Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow Cheats & Secrets for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360

A joint venture between Konami and developer MercurySteam to reboot the Castlevania franchise, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is the 2010 3D entry into the long-running action-horror IP. Konami would initially reveal the game as simply Lords of Shadow in an attempt to hide the game’s connections to the Castlevania franchise and the studio’s intent to reboot the series. Along with outsourcing development to new studio MercurySteam, Konami would enlist the help of Metal Gear‘s Hideo Kojima to help produce the title. While the handheld Castlevania games are regarded as some of the best entries in the franchise, the 2D Metroidvania titles would end up selling less than Konami had hoped, prompting the studio to attempt to bring the series into the modern era as a 3D character action game.

Initially released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on October 5, 2010, the title would eventually make its way to PC as the Ultimate Edition in 2015. The positive reception to Lords of Shadow resulted in a sequel and a spin-off. While exact figures remain unknown, sales charts place Lords of Shadow as the second best-selling game in the franchise behind the original Castlevania on NES. As such, Lords of Shadow is the best-performing 3D Castlevania game in terms of review scores and commercial success. Interestingly, Lords of Shadow and its sequel take place at the beginning and the end of the series’ story timeline, respectively. They are also the last two mainline releases in the series, with other new entries consisting of compilation titles and collections.

Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow Premise

The story of Lords of Shadow takes players back to the very beginning of the Castlevania timeline. In the year 1047, the world’s sudden and sharp turn into darkness is believed to be a sign of the coming end times. A secret order of holy knights, the Brotherhood of Light, dispatches Gabriel Belmont to seek out one of the order’s oldest members to discover a way to save the world and stop armageddon. After receiving a vision from his deceased wife, Gabriel discovers that the only way to stop the end of the world is to use the God Mask, the pieces of which are in possession of the three Lords of Darkness. Gabriel eventually uncovers the truth behind the Lords of Darkness, the power and purpose of the God Mask, and the circumstances behind his wife’s death. These revelations transform him into the dark lord Dracula.

In terms of gameplay, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is similar to other 3D Castlevania games. Combat is similar to what players will find in other character action games like Devil May Cry and God of War, with Gabriel wielding the Combat Cross; a powerful weapon from the Brotherhood of Light that extends out into a whip. Players must navigate environments and solve puzzles along with the game’s combat, and there’s even the incorporation of light Metroidvania elements through the ability to return to previously visited levels with new upgrades and uncover secrets. Combat features a robust combo system that affords plenty of player expression, along with a full light/dark magic system and other special abilities.

Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow Main Characters

Lords of Shadow‘s melancholic plot centers around the player character and patriarch of the Belmont clan, Gabriel Belmont. Following the death of his wife, Gabriel takes up arms in service of the church, hoping to cleanse the world of an encroaching darkness plaguing the land. He eventually learns that he must absorb the power of the three Lords of Darkness in order to face the true, final evil — the fallen angel Satan. Joining Gabriel along the way is an enigmatic cast of helpful allies and compelling villains, including the three Lords of Darkness he must conquer to avenge his wife’s death and save the world from destruction. Main characters in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow include:

Heroes

• Gabriel Belmont: Gabriel Belmont is a knight in the Brotherhood of Light and the main character of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. Following the brutal murder of his wife, Marie, Gabriel sets off in search of the God Mask and staves off an impending armageddon. He eventually uncovers the tragic truth behind his wife’s passing, setting a series of events into motion that carry throughout the Castlevania canon.
• Marie Belmont: Marie Belmont is Gabriel’s wife. She sometimes appears to Gabriel in visions to help him on his mission to save the world.
• Zobek: The oldest living member of the Brotherhood of Light, Zobek helps Gabriel throughout his adventure. He eventually reveals a shocking twist regarding his identity toward the end of the game.
• Pan: Pan is the guardian of the Lake of Oblivion where humans can communicate with the dead. As such, he is one of the main allies Gabriel has in uncovering the secret behind the prophecy to stop the Lords of Darkness.

Villains

• Lords of Darkness: The werewolf Cornell and vampire Camilla are two of the Lords of Darkness, with the lord of the Necromancers acting as the third. Together, the Lords of Darkness act as Lords of Shadow‘s main antagonists, guarding the three pieces of the God Mask Gabriel must obtain to save the world.

Games in the Castlevania Series

For nearly 40 years, Castlevania has remained one of the most important action-adventure series in gaming. Beginning as an action-platformer franchise that would inspire countless imitators, Castlevania would eventually reinvent itself as a sprawling action-adventure game featuring an interconnected map and plenty of influence from Super Metroid, resulting in the birth of the Metroidvania subgenre. While the 3D entries in the franchise have had a bit of a mixed reception, the 2D entries are still looked at as some of the greatest games in the genre, leading to the games being collected and re-released in compilations on modern platforms. Lords of Shadow and its sequel are the most recent 3D games in the franchise, also serving as the most recent canon story games. The main games in the Castlevania franchise include:

• Castlevania (1986)
• Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest (1987)
• Castlevania: The Adventure (1989)
• Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse (1989)
• Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge (1991)
• Super Castlevania IV (1991)
• Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (1993)
• Castlevania: Bloodlines (1994)
• Castlevania: Dracula X (1995)
• Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997)
• Castlevania Legends (1997)
• Castlevania 64 (1999)
• Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness (1999)
• Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (2001)
• Castlevania Chronicles (2001)
• Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (2002)
• Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (2003)
• Castlevania: Lament of Innocence (2003)
• Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (2005)
• Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (2005)
• Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (2006)
• Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (2007)
• Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (2008)
• Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth (2009)
• Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (2010)
• Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate (2013)
• Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 (2014)
• Castlevania Requiem (2018)
• Castlevania Anniversary Collection (2019)
• Castlevania Advance Collection (2021)
• Castlevania Dominus Collection (2024)

Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow Cheats & Secrets

There are a few official cheats for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow regardless of platform. Additionally, players can unlock several bonuses for completing in-game challenges and beating the main story. These unlocks and secrets are consistent across all versions of the game.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Cheats

PS3 & Xbox 360 Cheat Code

The console versions of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow feature a cheat menu code that utilizes the classic “Konami Code” input. Note that using this cheat code will result in turning off Achievements/Trophies and disabling saving the game.

