2 new Castlevania games

Flying Jinko said:

He could be one of the Belmonts or a knight of the brotherhood or maybe an angelic contraption created by them to kill Dracul. Also it was confirmed that LOS2 won't be linear, it will be more free roam like with focus on more exploration and the story progresses on the go, somewhat like Darksiders II I think.

More screenshots

Still can't believe this stuff is in game.

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Flying Jinko said:

Here you go

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The basics of Lords of Shadow are left intact - fights are a mix of combos, countering, blocking and evasion, and your magic meters are refilled through combat. However, the trappings have changed to better suit returning hero Gabriel's new dark side.

Instead of magic, vanquished enemies now leave blood behind, and Gabriel can channel this into two pots. Light magic has been replaced by the Void, and Dark Magic is now Chaos. To further complement his new outlook on life, Gabriel has a number of new unique perks. He can transform into a mist (just like Gary Oldman's Dracula circa 1992), which is useful for combat and for passing through solid metal barriers. He can also "glamour mortals" to control his enemies, and "disappear into the night, unseen," which presumably means stealth sections.

As Gabriel, you earn more blood by filling the Focus gauge, which is rewarded through more stylish play. Varying your combos, blocking attacks using precise timing, and avoiding being hit all earn focus, and once the meter is full, every hit landed will yield blood.
Gabriel also has a new main weapon, the blood whip. Whilst the whip has incredible range, a touch of the left bumper will swap it out for the Void Sword, another new weapon that allows for lighter, faster attacks that boost your health whenever you land a hit. Alternatively, tapping the right bumper will gift you the Chaos Claws. These are slower but more powerful, and can be used to knock out the defences of shielded enemies.

Since the effects of Void and Chaos magic are more deeply tied into the melee mechanics themselves, it's even more important than ever to manage your magic levels. A new mastery system adds another level of intricacy by rewarding you for using more varied moves and combos. Using moves will level up the Void Sword, Chaos Claws or Blood Whip depending on their alignment, so it doesn't pay to stick to the same combos over and over.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 will also be the MercurySteam's last Castlevania game - there will be no loose ends left dangling by the game's final act. "We've told the story we want to tell," said the game's director Enric Alvarez, speaking to OXM. "There's nothing worse than someone who's said everything they need to say, then carries on talking."

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With the expectation that sequels will be bigger, do you regret being so generous with Lords of Shadow?

Not at all. CLOS2 will be bigger than the first game. But not just in terms of size. The scale of its levels are more epic, its combat system is hugely expanded and adaptable to different playing styles, and its city is a more open experience that we want people to immerse themselves in. Everything about the game is bigger, but it has to be - we have a big story to tell.

Will you have mini-bosses who restore their health if you miss a QTE and long boss fights without mid-battle checkpoints? Or has success made you less evil?

We're more evil if anything! The whole QTE thing has been cut back, with the Titan fights now far more expansive and involve full control by the player as opposed to timed presses. We've gone for a far greater level of control during every part of the game now, but Gabriel can refuel as it were by draining those around him of their blood - the benefit of being a vampire! We feel the gameplay is more balanced than in the last game, and as a result makes for a more fluid and natural challenge.

How will the split between City and Castle work? Are the two completely separate?
The city is the main setting for the game, but we can't really go into too much detail at present. The city is a living entity, but there's a look and feel to it that harks back to the gothic realm of the past.

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