[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mirror_of_fate_8470.png]]

'''''Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate''''' is a 2013 action adventure PlatformGame developed by [[VideoGame/CliveBarkersJericho Mercury Steam]] and published by Creator/{{Konami}} for the Nintendo3DS, and the {{interquel}} to the 2010 ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' ContinuityReboot OriginsEpisode ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLordsOfShadow Castlevania: Lords of Shadow]]''.

The game starts 25 years after the main events of ''Lords of Shadow'', when [[BigBad Dracula]] returns after [[HesBack decades of self-exile]] to [[FaceHeelTurn destroy his former allies]] in the [[ChurchMilitant Brotherhood of Light]] and take the world for himself. Trevor Belmont, son of Gabriel and a knight of the Brotherhood of Light, sets out to [[YouKilledMyFather avenge the death of his mother]] at Dracula's hands. However, [[DoomedProtagonist he is never heard from again]].

Years later, it falls to Trevor's own son, Simon Belmont, to finish what his father started and free his clan from the curse of Dracula. But [[TheReveal the truth]] of that curse is [[AwfulTruth even more terrible than Simon knows]]...

!''Mirror of Fate'' provides examples of:
* TwoAndAHalfD
* AbnormalAmmo: Some zombies will resort to pulling their head off and throwing it at you.
* AdaptationDyeJob: As this continuity has Sypha as the mother of Simon, she's gone from a blonde to a redhead.
* AirJousting: With Dracula, in Trevor's campaign.
* AllThereInTheManual: You wouldn't know the Night Watchman's remains turn into the [[KingMook Reaver]] unless you read the Bestiary.
* AlluringAnglerfish: [[spoiler: The Lady of the Crypt]]
* AnachronicOrder: The game starts out following Gabriel a year before ''Lords of Shadow'', then jumps ahead 57 years to Simon's scenario, then Alucard's scenario takes place concurrently with Simon's, then it jumps back 30 years to Trevor's scenario for the end-game.
* AncestralWeapon: Trevor's combat cross.
* AnimalMotifs: Dracula and dragons, Trevor and lions, and Alucard and lions as well, [[spoiler:as Alucard is Trevor.]]
* AnimatedArmor
* AnotherSideAnotherStory: The game features four successive playable characters: Gabriel Belmont, Trevor Belmont, Simon Belmont and Alucard.
* AntiGrinding: [[CharacterLevel Character Levels]] are not important, and only unlock new whip skills. Plus enemies don't give off a lot of experience, and all characters share the same level. HP, MP and ammo-hearts are instead upgraded with [[UpgradeArtifact Upgrade Artifacts]].
* AnAxeToGrind: One of Simon's two subweapons, plus the main weapon of the Executioner.
* AnthropomorphicPersonification: The Lost Soul, personification of the Mirror of Fate.
* ArabianNightsDays: The Succubus enchants the Throne room to make it appear this theme.
* {{Backtracking}}: Not required to beat the game, but it ''is'' if you want to get the LastLousyPoint.
* BadassBeard: Simon.
* BadassCape: Simon.
* BadassFamily: The Belmont Clan.
* BadassInDistress: Simon gets in a death trap twice, once in a MultiMookMelee the other in a [[AmusementPark ferris wheel of doom]], and needs Alucard's assistance to help him out in both cases.
* BadassLongcoat: Dracula, Alucard and Trevor all wear one.
* BagOfSpilling: Subverted with Gabriel, who's story takes place before Lords of Shadow. [[spoiler: Played straight with Trevor, who can DoubleJump and WallJump before he turns into Alucard, where he has to re-obtain these skills]].
* BatOutOfHell
* BattleThemeMusic: Most of the music in the castle is serene, or unnerving at worst. With lots of strings, and slow pieces. But when you encounter several enemies, the music shifts to this.
* BeardOfEvil: Dracula sports a three day stubble in the form of a goatee.
* BecauseDestinySaysSo: The Brotherhood sends Trevor to what has been foretold to be his doom to fulfill the rest of their prophecy.
* BerserkButton: The Necromancer seems intent on pushing all of Simon's.
