Order of Ecclesia

[quidmonkey]

Who be slaying Dracula this eve?

[Gorvi]

I'm curious to hear what people have to say. I enjoyed PoR, but it still felt like a lot more of the same. Is this one much different?

[Young Al Capone]

I am picking it up, but we will see if I spend much time with it tonight considering that Far Cry 2 is also releasing today.

[Purple Santa]

This was on my list but I have to put it on the backlog. Just can't swing it with school work and already ignored games that I have sitting awaiting my attention :(.

Let us know how it plays to those who do buy it.

[Young Al Capone]

Well, I picked it up, but didn't play as expected. Far Cry 2.

I plan on trying it out tonight though, I'll post some impressions if nobody beats me to it.

[Froghourt]

Shit thats coming out now?

I just bought Dead Space and I am pre ordering Gears 2 tomorrow.

I curse you winter months!

[OrigamiPanther]

Picked this up last night and played for a couple of hours. A quick rundown.

What's new:

The art style - I was pretty impressed with the new art style (http://www.videogamesblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/shanoa-the-main-character-in-castlevania-order-of-ecclesia-big.jpg) that they're using for the character portraits and even the opening movie. They're finally moving to using Ayami Kojima's actual artwork instead of the anime style for the previous games.
Glyphs - kind of. It's still the idea of capturing souls as in AoS and DoS, but the combination of glyphs seem to be implemented better so that you actually can pull off some pretty cool tricks with the right combo.
Difficulty - I breezed through the first few levels, and then got my ass kicked in the fourth or fifth area. They've definitely tweaked it some from the previous games.
Locations - Not entirely Dracula's castle! Yet to be seen if you have to play through his castle in both regular and mirrored versions, though. You're given a map and choices of where to go (semi-reminiscent of Castlevania III) for the next stage and there's actual variety in terms of how each one looks.


I'll be playing more this weekend and hopefully have more to say about actual gameplay and pros/cons, but so far, if you're a fan of these style of games, this one's a great entry.

[Young Al Capone]

Beat to it! Either way, I played some last night and it is awesome. If you are a Castlevania fan than this does not dissapoint.

The graphics are gorgous as always, with great animation and the series signature awesome artwork for the levels. Like Origami said, it is more in line with the original character portraits than the anime style of Dawn of Sorrow. I like it better, as it fits the tone better. Shanoa looks especially badass in the opening sequence.

The music is awesome, as always.

Gameplay wise it plays rather similar to the previous entries but the glyph system can be pretty cool. I have already found a few combonations that work really well together, whether they be super fast sword attacks alternated between throwing knives or slow but powerfull lance attacks while firing off a bow and arrow.

The difficulty is just about right; it is pretty difficult but not unfair or frustrating. Like Mega Man 9, almost everytime you die it is your own fault as you could have avoided it. It isn't nearly as hard as Mega Man 9 though. I died a few times, especially on bosses, but was always able to make progress in between.

I like the structure, levels strewn about an overwold map. The levels are still packed with secrets, I have found a few, but they are typically a little more difficult to find that in previous entries. So far the levels have varied between straight run throughs like a platformer to large fortresses to explore like a mini Castlvania all to itself.

All in all I am very pleased and look forward to playing more.

[jpublic]

Y'know, something about the DS/GBA offerings always turn me off. I wish they would stop trying to find new paradigms for the gameplay and just stick to the Symphony model - *bury us* in the collectable items, and make them relatively easy to get.

[quidmonkey]

Y'know, something about the DS/GBA offerings always turn me off. I wish they would stop trying to find new paradigms for the gameplay and just stick to the Symphony model - *bury us* in the collectable items, and make them relatively easy to get.

Err...have you even played Castlevania recently?

/facepalm

I decided to wait until Halloween to pick up my copy.

[Young Al Capone]

Err...have you even played Castlevania recently?

/facepalm

I was thinking the same thing. They have all basically followed the Symphony formula since that game was released. While the differences between how stuff is explained or implemented are significant, the gameplay remains basically the same.

