Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
A weakened Dracula hunts Satan across medieval and modern worlds.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is an action-adventure game from 2014, created by MercurySteam and released by Konami. It follows the 2010 game *Castlevania: Lords of Shadow*, a reboot of the Castlevania series. The game came out in late February 2014 in North America and Europe, in March 2014 in Australia, and on September 4, 2014, in Japan. A downloadable chapter was also released in March of that year.
The story moves between medieval and modern settings, following a weakened Dracula as he tries to defeat his old foe, Satan. The gameplay picks up after the first *Lords of Shadow* but now takes place in an open world. Players control Dracula, who uses various powers and weapons to reach his goals. Critics gave the game mixed reviews, praising its combat and visuals but criticizing the story and forced stealth sections.
**Gameplay**
Players once again control Gabriel Belmont, now called Dracula. In the opening sequence, Dracula has all his powers and weapons. His main tool is the Shadow Whip, similar to the Combat Cross from the first game. Instead of the old magic system, the Void Sword and Chaos Claws appear. The Void Sword restores health when used, while the Chaos Claws break enemy defenses and deal heavy damage. New abilities include turning into a rat to hide or travel through vents, becoming mist to pass through bars or glide, possessing enemies briefly to open secure doors, and drinking blood to regain health. The story mode is said to be much longer than the previous game’s. The world is mostly open, letting players choose their path, and the camera can move freely—something the earlier game did not allow.
**Plot**
The game begins with a recap of *Lords of Shadow* and *Mirror of Fate*, showing Gabriel Belmont’s (Robert Carlyle) change into Dracula, his fights with his son Trevor (Richard Madden) (whom he kills and later revives), and his grandson Simon. In the 16th century, knights attack Dracula’s castle. He defeats them all, then faces the revived Trevor, now called Alucard.
Centuries later, Dracula wakes up weak and starving in a modern cathedral, with no memory of how he got there. His former enemy Zobek (Patrick Stewart) warns him that Satan is returning, held back only by Dracula before.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- MercurySteam
- Publisher
- Konami
- Director
- Enric Álvarez
- Producer
- Dave Cox
- Composer
- Óscar Araujo
- Series
- Castlevania
- Platforms
- PlayStation 3 / Windows / Xbox 360
- Released
- NA · February 25, 2014 · EU · February 28, 2014AUS · March 6, 2014JP · September 4, 2014
- Genre
- Action-adventure, hack and slash
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The story is set in both medieval and modern worlds and follows a weakened Dracula on a quest to defeat his former enemy, Satan. The game starts with a recap of Lords of Shadow and Mirror of Fate, detailing Gabriel Belmont's transformation into Dracula and his encounters with his son Trevor and grandson Simon. In the 16th century, knights attack Dracula's castle, and he is confronted by the revived Trevor, now known as Alucard. Centuries later, Dracula awakens in a modern cathedral, weak and with no memory, and is warned by his former enemy Zobek of Satan's return. Zobek offers him the Vampire Killer in exchange for vanquishing Satan's acolytes. Throughout his journey, Dracula is aided by allies including Zobek's bodyguard and specters of his deceased wife Marie and a younger Trevor. It is later revealed that Alucard had planned with Dracula to destroy both Zobek and Satan, using his sword the Crissaegrim to induce a deep sleep. Dracula kills Zobek, battles Satan, and ultimately destroys the Mirror of Fate.
Reader's Guide
The game received generally mixed reception from critics, with Metacritic scores of 58/100, 63/100, and 70/100 across platforms. It was praised for its combat and visuals, but the narrative and forced stealth gameplay were criticized. Play magazine described the combat as 'simply awesome' and an 'impressive, flowing combat system'. The game's development was reportedly troubled, with anonymous sources alleging that director Enric Álvarez led development based on personal criteria while overlooking programmers, designers, and artists, though Álvarez denied these claims. A downloadable content episode titled 'Revelations' was released on March 25, 2014, serving as a prequel focusing on Alucard. The game also included cosmetic skins for Dracula: 'Dark Dracula' and 'Armored Dracula', which could be combined. Despite its mixed reception, Lords of Shadow 2 concluded the storyline started in the first Lords of Shadow and marked a notable attempt to evolve the series with an open world and a playable Dracula.
Did You Know?
- The game was announced at E3 2012.
- A demo was made available on February 12, 2014, on PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, and Steam.
- The developers redesigned the game engine rather than recycling elements from previous games.
- The game's director Enric Álvarez denied claims of poor leadership from anonymous sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2?
It is a 2014 action-adventure title developed by MercurySteam and published by Konami, serving as the direct sequel to the 2010 Lords of Shadow reboot of the classic Castlevania franchise.
What powers and abilities does Dracula have in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2?
Players control a diminished Dracula who can shift into bat form, wield a rotating arsenal of melee and ranged weapons, and command a horde of demons in battle. He also gains the ability to summon and direct a powerful demon companion during key combat encounters.
How does the story of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 end?
Dracula ultimately puts an end to Satan but pays for it by surrendering his own power and fading from existence. The game closes with him dissolving into nothing, finally escaping the endless cycle that had bound him across centuries.
Why is Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 considered important to the series?
It serves as the concluding chapter of the Lords of Shadow reboot trilogy, wrapping up the narrative thread that started with the 2010 entry. For years afterward it remained the last mainline Castlevania release, making it a defining endpoint for that era of the franchise.
On what platforms can Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 be played?
The title was distributed digitally through PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, and Steam, covering PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. An additional downloadable chapter was also made available in March 2014.
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