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 Castlevania:
Order of Ecclesia (DS)
Adding another chapter to the long-running gothic platforming franchise,
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia is another solidly entertaining installment
on the DS. It's deep, balanced gameplay should satisfy gamers with its mix
of classic action and role-playing elements. Ecclesia's big change this
time around is the addition of a glyph system. This allows for magic
spells, special attacks and other enhancements when combined.
Additionally, this installment adds multiplayer, wi-fi modes that allow
players to compete head-to-head. It's classic form mixed with innovative
aspects makes this an interesting title and one fans of the series will
probably love. |
Taking a bit of a breather from the
long-running saga of the Belmont family, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
offers some noticeable changes from the last two DS installments. Unlike
Dawn of Sorrow and Portrait of Ruin, which had some cool ideas, this is a
much more traditional installment in the Castlevania saga in many
important aspects. It follows the adventures of a mysterious woman named
Shanoa who is a member of a mysterious organization named the Order of
Ecclesia. She has been granted magic powers and that she can use to
destroy Dracula. The most important of these is a special glyph system
that she can use to enhance her powers. Instead of merely collecting
power-ups, these magical spells can be collected throughout the game to
induce special powers. This allows her to perform a special attack or move
by using hearts. There are many types of glyphs in the game, each one
gives the player a specific ability, such as throwing knives, jumping
higher or other attacks. Performing these moves requires the player to
pause and create a force field around Shanoa, which she can then use the
moves. You can set the glyph moves on a secondary menu where you can
choose which ones to use and create different combinations of glyphs, or
combinations to make for even more powerful moves. This system can give
you plenty of advantages, especially in the boss battles where your
survival usually depends on which glypth you've equipped. There are
several types of these and each one has a unique effect on the main
character. As usual, the long dungeons offer plenty of room to explore and
navigate, and the onscreen map located on the upper gameplay screen helps
you to chart your progress and see where you're headed. Just as in
previous games, numerous save rooms are scattered throughout each level,
where you can not only keep your progress but gain an instant health
boost.
 Each
level is structured so that you can progress quickly through each room,
though you will probably find yourself backtracking from time to time when
you earn items, which allow you to pass through areas you previously
couldn't access. Ecclesia's gameplay is fairly standard for Castlevania
games, and most players will have little trouble with the basic controls.
You'll face off against many foes including familiar enemies like the
skeletons, banshees, zombies and axe wielding monsters to name a few. Much
of the game is spent in these dungeons, killing foes while looking to find
items and powers throughout. One interesting technique is to use Shanoa's
force field to propel you upwards through the levels, letting you dash
quickly to areas that can't be reached by her regular jumps. In addition
to these styles of play, you can also call on a number of creatures to aid
you and fight at your side when you've earned the right glyphs and special
powers. Your character's abilities can be upgraded quickly and easily
using the menus to navigate and equip various items in your inventory,
which makes the game much easier. While this sounds fairly typical for the
series, one interesting aspect is the level menu which allows you to jump
to a specific area in the game. You can also earn special tickets which
allow you to warp immediately back to the safety of your village, which
can come in quite handy. The single player game is fairly solid and well
done, but Konami has added a few multiplayer options in this installment
as well, which helps to add to its overall sense of quality and depth.
Using the Nintendo DS' wireless connection, you can challenge other
players to compete against you in Race mode, where the player who
completes the level fastest wins the game. This is a good idea that's been
successfully implemented because it fits in nicely with the style of play
Castlevania has become famous for without adding unnecessary gimmicks that
detract from the overall experience.
From a visual standpoint, Ecclesia does
a fairly decent job with decent backgrounds, good character animations and
the usual gothic soundtrack. It doesn't break much new ground, but the
familiar look and feel is appealing and stays true to Castlevania's
heritage. While there are many areas where the game breaks some new
ground, the thing most players will probably notice is how traditional it
is. You don't even have to draw symbols on the screen. This streamlined
isn't a bad thing however. Despite the fact that its basic gameplay
mechanics don't diverge greatly from the previous Castlevania titles,
Order of Ecclesia is a solidly entertaining title. In many respects, it's
blend of the familiar with new elements makes for a natural evolution for
the series. The role-playing elements first introduced in Symphony of the
Night are evident in the glyph system which adds magic and spells to the
mix. It's slightly less linear than previous games thanks to its world map
menu, though the adventure still must be completed in order to progress.
Order of Ecclesia's wi-fi modes are fun and entertaining, working well to
create a multiplayer experience with credibility. Previous DS installments
featured drawing and other gimmicks, but this one feels more
straightforward with very few frills - the surprising thing is that
Ecclesia proves they weren't needed in the first place. Konami has been
surprisingly consistent with the Castlevania series over the years in
Order of Ecclesia is another solid installment in the series that delivers
the classic gameplay, music and depth that players have come to expect
from Konami.
- Michael Palisano
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