Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Ultimate Edition

 PC
  • Publisher: Konami
  • Release Date: Aug 27, 2013
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 648 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 435 out of 648
  2. Mixed: 107 out of 648
  3. Negative: 106 out of 648

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  1. beavermatic
    Aug 27, 2013
    10
    Light years beyond the console versions in performance and graphics. Perhaps the most polished console-to-PC title ever. No issues whatsoever and runs smooth as silk. Konami PC development team really did a fantastic job with this.

    running at 2560x1600 with all settings and AA maxed. Truly looks more like a nextgen game on PC... flat out beautiful. Even the controls feel more fluid    Light years beyond the console versions in performance and graphics. Perhaps the most polished console-to-PC title ever. No issues whatsoever and runs smooth as silk. Konami PC development team really did a fantastic job with this.

    running at 2560x1600 with all settings and AA maxed.

    Truly looks more like a nextgen game on PC... flat out beautiful. Even the controls feel more fluid and responsive. Guess this game really shows PC is the way it's meant to be played all along.

    The game is just phenomenal, story, characters, gameplay action. Apparently Konami has never heard of DLC.... just the standalone game by itself is very lengthy, and just keeps getting better as it plays out. Likely the best Castlevania game in the series.

    Can't beat it for $30... especially when they pretty much gave $200 worth of game in this package.    … Expand
  2. omegaferrari
    Aug 31, 2013
    10
    This game is just great, a needed addition to pc, now with hi res graphics at 2560x1600 everything looks amazing. I Bought this game some time ago for the Xbox 360 and even though I was enjoying it, i couldn't Stand the jaggies and low res graphics, it's a great game if you like hack and slash games, action and adventure,just great and not often do you see this type of games on pc, moreThis game is just great, a needed addition to pc, now with hi res graphics at 2560x1600 everything looks amazing. I Bought this game some time ago for the Xbox 360 and even though I was enjoying it, i couldn't Stand the jaggies and low res graphics, it's a great game if you like hack and slash games, action and adventure,just great and not often do you see this type of games on pc, more ports like these please!… Expand
  3. Knukkohead
    Sep 5, 2013
    10
    I'm pretty new to castlevania so i don't really get that "classic castlevania, old school, remake" thing that most here make a fuss about, for me it is pretty neat game with nice graphics, great story, interesting combat system, yes it does become repetitive sometimes but hey, call a game that doesn't have some repetitive parts, it is hard for developers to make it so much unique in allI'm pretty new to castlevania so i don't really get that "classic castlevania, old school, remake" thing that most here make a fuss about, for me it is pretty neat game with nice graphics, great story, interesting combat system, yes it does become repetitive sometimes but hey, call a game that doesn't have some repetitive parts, it is hard for developers to make it so much unique in all ways...
    Some give 0 out of 10 just cause there's a crappy texture on a wooden log hidden somewhere in a corner of a map? I mean really, how much more ridiculous can you get? Don't know about the rest but i buy games to actually play them, not enjoy the environment... yes it is nice to have good graphics but complaining about some small details is just stupid. Mad about controlls? Buy a god damn xbox controller, i mean it IS originally a console game... i played many games on PC with xbox controller cause it is really better and more interesting that way.
    Oh well it's impossible to make everyone happy anyway...    … Expand
  4. BobbyTheGreat
    Sep 1, 2013
    10
    Amazing port of one of the most underrated games. Most people think it's just a God of War clone, and for the first 2 chapters, it is. But once you get past the first 2 chapters, this game really opens up and becomes amazing.

    Truly amazing set pieces and vistas are within this game, along with some amazing music and a wicked story that doesn't shy from taboo subjects. Perhaps the    Amazing port of one of the most underrated games. Most people think it's just a God of War clone, and for the first 2 chapters, it is. But once you get past the first 2 chapters, this game really opens up and becomes amazing.

    Truly amazing set pieces and vistas are within this game, along with some amazing music and a wicked story that doesn't shy from taboo subjects.

    Perhaps the best thing about the PC version is the game runs at 60fps as opposed to the 15fps (or that it seemed like) on the 360 version.

