Akumajo Dracula Lords of Shadow 2

Akumajo Dracula
Lords of Shadow 2 (PS3)

Akumajo Dracula
Lords of Shadow 2 (XBOX 360)

Four years ago, Konami and developer Mercury Steam wanted to give the secret origin of Dracula a powerful revision in Castlevania Lords of Shadow (日本名: キャッスルヴァニア ロード オブ シャドウ). After Gabriel Belmont, the one-time member of the "Brotherhood of Light", battled Satan in the underworld and at the end of the previous story, Dracula's secret origin and his connection with the Belmont clan was revealed. Welcome to the sequel: Akumajo Dracula Lords of Shadow 2 (日本名: 悪魔城ドラキュラ ロード オブ シャド2)

The sequel to the 2010 reboot, available on the PS3 and XBOX 360 consoles, delivers new twists, action, adventure, and challenges, as players take on the role of Dracula, the lord of the vampires, only this time he must take on the ultimate evil while taking on a new world; a modern world. Most of the familiar faces in the Dracula story returned and looks like fans wanted to expect this game to be far beyond compare against its predecessor...and it did, just.

First and foremost, you might think that it's simple to play than the last one but once you progress further, it gets harder and harder but when you get through the hang of it, it will be more rewarding and take advantage with all of the skills to survive through the last battle.

Similar to the light and dark magic from the first installment, Lords of Shadow 2 gives players another tactic to master; mastering void and chaos magic. Depending on the enemy you're facing, mastering the void magic and the chaos magic will give you an edge on the battle. You can also absorb the enemy's void or chaos magic as well and then use it wisely in the heated battle. This is just like the electrolytes from Metal Gear Rising Revengeance. To be more powerful,, give everything you got to survive to the very end.

As you defeat numerous enemies, you'll gain experience and you'll need experience to spend on key items or even artwork from the game.

No Dracula game will ever be complete without ever-challenging boss battles that test the mettle of your battle-proven tactics. In LOS2, boss battles require your precise combat skills, either direct or area attacks, as well as guarding. If you want to unleash more powerful attacks, try for the chaos magic but if it's health restoration you're after if you're not in the time for healing items, void magic will help you. Make use of these and you can defeat even the most menacing of foes as you fight your way back to the castle.

Don't think you're done with this because even when you finished this game, there's still work that needs to be done because there are numerous achievements to complete and some difficulty settings to master. Once you've done this in the most difficult setting, you are worthy of it but if you want more challenges, you can also purchase the "Story of Alucard" DLC. In this DLC, you can take on the tale of Alucard, a vampire who wanted to end his bloodline.

The concluding tale of the Lords of Shadow story is definitely one of the must have for your PS3 or XBOX 360 and if you're a hardcore gamer, look no further.

I'm very happy that with this game, looks like there's hope for the franchise but there is one bit of problem because even with LOS2, looks like the future of this Castlevania franchise is in doubt right now. Some of the people involved in the development of the Castlevania franchise moved down south for numerous reasons and today, of course, it's hard to tell the future of the franchise because pretty soon, there won't be any other Dracula game for the next generation. And that made me sad...

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.

Akumajo Dracula Harmony of Despair OST

Akumajo Dracula -Harmony of Despair-
Original Soundtrack

Available exclusively on Konamistyle, this original soundtrack from the XBOX 360 downloadable game, Akumajo Dracula/Castlevania -Harmony of Despair- features some of the revised versions of the BGMs based on the popular Akumajo Dracula/Castlevania series. Needless to say, the classic Akumajo Dracula BGMs frequently heard throughout the series are now retouched, revamped, and renewed to bring out more of some Vampire Killer goodness after spending countless hours fending off a pack of immortal enemies by yourself or with friends. Although Harmony of Despair is a downloadable game exclusively at the XBOX Arcade, this is a fun game where you gather a pack of vampire-killing pals online and join the quest of the never ending battle against evil. The Harmony of Despair OST is available exclusively at Konamistyle and not available in other stores, so you need an edge of luck hunting this rare find!

