Mirror of Fate is a bit of an oddity in the Castlevania series. After Lords of Shadow took the franchise in a new, 3D action direction, Mirror of Fate represents a partial return to the 2D Metroidvania style that the series helped define. It's a side-story, bridging the gap between the Lords of Shadow games, and while it has its moments, it also highlights some of the series' evolving identity.

You're back to exploring Dracula's castle, navigating interconnected areas, and acquiring new abilities that open up previously inaccessible paths. Classic Castlevania enemies like skeletons, werewolves, and vampires are present, and the game tries to capture the gothic atmosphere that fans of the 2D games have come to expect.

The good: It definitely nails that classic Castlevania vibe. The combat is generally solid, with a good variety of moves and satisfying feedback. The fact that you play as different characters throughout the game – Simon, Alucard, and Trevor – each with their own unique skills and playstyles, helps to keep things from getting too stale.

The not-so-good: The level design and map sizes feel constrained, especially compared to sprawling Metroidvanias like Symphony of the Night or even some of the GBA entries. It's missing a lot of the RPG elements that gave those games their depth and replayability – things like leveling up, equipment, and stat customization. Also, it was originally a 3DS game, and its handheld origins are apparent in the somewhat simplistic visuals and environments.

Ultimately, if you're really craving a 2D Castlevania experience and are willing to overlook its shortcomings, Mirror of Fate might scratch that itch. It offers a decent dose of exploration and combat, but it doesn't quite reach the heights of the series' best.

Pros:

Classic Castlevania feel and atmosphere

Solid combat system with satisfying feedback

Multiple playable characters with unique abilities

Familiar enemies and locations

Cons:

Small and somewhat linear map design

Lacks significant RPG elements

Visually dated; shows its 3DS roots

Can feel repetitive at times

Overall: 6/10

I am a Lords of Shadow 1 hater. Mirror of Fate is a better, more fun game, partly because it condenses ideas they tried in Lords 1 with tighter combat, an actual story, and less padding.

This still isn't going to win any awards for storytelling or level design (I think most of the castle is forgettable, which I do not think is good) but at least monsters do not take 2 minutes to kill a piece, and the Uncharted-type padding is drastically toned down.

There are still a ton of things that annoy me in terms of combat or level design, but it's nothing that makes me want to tear the game apart, and none of it feels as tedious as playing 1 was.

Honestly, you could play this as a standalone and ignore the prequel and sequels even exist. It's fine, the most "fine" game I can think of, but it didn't bore me to death nor upset me so it's already an upgrade on both games that surround it in this trilogy. I did feel like I was playing a video game, so that's gotta say something right?