    I play this with a 360 gamepad hooked up to my PC (as I do with most of my PC games) so I hear mouse/keyboard support is pretty rough, but honestly, that's none of my concern.    … Expand
  5. Shasow
    Oct 11, 2013
    10
    I was honestly not expecting much from this game, but I'm just absolutely blown away. Lets start with the positives. Graphics aren't the best, but the amount of detail put in the levels and level design really make up for this. The areas are just beautiful. Combat is very action-packed and I like it just fine. Unlockable skills make combat feel fresh every time. Perfect story, with someI was honestly not expecting much from this game, but I'm just absolutely blown away. Lets start with the positives. Graphics aren't the best, but the amount of detail put in the levels and level design really make up for this. The areas are just beautiful. Combat is very action-packed and I like it just fine. Unlockable skills make combat feel fresh every time. Perfect story, with some major plot twists that I really enjoyed. The storytelling is done just wonderfully. The game is very dark (as in dark-fantasy), which I just love.

    There isn't much I don't like about this game. I only have two gripes with this game: the controls and the camera. The VERY FIRST THING you MUST do when you launch the game is CHANGE THE KEY-BINDINGS. I can't stress this enough. This game is a console-port, but the controls aren't that bad once you change them to be more PC-friendly. After configuring the key-bindings, the controls aren't an issue (although some puzzles are a bit wacky; one even showed Xbox buttons instead of keyboard buttons!). Second, the camera. This is more of a personal preference, but I do not like the camera very much. It's fine most of the time, but I find it simply odd other times. Third-person, with the ability to look around, would have suited this game much better, but they would have to change the game quite a bit to make this work, so the camera is not much of an issue for me.

    I love this game, and I simply cannot wait for Lords of Shadow 2. I haven't played any previous Castlevania titles, but I think that's about to change after playing this.    … Expand
  6. Dahaka
    Aug 29, 2013
    10
    The best game of this game serie, i can say its one of my favorites adventure games i ever play, the history the gameplay, its its great, i feel this when i play it God of War, Prince of Persia its awesome.
  7. JoeB666
    Aug 31, 2013
    10
    I love this game so far. I'll update this, following finishing it.

    In response to pcgamer 83's review: the graphics are completely fine. The textures are of a high resolution (far higher than they could be on a current-gen console). With regards to the controls: I use a gamepad (either an Xbox gamepad or one from logitech). If you are any sort of "serious" pc gamer, you'll have a    I love this game so far. I'll update this, following finishing it.

    In response to pcgamer 83's review: the graphics are completely fine. The textures are of a high resolution (far higher than they could be on a current-gen console).

    With regards to the controls: I use a gamepad (either an Xbox gamepad or one from logitech). If you are any sort of "serious" pc gamer, you'll have a spare gamepad (I know that it's a pain, but some games simply play a lot better). The controls are *excellent* with a gamepad. They are perfectly fine (but require some memorization), if you use a keyboard.

    Regarding the game being "the worst port" he's ever seen: Give me a break. The game hasn't crashed *once*, for me. It supports 3D vision (which shows dedication on the part of the developer). It runs at a *contstant* 60 fps (really 120 fps) on my machine--this shows optimization was a priority.

    It is *sometimes* annoying that the camera is fixed, but the positioning is thoughtful (and, frankly, this is an extremely minor issue for me).

    The game has deep gameplay, a thoughtful and mature storyline, good pacing, excellent visuals (they really are *exceptional* for a PC port, and they are *fantastic* if one considers that the game was originally released 3 years ago on consoles).