TRACK LISTINGS:


01 Drone
02 HYMNUS
03 CORPSE'S GATE
04 PURPLE EYES
05 荒城回廊
06 闇夜の激闘
07 懺悔の後に
08 PHATOM OF FEAR
09 尖白の闘志
10 見上げよ、闇を
11 暴虐のエスキース
12 漆黒の翼
13 闘魂狂詩曲
14 ガルガンチュア
15 繻紗魔交響詩
16 幻想的舞曲
17 Tanz mit einem Clown
18 CRIMSON BLOOD
19 Ein Weltherrscher
20 Hail from the Past
21 切り裂かれた静寂
22 失われた彩画
23 死の詩曲
24 ドラキュラ城
25 しもべたちの祭典
26 Vampire Killer
27 Nothing to Lose
28 いけ！月風魔
29 龍骨鬼
30 漆黒の進攻
31 悲境の貴公子
32 狂月の招き
33 隠された呪禁
34 黄昏の聖痕
35 夜まで待てない
36 Aquarius
37 Slash
38 乾坤の血族
39 シモン・ベルモントのテーマ
40 Tractus

My Lords of Shadow First Impressions

When I got this game as a gift since Christmas Day, what can I say about Hideo Kojima's latest creation of 2010 since Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, debuted since April 2010?

For me, the gameplay is superb because of the deadly combos a player must pull in order to take out a battalion of immortal enemies, even vampires and werewolves.

It takes determination to master the game, but this game is more of a challenge. I first played that game and I finished it in two days.

Every time I defeated an enemy, I gained tons of experience points to purchase new combos that can be proven useful. I can also buy artwork based on the game, from concept art, sketches, and storyboards.

When the first time I encountered a puzzle, I have to find the scroll for this puzzle. Surely, if you solve it on your own without the help of a hint scroll, you'll gain tons of experience, but sorry for me because I solved most of the puzzles with help, and rarely without help.

I also proven that if you want to heal during a battle, Light magic should help, but if you want increased power on your attacks, Shadow magic can help. Trust me, these magics are proven useful, especially the boss battles.

Thank you Kojima Productions for this latest creation and good luck on your upcoming projects! Speaking of which, for Japanese-speaking otakus who owned this game felt very amusing because most of the voiceovers from the Metal Gear series, including Keiji Fujiwara (Drebin from MGS4) as Gabriel, Kikuko Inoue (Rosemary from MGS2 and MGS4) as Marie, Mugihito (Hot Coldman from MGSPW) as Zobek, and others that made it an all-star cast!

Castlevania -Lords of Shadow-

Castlevania Lords of Shadow (XBOX 360 version)

The story of Castlevania has been reborn, and now, produced by Kojima Productions, the team behind the blockbuster Metal Gear series, and developed by Mercury Stream! Since this is the first Castlevania game produced by the people behind the famed and most-talked Metal Gear game, Castlevania Lords of Shadow (日本名: キャッスルヴァニア ロード オブ シャドウ) is bound to be the best Castlevania game ever made since its predecessors.

The story is set when the world was plunged by evil forces. As Gabriel Belmont, a member of the Brotherhood of Light, he must journey through the corners of darkness to save the soul of his love of his life, Marie, who was killed by the darkness. What challenges will Gabriel face? Will he risk everything to save the love of his life...and the world?

Made for the Playstation3 and XBOX 360, Castlevania Lords of Shadow finally adopted the "Castlevania" name to its global status and it delivers the best Castlevania experience in High Definition for both fans and newcomers alike. As one of Konami's flagship titles, this Castlevania title will be beyond compare from other Castlevania (Akumajo Dracula) games.

As a hack-and-slash game, Castlevania Lords of Shadow pits players through various battle styles and how the gameplay affects is up to you. You can attack, dodge, jump, guard, counter-attack, or even perform special attacks as you progress through the game. Subweapons aren't deal much of a threat to enemies and bosses but they can be very handy if you want to make these bad guys suffer. As you level up, you can gain various attack styles that can be proven useful against tougher enemies later.