* BigCreepyCrawlies: See also ColossusClimb.
* BigNo: [[spoiler:Alucard, when he realizes what [[IHateYouVampireDad Dracula]] did to [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie him]].]]
* BloodMagic: What locks the entry to Dracula's inner sanctum in Alucard's path.
* BloodstainedGlassWindows
* BossBanter
* BottomlessPits: A few, but seeing as the Belmonts can take damage from [[NotTheFallThatKillsYou hitting the floor from a great height]] this is partway [[JustifiedTrope justified]].
* BritishAccents: All of the Belmont men are voiced by Scottish actors and portrayed with Scottish accents.
* [[spoiler: ButNowIMustGo]]: Alucard in the GoldenEnding.
* CallBack: The Necromancer, (No, not the GrimReaper) who challenges Simon for the Combat cross mentions his master, Zobek, who appeared in the previous game.
* CatapultNightmare: How we're first introduced to Simon, and his backstory.
* CelShading: Used in the cutscenes. Regular gameplay uses normal shading.
* ChaosArchitecture: Both Subverted and played straight. Whilst Simon and Alucard share ''some'' areas with each other, most of the areas they visit aside from the theatre and laboratory is unique to their path.
** Played straight with Trevor who visits most of Simon's areas in his path, and features a lot more death traps.
* TheChosenOne: Said prophecy states the Belmont Clan are the only ones capable of destroying Dracula.
* CleanCut: Trevor can do these on the GiantMook Skeletons, with a FinishingMove.
* ClimaxBoss: Oddly enough, none for Simon. Alucard gets two, one in the Daemon Lord, and Dracula.
* ColonCancer: To ensure players knew this game was a continuation of the [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLordsOfShadow Lords of Shadow]] ContinuityReboot.
* ColossusClimb: [[spoiler:The second half of the Lady of the Crypt boss fight.]]
* {{Combos}}: Core game combat mechanic.
* [[spoiler: CompositeCharacter]]: Alucard [[spoiler: and Trevor Belmont are the same in this continuity]].
* CrateExpectations: Nope. Just barrels.
* CutsceneBoss: [[spoiler:The Lady of the Crypt's ColossusClimb segment and the Daemon Lord's final appearance(chronologically Trevor's first fight with it but the player's second, due to AnachronicOrder)]] are this plus PressXToNotDie.
* DarkIsNotEvil: Alucard.
* DeadlyDisc: The Boomerang subweapon Trevor picks up is now different, it functions like a boomeranging shuriken that attaches itself to enemies and delivers a shock.
* DeathByOriginStory: Marie and Sypha.
* DeathTrap: Simon gets caught in ''[[BadassInDistress two]]''.
* DefendCommand: Pressing L. Also some enemies have this.
* DemBones
* [[spoiler: DemonicPossession]]: Simon, in his battle with Alucard against Dracula.
* DepravedDwarf: The Hunchbacks are labelled as a race of Dwarves. They're cannibalistic and eat carrion.
* DestinationDefenestration: Simon and Alucard throw themselves through a couple of BloodstainedGlassWindows in order to advance.
* DieOrFly: Alucard's mist and wolf form powers first activate when he is moments away from getting killed.
* DistractedByTheSexy: The Succubus attempts this on Simon. He just shrugs it off.
* TheDogBitesBack: When the Watchman has been defeated by Simon, he summons his Scavens one last time [[spoiler: They promptly eat him.]]
* DoomedProtagonist: Trevor Belmont.
* DoorToBefore
* DoubleJump: Alucard obtains this after defeating the Daemon Lord, via wings.
** Trevor has one from the get go.
* TheDragon: The Succubus to Dracula.
** The Daemon Lord seems to become one for the Toymaker.
* ElementalRockPaperScissors: [[spoiler:In Trevor's final battle, you fight Dracula the same way as you fought Satan in the first game - by activating whichever type of magic he's not using.]]
* EpicFlail: Trevor's first MiniBoss is equipped with one.
* EverythingsDeaderWithZombies
* [[spoiler: EvilCostumeSwitch: From Trevor]] to Alucard.