    To determine if you'll love the game (as I do): briefly view the game on youtube and play the demo. If you think you'll like it, you'll probably love it. I am new to the Castlevania series, I'll be considering the sequel, as a result of playing this game.    … Expand
  8. xuthan
    Jan 1, 2014
    10
    Lords of Shadow is a great game. If I were to rate it, it would get between 8.5 and 9 out of 10. I'm making this review 10/10 because of the lack of justified reviews for 0 and idiots saying the game looks outdated/pixelated/whatever junk comes out their mouth. Is the game 100% unplayable? No. Minimum I'd expect would be 5/10 because people's tastes of games vary. Anything lower is justLords of Shadow is a great game. If I were to rate it, it would get between 8.5 and 9 out of 10. I'm making this review 10/10 because of the lack of justified reviews for 0 and idiots saying the game looks outdated/pixelated/whatever junk comes out their mouth. Is the game 100% unplayable? No. Minimum I'd expect would be 5/10 because people's tastes of games vary. Anything lower is just garbage coming from another PC fanboy who doesn't know anything about computers, wishes he knows about computers, and blames consoles for everything negative in his substandard life.

    This is a port to PC but is it bad? No. The majority of these negative reviews don't even mention real issues. If the story ties well with the second game that is about to be released, then the cross reference could actually make this game extremely good. At the moment, it is at least a 7/10 for story for most players. Graphics.. if it's an issue, then I'd say you need to get some therapy. As for gameplay, it balances out between action, puzzles and platforming so you don't get the feeling of repetitiveness and this is a major plus. Ability upgrades are more situational to how you play and if you don't replay the stages to farm up points, you'll need to spend them wisely. The combat is fairly simple and if you've played God of War, you should feel comfortable to play on hard difficulty of your first run.

    A lot of the negative reviews (below 5) came from people who basically pirated the game or basement trolls. Anyone who has remotely played the game would agree that the art was well done and anyone who payed for it would have known that it was meant to be played on a gamepad and would be prepared for compromises when playing on a keyboard and mouse.

    All third person slasher games suffer from keyboard and mouse and it gets tedious because you can't move the character freely with kb/m but that also applies to every other game. The only advantages the kb/m have over a gamepad are more keys and precision for point and click games MMORPG, RTS and shooting games. Gameplay that is focused on direction and positioning will always be better on the gamepad/joystick. Try playing the following game types on keyboard and mouse: aerial combat, car racing games, sports games, any hack&slash games, 3D platformers it will be at a massive disadvantage without the joystick.

    To the people complaining about low resolution textures and outdated graphics, I don't know if I should feel bad for you. You want good graphics? Go on hiking trip at some tropical island, realism right there in your face. Real water, real trees, real rocks, real sunlight affects, real sand, and real sounds of nature. After your trip, you'll see that games even at this stage are nowhere near realistic and stop making bs excuses comparing this game with other games. Tomb Raider, Crysis 3 and BF4 look nowhere near "real" and these are 2013 titles.    … Expand
  9. damnate
    Sep 1, 2013
    10
    Excellent game. The Best game on the PC in this year.You will have some difficulties with management, but for the rest game is excellent.Good games and good port on the personal computer
  10. KratosITALY
    Aug 27, 2013
    10
    I played this game when it first came out on consoles. And after many years, this still is a great and fun action-adventure game. It ain't a copycat of "God Of War" nor an old school Castlevania, but a game full of action and magic with a deep combat system that plays perfectly on a keyboard-and-mouse.
    The story of the game is on a whole new level, with great voice acting, charismatic    I played this game when it first came out on consoles. And after many years, this still is a great and fun action-adventure game. It ain't a copycat of "God Of War" nor an old school Castlevania, but a game full of action and magic with a deep combat system that plays perfectly on a keyboard-and-mouse.
    The story of the game is on a whole new level, with great voice acting, charismatic characters and a quest worthy of Van Helsing.
    A must buy, especially since it's very cheap!    … Expand
  11. whoisthere
    Aug 27, 2013
    10
    Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (in my opinion) is one of the best games released in the past ten years. Some may criticize, that it isn't an oldschool Castlevania. Well, it isnt. But it simply is not intended as a classical Castlevania. It is meant as a kind of reboot: A whole new game with a whole new story. That is exactly, what ist so great in this game: Fantastic storytelling, aCastlevania: Lords of Shadow (in my opinion) is one of the best games released in the past ten years. Some may criticize, that it isn't an oldschool Castlevania. Well, it isnt. But it simply is not intended as a classical Castlevania. It is meant as a kind of reboot: A whole new game with a whole new story. That is exactly, what ist so great in this game: Fantastic storytelling, a overwhelming soundtrack, great environment- and monsterdesign. If you want to experience a 20-hour-long well-told story and to immerse into a great fantasy-world, then this game is exactly the right one for you!… Expand
  12. Michaviel
    Aug 28, 2013
    10
    What an amazing game. I'm really glad that the developers did such a great job finding Climax to port this over to the PC audience. The framerate is light years beyond any console can deliver and I'm truly loving this story about redemption and damnation. The voice acting is great and the entire look and feel of the world is familiar yet unique in it's own right.

