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Castlevania Lords of Shadow will hit next week, with a demo already up on the European Playstation Store. Reviews have also come in hordes, with some critics praising the title, and others completely missing the point of what it’s set out to do. Regardless, it’s safe to state that Castlevania’s 3D curse is officially ceased, and we’re looking at a game that has the potential to get nominated for several accolades. We know the basic gist of the, not so basic, tale, but it’s fun speculating how it’s all going to culminate in the end. I’ve come up with this theory after reading Gameinformer’s review of the game. Or to be more specific, after reading this line:
“However, much is redeemed by the game’s post-credit ending, which is among the coolest video game finales this millennium.”
Many theories cropped up in my mind, let me share one, that seems somewhat possible if the narrative plays out like it’s being implied. We all know Gabriel is trying to find the means to resurrecting his dead wife, Marie. Upon meeting with his mentor, Zobek, Gabriel gains knowledge of the existence of a ‘God Mask’ that has the ability to bring the dead back to life. This journey to construct this divine, or cursed?, artifact will take Gabriel through multiple different environments before finally pitting him in the castle setting fans have grown accustomed to. Culminating in what, Jason Isaac’s stated in the 11-min game-play video, a confrontation with a certain Prince of Darkness. If that’s not enough to confirm Dracula’s presence in the game then I don’t know what is. Now, on to the theory I’ve formulated based on that line from Gameinformer’s review.
Many reviews have included mention of how this game feels like the first in a series or a trilogy, by saying how some plot threads are left to be answered. This seems extremely likely due to Konami’s possibly tasking Mecurysteam with taking care of Castlevania’s 3D installments for the time being. Possibly even letting them expand up this reboot of the classic franchise. If that’s the case, then, this post-credits scene must be not only quite a scene, but quite a cliff-hanger as well.
If Gabriel Belmont indeed takes the role of Dracula by game’s end, as is heavily rumored, then we’re going to need to see a new hero be set up for a potential sequel. Perhaps, we’ll be able to lay eyes on the series’ most well-know face: Simon Belmont. Just picture this for a moment: You’re going through the whole end-sequence of the game, including the final boss fight, and then Gabriel somehow turns into the Lord of Darkness. That right there would be an enticing ending in and of it’s own, but then post-credits, why not tease the next part of this story? One in which Simon Belmont takes the lead role with the purpose of defeating Dracula who now, in this rebooted canon, happens to be his ancestor. It’ll definitely make the ages-old battle between the Belmonts and Dracula all the more personal and attach some much needed weight to the whole, play as X Belmont in the Year XXXX to defeat Dracula. It’ll make it a much more personal affair. I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with the classic-vania’s simplistic yet effective story-telling antics, but I think Konami is taking a huge shift towards having a new timeline with a deep and involving narrative flowing through it’s veins. So what about this Simon Belmont?
Post-credits, we’re treating to a shot of the exact same castle the game spends it’s tail-end levels in, now though, it’s more weathered and shows much more age. Then as the camera tilts and pans to show the castle in it’s full glory, it finally rests behind a figure standing in front of the main gate to the castle. A whip could be seen in his hand, and depending if we actually see this person or not is another story, but this will definitely make players think Simon Belmont in unison. And with that a fade to black, and a nice tease of what’s to come.
Will it happen? We have less than a week to find out, but even it doesn’t occur as I wrote, I’m still expecting to see a familiar Belmont in this post-credits scene. I didn’t want to handpick Trevor Belmont, because since Konami is rebooting the franchise, filled with multiple characters and events, they might just want to go right to Simon for the sake of not confusing any new comers with multiple Belmonts. What’s your theory on the ending for this game? I’d love to read it!