Navigating through various areas aren't easy in Castlevania Lords of Shadow as the gaps, holes, traps, and puzzles hinder your progress, but if you get a hang of it, you can tackle various obstacles in order to progress various areas.

The toughest bosses to defeat in Castlevania Lords of Shadow are the Titans. To defeat the Titan, use whatever means necessary (i.e. grappling, jump, attack) to take down these giant bosses.

MY COMMENT:
Saving the world from the darkness wasn't a easy task if you are Gabriel, but with courage, you might be able to take out the darkness led by the Lords of Shadow and restore mankind.

The game's storyline packs an originality, but the heart and soul of the Castlevania game still remains for fans and newcomers alike. Since this is the first Castlevania produced by the men behind Metal Gear, this is going to be the next big thing!

LIMITED EDITION:
A limited-edition package not only includes the game itself, but also the booklet and the soundtrack based on the game. A Playstation3 Value Pack is added for Japanese customers. This value pack not only includes the 160GB PS3 and the copy of Castlevania Lords of Shadow, but also includes Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Now, that's convenient!

CAST (ENGLISH)

Robert Caryle (Don from 28 Weeks Later) as Gabriel

Patrick Stewart (Professor X from X-Men, Bullock from American Dad) as Zobek

Natascha McElhone (Lauren/Sylvia from The Truman Show) as Marie

Richard Riding as Cornell

Sally Knyvette as Carmilla

Grace Vance as Laura

Emma Ferguson as Claudia

Adrian Schiller as The Abbot Dorin

Aleksander Mikic as Pan

Eve Karpf as Baba Yaga

Special Guest: Jason Isaacs (Draco from Harry Potter series)

CAST (JAPANESE):

Keiji Fujiwara (Sigint from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Drebin from Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots) as Gabriel

Kikuko Inoue (The Boss from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Rosemary from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots) as Marie

Mugihito (Hot Coldman from Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker) as Zobek

Banjo Ginga (Zero from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Liquid from Metal Gear series) as Cornell

Houko Kuwashima (Mei Ling from Metal Gear series) as Carmilla

Yumi Kikuchi (Raging Raven from Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Dr. Strangelove from Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker) as Laura

Yu Kobayashi (Setsuna Sakurazaki from Mahou Sensei Negima, Mariya Shidou from Mariaholic, Cecile from Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker) as Claudia and Baba Yaga

Naoki Tatsuta (Sokolov from Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater) as The Abbot Dorin

Akio Otsuka (Snake from Metal Gear series) as Pan

Special Guest: Tomokazu Sugita (Kyon from Haruhi Suzumiya series, Kazuhira "Kaz" Miller from Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker)

Akumajo Dracula (Castlevania): Harmony Of Despair

The classic Akumajo Dracula (Castlevania in the world market) video game gets remixed for the first time available as a downloadable game exclusively for the XBOX 360 console, and boy, could this game be any fun than this either by yourself or co-op with pals worldwide?

If you had it with your PSP's Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, you might grab your XBOX 360 controller and if your have 1200 Microsoft Points, you should try Akumajo Dracula (Castlevania): Harmony Of Despair. On this game, you and your friends worldwide take against monstrous foes, solve puzzles, and even take on the king of darkness himself, Dracula. So what more would you ask for?

Seems this Dracula game is a whole new gimmick for the video game enthusiasts and fans of this series because up to six players fight cooperatively in areas as seen on classic Akumajo Dracula/Castlevania games. At start, players can choose from their favorite Akumajo Dracula/Castlevania heroes, each with their different style of fighting. Once they were ready, it's on!

Good strategies, good camaraderies, and a good sense is required to master the whole Harmony of Despair game because this game might be troublesome if you're solo. Only a help of your online buddies can do the thing for you and once more, Konami plans for more DLC for this game for added challenge and added excitement for fans.

NOTE: This game is available exclusively on XBOX Live from your XBOX 360 console for the cost of 1200 Microsoft Points.