Since 1986, the action-adventure Castlevania games have featured the Belmont clan battling a stable of classic horror creatures - from skeletons, vampires, and werewolves to iconic characters such as the Grim Reaper and Frankenstein's monster, all under the lord of the night, Dracula. While the series thrived as a two-dimensional side-scroller, it has for almost 10 years suffered from substandard attempts at 3D gameplay, resulting in poor combat and platforming.

The new Castlevania: Lords of Shadow takes a big step in the right direction. Borrowing heavily from the play style of God of War with a great presentation is one thing, but the story is a powerful light that repels the darkness of doubt.

Music

Bill Birdsong Miller

Galvin Fine Art Center

Friday, October 22, 7:30 p.m.

If you're familiar with our calendars of events at RCReader.com, you know that event listings are separated into a number of different categories, among them "Music," "Lectures," "Visual Arts," "Movies," and "Kids' Stuff." Bill Birdsong Miller might be the only visiting artist I've run across whose credits make him a good fit for all of them.