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Warning: This article contains spoilers for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. This is all pure speculation and just a miserable pile of theories. With that said, have at you!
We now have an updated look at Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, thanks to the official release of its brand new trailer, which originally premiered at the VGAs. Here we get a better understanding of the game’s scope, both in terms of gameplay and story. It’s been confirmed that much of the game will be taking place in modern times, like we saw in the original game’s epilogue. What does this mean for the series?
Granted, this isn’t the first time we’ll be playing a Castlevania game that’s not set in medieval times, due to Aria of Sorrow and Dawn of Sorrow taking place in the future (2035 and 2036, respectively). But here’s where things get exciting, despite some fans showing concern over a Castlevania game set in modern times. Us ‘vaniacs are still waiting for a Castlevania game that’s set in one very specific year, and that stars a certain Belmont. Yes, of course I’m referring to 1999 and Julius Belmont’s involvement in the ultimate demise of Dracula. An event we know as the Demon Castle War, or the Battle of 1999.
Could Lords of Shadow 2’s modern segments actually take place in 1999? After all these years and dreams of finally playing that epic chapter in the series’ lore, could the final part of Mercury Steam’s Castlevania trilogy finally answer our prayers? I personally think so. The twist is that we’ll be playing as Dracula during this epic war and that this is actually an alternate universe in the franchise, not meant to overwrite what’s come before. But still, this will be the first time we actually get to play the events that led to Dracula’s ultimate demise.
Let’s look back at the original game’s epilogue, and fill in the blanks, so to speak, with the information we now have. Gabriel, now Dracula, has been in hiding for a very long time. He’s taken up residence in an old cathedral. This is where Zobek, who’s dressed sort of like Shaft, finds him. Gabriel asks his “old friend” where he’s been this whole time. Zobek says he’s been out in the world, amongst the living, as opposed to Gabriel who’s been idle for far too long. But this isn’t Gabriel anymore, as he tells Zobek to call him Dracul (cue thunder!).
Zobek tells Gabriel that he’s now merely a shadow of his former self, which can tie back to the segments in Lords of Shadow 2 where we’ll be playing as Dracula in his prime, and Mirror of Fate where we’ll be fighting him. Zobek then warns Gabriel about Satan’s “imminent” return, and how his acolytes are preparing for it. This could certainly be setting the stage for Mercury Steam’s telling of the Demon Castle War, especially after Konami’s latest press release revealed that Dracula’s former castle is key to him obtaining his old powers again. Satan could perhaps be brought back and make the castle his own. And as we all know, there’s certainly hell to pay (excuse the pun) for the literal ass whipping Gabriel gave Satan at the end of the original game.
Gabriel then attempts to attack Zobek, but just as he’s about to feast on his blood, Zobek uses his power to push him through the cathedral’s huge glass-stain window. This then takes the both of them to the street outside. And this is where we’re all surprised to see that this is actually modern times. Yup, cars, no horses. I was under the impression that this could be New York City, but the actual location hasn’t been revealed yet, and I instantly thought 1999. Here we get a very memorable conversation between Gabriel and Zobek, as everyone is staring at the brutally pale and withered man standing before them. Gabriel is sick of his immortality. He cannot die, yet he cannot live, he’s looking to be freed from this curse just as Laura was. Zobek then promises Gabriel that he can free him from his immortality in exchange for his participation in the coming war against Satan. And with that, set to Oscar Araujo’s beautiful music, Gabriel vanishes into the night. Now let’s see where things could go next.
In regards to the modern segments, Lords of Shadow 2’s newest trailer shows Gabriel back in the cathedral. The trailer starts with him waking up from his centuries-long slumber, before Zobek pays him a visit in the original game’s epilogue. What’s interesting here is that we see the glass window already shattered, meaning that his little chat with Zobek has already happened of course. So, Gabriel presumably teleports back to his “throne room” in the cathedral after he vanishes at the end of the original game’s epilogue. We see him standing there, thinking about what comes next. So, let us think as well. Let’s think about everything we know regarding the Battle of 1999 (Demon Castle War) and how it can link to Lords of Shadow 2’s modern setting.