* EvilCounterpart: Dracula ([[LateArrivalSpoiler Gabriel Belmont]]) is this to Simon and Alucard [[spoiler: because they're all of the same family clan.]]
* EvilLaugh: The Daemon Lord has a low gutteral growl.
* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: Told to [[DoomedProtagonist Trevor]] by the spirit.
* FallenAngel: The Vampire Knights seem to be this.
* FakeUltimateMook: The Armoured Skeletons.
* FallingChandelierOfDoom: Purposefully done by Trevor to advance his path.
* FamilyHonor: Trevor wants to kill Dracula to avenge his mother's murder and restore the Belmont clan's honor.
** [[ForegoneConclusion Simon wants to avenge his father's murder and restore the Belmont clan's honor.]]
* FamousLastWords / ApocalypticLog: The bodies of the Brotherhood adorn the castle, and their last thoughts are embedded on a magic scroll they carry with. Most of these are fluff, but some of these contain hints on certain parts of the game.
* FieryRedhead: Simon Belmont.
* FinishingMove: Aside from all bosses being done in by one, if you beat up an enemy hard enough in quick succession, you get a chance to perform one, otherwise you'll have to fight him a bit longer.
* FishPeople: The Mermen.
* FlyingBooks
* ForegoneConclusion: The game (Lords of Shadow showed Dracula alive in the 21st century) as well as Trevor's campaign, seeing as Simon's opening campaign is about him seeking {{Revenge}}.
* FrickinLaserBeams
* GenerationalSaga: The game takes place over three generations of the Belmont clan.
* TheGhost: [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLordsOfShadow Zobek]] is mentioned, and one of his Necromancers is a BossBattle for Simon, but he doesn't feature in this game.
** For a good 99% of the game this is played straight with the [[MadScientist Toymaker]] as well, who's designed large parts of the castle and several of it's death traps, but is only seen in one cutscene. [[TheVoiceless Silent]].
* GhostTown: Where Simon starts his quest.
* GiantMook: Larger [[DemBones Skeletons]]
* GirlOnGirlIsHot: The Succubus hopes to entice Simon with this.
* GoldenEnding
* GoryDiscretionShot: The Succubus, who's the most human appearing boss (And female) encountered, gets killed just off camera.
* GrimyWater: The poison falls.
* HalfTheManHeUsedToBe: [[spoiler: Trevor's fight with the Daemon Lord leaves the beast cleaved in twain]].
* HarderThanHard: Beating the game unlocks the highest difficulty level, "Hardcore".
* HarpingOnAboutHarpies
* HeavilyArmoredMook: Of DemBones.
* HeroicLineage: The Belmont clan.
* HesBack: An exceptionally twisted version. Dracula returns from years of exile and soul searching to ''[[FaceHeelTurn wipe out his former allies and take the world for himself]]''.
** Alucard also has one when he remembers [[spoiler: his failure to defeat Dracula as Trevor]] and decides to finish what he started by killing his father.
* HintSystem: Alucard's two big puzzles have this, though with each hint you take, the puzzle is worth less experience.
* HopelessBossFight: Alucard's first encounter with the Daemon Lord.
* HornyDevils: Simon's FinalBoss is a Succubus.
* HotWitch: Well they're all [[CoolMask masked]] so not too sure. [[FanService They're not wearing much else though]].
* HowWeGotHere: Trevor's path is this for Simon and Alucard's.
* HybridMonster: The Daemon Lord, after his first appearance in Gabriel's prologue, comes back as a cybernetic organism.
* IHateYouVampireDad: Alucard is this to Dracula.
* IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight: [[spoiler: In the first boss fight with him, Dracula enchants Simon and tries to force Alucard to fight him. Alcuard refuses to hurt Simon at all and shouts "No Way" and other refusals anytime you press any attack button.]]
* IndyEscape: In the Belfry area, some hunchbacks send a giant bell rolling after Trevor.
* INeverToldYouMyName: Dracula already knows Simon is a Belmont [[spoiler: because he overheard Alucard talking to Simon. It's one of the first hints about who Alucard is.]]
* {{Interquel}}: Bridges the gap between the main events of ''Lords of Shadow'' and its epilogue.
