Castlevania - Lords of Shadow - Sadama no Makyou (Mirror of Fate)

Now, let's start with this. It's Castlevania - Lords of Shadow - because ever since it was launched in late 2010, Konami decided not to use the "Akumajou Dracula" name and adapt the Castlevania title to a global scale. In its first outing, the first Lords of Shadow pits Gabriel Belmont in his quest to avenge Marie's death in a battle beyond good and evil. With the upcoming second installment in the works, Lords of Shadow gets its own 3DS game for the first time...

Castlevania - Lords of Shadow -
Sadama no Makyou (Mirror of Fate)

It's called Sadama no Makyou or Mirror of Fate and judging by this 3DS game, it really brings players the new Castlevania adventure for the first time on this hand held console. Even though it's still exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS, the new portable Castlevania adventure really redefines the classic side-scrolling action that adorned classic Castlevania games for generations. As a matter of fact, the classic Castlevania experience is now reborn with some cool gimmicks to spice it up.

Set 25 years before the original Lords of Shadow, Mirror of Fate features one of Gabriel's descendants named Trevor, who is a knight of the Brotherhood of Light who is on the quest to avenge his mother's death at the hands of his own father who has now returned to take up residence in a mysterious castle. Dracula, a powerful vampire, declared war upon the Brotherhood and this makes it the ultimate showdown between Father and Son. Well, you get that idea but anyway...

You're one of the Brotherhood now and you can be either as one of your favorite Castlevania heroes such as Trevor Belmont, the iconic Simon Belmont, and Alucard, the son of Dracula, and fight your way against numerous monsters memorable to Castlevania fans many. From zombies, skeletons, giant bats, gargoyles, even the nastiest foes sucu as the Executioner, the Daemon Lord, the Night Watchman, and others.

Castlevania Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate really is a classic redefined because thanks to such side-scrolling action memorable to most Castlevania fans but don't be fooled by such crisp, smooth action because as you progressed further, this game keeps getting harder and harder and harder until you face bosses that requries 120% of your skill to beat them. Even with the might of the Battle Cross, an array of subweapons, and some powerful magics to make it up for some brute force, you'd still need an effective strategy to fight all your way against a horde of monsters.

There are other things to do as well. First of all, aside from fighting hordes of monsters in a mysterious castle, there are so many obstacles to come through. There are lifts to jump, wall to wall jump, pushing crates, and some puzzle-solving scenarios that takes a smart adventurer to master through those obstacles. Do it wrong and you'll gonna have to start over but as the saying goes, practice makes perfect.

So, Mirror of Fate, the first ever Castlevania adventure available exclusively on the 3DS, it maybe the most challenging Castlevania adventure of the series but with the choice of your favorite Castlevania heroes such as Trevor, Simon, and Alucard, and a battle against hordes of monsters plus so-called epic boss battles, it really is a Castlevania with a twist and with an innovative side-scrolling action which dates back from classic installments, it sure is a gimmick for the fans many but for everyday gaming, it is a bit "meh" for me.

The game will cost you 4,980 Yen, both retail or digital download via Nintendo e-Shop, but by the moment you're done with this game no matter the result is, and when you finished it with flying colors, you'll need your own.