Aria of Sorrow was the game in the series that teased us with the events of 1999. A huge war took place between Dracula’s forces and that of an unknown factor in 1999, as we find out when reading the bestiary entries for the Zombie Solider and Officer in the game. In Mercury Steam’s Castlevania universe, that unknown factor could very well be Satan and his army. And Lords of Shadow already showed us why Satan would be pissed at Gabriel, seeking revenge. We also learn that Julius was the Belmont that finally put an end to Dracula. He wasn’t alone though, Alucard was also involved, amongst other allies presumably. We already know Alucard will play a role in both Mirror of Fate and Lords of Shadow 2, but can we really expect Julius to join the fun as well?
According to a recent tweet from Lords of Shadow producer Dave Cox, we will in fact be facing off against a new Belmont in Lords of Shadow 2. “New” doesn’t necessarily mean that we’ll be fighting an all-new Belmont created specifically for Mercury Steam’s Castlevania universe, it could just mean that we’ll be facing a Belmont that hasn’t been revealed to exist in this universe yet. Enter: Julius. The original Lords of Shadow’s epilogue took things to modern times, showing Gabriel’s ultimate fate as a weakened Prince of Darkness, which was a tragic and beautiful way to end the first part of the this trilogy. Mirror of Fate is a more traditional Castlevania game, focused strongly on the Belmonts and their war against their blood-sucking ancestor. So perhaps its epilogue will be similar in that it’ll offer a look at a modern scenario, albeit focusing on Julius this time as he’s ready to finish what Simon and Trevor started.
Towards the end of Lords of Shadow 2’s new trailer we see a man in red walking out of the cathedral. That sure looks like Gabriel wearing his red attire. Off to the night he goes, to get ready for the war that is to come. But first, he needs to regain all his powers. So he has to venture to his former castle to obtain them. This is where Mercury Steam has all the freedom in the world to tell Dracula’s side of the thus-far untold 1999 story, while still staying true to the already established Castlevania canon. I must stress that this is an alternate universe, but I believe they will follow the major story beats we already know of from this event: Julius and Alucard’s involvement, an epic war, and Dracula’s death. But death is something Gabriel may actually be seeking, so that he can at last be freed from the shackles of immortality.
Dave Cox has confirmed time and time again that Lords of Shadow 2 is the final Castlevania game by Mercury Steam. So with the Spain-based developer’s “if we only get to tell one Castlevania story, this will be it” mentality, they’re aiming to give players a story that covers pretty much everything in one trilogy. We played through Dracula’s origin in the original game, seeing his tragic downfall and the beginning of his transformation into the Prince of Darkness. Then in Mirror of Fate we’ll be going up against him, as we take on the role of a couple of all-star Belmonts: Simon and Trevor. We’ll experience the wrath of Dracula, who’s now relishing in his powers. Alucard will also be involved, which will then lead into Lords of Shadow 2, the final part of a trilogy that spans centuries, once again putting players in the role of Dracula in what’s surely set to be his final moments. We’ll also get to play as him in his prime, as both trailers indicate with him being shown in the past, as powerful as ever fighting to protect his castle. And in the game’s modern setting he’ll possibly be once again fighting for his castle, this time to get it back from Satan and his forces that may end up residing in it, as their headquarters in this war.
We could see Julius and Alucard aiding Dracula in getting his fortress back, which will then lead to an epic showdown between Gabriel and Satan, with Zobek somehow fitting into all of this (Portrait of Ruin’s epic Dracula/Death fusion comes to mind). After sealing Satan away, it’s time for Dracula to finally be allowed to rest in peace. This is where Julius comes in. As aforementioned, this whole trilogy has been about Dracula and his tragic tale, a first for the longrunning, beloved franchise. It’ll be fitting for Lords of Shadow 2 to end with his death. I think it would be awesome for it to end with a boss fight that just can’t be won, in this case against Julius. It won’t be won, because Gabriel is done fighting, he’s done with the “nightlife” as Dracula, so to speak. Julius will be the one in his family to finally succeed in putting an end to Dracula. I would love to see the final scene be with Julius and Alucard outside of the castle, after everything’s been said and done. After an exchange of words, Alucard disappears into the night. Julius is left there, staring out into Castlevania itself.
