Castlevania: Lament of Innocence

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Konami
  • Release Date: Oct 21, 2003
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 125 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 106 out of 125
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 125
  3. Negative: 4 out of 125
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  1. FarrellV.
    Nov 3, 2003
    10
    In somewhat like DMC but extremely short but if you go 4 100% you will get the best out of it.
  2. Miltank
    Nov 20, 2003
    10
    JI Fan needs to shut-up. This game is the best by far and the best Castlevania out there today. Leon and Joachim AND Mathias and Walter are hot. So Thank you Konami for the pleasure of having eye candy as we play this great game.
  3. J.O.
    Oct 28, 2003
    10
    I've followed Castlevania since its debut. I must say, several critics have been unfairly harsh in rating this game below a 9. I rate this game a perfect 10 because it gives the player exactly what all Castlevania fans want and then some. The creativity and gameplay alone are reasons to play this game over and over again. The graphics are rich and textured. Don't listen to me or I've followed Castlevania since its debut. I must say, several critics have been unfairly harsh in rating this game below a 9. I rate this game a perfect 10 because it gives the player exactly what all Castlevania fans want and then some. The creativity and gameplay alone are reasons to play this game over and over again. The graphics are rich and textured. Don't listen to me or the critics, if you like Castlevania, you will love this game.… Expand
  4. JuanC.
    Dec 18, 2003
    10
    Castlevania is still one of the most defining games around.
  5. HectorH.
    Oct 26, 2003
    10
    It's Castlevania 'nuff said.
  6. CurtisM.
    Oct 26, 2003
    10
    This game is still good to me...even though it is similar to devil may cry, its still in my blood to be a castlevania fan.
  7. LINKINPARK
    Mar 12, 2004
    10
    It's just the best game ever.
  8. DarkH.
    May 12, 2005
    10
    Excellent Music, Excellent Characters, Excellent Castle, Excellent Whip, Excellent Castlevania.
  9. JimmyW.
    Nov 24, 2003
    10
    The game is a lot like devil may cry but the fact that the monsters come back is good because if you complete the game you can just go back and fight for fun and if you complete the game you can play as Joachim the vampire with the five swords swinging around him I think the over all game is very good best castlevania yet.
  10. AJ
    Oct 22, 2003
    10
    This game is an orgasm with a controller(including a vibration). It has the handling of devil may cry, the playability of symphony of the night, and it's as pretty as an FF game. Note: Castlevania is known to have the best soundtracks ever... this one is by far the best.
  11. LopsterPopster
    Mar 27, 2012
    10
    Probably my favorite game of all time. Maybe it's just the nostalgic value, but I am still madly in love with this game. I've memorized all the cutscenes and can recite them by heart (and have been for years). The character development is wonderful, the storyline is great (I loved the fact it showed how the Belmont clan began), the soundtrack is SPECTACULAR, and the gameplay was incrediblyProbably my favorite game of all time. Maybe it's just the nostalgic value, but I am still madly in love with this game. I've memorized all the cutscenes and can recite them by heart (and have been for years). The character development is wonderful, the storyline is great (I loved the fact it showed how the Belmont clan began), the soundtrack is SPECTACULAR, and the gameplay was incredibly addicting. I love playing as both Leon and Joachim, but the Pumpkin was incredibly silly and fun. It was the first attempt at a 3D Castlvania game since Castlevania 64 (another great one) and Konami did not fail to deliver a great game. The Forgotten One is the most grotesque and most difficult boss in the game, but the black orb received after beating it is quite worth it in my opinion. It's an amazing game that I reccommend to everyone.… Expand
  12. popop
    Oct 21, 2014
    10
    had lots of fun although the game is quite outdated still well planned nice. the story the graphics and the adventure excitingg
    however many story lapses but stil gr8 action
  13. AlexvaderII
    Sep 16, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Lament of Innocence es un gran juego, es uno de mis favoritos de PS2! En el año de su lanzamiento tenia buenas graficas, la ambientación es perfecta e igualmente la banda sonora. Enemigos variados, jefes finales desafiantes y sub-jefes. Cuenta con su modo Crazy el cual es uno de los modos mas difíciles que se pueda encontrar en un video juego. En el juego podremos pasar horas y horas explorando intentando descifrar los acertijos y secretos ya que son muchos.

    El juego tiene variantes en su combate ya que mientras exploremos vamos a encontrar diferentes látigos para enfrentar a nuestros enemigos y al derrotar a los jefes obtendremos los "ORBES" que mejoraran las armas secundarias para tener combates mas variados. Adicionalmente tiene muchos combos que podemos usar y el perfect guard.

    En cuanto a la historia es básicamente un reinicio de la saga, los personajes tienen mucha personalidad y a pesar de no ser muy original no tiene el desenlace que podríamos esperar en otros juegos, me gusto bastante este aspecto. En resumen el juego es a día de hoy uno de mis favoritos y un gran Castlevania.    … Expand
  14. HIloJo
    Jan 11, 2021
    10
    3D Castlevania?... LOL!