    My only gripe about    What an amazing game. I'm really glad that the developers did such a great job finding Climax to port this over to the PC audience. The framerate is light years beyond any console can deliver and I'm truly loving this story about redemption and damnation. The voice acting is great and the entire look and feel of the world is familiar yet unique in it's own right.

    My only gripe about this game? I wish the deadzone between running and walking was greater. There are times I want to bathe in the atmosphere of this world by simply walking through it, but the original developers never added that to the mix. I hope to find a mod solution for this in the future because running through some of these environments is a crime.

    Keep releasing top quality ports like this one and I'm sure to invest in Lords Of Shadow 2 on PC as my day 1 purchase choice.

    ...Climax on Metal Gear porting and we'll be friends forever     … Expand
  13. Crusader009
    Aug 29, 2013
    10
    This game is great! I had this for the XBOX 360 and the graphics on the PC version are obviously so much better. This game is worth your time and money.
  14. jangofrost
    Aug 29, 2013
    10
    Great game. I don't mind graphics which are decent by the way. And in my opinion gameplay is the most important. Default keyboard bindings are silly but as a self respecting long time PC gamer I can rebind them as this already has happened in a few games in the past. I'm also fine with the fixed camera. It actually gives more tactical control during fights but for some people it might beGreat game. I don't mind graphics which are decent by the way. And in my opinion gameplay is the most important. Default keyboard bindings are silly but as a self respecting long time PC gamer I can rebind them as this already has happened in a few games in the past. I'm also fine with the fixed camera. It actually gives more tactical control during fights but for some people it might be problematic. I loved similar solution in Legacy of Kain. Overall it's a very exciting and well done game. Might not by revolutionary but I love it.… Expand
  15. Truejustice
    Aug 31, 2013
    10
    One of the best hack and slash game a have ever play. Five days ago a played last DMC and it was terrible. However Castlevania is perfect game and PC port is really good. Graphic is amazing and fight system is much better then DMC or GoW fight systems. Best part of game is story. This game is master piece.
  16. DeWitt
    Sep 5, 2013
    10
    This game is very good port from the consoles. It runs flawless in my pc, the game feel more dynamic thanks to the 60 fps; the game camera could be an issue for some people but it isn´t for me.
    It have a great gameplay and story, different from the classic games but at the same time it feel like something new that really need the Castlevania series.
  17. Ezrielthefallen
    Sep 24, 2013
    10
    While it didn't make me feel as much as Lament of Innocence, Lords Of Shadow is a prime example of how reboots can work. For everyone having issues with the faulty camera. IT WAS DELIBERATE.
  18. Frostmourne
    Sep 25, 2013
    10
    Castlevania Is one the greatest game, Nice story, the environment is superb,,, some people says this game is bad.. i think they cannot finish the quest and they can't understand.. that why they put zero score..
  19. JuceCripple
    Nov 25, 2013
    10
    My opinion is that this game is freaking awesome, it has a great story runs on weaker computers and is a pleasure to play. One of my favorite games and i have played a lot but this is the only game i couldn't stop playing well only to eat, yeah 22 hours of non stop gaming (22 hours main story) this game is worth your attention and for graphics they are good not as good as some of the gamesMy opinion is that this game is freaking awesome, it has a great story runs on weaker computers and is a pleasure to play. One of my favorite games and i have played a lot but this is the only game i couldn't stop playing well only to eat, yeah 22 hours of non stop gaming (22 hours main story) this game is worth your attention and for graphics they are good not as good as some of the games that come out these dais but tat is nothing to the whole weight of the game. Simply AWESOME!!!… Expand
  20. Tanabe
    Nov 10, 2013
    10
    Fantastic game full of adventure. Soundtrack unique and unforgettable! Gorgeous graphics, good gameplay and engrossing story.
    Despite all these advantages the game is more like a prologue of castlevania. It would be a new Van Hellsing (Could be a new franchise?)
    What matters is that this was one of the best games I ever played. Portuguese Fantástico jogo cheio de aventuras. Trilha    Fantastic game full of adventure. Soundtrack unique and unforgettable! Gorgeous graphics, good gameplay and engrossing story.
    Despite all these advantages the game is more like a prologue of castlevania. It would be a new Van Hellsing (Could be a new franchise?)
    What matters is that this was one of the best games I ever played.

