
Pros: Excellent art pattern and nicely improved visuals. Accessible but relatively deep activeness, with plenty of multifariousness. Improved controls and welcome removal of QTEs.
Cons: The step of the action is however fairly slow, despite the frame rate increase. A little as well easy and a lilliputian also short on Normal difficulty. Story revelations aren't the surprise they should've been.
Score: 8/10
Formats: PC (reviewed), Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.
Price: £nine.99
Publisher: Konami
Developer: MercurySteam
Release Date: 27th March 2013
Age Rating: 18
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Source: https://metro.co.uk/2014/03/31/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate-hd-review-undead-franchise-4681587/
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