Home Gaming Lords of Shadow 2 director calls reviewers “blind or stupid”

Lords of Shadow 2 director calls reviewers “blind or stupid”

4 min read
59

EyBlinkin

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 hasn’t been particularly well received by critics. The game currently has a 62 on Metacritic – which doesn’t mean it’s a bad game. I enjoyed it, but its unfocused meandering design and inconclusive narrative ensured it failed to live up to expectations. What does stand out though, is the large number of 4/10’s the game’s received. Have expectations, and the resultant zeitgeist been tempered by early reviews? Quite possibly.

Here’s what Mercury Steam’s Enric Alvarez, who was the head designer on Lords of Shadows 2 had to say to Eurogamer Spain (so excuse the dodgy Google translated text via VG247) in response to the game’s lower review scores – calling reviewers who handed out such low scores “blind or stupid.”

“This is another important issue. There are a few media outlets that set trends and then some other that follow them don’t dare to deviate too much. The first LoS, which has an 85 mark in Metacritic, also got bad scores on some major sites, yet the game ended having a very good one.

It’s true that Edge liked the first game but they didn’t enjoy this one as much. I also think that what happened is terribly unfair. One must be blind or stupid to give a 4/10 mark to a game with this quality. With a 4/10 people think it’s a crappy game, badly done, one that’s broken with gameplay mechanics that don’t work and awful graphics. If I were a reviewer I’d know this, and I don’t think that LoS2 deserves the score of a crappy game.”

Reviews are, of course, subjective opinions. Readers will say, often, that reviews should remain objective, but that’s not a review; that’s a factsheet.  Alvarez doesn’t agree with that at all.

“I agree that, in the end, it’s an opinion, and an opinion is totally respectable, but let’s not confuse an opinion and a review. The review is about the object and the opinion is about the subject. You can say “I do really rock but I hate opera”, and this is an opinion, not a review. If I had to review “Don Giovanni” I wouldn’t even know how to start, and this honestly is something the gaming press lacks. A lot of people who review games do not live up to the game they’re reviewing.

“This is a problem because it influences people’s buying decisions, and they also influence the opportunities of the developers, because we live in a world that simplifies information and classifies developers according to their Metacritic scores. Do not misunderstand me, though: there are very good people writing about games, whatever their opinion is.

This interview was actually published before condemning accusations from alleged Mercury Steam developers came to light. They suggest Alvarez is a bit of a controlling prima donna.

“The vast majority of this team is aware that the game we’ve done is a real piece of shit that has nothing to do with the first one’s quality and production values,” said the source, who opted to remain anonymous. “Nobody is surprised by the low reviews we’ve got.

“If there’s someone to blame here, that’s Enric Álvarez. He is the person who has led a broken development based on his personal criteria, completely overlooking programmers, designers and artists. Despite his nice look to the press, often considered as some sort of creative ‘visionary’ in the looks of David Cage and Molyneux, this guy has serious problems. He is a mean and naughty guy, and since the ‘success Lords of Shadows 1? his ego has grown to the point of not even daring to say ‘hello’ when you meet him in the hallway.

“His distrust to his own workers is enormous. Most of the development team often found out features of the game through press news, rather than from the studio’s head – unbelievable. And there is no corporate culture here at all… this is just a handful of people working blindly and at the disposal of an alleged visionary.”

That has since been corroborated by other Mercury Steam staff. Either way, I don;t think the game deserves its 4/10 scores. It’s unfocused, thrown together and lacks any clear narrative goal but there are certainly bits of it that warrant a second look.

Last Updated: March 4, 2014

59 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief in Vegas

    March 4, 2014 at 13:01

    I’ll let you know once I win my copy!

    Reply

    • RinceThis

      March 4, 2014 at 13:04

      Back down!

      Reply

    • Umar Praise The Golden Sun

      March 4, 2014 at 13:08

      Shame poor Admiral, thinking hes going to win a game that has already been won by me….

