The original Castlevania: Lords of Shadow was a bit like Downton Abbey for me – a guilty pleasure. I'd set Steam to invisible mode while playing it, so my pals couldn't see I was spending so much time with a game that was critically panned.

– with an epic journey to complete backed up by a stellar combat system, I had no problems recommending it when it was released back in 2010, so of course I was looking forward to the planned sequel after the cliff-hanger ending.

Concept: Take Gabriel Belmont – now in full-on Dracula mode – on a modern-day mission to defeat Satan, and ultimately end his own immortality Graphics: The main cast and some bosses look great, but lesser enemies and environments are often uninspired or poorly realized Sound: Robert Carlyle and...

When developer Mercury Steam began crafting its Lords of Shadow series, hardcore Castlevania fans were largely brought along kicking and screaming. After all, the studio was intent on doing its own thing, on weaving its own unique tale in the larger Castlevania universe.

Fun combat; Beautiful graphics; score; Lots to see and do

Poor story; characters; setting; Terrible stealth sections

'Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2' will likely end up a polarizing title in the series canon. It's doesn't bring the series' most engaging narrative to the table and in some aspects, the developers really felt like they were phoning it in.

For the fans of the series, many familiar faces return. For those of us less versed in the canon, we have to make do with some written text in the encyclopedic menus for context.

Thanks to Xbox for supplying this game for review.

Open world environment delivers more than predecessor; Strong boss battles are challenging and entertaining

Feels similar to other action adventure titles on the market; Combat can sometimes feel repetitive

Competent but not essential, it isn't the massive fanfare sendoff to a generation that the series would have hoped for.

Far from perfect and a disappointing step backwards from the first game, Lords Of Shadow 2 still manages to offer an engaging and rewarding action experience … so long as you can look beyond its disappointing story.

+ Great battles and combat; + Free-roam lifts restrictive feel of the original; + Beautiful settings

- Story lacks punch of the original; - Stealth missions ruin pacing

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is a strange beast. It gives us the narrative conclusion we wanted, but in a sequel we arguably didn't need. It's fun enough, but never feels essential, and the fact that it's let down by its combat – which plays such a huge and vital role – means you may reach the...