Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia

"Managing to reinvent itself yet again!"

While some might think that the end is near for yet another Castlevania franchise, Order of Ecclesia breaks through barriers - and in a lot of style I might add. Suave and original enough, this may be the best yet in the long and winded population of Dracula-killing-sprees in the portable gaming area. Konami has once again put us on the edge of our seats with Order of Ecclesia.

A fresh take on the series, hardcore fans of the series and newly indoctrinated followers of the Belmont heritage will definitely appreciate COOE. Graphically, Ecclesia is a sight to behold. Utilizing the limited capacity of the Nintendo DS console, it captures the imagination and immerses you into the eerie (albeit pixelated) world full of ghouls, ghosts, and all kinds of creatures that lurk in the dark. Fans will surely gasp upon seeing new takes on old character designs, and of course a number of classic sprites as well, dating as far back as SOTN (Symphony of the Night).

Probably one of the best aspects of the game's apparent "aesthetics" is the fact that in this installment of the game, for the first time ever, a woman takes the lead in this vampire hunt. Meet Shanoa - the beautiful dark-haired, feisty glyph weilder - the game's new successor to the long-line of vampire hunters. Although it's not the first time that it introduced female playable characters, Shanoa is the first female to be the initial character. That's a major change if you ask me - if not for just aesthetics. She starts out like this ultra savvy spellcaster (or in this case glyph-wielder) until she meets her nemesis in Albus - her colleague in the Order of Ecclesia. She is soon tasked to collect pieces of an artifact called Dominus to help rid the world of the curse known only as Dracula.

On the onset, players are introduced to a new dynamic in the game - glyphs. Glyphs are "runes" or symbols which represent a certain kind of weapon or power, so instead of equipping your normal spell and short sword, or whip in the case of the series, you equip Shanoa with glyphs (which are basically the equivalent of said weapons and/or spells). I'm sure those of you reading this would raise an eyebrow to that. I did too, but honestly, the system works, and very efficiently at that. Seasoned players will probably react negatively at first, but once you get the hang of the system, it plays great.

Further on, players will figure out that the new Castlevania "world" is divided into little areas or stages - each complete with a boss and/or goodies to collect, which is perfect for portables because you can play it in one straight go or in little bite-size pieces. Either way, you have a great experience without much of the frustration. Eliminating the "dungeon crawl" feel once and for all, players are no longer just surrounded with the interiors of a castle; areas are now uncovered for exploration - swamp areas, mountainous regions, old monasteries to name but a few. Although there are a number of "recycles" found all around, the game achieves its visuals on a whole new level that it's hardly a bother to notice. Added to that, Konami also put in a village wherein you could interact with villagers and see a slight glimpse of who Shanoa is, how she relates with other people and adds quite a chunk of depth in the personality aspect of the character.

The plot is pretty straightforward but of course with its share of plot-twists and turns which would baffle you and at the same time make you nod your head in agreement or shaking it in disapproval. While the plot is pretty much engaging, the amount of difficulty takes a whole new level. Fans of the series will groan as Shanoa faces level bosses with seeming impossibility. New players might get overwhelmed with this type of beating, but those familiar with the Castlevania of old, this would probably feel like a walk in the park and would gladly welcome the added difficulty. Not only do you need to analyze and re-analyze attack patterns (in between deaths of course), but now you have to consider which types of glyphs to use, which element works best against it, plus the fact that most bosses have HUGE hitpoints that tend to hold out until the last of your potions have gone. Replayability is will have a definite plus, introducing additional an playable character , not to mention an option for online interactivity.

The game not only engages you in visual delights, but accomplishes sounds appealing and equivalently engrossing. From the little creaks of the ambient sounds, to the hollow screaming of banshees; like the silent eeriness of an empty corridor COOE goes beyond sounds and achieves a mood very apt for the game: eerie and haunting, but at the same time, adrenalin pumping. Little could be said against its audio, if any at all.

Overall, Order of Ecclesia stands out -- definitely another classic on the way with its stunning graphics, astounding audio and innovative gameplay. A must have for seasoned fans and newbies alike. Konami's work has again achieved high merits, I can't wait for the next one. -- Q

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/03/08

Game Release: Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (US, 10/21/08)