Enslaved vs Castlevania

Castlevania is a franchise that’s been running for as long as we can remember, and Lords of Shadow is a spectacular new beginning for Konami. It’s not going to have an easy ride at retail, though, with Namco’s Enslaved fighting for the same hack ‘n’ slash shelf space. Does the newcomer have what it takes to topple the veteran?

Story

Enslaved’s story of Monkey and Trip’s adventure through a devastated New York was penned by Alex Garland of The Beach and 28 Days Later fame. Castlevania doesn’t have the same writing pedigree, but it’s tale of a man seeking to save the world and bring back his lost wife is incredibly engaging.

Winner: Enslaved

Few games have a script as impressive as Enslaved’s. It’s believable, isn’t over-written and features some brilliant characters.

Hollywood Talent

Enslaved features none other than Gollum himself, Andy Serkis as main man Monkey. Castlevania, on the other hand, stars Robert Carlyle, Patrick Stewart and Jason Isaacs – a fine trio of actors.

Winner: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

While Andy Sirkis is a big deal, Lords of Shadow stars Jean-Luc Picard. Enough said.

Combat system

Combat in Lords of Shadow is deceptively deep. You need to master the use of light and dark magic, and use neither to acquire the orbs that power your abilities. Enslaved is a simpler affair, with less strategic fighting, but the addition of a ranged projectile weapon mixes things up.

Winner: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

Combat in Konami’s game is just better. It’s more strategic, requires far more thought, and is downright hard at points.

Weapons

In Enslaved Monkey has a staff that he uses for a variety of purposes: to beat-up enemies, to block attacks and to fire off projectiles. He can also use gun turrets and throw explosive enemies into crowds. Gabriel’s Lords of Shadow has a combat cross attached to a leash, and it’s constantly upgraded throughout the adventure. He also has an assortment of secondary weapons, including fairies, holy water and a murderous monster.

Winner: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

While Monkey’s staff is versatile, it’s just not as cool as Gabriel’s combat cross and the various secondary weapons.

Character design

Enslaved’s main characters Monkey and Trip are both excellent, even if they wear very few clothes. Latecomer Pigsy is a real standout though, lifting the final third of the game. Castlevania’s cast isn’t as likable, but Gabriel and co do the job.

Winner: Enslaved

Andy Sirkis really brought Monkey to life, and the secondary characters are all excellent.

Graphics

Both games look brilliant. Enslaved is bright and colourful at points, but goes up a gear once you enter Pigsy’s scrapyard home. Character models are excellent and portray emotion superbly. Castlevania is more mythical in its design, making use of all manner of creatures from lore and settings to go with them.

Winner: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

Lords of Shadow’s dark gothic style makes it stand out from the crowd, and its variety in locations means you’re never in the same place for long. It’s a wonderful looking game.

Enemies

There’s only really one type of enemy in Enslaved: robots. They come in a variety of forms, but they’re still robots. The enemies in Lords of Shadow come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny little goblins to giant titans that fill the screen and more.

Winner: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

Lords of Shadow is a clear winner here. The sheer number of enemies and use of mythical creatures makes it a real showcase for enemy design.

Upgrades

Hack ‘n’ slash games generally feature complex upgrade trees, but Enslaved feels quite light in this regard. Lords of Shadow has loads of advanced attacks to unlock, as well as upgrades for secondary weapons and new uses for light and dark magic.

Winner: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

This one’s a no-brainer. Castlevania’s upgrade system will see you acquiring new skills right up to the end and beyond.

Music

Music is vital to create the right atmosphere, and here neither game disappoints. Both games feature scores that perfectly accompany the action and pivotal events. Enslaved’s score was produced by Ivor Novello nominated Nitin Sawhney, while Castlevania’s score was written by Spanish composer Óscar Araujo using a 120-piece orchestra.

Winner: Tie

Both games excel in terms of audio, with neither game missing a beat.

Longevity

Games cost a lot these days, so which one is going to give you better value? Enslaved’s campaign will take you about 10 hours to finish, and there isn’t a great deal to do once it’s over. Castlevania’s epic adventure will last up to 20 hours, though, and even then there’s lots to find once you’ve seen the end credits.

Winner: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

It’s no contest. Castlevania feels like an epic adventure, and with the collectible items to find it’ll last you well in excess of 20 hours.

Overall

Castlevania 8 – Enslaved 3

While both games are worth your money, for us Castlevania: Lords of Shadow wins out in a one-on-one fight. Crucially, we found the mythical creatures and dark gothic design to be quite wonderful, and the combat is far more strategic and in-depth than what’s found in Enslaved.

Find out more about Castlevania

Find out more about Enslaved