* InTheBlood: A running theme in the game is whether or not the Belmonts can escape the [[HeWhoFightsMonsters curse of their bloodline]].
* IShallTauntYou: Dracula seems to enjoy taunting his opponents even in [[AlternateContinuity this continuity]].
-->'''Dracula:''' Hahaha, you fight well. [[InTheBlood Worthy of the name Belmont]].
** Before him, the Necromancer to Simon as well.
* ItsAllUpstairsFromHere: In true {{Castlevania}} fashion, [[BigBad Dracula]] resides at the top of the highest tower of the castle.
* KingMook / MookMaker: The Reaver is just a giant Scaven.
* LastLousyPoint: Collecting all the scrolls and treasure chests. Luckily the game [[MercyMode points out on what parts of the map you missed them]], though this [[GuideDangIt doesn't help all the way]].
* LateArrivalSpoiler: Gabriel Belmont [[spoiler:[[FaceHeelTurn became Dracula]].]]
* LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand: When Simon collects the Combat Cross from a glorious pedestal with light cast on it through a beautiful church window, the marvelous "ItemGet" fanfare builds up [[spoiler: and the Necromancer steals the Combat Cross and it goes warbled]].
* LevelMapDisplay: With a big red dot or arrow which [[RailRoading way to go next]].
* LoadBearingBoss: Sealing the Daemon Lord in the prologue causes the castle to crumble. [[spoiler: Netting the GoldenEnding does the same in the regular playthrough.]]
* LosingYourHead: How Simon acquires the axe. It's embedded in a zombie's skull.
* LostForever: It ''is'' possible not to get 100% on Alucard's path, if you ignore the scrolls in his OneTimeDungeon. You can get a second chance in NewGamePlus but after that, it's over.
* LudicrousGibs: Some [[FinishingMove Finishing Moves]] on mooks cause them to splatter.
* LukeYouAreMyFather: Trevor to [[LateArrivalSpoiler Dracula]].
* MacGuffin: The eponymous Mirror of Fate, which can reveal both the past and the future.
* MadScientist / MonsterClown: The Toymaker.
* MakeMeWannaShout: The [[HarpingOnAboutHarpies Harpy]] [[EliteMooks Leaders]], though this may be because they're (True to Castlevania tradition) [[SubvertedTrope subverting]] SirensAreMermaids.
* MementoMacGuffin: The shard of the Mirror of Fate, Trevor's Battle Cross.
* {{Metroidvania}}: Though different from the previous installments.
* MixAndMatchCritters: The Daemon Lord.
* MolotovCocktail: One of Simon's subweapons.
* MostCommonSuperPower: The Succubus and her slaves.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler:Gabriel, after impaling Trevor with the Combat Cross. He looks into the Mirror of Fate and realizes that Trevor is his son, then turns him into a vampire to "save" him.]]
* MythologyGag:
** The secret ending closes with a common scene in the classic ''Castlevania'' games, [[spoiler:Simon standing on a cliff watching Dracula's castle crumble.]]
** Simon gets a spell that summons the spirit of a warrior named [[VideoGame/{{Castlevania64}} Schneider]].
** The carousel has Medusa, Maneater, and Behemoth heads on it - all monsters from the classic continuity.
** One dead body you come across belongs to [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaIIIDraculasCurse a pirate king of the Danasty family]].
* NewGamePlus
* NightOfTheLivingMooks
* NoticeThis: Dead members of the Brotherhood with unread scrolls glow purple, ledges you cable) to sparkle blue (Red until they're available) to sparkle blue (Red until they're available)
* OneHundredPercentCompletion: Gets you an additional ending cinematic.
* OneWomanWail: Some of the soundtrack.
* OrphansPlotTrinket: Simon's piece of the eponymous Mirror of Fate he received from his father.
* OurGargoylesRock
* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent
* OxygenMeter: For Trevor and Simon.
* PerversePuppet
* PowerCopying: Alucard, as a vampire, can feed upon other creatures and derive powers from them. [[CutscenePowerToTheMax He only does this in a]] [[CoupDeGraceCutscene Coup De Grace Cutscene Of Bosses]].
