When Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 entered its final act, Dracula's son, Alucard, stepped in and completely upended our understanding of his father and their mutual archnemesis, Zobek. Though he appeared only toward the end of the tale, Alucard had been orchestrating events behind the scenes and controlling even his father without anyone knowing. We know the results of his actions, but what exactly was he up to during the events leading up to his debut in Lords of Shadow 2? That's where the Revelations downloadable content comes in.
"Alucard's role is given more clarity in the DLC, and players get a much better understanding of the motivations of the characters," according to Konami's Lords of Shadow producer, David Cox.
Of course, it's hard to talk about the ending to Lords of Shadow 2 without spoiling any of the twists and turns along the way, but in vague terms, the conclusion stripped most characters of their supposed role at a pivotal moment in the story. Characters who thought they were in control of their own destinies were revealed to be ignorant pawns, and others found new life, all because of Alucard's covert activities. According to Cox, the DLC "gives players a new perspective on the events of the main game. It doesn't change the ending but offers further insight into what and how certain things happened in the game."
Though he shares a few similarities with his father, Alucard feels noticeably different during combat. It's slightly jarring to start with a limited skill set after controlling a powered-up Dracula during Lords of Shadow 2, but Alucard's swords are new beasts waiting to be tamed. They fit within the dual power-up system, where one weapon saps life and the other burns through fortified foes, but his blades are uniquely balanced and feel distinct from Dracula's Void Sword. To Cox, Alucard's presence is "a chance to use a character that plays somewhat differently to Dracula. Alucard uses a sword as his main weapon, which has its own set of moves and offers players a new tree in mastery, allowing them to level the weapon up."
from Konami's portfolio. As for the future of Castlevania and the Belmont clan, Cox says "it's for others to write the next chapter." Also, if you're holding out for a next-gen port of Lords of Shadow 2, keep dreaming. According to Cox, there's "no chance" of that happening.
Keep an eye on GameSpot for more Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 - Revelations coverage when the game hits Xbox Live, PlayStation Network. and Steam on March 25.
Koji Igarashi has been the visionary behind several beloved Castlevania games but now that he's leaving Konami to strike out on his own, creative freedom will be its own reward. That's the word directly from Igarashi in a new interview on his departure.
Brady Ruiters from ITF Gaming writes: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow was a hack and slash game that flew somewhat under the radar when it was released back in 2010. However, it turned out to be a sleeper hit that captured the essence of the Castlevania universe rather well. The setting, story and gameplay worked well together despite the fact that it played more like a God of War game. Developers MercurySteam are back with Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, the conclusion of the Belmont lineage saga. Unfortunately, it just doesnt live up to its predecessor.
Koji Igarashi has been making games for decades and is most well-known for his work on the Castlevania franchise, first acting as assistant director and programmer on the beloved Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, but Konami is now without the famed designer.