    Portuguese
    Fantástico jogo cheio de aventuras. Trilha sonora única e inesquecível! Lindos gráficos, jogabilidade boa e história cativante.
    Apesar de todas essas vantagens o jogo está mais para um prólogo de castlevania. Seria mais um novo Van Hellsing(Poderia ser uma nova franquia?)
    O que importa que esse foi um dos melhores jogos que já joguei.    … Expand
  21. mandy15293
    Jan 27, 2014
    10
    this game was awesome and also runs smoothly without any issue. It is the first game like god of war i played in pc. now i am excited that what comes 2nd part of castlevania lords of shadow
  22. Pr8Dator
    Mar 7, 2014
    10
    In my first 2 hours of this game, I would have rated it no more than 4 / 10 due to not having any camera control and the fact that it is unplayably laggy using keyboard and mouse. However, once I bought a gamepad, this game truly transformed... not having camera control became a plus as controlling camera seperately using gamepad is truly a chore and gamepad control is sooo incrediblyIn my first 2 hours of this game, I would have rated it no more than 4 / 10 due to not having any camera control and the fact that it is unplayably laggy using keyboard and mouse. However, once I bought a gamepad, this game truly transformed... not having camera control became a plus as controlling camera seperately using gamepad is truly a chore and gamepad control is sooo incredibly smooth and responsive, its amazing. From then on, the music, atmosphere and how the protagonist transform over time into the epic character he is throughout the castlevania series dragged me deeper and deeper into the lore and story of the game. By the end of the game, I just wanted more... more of the story, the emotions, the excitement, the immersion... I wanted so much more of this that I pre-ordered the sequel. If you enjoy an epic, emotional story that leads to a story and lore of epic proportion (and you enjoyed other similar games such as Darksiders), this is a must buy!… Expand
  23. 123yumyum
    Aug 13, 2014
    10
    this instalment of Castlevania is one of the greatest games i have ever played. it is challenging, the controls are brilliant, and the story is something else. the best thing about it, in my opinion, are the puzzles that you must complete to get to different areas- something i have noticed bothers many gamers, but what is a good game if there are no proper challenges. the little thingsthis instalment of Castlevania is one of the greatest games i have ever played. it is challenging, the controls are brilliant, and the story is something else. the best thing about it, in my opinion, are the puzzles that you must complete to get to different areas- something i have noticed bothers many gamers, but what is a good game if there are no proper challenges. the little things also impress me: the endless amount of combos, the fact you need to press keys to absorb energy is quite a good feature (so its not too easy to overpower everything), and the main character is quite fantastic. so all in all it is a perfect score from me.… Expand
  24. neopolx
    Jul 10, 2016
    10
    Good game, full of action, great cinematics, fuid game, magic powers, great story, challenging enemies, great graphics with beautiful backgrounds. its a great and fun game.
  25. sashaalexander
    Aug 25, 2016
    10
    Awesome game, one of the best I've ever played. Very beautiful graphics, great story and gameplay. Lots of different monsters to slay and many different moves and combos to slay them with, which I really like. It plays smooth on my 2011 laptop. Highly recommend it if you played and liked Devil May Cry, any part.
  26. M300
    Oct 20, 2018
    10
    It's an excellent game. Only thing i disliked is the MLAA AA option, it blurs everything.
  27. Nekrips
    Jul 24, 2022
    10
    Great game with good gameplay, an interesting world, lore, and characters. The most significant advantage of the game is a very interesting and exciting plot. A strong story holds intrigue from the very beginning to the very end. Although the game is not easy, it is played in one breath.
  28. Satirus
    Aug 26, 2014
    9
    Lords of Shadow is aesthetically expressive, immersive, has a great narrative, fantastic boss fights, a deep and melancholic atmosphere, differentiate and inspired sceneries, charismatic characters and engaging gameplay!
    It is a very interesting take on the Castlevania series, using references from another games like Legacy of Kain, Shadow of the Colossus and God of War but with an unique    Lords of Shadow is aesthetically expressive, immersive, has a great narrative, fantastic boss fights, a deep and melancholic atmosphere, differentiate and inspired sceneries, charismatic characters and engaging gameplay!
    It is a very interesting take on the Castlevania series, using references from another games like Legacy of Kain, Shadow of the Colossus and God of War but with an unique personality.
    Lords of Shadow is among my favourite games of the most recent years, side by side with Witcher 2, L.A.Noire, Resistance 3, Dark Souls and a few others.    … Expand
  29. IRevolution
    Oct 23, 2013
    9
    So happy I decided to get this game. Castlevania LOSUE was awesome! Rich storyline that had me on my seat through the whole game. I wasn't sure what to expect at first since this is the first Castlevania game that I;ve played, It felt like DMC with a medieval twist, but to be honest I was much happier with this game. Pro's Great storyline, LOTS AND LOTS of boss fights, good graphics goodSo happy I decided to get this game. Castlevania LOSUE was awesome! Rich storyline that had me on my seat through the whole game. I wasn't sure what to expect at first since this is the first Castlevania game that I;ve played, It felt like DMC with a medieval twist, but to be honest I was much happier with this game. Pro's Great storyline, LOTS AND LOTS of boss fights, good graphics good puzzles, cons not all the time but sometimes the camera would get VERY frustrating i managed to deal with it...... combos and unlocks are hard to use and remember steep learning curve. Overall I enjoyed the game, the story had me on the edge of my seat wanting more. took me around 40 hours to finish including the DLC.… Expand
  30. matrices
    Oct 9, 2013
    9
    It's been a long, long time since I've seen a game present such tremendous depth, breadth, and beauty. At every turn you're furnished with fresh evidence of just how much care and love and attention to detail the developers poured into the game. It's not a perfect game and it's not an original idea, but it's extremely well executed, gigantic in scope, and still meticulously crafted.

