Castlevania is the video game series from Konami in which players embody a descendant of the Belmont clan, a long line of vampire hunters. Towards the end of May there were rumors that Kojima Productions was developing an action adventure game called Lords of Shadow. At the 2009 E3 held in LA, Konami announced Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and showcased the first footage of the game. Lords of Shadow is being developed by Mercury Steam in collaboration with Konami’s Kojima Productions studio.
The game supposedly takes place in an ‘end of days’ setting where the alliance between the Earth and the Heavens is shattered by an evil force called the Lords of Shadow. Evil creatures roam the world unleashing destruction and chaos on the living while the souls of the dead cannot find peace and are forced to wander about aimlessly.
“Kojima Productions had learned the differences of western development teams and Japanese studios,” said Ken Imaizumi, Senior Producer of Kojima Productions. “Mercury Steam is definitely one of the most talented studios in the world. We quickly agreed that we should work together and exchange ideas and knowhow across the board. We have full trust that the next generation Castlevania experience will deliver a high quality intense experience worthy of the Kojima Productions name and we are proud that this title will mark a new global direction for Konami as a company dedicated to breaking new ground in digital entertainment.”
Studio Head at Mercury Steam, Enric Alvarez added, “We at Mercury Steam are pushing the envelope of today’s technology. Our goal is to create an incredible piece that will answer many people’s hopes and desires of what a next generation Castlevania game should be.”
The game follows Gabriel who belongs to the Brotherhood of Light, a group which is sworn to defend innocent lives against supernatural evil. Gabriel’s wife has been brutally murdered by the evil forces, her soul being trapped between Heaven and Earth. The story unfolds as her spirit guides him to save the world from the three factions of the Lords of Shadow. He carries a trusty Combat Cross and can use the powers of the tyrants that he defeats.
“Castlevania: Lords of Shadow will take the Castlevania series into brave, uncharted territories, and is a breath-taking adventure that boasts stunning aesthetics, deep and challenging game play, and a truly inspirational voice cast to deliver the games dramatic depth,” Head of Product Planning for Konami Digital Entertainment and Producer on the title, Dave Cox said. “We are also delighted to be working with Kojima Productions who have supported the development of the game and our intended goals with their keen vision and expertise,” he added. “This is a world’s first! A dream team up between a western development studio and one of Japan’s most revered and innovative creators”.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is scheduled to release in 2010 for the PS3 and the Xbox 360 and takes the Castlevania series in a whole new direction with the wide open game worlds created by Mercury Steam. Prices for the game haven’t been announced.