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in Vegas

        March 4, 2014 at 13:23

        Well there goes your chance of receiving the donation when I win

        Reply

        • RinceThis

          March 4, 2014 at 13:25

          When you win? Or when Kalahari finally pays you? Tehehe

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief in Vegas

            March 4, 2014 at 13:29

            One turn of bad luck will grant me good luck for this!

    • Hammersteyn

      March 4, 2014 at 13:10

      I still can’t believe that this didn’t receive an 8 out of 10. Even though the reviews are in people are still hyped to play it.

      Reply

    • DrKiller

      March 4, 2014 at 14:04

      You won’t win!

      Reply

  2. RinceThis

    March 4, 2014 at 13:05

    Wow, that was one hectic come back from the devs. Basically saying the guy is a total jerk and this is why the game sucks.

    Reply

  3. Umar Praise The Golden Sun

    March 4, 2014 at 13:07

    Yeah I read that anonymous letter last week, I wonder if it’s true though? his interview makes me think it is. If it is, what a shame! Mercury Steam honestly has some amazing talent, I feel they could honestly rival the best of the best. If this guy is what they say he is, get rid of the toxic!!

    Reply

  4. Hammersteyn

    March 4, 2014 at 13:08

    There are a three reviewers I listen to because I know they don’t follow the review trends. Ben “Yahtzee” Croshaw, Angry Joe and Lazygamer. Other reviewers though…
    http://media.giphy.com/media/nsX83ivJDb5E4/giphy.gif

    Reply

    • RinceThis

      March 4, 2014 at 13:10

      Me too:) You have impeccable taste 😉

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        March 4, 2014 at 13:11

        That’s why were all here and that’s why wee all chipped in when Gavin needed us.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief in Vegas

          March 4, 2014 at 13:11

          Wee all?

          Now that you mention it, almost time for me to go wee wee

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            March 4, 2014 at 13:13

            Just as I edited it…

          • Admiral Chief in Vegas

            March 4, 2014 at 13:17

            Getting sloppy in your old age there?

            😉

            This week has been terrible spelling!

          • Hammersteyn

            March 4, 2014 at 13:18

            We all age. Some better than others. Now where’s my dyslexia medication…

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 4, 2014 at 13:29

            It was actually better as the original, Dr Manhattan has his junk out all the time 😉

        • RinceThis

          March 4, 2014 at 13:13

          Oh, I’m here because Geoff’s writing makes me feel superior 0-O

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            March 4, 2014 at 13:17

            I’m here because Darryn dressed as Batman makes me feel like Dr. Manhattan

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 4, 2014 at 13:20

            That’s the guy who edits & posts your articles right? Wow, that won’t come back to bite you at all…

          • RinceThis

            March 4, 2014 at 13:21

            Now, when you say ‘edits’ trololo!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 4, 2014 at 13:22

            There’s more than one way to edit something *cough*

          • TiMsTeR1033

            March 4, 2014 at 13:23

            I am good at editing!

          • RinceThis

            March 4, 2014 at 13:25

            LOL!

          • RinceThis

            March 4, 2014 at 13:26

            Tim just said he’s good at editing. *RUNS

    • Umar Praise The Golden Sun

      March 4, 2014 at 13:11

      I like JIm Sterling’s reviews as well

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        March 4, 2014 at 13:15

        Yeah the escapist site as a whole is awesome. It’s like Jim said about Castlevania 2 “If you managed to play every God of War without getting bored once, you’re just the kind of person Lords of Shadow 2 is looking for” I can live with that.

        Reply

        • oVg PAYNE

          March 4, 2014 at 13:18

          Just that GTAV review was a little odd.

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            March 4, 2014 at 13:22

            Cant all be winners

    • oVg PAYNE

      March 4, 2014 at 13:16

      BWAHAHAHAHA

      Reply

    • RinceThis

      March 4, 2014 at 13:30

      HAHAHAHAHHAAHAH! OH man!

      Reply

    • Mossel

      March 4, 2014 at 13:39

      I also like Yahtzee. He said Bioshock Infinite was his game of the year for 2013! xD

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        March 4, 2014 at 13:40

        Not a bad choice at all really

        Reply

        • Mossel

          March 4, 2014 at 13:41

          I know! Seeing that it was mine as well I gained all the respect for him.