    The    It's been a long, long time since I've seen a game present such tremendous depth, breadth, and beauty. At every turn you're furnished with fresh evidence of just how much care and love and attention to detail the developers poured into the game. It's not a perfect game and it's not an original idea, but it's extremely well executed, gigantic in scope, and still meticulously crafted.

    The graphics deserve special mention. I switched from the PS3 version to the PC because of the arresting visuals a combination of extraordinary art design and beautiful rendering. Even when, true to the title, the game took its inevitable dark turn, the onscreen result somehow transcended the grim-dark scenery typical of dark fantasy.

    I can't recommend it enough. It's the rare game I've completed despite owning most big -A- games and I don't even playing anything in the genre.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

47
#47 Best PC Game of 2013
65
#65 Most Discussed PC Game of 2013
70
#70 Most Shared PC Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Armchair Empire
    Sep 19, 2013
    75
    Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Ultimate Edition covers some traditional action game territory for sure but there are some memorable moments that make it worth a look if combo-based combat and exploration is your thing.
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  2. Eurogamer Portugal
    Sep 16, 2013
    70
    Overall, this is a game of acceptable quality, but a little dated in time.
    Read full review
  3. GameSpot
    Sep 10, 2013
    70
    The Ultimate Edition of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow breathes new life into the three-year-old game through improved graphics and extra content.
    Read full review
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