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Sunday, November 16, 2008 |
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Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
By JoeBob @ 11:21 AM :: 844 Views ::
1 Comments ::  :: DS
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The saying “the third time’s the charm” is a credible claim. To prove this point I will examine the Castlevania series. Of the three GBA Castlevania games, Aria of Sorrow (the third GBA title) was the clear best. Can the same be said for the DS iterations? Order of Ecclesia is the third DS Castlevania title and just like the GBA iterations, the clear best.
The thing that truly stands out about Order of Ecclesia is the sense of difficulty. Ever since Symphony of the Night was released the Castlevania series has gotten much easier, focusing less on intense platforming sections and more on 2D exploration (a la Metroid) and RPG elements, and this certainly holds true with Ecclesia. However the difficulty has been significantly ramped up and in many ways the game feels like a perfect merger of old and new. Save points are scarce and enemies are frequent and constant. Dying is something that occurs a lot in the title, although the game never feels unfair. The RPG elements help this aspect, if you are stuck on a boss, you can always level up or search for better equipment.
Dracula’s Castle isn’t the only location to explore throughout the game, as over half of the title takes place in other areas. Like the last DS Castlevania title (Portrait of Ruin) this game also contains an open world type system. Upon completing areas, the player unlocks new areas until finally reaching Dracula’s Castle, where the second half of the game takes place. I realize that some may be skeptical about playing a Castlevania game that isn’t solely based in Dracula’s Castle, but the other levels are actually very interesting.
The Castlevania action/adventure RPG formula has been set in stone for quite some time by now and so each title is faced with the challenge of innovating within those limits. Ecclesia’s biggest innovation comes in the form of the glyph system. For the first time in a Castlevania title traditional weapons are absent, in replacement is the glyph system. The player can use their MP in order to utilize glyphs, magical attacks which the player can equip as if they were weapons. Glyphs range from physical attacks (swords, axes, knives, hammers, scythes etc.) to spells to transformations. Some will even create avatars which follow the player. Three glyphs can be equipped at once; attack glyphs are mapped to the X and Y buttons while a support glyph (platforming aids, avatars, transformations, status modifiers etc.) can be mapped to the R button. This setup allows for limitless customization as no two players play Castlevania the same way. Finding the perfect glyph setup adds an intriguing new aspect to an age old gameplay system.
One thing that the Castlevania series is known for is the consistently great presentation, and Order of Ecclesia is no exception. The music is catchy as usual. The soundtrack contains some great original themes as well as remixes of many Castlevania classics. The sound effects are equally well done. They really bring life to the enemies and allies found throughout the title. The graphics are also top notch. The game contains some of the best 2D art and animation I’ve seen on the system.
Although Order of Ecclesia comes close to being the ultimate Castlevania experience, it is not without its flaws. The first half of the game is considerably weaker than the second as it is marred by one particularly annoying quest. In order to continue on to the second half of the title the player is forced to find several villagers who are hidden throughout the levels. Most are simple to find, however others are a bit more difficult. Another weakness is the fact that many of the glyphs repeat themselves. While there are many unique glyphs I still would have liked to see even more.
Like all of the recent Castlevania games, Ecclesia is a title with tons of replay value. Upon completing the main quest many unlockables reveal themselves. Upon completion the character can start a New Game Plus, which allows them to start a new game while keeping their equipment, glyphs and level. Albus mode is also unlocked, allowing the player to play through the game as another character. Albus has a significantly different playing style than Shanoa, as he focuses on long range combat with a pistol. Lastly Boss Rush mode is unlocked. This mode is just like the Boss Rush mode in other recent Castlevania titles, the player plows through all of the bosses in the game as fast as they can in order to win rare items.
All things considered, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia is somewhat of a rebirth for the Castlevania series, taking it in a new direction and succeeding. This is the best Castlevania game since Symphony of the Night and that is a bold claim.
9.5 out of 10
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| Comments |
 By
Diegowar @
Monday, June 22, 2009 5:34 PM
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Except for the rise of the difficutly (which was really unbalanced... Either it's really easy, either it's damn impossible), there was no innovation in this Castlevania, I'd even say that the system is maybe the worst of the three DS games. It tries to be an Ario of Sorrow, but it fails for me. I've finished this one in 8 hours, some bosses where a pain in the ass (not because they were challenging, I like challenge, but some are just unfair if you don't find a crazy technique), and I didn't find a lot of fun of discovering the environments. The musics were OK, but not as much good tracks as in a Circle of the Moon...
Don't get me wrong, it's an excellent game, but clearly not one of the best Castlevania games, at least for me.
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