Gabriel Belmont is a member of the Brotherhood of Light, a brotherhood of holy knights tasked with defending the innocent from evil powers. His wife Marie, recently murdered by the same evil, is stranded between Earth and Heaven. Her soul, like many others, is neither alive nor dead. Gabriel discovers that the Lords of Shadow are behind everything and possess the God Mask, which can bring his beloved Marie back from the dead. With Zobek, another Brotherhood member, he goes out across the wrecked landscapes of Earth, replete with werewolves, vampires, and undead entities, to stop the Lords of Shadow damage. Gabriel swears to do everything in his power to reclaim his Marie, even if it means succumbing to the darkness he desires to eliminate.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a three-dimensional remake of the Castlevania franchise. It recounts the adventure of Gabriel Belmont as he strives to resurrect his wife and save the world from evil powers during the end of the world in the 11th century of 1047. The game’s gameplay is remarkably similar to that of God of War. It relies on fighting foes with a chain whip known as the Combat Cross. As the game progresses, the player obtains access to various combos that may be purchased with experience points earned in battle. The Combat Cross can also be upgraded as a grappling hook to assist with the game’s numerous platform portions or to be attached with a spiked chain that aids in sawing through obstructions. Gabriel obtains the power to use magic at one point in the game. There are two kinds of magic: light and dark. Gabriel’s health will be restored with each strike of his whip while fighting with the light magic equipped. Fighting with the black magic prepared will increase Gabriel’s power and damage output. Secondary goods like silver daggers and holy water can also be used in battle.
While the game is a brand relaunch, many fans may recognize familiar characters and foes from prior installments. The player has constant access to an in-game character guide, which provides descriptions of all surfaces and instructions on how to beat all adversaries. Each level of the game has hidden magic jewels that, when acquired, improve Gabriel’s health, light or dark magic. Secret brotherhood arks can also be found throughout the levels, but they usually require an item that cannot be obtained until later in the story. Replaying a group will allow you to accomplish different trials. These trials might be anything from killing X number of opponents to defeating this boss in X amount of time. Doing so unlocks many trophies and achievements and increases the replay value of the 20+ hour-long adventure.