PC Version Cheats

The PC version of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (the Ultimate Edition) is compatible with third-party cheat engines and trainer files. One such trainer file can be found here and contains the following cheats:

• Infinite Health
• Infinite Focus
• Add Light Magic
• Add Shadow Magic

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Unlockables

Metal Gear Solid Items

Successfully complete the game to unlock Solid Snake’s bandanna and eye patch for Gabriel.

Paladin Mode

Successfully complete a chapter or level on the Knight difficulty to be able to replay it on the Paladin difficulty. The Paladin difficulty unlocks the ability to achieve 110% completion for each level.

Vampire Wargame

Accept Laura’s challenge in Chapter 6: Part 3 – Castle Hall, and solve the Vampire Wargame puzzle to unlock it within the “Extras” menu.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Secrets

Easy XP

Players can farm specific points in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow‘s story mode to earn easy XP.

Chapter 1: Part 3 – The Dead Bog

In the Dead Bog, kill the Swamp Troll to get 250 XP. Then, restart from the last checkpoint, killing the Swamp Troll again to get another 250 XP. Repeat this as many times as desired.

Chapter 1: Part 3 – The Dead Bog

After reaching the large goblin camp where you have to blow up the tree, keep killing the goblins to get an easy experience. They will keep respawning until you destroy the tree. This is also a great place to complete the challenge of killing 50 goblins.

Chapter 2: Part 7 – Sanctuary Entrance

Kill the Stone Titan to get 1,000 XP. Then, restart from the last checkpoint and kill the Stone Titan again to get another 1,000 XP. Repeat this as many times as desired.

Chapter 5: Part 2 – Wygol Village

After reaching the third ghoul hole you need to seal (next to a neutral magic font behind the wall), ghouls will keep respawning approximately every 20 seconds as long as the hole is still open. You get 50 XP for every ghoul you kill. Additionally, the Holy Cross power kills them with two hits. Repeat this as many times as desired.

Chapter 6: Part 4 – The Refectory

Kill The Evil Butcher, but do not take his key. After, pause the game and select the “Reload Last Checkpoint” option to resume at the Quick Time Event where you need to hit The Evil Butcher’s helmet. Kill The Evil Butcher again, but do not take his key, and repeat the process as many times as desired. You will earn 1,000 XP each time.

Easy Pan’s Temple Trial

In Chapter 1: Part 4, Gabriel will need to complete a trial within Pan’s Temple. To easily solve this puzzle, complete the following steps:

• Turn the outer ring counter-clockwise
• Turn the inner ring counter-clockwise
• Turn the middle ring clockwise
• Turn the outer ring counter-clockwise
• Turn the inner ring counter-clockwise

After, finish the level to complete Pan’s Trial.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Easter Eggs

Maniac Mansion: Day Of The Tentacle Reference

Play Chapter 5: Part 5 – Abbey Tower, and immediately walk out to the left from the corridor. Look for an old wooden cart against the side of the building. Destroy the cart, and there will be a fallen comrade on the ground underneath the debris. Pick up the note on their body. The note makes reference to his sister “Laverne” and brother “Bernard”, and it is signed by “H.”. These are all references to characters from Day of the Tentacle.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Achievements/Trophies

Successfully complete the following in-game challenges to unlock the corresponding achievement. Note that the PS3 version of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow has an exclusive Platinum Trophy for collecting all other Trophies.

Base Game Achievements/Trophies

Reverie DLC Achievements/Trophies

Resurrection DLC Achievements/Trophies

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Cheat FAQs

What is the hardest boss in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow?

The fight against Satan at the end of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow can be a taxing battle, but it pales in comparison to one boss. Cornell, the resident werewolf boss of Lords of Shadow, is one of the more difficult boss fights in the entire series. Not only does Cornell have hard-hitting attacks that are hard to read and/or dodge, but players also fight him at a point where they have far fewer upgrades than they will in the battle against the game’s final boss.

What kind of Castlevania game is Castlevania: Lords of Shadow?

Intended to be a sort of “soft reboot” for the franchise, Lords of Shadow takes players back to the events that precipitate the entire Castlevania canon, putting players in the shoes of the original vampire-hunting Belmont, Gabriel. Rather than adhere to the Metroidvania style of the handheld Castlevania games, Lords of Shadow is most similar to the PS2-era entries, Lament of Innocence and Curse of Darkness. That said, the game does incorporate some light Metroidvania elements. These include the ability to revisit previously completed areas with new abilities, gaining access to secret areas, and additional power-ups. Ultimately, Lords of Shadow is a character action game similar to Devil May Cry or Bayonetta.

What does the Konami Code do in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow?

The classic “Konami Code” that appears in many of the studio’s most iconic games appears again in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. The code can be input on the console versions’ main menu screens to unlock a cheat menu. Note that activating any of the cheats within this menu will disable both saves and achievements.

How long to beat Castlevania: Lords of Shadow?

Most playthroughs of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow will take players between 18-25 hours. The game’s story mode has several collectibles to uncover in each chapter. Additionally, players have an incentive to return to previously played stages and explore new areas. Accordingly, a full 100% completionist playthrough will take players roughly 40 hours.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Castlevania: Lords of Shadow key art.