* PreAsskickingOneLiner: Dracula's classic one-liner from ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'' returns.
-->'''Dracula''': "[[MythologyGag Enough talk...! Have at you!]]"
* PressXToNotDie
* PropheticNames: Gabriel, who loved mountains, gave himself the last name Belmont because it meant "Beautiful Mountain." His grandson, Simon Belmont, ends up being raised by mountain folk years later.
* TheQuietOne: The Spectre of the Mirror ''can'' talk, and he does so quite normally in Trevor's path. ([[spoiler: Getting a combat cross to the face because of angry smoldering generic rage probably shut him up]])
* RavenHairIvorySkin
* RecurringBoss: The Daemon Lord, the Executioner, and Dracula.
* RecurringBossTemplate: The Necromancer fights nearly identical to the Grim Reaper. Considering his master was Zobek, The Lord of the Necromancers (and alluded to be Death in Lords of Shadow).
** Dracula as well, fights a lot like [[BiggerBad Satan]] in Lords of Shadow, this is probably because at the moment ''he'' is the [[AntiChrist Prince of Darkness]].
* RedEyesTakeWarning: [[BigBad Dracula]].
* {{Revision}}: The game establishes that Marie and Gabriel had a son, but Marie hid the child from Gabriel to protect the boy from his [[DoomedProtagonist father's fate]].
* RiseFromYourGrave / WakingUpAtTheMorgue: Alucard awakens entombed in the castle.
* SavedByCanon[=/=]DoomedByCanon: The first game ends [[spoiler:with the now DeathSeeker, WhoWantsToLiveForever Dracula still alive and rotting away in self-imposed exile]] centuries after the events of ''Mirror of Fate''.
* SealedEvilInACan: The Daemon Lord. He is imprisoned in a magic orb by Gabriel in the prologue and is freed by witches during Trevor's segment.
* SceneryPorn / SceneryGorn: Lots and Lots.
* ShockAndAwe: Trevor's second subweapon is a battery bomb which delivers a large field that traps enemies.
* ShoutOut: As with its predecessor, references to other franchises abound:
** One of the dead Brotherhood knights is found in pipes overgrown with fungus and his note mentions a brother named [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros Mario]].
** The reflectors in the Carousel Engine look like giant [[VideoGame/{{Pokemon}} Pokéballs]].
** The animation of Alucard receiving the bats subweapon mirrors a scene from Film/BatmanBegins.
* SinisterScythe: The [[RecurringBossTemplate Necromancer]].
* SlouchOfVillainy: Dracula, leaning back on his throne.
* SoftWater: Played straight for Alucard, who gets tossed into a moat from what seems to be the highest point in the castle (whilst on [[ManOnFire FIRE]]). Subverted when he later throws a boss down it.
* StockVideoGamePuzzle:
** BlockPuzzle: To save Simon from a death trap.
** LightAndMirrorsPuzzle: To save Simon from his [[BadassInDistress second]] death trap.
** SimonSaysMinigame
** Timed Switch puzzles.
* StrangerBehindTheMask: [[spoiler:The Lost Soul. You've been wondering who he is the whole time... and he's nobody. He's just a personification of Fate. They don't even tell you this ''in the game'' -- it's in a bestiary entry unlocked when you win.]]
* SummoningRitual: Instead of Dracula (Who's usually the target for these things in Castlevania games) it's the [[SealedEvilInACan Daemon Lord]] in Trevor's path. .
* SupernaturalGoldEyes
* TheSwarm: One of Alucard's subweapons. [[CaptainObvious It's bats.]]
* TagTeam: Simon and Alucard team up against Dracula.
* TakeYourTime: Both Simon's and Alucard's campaigns run simultaneously, but you can take all the time in the world before you go to the throne room, and fight the FinalBoss.
** Particulary egregious is when playing as Alucard, and you have to solve puzzles with [[BlockPuzzle blocks]] or [[LightAndMirrorsPuzzle mirrors]] whilst Simon is fighting for his life.
