Metascore
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No score yet - based on 2 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Mar 31, 2014
    80
    A vastly better game than Lords Of Shadow 2, that smooths the rough edges from the 3DS original and proves that Castlevania need not revert back to a niche retro franchise.
  2. PC Gamer UK
    Jun 2, 2014
    72
    Like the series itself, there's satisfaction to be had in sticking to the well-worm path. [June 2014, p.91]
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 69 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 69
  2. Negative: 8 out of 69
  1. EMG
    Mar 27, 2014
    9
    Pleasant Art style,Beautiful music, Interesting characters of the Castlevania series to play as and solid plat-forming game play make thisPleasant Art style,Beautiful music, Interesting characters of the Castlevania series to play as and solid plat-forming game play make this game well worth the asking price. Its riddled with secrets and places/objects to collect when you are able to later on making the replay value high. All in all 9/10 Full Review »
  2. Sep 10, 2014
    7
    Having never played it on the 3DS, my only comparison is to the venerable C:SotN.
    My love of that game being the only reason this one caught
    Having never played it on the 3DS, my only comparison is to the venerable C:SotN.
    My love of that game being the only reason this one caught my eye.

    Am I happy with my purchase? Yes.
    Is it like C:SotN? Kinda.

    Controls: The combat is snappy; I block when I want to and I attack when I want to with no lag. Movement on the other hand...well, I can only describe as 'assisted'. There is no lag, but turns and movements (not combat rolls) start almost with momentum, jumps are strangely high/far, and if you don't quite reach a platform visually, the game corrects and counts you as grabbing a ledge. Less of bad programming and more of "Assisted Platforming". Yes, that is what I will call it.

    Combat: Fighting is fun. Especially the fist boss, the night watchman. It pulls heavily from it's parent C:LoS's movesets and includes timed blocks and unblockable moves. They add in the 'hearts' and secondary weapons of previous games, but it seems like there may not be many options and you are limited to 5 of each. At least they are very powerful and not linked to up+attack.
    I would complain about the random uninterruptible animations that let enemies move through your strikes, but I think it is that way because a veteran brawler could march right through combats if all strikes had effect. You get used to it.
    What you don't get used to is the vibration. Near constant rumble (all on high) for everything including footsteps sometimes. You are only safe during loading screens. If I were of opposite gender or had a custom controller this may be more enjoyable, but I just turn it off.

    Music/Sound: Nothing noteworthy. The sounds are not "HD" so do not fade well or have too much variety as they were limited by the Gameboy hardware. The music sounds nice and is very dramatic, but is also missing at times and none of it is memorable. Nothing like old Konami titles (which used to be their best features!) .

    Gameplay: Exploration is limited but the 'metroidvania' feel is still there. . .Just missing some of the spirit, and that came from level design and map planning. Shadow Complex got this right (and I would love to see that on steam) but others don't: Just like a Feng Shui house needs 'circulation', so does a great metroidvania map in order to not feel linear. Areas that interconnect. So far the layout of this game is in chapters and in a line very similar to C:LoS. So, some of the soul is lost.

    [A notable feature though is typing notes on the map! A feature that I have been wanting for a great deal of time. Very happy to see this in a game.]

    So, It's linear then, right? A bit, but you get a good sense of freedom from one simple thing.....you don't have to fight. Sure, the camera suggests that you stay and fight, but you can easily just run past and continue exploring. Well done.

    Final Thoughts:

    For the Metroid/Castlevania Enthusiasts, this is not a "Great" game. But it is fun and worth your time, in my opinion.
    Full Review »
  3. Apr 4, 2014
    9
    The old classic style with improvements as combos and nice graphics.

    This is a really good game, i would be great if they added the 3d
    The old classic style with improvements as combos and nice graphics.

    This is a really good game, i would be great if they added the 3d option, but still ok.
    Full Review »