PS3 News: Lords Of Shadow Wasn't Always A Castlevania Title - PS3 News

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Lords Of Shadow Wasn't Always A Castlevania Title

With all the excitement surrounding other major titles this holiday season, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow has sort of fallen off the radar for the time being. But here's an interesting tidbit: for a while there, this game wasn't going to carry the "Castlevania" name.

In an interview with European site Game Reactor, Head of Euro Development for Konami, Dave Cox, said the project in question might've only survived as "Lords of Shadow." Although the team began creating the game with the Castlevania concept in mind, the higher-ups at Konami weren't convinced that such a "radical departure" would resonate with the long-time fans. "There was a little bit of nervousness that perhaps it wouldn't be accepted as a Castlevania game," Cox said. So they decided to feel out the community a bit by announcing the title as only "Lords of Shadow," and if everything went over well, then it "would become a fully-fledged Castlevania." Well, why not? The transition from 2D to 3D was far more drastic than this heavier emphasis on God of War-like action and besides, the newer generation is loaded with casual gamers who have never touched a Castlevania game before. In this way, it seems like Konami can successfully cater to both sets of fans, as I personally don't believe the hardcore loyalists are put off by this new look CV; in fact, they all seem pretty darn enthusiastic.

For my part, Symphony of the Night remains the best of the best in this series and will never be topped but then again, how fair (or logical) would it be to compare it to Lords of Shadow? It's a brave new world.

Related Game(s): Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

11/27/2009 12:32:50 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (22 posts)

Oxvial
Friday, November 27, 2009 @ 1:35:36 PM
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No Castlevania in 2D no Oxvial.

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Scarecrow
Friday, November 27, 2009 @ 2:24:26 PM

Ditto, I'd prefer a 2.5D Castlevania any day!
But hey this one might be "good"

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Orvisman
Monday, November 30, 2009 @ 9:03:51 AM

Especially since Kojima is involved.

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phudge_supreemz
Friday, November 27, 2009 @ 1:46:41 PM
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why is it that i only see xbox ads on this ps site?

oh, and i've never played a castlevania game before so looking forward to giving this one a try.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, November 27, 2009 @ 4:03:50 PM

if MS want's to pay PSXE's bills, I don't have a problem with that :)

And you've never played Castlevania? Blasphemy.

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Geobaldi
Saturday, November 28, 2009 @ 12:41:44 AM

There's like 30 or so titles in the series that's been released so far. Go find some!!!

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Solid Fantasy
Friday, November 27, 2009 @ 1:50:22 PM
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I'm disappointed this game has gone off the radar. I'm really looking forward to it. The trailer looked like it was presenting a pretty deep story.

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Diggity Dan
Saturday, November 28, 2009 @ 10:53:53 AM

Yea, I'd totally forgotten about this one too. Yet ANOTHER promising title for next year. There's so many great games coming out now, it's insane.

To say that I'm interested in how this one turns out is an understatement. Kojima's talents utilized on a different IP is a great thing.

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Scarecrow
Friday, November 27, 2009 @ 2:25:23 PM
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We'll see, as long as the story telling is strong it should be worth it

I mean I know Castlevania is all 'bout the gameplay. But if they're gonna go 3D they might as well show an intense story

Unless the gameplay is so good that it doesn't need a big story.

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SnipeySnake
Friday, November 27, 2009 @ 7:57:55 PM

"Unless the gameplay is so good that it doesn't need a big story."

I hate game devs that do that except MM.

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blaqsmyth
Friday, November 27, 2009 @ 2:43:58 PM
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this one is a must buy first day

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Aftab
Friday, November 27, 2009 @ 2:54:45 PM
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I was just reading about this game today (after being referred to it from a GOW forum). It certainly doesn't hurt that it's in Kojima-san's hands, and for that reason alone, it may give GOW3 a run for it's money, even though it's just a multiplatformer! But, after seeing gameplay vids, you know people are going to complain about the camera.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, November 27, 2009 @ 4:07:02 PM
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Must own, I have every Castlevania, even the crappy ones on N64. Symphony is the best but I don't think Curse of Darkness got its dues, it was pretty good. I really wish they would do something more like Simon's Quest again though. I bet the soundtrack for this game is gonna be badass too.

Although it kind of scares me that it wasn't always intended to be a Castlevania. Hopefully they reworked the plot so that it is in the same milieu.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 11/27/2009 4:08:24 PM

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godsman
Friday, November 27, 2009 @ 5:20:27 PM
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well Castlevania are never meant to use the same character throughout all the series. If the character is different, the story is different, the gameplay is different. There really isn't any chance that people will accept this as a Castlevania sequel. It's a smart move to just left the players feel it out.

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Ultimadream
Friday, November 27, 2009 @ 6:41:47 PM
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I'm getting Silent Hill 4 vibes here....

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I_defenestrate
Saturday, November 28, 2009 @ 2:54:24 AM

I was just thinking that myself.

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NeoHumpty
Friday, November 27, 2009 @ 9:46:24 PM
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I would love to see them revisit SotN, but only if they keep it 2d. I get all tingly inside thinking how beautiful they could make it. Gotta keep the same formula for leveling and gameplay, though. I'll be trying this one if it gets some good reviews, but I have yet to like any of the 3d Castlevanias. (Thinks of Castlevania 64 and shudders)

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BigBoss4ever
Friday, November 27, 2009 @ 10:32:20 PM
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this is one of my big four actions again in addition to GOW3, here they are:

Bayonetta, Darksiders, Dante's Inferno and Lords of Shadow
Last edited by BigBoss4ever on 11/27/2009 10:32:36 PM

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Alienange
Friday, November 27, 2009 @ 10:41:02 PM
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This looks like GoW meets SotC. Might actually be good. I'm surprised at Konami though, honestly, they have to get with the program and stop worrying about everything. There hasn't been a decent console Castlevania in a long time. Why not try something different and let the fans decide?

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___________
Saturday, November 28, 2009 @ 12:17:32 AM
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i hope they dont take the path of silent hill homecoming.
they completley destroyed that game, i loved the silent hill series and they took it down to the lavatory and demeaned it.
though its hard releasing a game thats in a series for so long, since these "critics" scream bloody murder and automatically slap on a bad score if its not innovative.
like R&C ACIT the only and i mean only criticism i have heard about that game is it brings nothing new to the series.
well 1 since when does R&C have open spaceship combat?
2 since when does R&C have different moons you can explore.
3 WHO GIVES A FRICKIN COK A DOODLE DOO!!!!!!
as they say if it aint broken dont fix it!

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Geobaldi
Saturday, November 28, 2009 @ 12:44:00 AM
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As long as this series keeps getting 3D entries, I will continue to pass over them. Looks like I'm stuck still getting the Game Boy versions.

I would like to try the arcade game that plays like House of the Dead though. And the slot machine. Doubt any of the casinos around here have it though :(
Last edited by Geobaldi on 11/28/2009 12:48:07 AM

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therabbitkinge
Saturday, November 28, 2009 @ 10:19:54 AM
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I played the castlevania series since I was young and I miss the 2-D versions a lot (Order of Eclassia kicked my a*s) but ever since I played Laament of innocence for the PS2 I've actually wanted to see a better 3-D version of the series and with Hideo headlining his name on this one im sure it'll be a quality game Castlevania title or no.

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