Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 (PC, PS3, 360)

[Yoshi]

I'm more trying to figure out if I would think it's as bad as the reviews, and that combination is about the only way I can come up with that I would, assuming the game isn't just flat out broken or something.

[MechDeus]

He's not far off the mark, though.

The first Lords Of Shadow is remembered as a commendable achievement from a relatively small team working to a comparatively tight budget. Its sequel, by contrast, cannot disguise the resources with which it was made. Lords Of Shadow 2 is clunky, ugly and deeply misguided. It’s a game that sees the lord of the damned as a vehicle for rat-powered linear stealth, and that takes a future-Gothic London setting and then sets the action in tower blocks and sewers.

They seem pretty clear about what the problems are in both reviews linked, none of which are issues about exploration or having multiple playstyles. While there are a lot of complaints about the stealth section they are not about the presence of stealth (in fact, they state its inclusion initially makes sense), but are about the length to which it's used, the highly-linear focus with single solution answers, and displaying alternate routes that aren't real.

It might be a 3D Metroidvania with GOW combat, but such things also have nothing to do with those reviewers found to be wrong with the game. It's just digging for blame shifting.

[FirstBlood]

I got to the point where you lose your powers. Everything is so ugly and not in a "lol 360" way. Gabriel's face and hair are HORRENDOUS especially as far as main characters go.

Sounds like they were too focused on that story that they thought really needed to be told and forgot about the game.

I'm not very far but that's the vibe I'm getting.

[MechDeus]

Turns out the PC version has a special HD texture pack.

[Chux]

That makes perfect fucking sense, damnit. It's not like they haven't created assets for the previous gen before.

[Yoshi]

I remembered the last game that was like this in terms of the loved IP but the surprisingly awful review scores: Aliens: Colonial Marines. I still haven't caved on that one, despite almost buying it the day before it went live.

[Joust Williams]

not surprising, it is crap

[EvilMog]

Colonial Marines is shitty but not awful. Try it for $15 or under.


I'm really bummed they fucked this game up. The demo was cool and I thought it looked good too.

[Joust Williams]

Nope, CM is awful. At least pre-patch. The AI is 1990s bad-Build-engine-game-level garbage

I might give it another go to see if anything is different.

[Chux]

Colonial Marines is shitty but not awful. Try it for $15 or under.


I'm really bummed they fucked this game up. The demo was cool and I thought it looked good too.

Then buy it. The game is more of that, and if you're alright with how it looked and played you won't be surprised.