    (P.S. no but fr it's a great game, please play it.)
  15. JiggyJog
    Jan 11, 2021
    10
    Fantastic game, 1000% worth your time. My favorite Castlevania game TBH. But Curse of Darkness is also amazingly good.
  16. Joob
    Jan 10, 2021
    10
    Fantastic game worth every single penny. Has the best 3D CV atmosphere, great combat, fantastic bosses, and the music is amazing. 10/10.
  17. Hudli
    Jan 16, 2021
    10
    Easily the best 3D Castlevania, surpasses Curse of Darkness and FAR surpasses Lords of Shadow, please play it to see Castlevania in 3D done right.
  18. JuddlyDo
    Jan 11, 2021
    10
    Phenomenal game worth your time. Please play it to be amazed by Castlevania atmosphere xD
  19. VLG
    Aug 22, 2023
    10
    I remember having SO much fun unlocking every secret item, weapon and character, and then trying to beat the game with the secret character. Good times.
  20. DustinW.
    Nov 7, 2003
    9
    This is one of the best games that has come out recently. It has fairly good graphics, and a good story. It also has the same feel as all the other castlevania games we have come to love.
  21. JKitchens
    Oct 30, 2003
    9
    Improves on what DMC started and refines what was so great about Symphony of the Night. Touch nuts!
  22. NedF.
    Oct 22, 2003
    9
    Good old castlevania...NOT. More like devil may cry. Still a good game.
  23. ZENA.
    Dec 5, 2003
    9
    This game is phat ass hell monsters are crazy and Leon Bellmont the shit with that whip POW POW WHOOSH!!!
  24. anthonyp
    Jan 5, 2007
    9
    scared off by that everquest in champions of norrath's subtitle don't be. this is no massively mulitplayer online rpg. it is however one massive multiplayer online(or offline!) rpg.
  25. 3Dguru
    Oct 27, 2003
    9
    Its a very good in 3d depth environment. I never seen any PS2 title as super solid smooth as CASTLEvania before. Hot gaming by the japan developer. consider as must buy title for who loved to play combat game.
  26. MathewG.
    Oct 29, 2003
    9
    It would get a 10 but its looks a great rip-off of devil may cry.
  27. JaysonC.
    Jun 18, 2004
    9
    This game rocked. It was a little short though and it seemed that it was a skelatal version of what some Castlevania games are, but it was an awsome game.
  28. BillB.
    Nov 17, 2003
    9
    This game is best castlevania ever.
  29. NinjaMafia
    Nov 17, 2003
    9
    Wow, what can I say but, wow. I thouight it could never be done, but here it is, a 3D Castlevania that is actually good. Let me just clear a few things up for some people here okay? First off, yes I am taking points away from this game for screwing up the Castlevania timeline to the extreme. If you are a Castlevania Fan you would know that uhhh... forget her name, Sonya or something, was Wow, what can I say but, wow. I thouight it could never be done, but here it is, a 3D Castlevania that is actually good. Let me just clear a few things up for some people here okay? First off, yes I am taking points away from this game for screwing up the Castlevania timeline to the extreme. If you are a Castlevania Fan you would know that uhhh... forget her name, Sonya or something, was the first Belmont to hunt down Dracula. She then actually married a vampire and had children.. If you notice, the Belmonts start to get weaker as the games start to get farther away from the original, that is because their vampiric blood is starting to become diluted. Okay now on to the review. LOI lets you control Leon Belmont, after Dracula because Dracula captured his Fiance. Not the most original story ever, but hey it gets teh job done. The sound in this game is top notch, everything from the music to the effect you get when whacking a skeleton with your whip is astounding. However, I kind of do have mixed feelings onm the voice acting. It wasn't horrible but it just wasn't that great either. The graphics in this game are okay, nothing spectacular or anything, just enough to get the job done. This game really shines when you get into the gaeplay. The gameplay is really awesome, something I haven't seen done in an action game in months, you can actually pull off combos with some ease. The gameplay will ultimately have people calling this game a DMC rip-off,but I think they just don't understand very well. DMC borrowed half of its elements from Castlevania to begin with. If there was no DMC do you think this game would have turned out any differently? No becasueall DMC was was a 3D Castlevania. So if Castlevania becomes 3D it shouldn't really be compared to something that was based of its 2D form. Are you tired of hearing me rant about how I hate comparisions with everything to DMC? Good, because I'm done now. This game also packs a few different difficulties. That is a really good thing because, to often today, games are getting lazy and give you one dificult that is too easy. LOI gives you as crazy mode that really tests your skill. Overall, Castlevania LOI is one of the best transitions from 2D to 3D I have ever seen. I'm not sure if I could ever rate this game a ten but it comes really close to becoming one. If they only kept in the leveling aspect that made SotN so great than maybe this game could be nominated for game of the year. They should have also done someting with the secondary items to make them a bit more useful. Also, I would have liked to see alot more weapons that you could have. Overall, this game really isn't dampered much by those aspects that it is missing, so if you loved any other Castlevania (except for that god awful 64 one) then you will most likely love LOI… Expand
  30. EduardoR.
    Nov 24, 2003
    9
    This is an excellent game, great game play, cool music, I love it.
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Awards & Rankings

60
#60 Best PS2 Game of 2003
20
#20 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2003
29
#29 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 45
  3. Negative: 0 out of 45
  1. GamingTrend
    88
    This game has something that very few games manage to capture; it is just pure fun. Balancing the challenge of the game with a good mix of enemies, bosses, and storyline, it simply works.
    Read full review
  2. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    80
    Proof that a Castlevania game can be done in 3D while retaining the essence of the series with great music and gameplay, and a stylized look. There's still room for improvement, but it's a great new beginning. [Nov 2003, p.140]
  3. NTSC-uk
    50
    Seeing Konami’s premier Horror franchise rendered in such bland brushstrokes leaves a sour taste in the mouth, which is intensified by the fact that the game engine and combat mechanics are so well-tuned.
    Read full review
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