8. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
Platform: PS3, 360, PC The legendary Castlevania franchise has always been Konami's pillar of stability in the video game world. Ever since the very first Castlevania back on the NES introduced us to the Belmonts and their incomparable 2D adventures through Dracula's castle, the name Castlevania on any type of 2D platformer has been a symbol of quality and enjoyment of the highest order. Yes! Even Simon's Quest!!! **runs away** Castlevania's occasional forays into 3D action games haven't been nearly as successful. Certain titles, such as Lament of Innocence, showed promise, but never pulled it all quite together. When MercurySteam, a Spanish video game developer, began work on Castlevania: Lords of Shadow under the guidance of legendary Metal Gear developer Hideo Kojima, what emerged was arguably the best 3D title in Castlevania's history. While not a masterpiece by any means, Lords of Shadow told the emotionally-charged story of Gabriel Belmont, who went on to become the infamous Dracula, and supported it by solid gameplay, beautiful graphics, and a musical score for the ages. Its sequel, Lords of Shadow 2, looks to improve on its predecessors formula in every way imaginable, and could end up being THE epic 3D Castlevania masterpiece the world has been waiting for. Three key elements of Lords of Shadow 2 are very intriguing. The first is that the game is going to be set in modern times, which is a genuine curiosity. Seeing how the developers will balance Castlevania's traditional Gothic tone with a modern setting is something to really look forward to. Secondly, players will take the role of Gabriel Belmont as Dracula right from the beginning, bringing a whole new slew of powers and a genuinely new experience to the Castlevania franchise. It's almost surreal to think that we'll be playing as Dracula, after spending decades fighting him in previous games. And lastly, the game will take on an open world structure, allowing players a freedom never seen not only in a Castlevania title, but in a 3D action game of this sort as well. The previous game's high production values look to be making a return as well, and the campaign is said to be significantly longer than the generous, 20 hour campaign offered by the first game. Will Lords of Shadow 2 be the game that finally matches the quality of Castlevania's beloved 2D titles? We'll find out in early 2014.