The irony is not lost on us that a Belmont is going 3D at roughly the same time Lara Croft goes 2D... In both cases, we've been pleasantly surprised and rewarded by the new direction of these games, but Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is probably the most expansive change. Classic Castlevania action, as embodied in the original and its 2D sequels, was a platforming dream that went a bit further than most of its peers. Special touches in the way games were scored musically, and the various backgrounds and character animations, kept the series engaging. Predictability set in after a number of variations, and the disappointing Castlevania Judgment was a bad attempt to diversify and try something new. Instead of letting this become a creative dead-end, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow roars back and proves that old dogs really can learn new tricks. Sure, the game is essentially the spawn of every 3D action title in recent years, but it works. Dramatic moments are created both through large set pieces that you explore by platforming, and by local battle sequences that expand on the mechanics all Castlevania gamers have come to appreciate through years of 2D action. There are issues during some battle sequences with the 3D transfer, mostly when enemies end up off-camera. This is relatively easy to work around, since attacks tend to have a homing quality. Harder to work around are the awkward moments in platforming sequences when you aren't sure how to jump from one spot to another, or can't line up the controls easily due to camera angles. These are relatively rare, and nothing that fans of 3D action or platforming games will have any qualms about. The majority of the game looks and plays beautifully, set against a world that looks every bit as fantastic and creepy as any Castlevania would have imagined. Unlike the contained arenas of Castlevania Judgment, Lords of Shadow is the way we imagined exploring a 3D version of those epic 2D games, even more so because we can move beyond gray castle walls and dungeons. Better still, the interface is beautifully designed with artwork you can unlock by your achievement during the game.

Grave robbing has the kind of necromantic association that would get any Belmont up in arms, but that's exactly what Castlevania: Lords of Shadow has done in crafting the player-experience from a gameplay standpoint. Whether you look at something like God of War, Tomb Raider (recent 3D entries), or a bit further back to Devil May Cry, there are connecting threads to this game. The easiest translation comes from God of War, a game that really redefined what it meant to combine action and platforming elements while retaining the accessibility of classic 2D scrolling brawlers. Single button-presses that prompt over-the-top attacks, and simple actions that create big gameplay transitions are present and accounted for in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. You'll work throughout the game to develop your character, adding skills and abilities and using accumulated points to purchase upgrades that have an immediate impact in battles. It's not an open-world adventure game, but you do have opportunities to stray from the narrative and seek out special objects that can influence your character's development.

Playing as a handsome young warrior during a time of darkness and despair just sounds good, doesn't it? Gabriel Belmont isn't connected to the events of previous games, but that doesn't prevent the narrative from drawing on the entire legacy of Castlevania for inspiration. There's some borrowing in the storyline as well; we got the Highlander reference loud and clear when an older, Sean Connery-type showed up to train Gabriel and guide your quest... If the actor that plays this second character sounds familiar, it's because no less than Patrick Stewart signed up to voice old Zobek! Providing the bulk of the game's narration, Stewart proves once again that star voice talent in a game makes a huge difference. Replayability is huge. Although a diligent player will think that she's squeezed most of the juice out of a level on the first play-through, the master map screen will prove humbling. Percentages attached to each level show how much more can be found or done in the level, and you'll be presented with challenges that work a bit like spot quizzes, giving you special conditions that must be met during exploration or battles. These aren't to be confused with Achievements, but they provide a deeper experience within the game, much like the recent Tomb Raider games included a wide range of micro-challenges as an aside to the main story. The bottom line is that you'll be playing Castlevania: Lords of Shadow long after the credits roll, or extending the gameplay greatly as you return to previously visited levels in an effort to achieve 100% completion.

It's very much in vogue to produce games these days that teach players how to play them. Why print expensive manuals and code in-depth tutorials when you can just throw players into the action and instruct them through play on the basics of control and gameplay? The first scene of the game gives you a chance to battle basic enemies, learn how to use simple movement and battle commands, and test your mettle against a mini-boss. Beyond this, things progress incrementally until you can stand on your own without training wheels in the form of constant hints. Occasional hints help to keep the frustration level low, but you really learn the entire range of controls within just a few levels. Some of the larger battles can prove frustrating, if only for the visual glitches that we mentioned earlier. Large groups of enemies are where you'll really be tested, especially once the game throws a mix of enemy types at you. Dying in the game is not a huge deal, because you'll only end up transported back to the nearest waypoint. These are scattered liberally throughout, so it's not that you'll be immune to frustration over losing a life, but we guarantee you won't be throwing any controllers... Beyond buying new attacks and upgrades to your weapons, there isn't any real skills tree in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. RPG complexities don't factor in here; this is a game that knows what it's about, and that's action action action. Button-mashing will do a fine job through the early levels, but where things begin to get complicated is in the distinction between large and small enemies. In later encounters, you'll find that certain attacks just aren't effective, unless properly matched to your opponent. You'll often succeed by accident because the controls are so intuitive, where the same button combo that draws small enemies toward you for a beating will pull you toward larger enemies for a body blow.

In Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, it's all about the cross that Gabriel takes into battle. Otherwise, the game sticks to standard platforming conventions, with lots of jumping and climbing taking the focus at times when you aren't beating down bad guys. The battle controls are largely confined to face-buttons, with the exception of a few grabs and special moves that are triggered by the trigger buttons. The only point of control we really disliked was pushing the Analog Sticks, which is just a downer no matter where it occurs. Battle commands were executed smoothly, and were easy to string together. Rather than program in complicated, fighting-game combinations, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow gives you simple commands that rarely get more complicated than about three button presses. Where the game is smart is in the way it triggers moves based on context. Three button presses while on the ground will do one thing, but the same buttons pressed in the air do another. Because Gabriel has several "states" during a battle, including blocks and grabs, a wide range of special attacks can be triggered with just one button. Keeping things simple is the name of the game, and the result is some awesome weapon play that only gets more impressive as you finish each new level.

Everything about Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is designed to keep you moving forward, challenging enough to satisfy core gamers but accessible enough for new players who know nothing about the history of the brand. This is our favorite entry in the series since Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, where the Castlevania bug first bit us. In this case, Lords of Shadow is right in line with a spate of awesome action titles that have graced consoles, but ongoing expansion of the series' 2D roots shows that Konami doesn't feel like limiting its options. We love having the choice to play both styles, and we couldn't have imagined a better way for Castlevania to finally get the 3D version it so deserves. Highly recommended for bloodthirsty action fans.