MercurySteam had a massive mountain to climb in 2013. They’d already successfully rebooted one of the most beloved franchises in history with Lords of Shadow, but the sequel was still a year away. Fans were restless. They wanted that classic 2D feel, but the developers were committed to their new, gritty cinematic universe. Enter Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate. Originally a 3DS exclusive, it was the "middle child" that tried to please everyone and, predictably, ended up being one of the most divisive entries in the entire Belmont lineage. It’s a weird game. Honestly, if you look at it through the lens of a traditional "Metroidvania," it kind of fails. But if you view it as a 2D combat action game? Well, that’s where things get interesting.
It isn't just a side story.
The Tragic Family Reunion in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate
Most people think of Symphony of the Night when they hear the name Alucard. They think of the flowing cape, the smooth sprite work, and the sense of overwhelming power. But Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate flips the script on the family tree. This isn't the same timeline where Alucard is the son of a classic Bram Stoker-esque Dracula. Here, the tragedy is much more intimate and, frankly, much more depressing. You play as three generations of the Belmont family—Simon, Trevor, and Alucard—along with a brief prologue featuring Gabriel.
The narrative structure is non-linear. It jumps around like a frantic pulse. You start as Simon, a barbarian-styled warrior who feels more like the 1986 original than the bishonen versions from the late 90s. Then you jump back to Trevor. Then you see the aftermath with Alucard. This isn't just a gimmick. It’s a way to show how the Curse of the Dragon (Dracula) slowly erodes a family from the inside out. When you finally realize the connection between Trevor and Alucard in this specific universe, it hits different. It's not a happy "save the world" story. It’s a story about a son trying to kill a father who doesn't even know he exists.
The game thrives on this misery. MercurySteam didn't want a lighthearted romp through a spooky castle. They wanted a grim, oppressive atmosphere where every victory felt like it cost a piece of the protagonist's soul.
Combat Over Exploration: The Great Divide
If you’re coming into this expecting Aria of Sorrow or Hollow Knight, you’re going to be disappointed. Period. The exploration in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate is, well, basic. You have a map. There are some secrets. You’ll find some health upgrades and magic chests hidden behind breakable walls. But the "ability gating" is fairly linear. You aren't going to get lost for three hours trying to find a double-jump.
The focus is the whip.
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Combat is a direct translation of the 3D Lords of Shadow system into a 2D plane. You have direct attacks and area attacks. You have a block and a dodge. If you try to mash buttons, you’ll die. Even on the standard difficulty, the bosses in this game—especially the Daemon Lord and the Necromancer—will absolutely wreck you if you don't learn their patterns. It’s about the dance. It’s about timing that perfect parry to trigger a cinematic counter-attack. Some critics hated this. They felt it was too "God of War" and not enough "Castlevania." I disagree. It’s just a different flavor of the same juice.
The 3DS Roots and the HD Evolution
We have to talk about the hardware. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate was built for the Nintendo 3DS. That meant lower polygon counts and a very specific focus on the 3D depth effect. When it was ported to consoles as Mirror of Fate HD, the flaws became more obvious. The textures can look a bit muddy on a 4K screen. The animations, while fluid, sometimes feel a bit "weightless" compared to the pixel art of the 16-bit era.
But the art direction carries it. The way the castle is designed—massive, hulking gothic structures silhouetted against a blood-red moon—is pure eye candy. Dave Cox, the producer, often spoke about wanting the game to feel like a "living painting," and even with the hardware limitations of 2013, they mostly pulled it off. The character designs by Oscar Araujo are striking. Simon Belmont looks like a man who has lived in the woods eating bears for breakfast. Trevor looks like a knight on the verge of a nervous breakdown. It works.
Why the Story Matters for the Lords of Shadow Trilogy
You cannot skip this game if you want the full story of Gabriel Belmont. You just can't. If you go from the first Lords of Shadow straight to Lords of Shadow 2, the beginning of the second game makes almost zero sense. You see a broken, ancient Dracula waking up in a modern city, but you miss the pivotal moment where he faces his own lineage.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate provides the context for Gabriel’s descent into madness. It shows that he didn't just become a monster because he was bored; he became a monster because he felt betrayed by God, by his brotherhood, and eventually, by his own bloodline. The final confrontation in this game is one of the most emotionally charged moments in the entire franchise. It’s quiet. It’s tragic. It’s everything a gothic horror story should be.