* ThisLooksLikeAJobForAquaman: None of the three playable characters run into any of the obstacles that the others must get past, aside from the grappling hooks Simon can't use with his leather whip.
* TimeSkip
* TimeStandsStill: One of Alucard's subweapons.
* TitleDrop: Nobody says it out loud, but the Mirror of Fate is a location within the castle, where Trevor battles Dracula and where Alucard is buried.
* {{Tragedy}}
* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: Trailers and promotional material make it clear from the start that Trevor fails to stop Dracula, leaving Simon to finish the job years later. Not that Dracula returning to menace a new generation is a surprise.
* UndergroundMonkey: Some. Most notably the [[ShockAndAwe Electric]] [[FishPeople Merman]].
* TheUnfought:
** Dracula in Simon's chapter. Dracula is the last boss faced in Trevor and Alucard's chapters, but he only appears in Simon's chapter in the ending cutscene, the Succubus being Simon's final boss.
** The Daemon Lord's battle with Trevor is built up pretty heavily over the course of the game. It turns out to be a few [[PressXToNotDie [=QTEs=]]]. Same goes for the Lady of the Crypt's impressive true form.
** The Toy Maker is a pretty huge presence throughout the game. His backstory is built up through various item and bestiary descriptions, as well as Brotherhood knight scrolls during the course of the game. Alucard even has to navigate through areas named after him, and all 3 characters must fight his creations. Yet, he goes not only unfought, but unseen until the very end of the game.
* UpgradeArtifact
* VideoGameRemake: Retells the events of ''[[VideoGame/{{Castlevania1986}} Castlevania (1986)]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaIIIDraculasCurse Dracula's Curse]]'' in the ''Lords of Shadow'' continuity. Sort of.
* VideogameDashing: Trevor acquires a pair of boots which allow him to perform these, and gives him a [[JumpPhysics Long Jump]].
* VideogameSettings: The game as a whole is a HauntedCastle / BigFancyCastle.
** For Gabriel;
*** JustifiedTutorial
** For Simon;
*** GhostTown
*** NoobCave
*** TheAlcatraz / RiseToTheChallenge
*** AmusementPark / AbandonedLaboratory
*** MagicalLibrary
*** EvilTowerOfOminousness / ItsAllUpstairsFromHere
** For Alucard
*** OneTimeDungeon
*** UnderwaterRuins
*** DugTooDeep
*** DownTheDrain
*** EternalEngine / AbandonedLaboratory
*** EvilTowerOfOminousness
** For Trevor;
*** CreepyCemetery
*** CreepyCathedral
*** AncientTomb
*** UndergroundLevel
*** TheAlcatraz
*** DugTooDeep
*** ClockTower
*** ItsAllUpstairsFromHere
* VillainTeleportation: Dracula.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Alucard can shift into both mist form, and wolf form.
* WalkingShirtlessScene: Dracula only wears his BadassLongcoat and trousers, exposing his glorious [[FanService man-abs]].
* WallJump
* WeCanRebuildHim: [[spoiler: The Daemon Lord has this happen to him at the hands of the Toy Maker after Trevor killed him]].
* WeCanRuleTogether: Dracula offers this to Alucard.
* WhamLine: Alucard's reveal.
-->'''Alucard:''' It seems fate has given me a second chance... [[spoiler:[[LukeYouAreMyFather Father]]]].
* WhiteHairedPrettyBoy: Alucard.
* WhipItGood: All the Belmons have the Combat Cross which combines this with a GrapplingHookPistol, though Simon starts out with a whip made of leather hides.
* AWizardDidIt: The explanation as to how the [[FlyingBook Tomes]] came to be.
* YouCantFightFate: One of the game's main themes.
* YouHaveNoChanceToSurvive: Dracula to Simon.
-->'''Dracula:''' Hahaha! Your brotherhood has betrayed you! [[YouCantFightFate You cannot kill me]]. You will [[SenselessSacrifice die in vain]], [[GenerationXerox just as your father did]]!
* YouKilledMyFather: Trevor Belmont sets out to destroy Dracula for killing his mother. Simon Belmont also sets out to destroy Dracula years later for killing Simon's mother ''and'' his father.