Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Well made but bloody fantasy action game is for adults only.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
What's It About?
CASTLEVANIA: LORDS OF SHADOW puts players in the shoes of a holy warrior named Gabriel in the 11th century who, after the land comes under a black spell that takes the life of his wife and leaves others believing that God has forsaken humanity, embarks on an epic quest to rid the world of its haunting, evil menace. It drags the Castlevania franchise -- a bastion of classic side-scrolling action -- into modernity by presenting players a lush and enormous 3-D world and updating elements of combat, exploration, and puzzles accordingly. Players will unlock and learn dozens of moves over the course of the game that will better allow them fight and dispatch their enemies in increasingly gory ways. Clearly, this is not a game meant to be played by children.
Is It Any Good?
Proudly reflecting a wide range of pop culture influences ranging from films like The Lord of the Rings and Excalibur to games including Shadow of the Colossus and God of War, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a high-energy action experience dramatically punctuated by stunning cinematic moments. And it's enormous. With a dozen chapters -- each with their own series of often lengthy levels that can be revisited and new areas reached as Gabriel grows in power -- some players will likely work at it for months hoping to extract every last bit of fun they can.
Niggling issues such as a frustratingly fixed camera and a level of difficulty that could put off some less experienced players keep it from earning top marks, but grownups who have been waiting for this classic franchise to be remade into something more contemporary won't be disappointed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the notion of employing religious themes in games. Do you think they can make an interactive experience resonate more strongly with spiritual players? Is it possible that Christians might take offence when they see a crucifix used as a weapon?
Families can also discuss the difference between the depiction of nude fantasy creatures and nude humans. Should one provide more reason for concern than the other? Do you think that nudity can ever play a role in a game outside of exploitation?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3 , Xbox 360
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Konami
- Release date : October 6, 2010
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : January 20, 2025
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