It's A Story... Of A Clan Named Belmont...

Just in case you forgot about the Castlevania game that has Hideo Kojima attached to it, due to being hit in the head with a baseball bat, let's give you a reminder. Yes, the man of Metal Gear Solid fame has his hands in the game. Yes, there are a lot of big names doing some of the Voice Overs. Yes it is a very well done looking next gen version of the franchise. But that was all that people knew of when they first announced and gave a short tease at E3 this year.

Well the tease be done now and Konami wants to give all of our eyes a very soothing massage with a new look at what the gameplay and game in general is shaping up to be. Video and images are below so you don't have to just here me prattle on and on how this looks the way they should have filmed Van Hellsing. I don't think I've been excited for a Castlevania game as much as I am for Lords of Shadows. Maybe it was just the trailer, or maybe this is going to be a very epic game. Either way, the key word is Epic.

Now, just in case you didn't catch it, there was a small bit of the over arcing story in that video. Apparently Konami thinks you might have missed it, so they have followed this all up with a fuller description of the story below. Mixed in with a bit of the technical mumbo jumbo, but they get to the over arcing love story this game is all about. Also how things may or may not pan out for the Belmont Clan. Either way, give it a good read, if you want a small spoiler.

Konami Unmasks the Belmont Clan in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

Veteran heroes of Konami's Castlevania series to return in new Next Gen epic

Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has unveiled an extended trailer for its eagerly-awaited Castlevania: Lords of Shadow title, and confirmed that the Belmont family – the stalwart heroes of the long-running series – will play a part in the new game.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is under the wing of Konami's fast-growing European Product Planning department, and marks a new beginning for the Castlevania series, with Madrid-based developer Mercury Steam working closely with Konami's respected Kojima Productions studio, led by Hideo Kojima. The PLAYSTATION®3 and Xbox 360 title is an incredibly ambitious and ground-breaking title that mixes stunning combat elements, with a fully interactive 3D realm populated by all manner of undead and inhuman denizens.

The new trailer further outlines the sheer scale and epic nature of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and reveals key new elements to the game's plot. The game's as yet unnamed protagonist, voiced by Jason Isaacs, is heard to proclaim he will "wipe the name of Belmont from this world… forever", while a mysterious new Mask adds further to the mystery...

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is set in a ravaged Europe of the middle ages. The planet has been devastated by a powerful magic. The souls of the dead are trapped on our earthly plane unable to find peace, and inhuman creatures of nightmare now roam the Earth, wreaking havoc. Having witnessed his wife Marie (voiced by Natascha McKelhone) murdered at their hands, Gabriel (Robert Carlyle) pledges revenge against those responsible: the mysterious Lords of Shadow.

Gabriel learns from an ally called Zobek (Patrick Stewart) that each of the Lords possesses pieces of a relic called 'The God Mask' that, when assembled, can purify the world and has the power to bring the dead back. Thus, Gabriel must face the three factions of the Lords of Shadow and confront them – defeating huge adversaries that dominate the screen, making his way across inhospitable but beautifully realized locations, and using the Combat Cross device to whip, swing, and rappel his way to the Mask's location.

Gabriel will stop at nothing to see his beloved returned to him but someone has other plans for Gabriel and the mask holds the key. For good or for ill, Gabriel will meet his destiny: what is the secret of the masks and how are the Belmonts involved?

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a visual masterpiece, and the new gamescom trailer details more of the gameplay elements that have established the game as a worthy return for the Castlevania series. The additional uses for the Combat Cross are alluded to, while more of the enormous adversaries and the action set pieces fans can look forward to are premiered for the first time.

"Gamescom is shaping up as the most exciting European showcase imaginable, so it is fitting that we bring something new and exciting to the show – and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is just that," commented Dave Cox, Producer and Head of Product Planning for Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH. "The new trailer will show key elements and content for the first time and will further cement Castlevania: Lords of Shadow's reputation as one of the landmark games of 2010."