Duality

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence is a 3D action game like Devil May Cry. Unlike the latter, this game is boring.

You again?
The combat system is full-featured. You can pull off stylish combos involving launchers and aerial maneuvers. You can side step, side step then attack, and double side step. In classic Castlevania tradition, you also have subweapons at your disposal (cross, holy water, dagger, axe, crystal). Each subweapon can be combined with orbs to change their effect.

Sounds great. The problem is none of that is necessary. Most of the enemies in the game can be dispatched with the basic 4-hit combo or a few subweapon attacks. After the first few encounters, combat becomes more of a chore. It never feels like you’re in danger.

Wasn’t I just here?
The level design doesn’t really help the situation. Every room looks the same and every corridor looks the same. Sure, each major area of the game has different textures, but it still feels like the same square room and rectangular corridor. Even worse are the numerous empty rooms and corridors.

Other reviews give Lament of Innocence high marks. Sure, the control scheme is good and you can do fancy combos. But none of that matters: the game isn’t fun to play. It’s an action game that lacks action.

To sum it up…
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence combines unchallenging gameplay and bland graphics into an entirely forgettable experience. For a game that came out two years after Devil May Cry, shouldn’t it be better?

(2 stars out of 5)