For example in Ecclesia; there are still a hojillion different items to collect, a hojillion different glyphs (weapons and attacks), and potentially 255 levels to grind out.

[Young Al Capone]

I put in a little more time with this weekend, and am enjoying it quite a bit. I put it down last night after trying, and failing, this crab boss like thirty times. Man that fucker is a pain in the ass.

[quidmonkey]

So I lied. I picked up my copy on Saturday.

My first impressions:

I like the new jump: it's high and floaty.

The glyph system is...deep. In past Castlevanias, you had one attack; now you have two, which can be combined to form combos - plenty to explore. Dunno if I like the magic use yet.

Enemy encounters feel...strategic. The design focuses on the combat in a way I haven't seen before. Each battle plays out in a such a way that allows you to focus on enemy elemental weaknesses

Difficulty is steeper than the past few have been: it's in Circle of the Moon territory. The music also seems to be exploring new territories in a few places.

I put in a little more time with this weekend, and am enjoying it quite a bit. I put it down last night after trying, and failing, this crab boss like thirty times. Man that fucker is a pain in the ass.

His patterns are fairly simple: for the slow right-claw attack, stay in the upper left; fast claw, stay in the upper right; bubbles, run to the other side. Once he goes red and starts breaking the ceiling, stay left and down; the third hit gets a little tricky, as you have to fake him out and run the other way. Double up on Torpor glyphs. Once you reach the top you can't kill it with your weapons.

[Young Al Capone]

His patterns are fairly simple: for the slow right-claw attack, stay in the upper left; fast claw, stay in the upper right; bubbles, run to the other side. Once he goes red and starts breaking the ceiling, stay left and down; the third hit gets a little tricky, as you have to fake him out and run the other way. Double up on Torpor glyphs. Once you reach the top you can't kill with your weapons.

Thanks, I know what to do it is just a matter of doing it. I can make it to the top but by that point I am all out of health and meat/tonics, I am sure I will get it tonight.

[LiquidRain]

Fantastic game. Loving it so far. :)

[Purple Santa]

I think i'm going to pick this up at Best Buy. I have a few reward zone dollars that will basically pay for it.

[Adam Blue]

I'm totally enjoying this too, and yes, the crab is pain. But once you get it down it's easy. Just skill and timing. I like how things are changed up a bit in this one. I'm looking forward to finishing it.

[Urizen]

This is by far the best portable Castlevania title. It's a shame if people overlook it as being another marginal improvement on a formula going stale.

If you're someone who has held off on previous GBA and DS entries, this is a great point to jump in. It's an excellent game that's not going to get the love it deserves.

[quidmonkey]

This is by far the best portable Castlevania title. It's a shame if people overlook it as being another marginal improvement on a formula going stale.

I'm a little more than halfway, and it's looking like this is the case. They made the right choice in bringing back the old school difficulty.

A few gripes:

1) I wish your L-button dodge would also air dodge, Smash-style. If you press L and jump at the same time, you will jump diagonally backwards.

2) I wish the Guides were more integrated so that you could skip between your Bestiary and Items directly. A map marker for creature and item location would also be helpful.

3) Having to hold X and press L or R to switch sets with the Glyph Sleeve is inconvenient in combat.

[Heretic Machine]

I've been playing it and loving it. I'm really happy with the way they decided to have separate areas connected by a world map; it makes the game seem much less overwhelming than just one huge 2D map. I'm not really sure why the MP system for glyphs was necessary, but it hasn't really gotten in the way.

[Variable Gear]

I'm stuck on the crab boss, but, so far, I'd call Ecclesia the best portable Castlevania to date.
3) Having to hold X and press L or R to switch sets with the Glyph Sleeve is inconvenient in combat.
Aren't you supposed to hold A and press L or R?

[Disgustipated]

Got this a few days ago. I really, really need to check it out. I've loved every portable Castlevania (except that lame one on the GBA, Harmony of Dissonance... easily the worst Metroidvania)!

[Variable Gear]

Yeah, I skipped Harmony. I should have skipped Portrait as well, but Shane convinced me it was okay.

That was a mistake. :(