The Gameplay Mechanics That Actually Work
Let's get into the nitty-gritty of how it actually plays. You have the Combat Cross. It’s the swiss-army knife of monster-slaying. You use it to grapple, to swing across gaps, and to rip the shields off of annoying skeletons.
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Each character has a unique sub-weapon and magic set:
- Simon uses throwing axes and oil flasks (classic). He can also summon spirits like Belnades to protect him.
- Alucard uses the Dark Metamorphosis and can turn into a wolf or mist to navigate the environment.
- Trevor has the Light and Shadow magic system from the first game, allowing for a mix of healing and increased damage.
The switching between characters is handled by the narrative. You don't pick your hero at the start; the game tells a specific story in a specific order. This keeps the pacing tight, even if it limits player agency. Honestly, it’s refreshing. In an era of 100-hour open-world slogs, a tight 10-hour action-platformer is a godsend.
Addressing the Elephant in the Room: The "Metroidvania" Tag
Is it a Metroidvania? Sort of. It’s more of a "Combat-Adventure." The backtracking is minimal. The map is helpful but rarely requires the kind of mental gymnastics seen in Symphony of the Night. Some fans felt this was a betrayal. They wanted the deep RPG systems, the loot drops, and the soul-collecting.
But MercurySteam wasn't trying to make a Konami Tokyo game. They were making a Spanish-developed Western reimagining. They prioritized the cinematic feel over the "numbers go up" dopamine hit. If you can accept that, the game is a blast. If you can't, you'll probably find it shallow. I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle. It’s a bold experiment that mostly succeeds at being its own thing.
How to Play It Today
If you want to experience Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate now, you have options. The 3DS version is still the "purest" experience if you want that 3D depth, but the Mirror of Fate HD version on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation is much more accessible. It’s often on sale for a few dollars.
Actually, the best way to play it is as part of the Lords of Shadow Collection. It sits perfectly between the two main titles. Playing it in one go gives you a much better appreciation for the overarching tragedy of the Belmonts. You see the whip passed down. You see the name "Belmont" go from a badge of honor to a mark of shame.
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Common Misconceptions and Nuance
A lot of people think the game is too easy. That’s usually because they’re playing on "Normal." Crank it up to "Hard" or "Hardcore," and suddenly every encounter with a simple skeleton becomes a fight for your life. The parry window shrinks. The enemies hit like trucks. This is where the combat system truly shines. It’s not just about hitting the enemy; it’s about not getting hit.
Another misconception is that the characters all play the same. While they share the basic whip combos, their magic abilities change the flow of combat significantly. Alucard’s mist form allows for defensive playstyles that Simon simply doesn't have. Trevor’s magic management adds a layer of strategy that the others lack.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Newcomers
If you're looking to dive into this gothic mess, here is how to get the most out of it:
- Play in Order: Do not start with this game. Play Lords of Shadow first. The emotional payoff for the ending of Mirror of Fate depends entirely on knowing who Gabriel Belmont was before he fell.
- Master the Parry: Don't rely on the dodge roll. The parry (timed block) is the core of the combat. It opens up counter-attacks that deal massive damage and generate orbs.
- Read the Bestiary: The lore entries in this game are surprisingly well-written. They flesh out the world and give context to the monsters that isn't always apparent from the gameplay.
- Ignore the Completionist Urge: Don't stress about finding every single chest on your first pass. The game is designed to be played linearly. If you miss a health upgrade, you’ll be fine. Focus on the combat and the story.
- Check for Sales: If you are on PC or Xbox, this game frequently drops below $5 during seasonal sales. It is an absolute steal at that price point for a weekend of vampire-hunting.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate might not be the "perfect" Castlevania game, but it is a fascinating, dark, and challenging piece of gaming history that deserves a second look from anyone who appreciates a good tragic hero. Just don't expect it to be Symphony of the Night, and you’ll have a great time.