          Reply

  5. Lardus-Resident Perve

    March 4, 2014 at 13:11

    HEADER IMAGE WIN! Men in tights – tight tights!!

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      March 4, 2014 at 13:16

      a toll is a toll, and a roll is a roll, and if we don’t get no tolls, then we don’t eat no rolls.

      Reply

      • TiMsTeR1033

        March 4, 2014 at 13:22

        WORD!

        Reply

    • VampyreSquirrel

      March 5, 2014 at 13:57

      Oh Master Robin! You lost your arms in battle, but you grew a nice pair of boobs!

      Reply

      • Lardus-Resident Perve

        March 5, 2014 at 14:07

        Haha! I soooo need to buy this DVD sometime!

        Reply

  6. oVg PAYNE

    March 4, 2014 at 13:16

    I am confused, I thought this game came out 2 years ago with Patrick Stewart doing the voice acting.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      March 4, 2014 at 13:17

      How so?

      Reply

      • oVg PAYNE

        March 4, 2014 at 13:19

        Oh… this is the 2nd game of the shit one. I don’t know.
        The market is far to saturated.

        Reply

        • Umar Praise The Golden Sun

          March 4, 2014 at 13:20

          Wha, LoS was brilliante!

          Reply

          • oVg PAYNE

            March 4, 2014 at 13:24

            I think it is that KONAMI logo that makes me turn a blind eye. After the Silent Hill HD collection FAIL I just do not care. Not MGS5 or 6 or whatever the hell it is gets me excited anymore.

            Bayonetta on the other hand… the only SEGA game I ever allowed myself to play being a die hard school playground Nintendo fanboy.

            Now that says allot. BUT NOOOOOO OOOOO OOOOOO SEGA would rather make another kuk SONIC game and dabble in the Alien universe. 🙁

          • Umar Praise The Golden Sun

            March 4, 2014 at 13:27

            Well, I hate what they did to that collection 🙁 The patch did save it, but still man. I feels your pain…..

            Sega…I don’t know, I don’t understand. They have great potential hey, They made Valkria Chronicles and Yakuza is a pretty good series….let Sonic die Sega

        • Hammersteyn

          March 4, 2014 at 13:24

          Oh come now it wasn’t that bad. I bet you’d rather play this than another FPS game. Well that’s not the best example.

          Reply

          • oVg PAYNE

            March 4, 2014 at 13:27

            It was this that turned me off

          • oVg PAYNE

            March 4, 2014 at 13:28

            confused

          • Hammersteyn

            March 4, 2014 at 13:29

            LOL clearly 😉

          • Umar Praise The Golden Sun

            March 4, 2014 at 13:29

            SoTN….The best. I’m so confused

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      March 4, 2014 at 13:42

      Patrick Stewart still does voice work in this..but hearing an actor of his calibre have to repeat stupid shit like “I’m opening a portal to you now” is enough to make you cry.

      Reply

  7. Alien Emperor Trevor

    March 4, 2014 at 13:17

    His tights are bunched because his game got bad reviews. Boo hoo.

    Reply

    • Weanerdog

      March 4, 2014 at 14:00

      To get a 4 is quite special though, imho the review system is broken. A 4 is usually reserved for really crap games and/or broken games. This seems to be neither and as this fellows job is on the line it does seem a bit unfair.

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        March 4, 2014 at 14:12

        I see a 4 as slightly below average, so if you’re a fan you might still enjoy it.

        Reply

        • Weanerdog

          March 4, 2014 at 21:06

          Yes IRL that is true but the gaming review system average is at 7.5 for some reason. Or that is how I perceive it.

          Reply

  8. Rags

    March 4, 2014 at 15:41

    Don’t know about his game, but he is probably right.

    Reply

  9. Corrie Botha

    March 4, 2014 at 16:06

    Lorsd of shadow 2? think your tag might be broken?… a bit

    Reply

    • VampyreSquirrel

      March 5, 2014 at 13:58

      also “blind or stupud”

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *