Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia

 DS
  • Publisher: Konami
  • Release Date: Oct 21, 2008
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 172 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 142 out of 172
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 172
  3. Negative: 12 out of 172
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  1. SeymourB
    Aug 8, 2009
    10
    This is by far my favorite DS and Castlevania game. My only complaint would be the ridiculous amount of time it takes to level up; you are forced to grind an awful lot to make it past the tougher challenges. And those complaining about the difficulty of the game should just try harder. Truly challenging games are rarities these days, and you're only helping to exacerbate that by This is by far my favorite DS and Castlevania game. My only complaint would be the ridiculous amount of time it takes to level up; you are forced to grind an awful lot to make it past the tougher challenges. And those complaining about the difficulty of the game should just try harder. Truly challenging games are rarities these days, and you're only helping to exacerbate that by complaining to developers. Once I completed the story, beat both secret areas and leveled up to 99, I was able to beat EVERY boss without even getting hit. This game is my idea of a perfect platforming title and the best $30 ever spent.… Expand
  2. duckypwns
    Dec 11, 2011
    9
    This is the most under rated DS Castlevania. It is often labeled as being the "worst" of the three. It's actually the best. It has the interesting glyph system, the best boss battles, the most prominent challenge, the best enemies, the best levels, the best secrets, the best weapon variety, the best music, the best story, the best characters, and the best visuals. If you haven't playedThis is the most under rated DS Castlevania. It is often labeled as being the "worst" of the three. It's actually the best. It has the interesting glyph system, the best boss battles, the most prominent challenge, the best enemies, the best levels, the best secrets, the best weapon variety, the best music, the best story, the best characters, and the best visuals. If you haven't played this one, you have missed out on one of the greatest Castlevania games of all time, even up there with Super Castlevania 4 and Symphony of the Night.… Expand
  3. marspot
    May 7, 2013
    10
    Ecclesia is DS Castlevania grown up. From it's unrelenting difficulty, to it's stray from the typical anime art style of previous installments, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia is exactly what the franchise needed to create a fresh new spin for an old audience (and reign in new fans alike).

    Game play The controls are smooth and natural, giving you the option to switch between skill sets    Ecclesia is DS Castlevania grown up. From it's unrelenting difficulty, to it's stray from the typical anime art style of previous installments, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia is exactly what the franchise needed to create a fresh new spin for an old audience (and reign in new fans alike).

    Game play The controls are smooth and natural, giving you the option to switch between skill sets on the fly with an array of powerful attacks at your mercy. It gives you the feeling that you really are something of a vampire hunter given special powers.

    The game itself is brutal, but rewarding. If you're looking for an easy ride, sit this one out. You'll find your Shanoa being pummeled over and over again by the same bosses, with you ready to chuck your DS in frustration, but that same challenge is what keeps you playing and makes the game all the more tense.

    Environment /Art Direction The art style is simply beautiful. It's fitting for a vampire-esque adventure, sad townsfolk and looming clouds over dead forests. Forlorn caverns and dark castles, as well as a creepy head-of-the order to boot. The game will suck you in throughout your travels in it's many environments. Gone is Soma's poofy silver hair, as well as Charlotte's cute anime optimism (which both felt amiss in a Castlevania game), replaced by a gloomy, emotionless heroine who tells her enemies to "go to hell". A true vampire hunter, indeed.

    Sound The Castlevanias have always impressed with catchy themes and upbeat rhythms. Although not on the epic scale that accompanied Symphony of the Night, Ecclesia comes with it's own brand of eerie melodies and upbeat adventure tunes.

    Story Here is where Ecclesia shines. The characters are so deep (again, something the recent DS installments didn't provide), you begin to play purely for the sympathy of Shanoa's trials and to discover what strength she could possibly have left. Be prepared for an emotional ride as you push through this game.    … Expand
  4. CJH.
    Oct 23, 2008
    10
    I think this game is clearly better than both other DS Castlevania games. That being said, allow me to say why. The 2 button combat system allows for players to customize their character. Along with the 2 button combat system, you also have the special ability to supercharge each button by pressing up. Combined with special glyphs that make use of the R button, I really don't think I think this game is clearly better than both other DS Castlevania games. That being said, allow me to say why. The 2 button combat system allows for players to customize their character. Along with the 2 button combat system, you also have the special ability to supercharge each button by pressing up. Combined with special glyphs that make use of the R button, I really don't think every player will play the same way. It is true that the opening levels are linear, but it does open up. I believe this linear setup makes the storyline a bit more believable and the fact that the main character has no relation to the belmonts is a breath of fresh air. For people that will say negatives, I already see the arguments coming. The first part of the game is linear (boohoo) the magic meter recharging is too slow (waaah) there is no belmont (awww) Personally, I do not think this game could get any better given the graphic constraints on the ds. In my opinion, the finest DS Castlevania game to date.… Expand
  5. TonyG.
    Oct 24, 2008
    10
    A breath of fresh air for castlevania. at 1st, I had doubts, but I admit this game is classic! music 10, graphics 10, gameplay 10.. a nice new pace from previous games. 1 gripe, boss battles are ridiculously hard ! besides that, game is neck and neck with symphony of the night.
  6. RyanS.
    Oct 25, 2008
    10
    If you don't mind a tough challenge, pick this game up. This is possibly the best action/platformer game on the DS, and one of the best i've EVER played. The enemies react so much more to you than in most games in which enemies are mostly automated. Also, soon after the beginning of the game, you will notice that enemies may not take hardly any damage from certain weapons; this If you don't mind a tough challenge, pick this game up. This is possibly the best action/platformer game on the DS, and one of the best i've EVER played. The enemies react so much more to you than in most games in which enemies are mostly automated. Also, soon after the beginning of the game, you will notice that enemies may not take hardly any damage from certain weapons; this is where the genius takes place. Enemies are often paired up so that you cannot just clear a room with one weapon. In most of the old Castlevanias (and other games in general) you would just equip your best weapon and proceed through the game until you got a more powerful weapon. In OE (Order of Ecclesia) this is not so. You must switch weapons to defeat enemies. So, you may be fighting one enemy and hurting him a lot while dodging another enemy for whom you need a different weapon. It creates so much more strategy and requires a lot more skill. You have 3 sets of Two weapons. You can switch between these 3 sets on the fly. Also, each set can have a different subweapon (this is dependent upon which two weapons you have equipped). These to me are the most important aspects because the gameplay is so drastically different from most other action games. The animations, music, and everything else is on par or better than anything else in the Castlevania series.… Expand
  7. SteveM.
    Oct 29, 2008
    10
    This game is excellent. Really, right up there with Symphony and Dawn of Sorrow. A word to the weak: the game is hard. Despite what you may have heard, the bosses are not unfair, and it is not a grind-fest. You simply need patience and a memory worth 30 seconds to assess their patterns and take them down, which is rewarding, to defeat such difficult bosses. Really, game reviewers are This game is excellent. Really, right up there with Symphony and Dawn of Sorrow. A word to the weak: the game is hard. Despite what you may have heard, the bosses are not unfair, and it is not a grind-fest. You simply need patience and a memory worth 30 seconds to assess their patterns and take them down, which is rewarding, to defeat such difficult bosses. Really, game reviewers are wrong to fault a game for being difficult when it is not a product of bad design. I'm so sick of challenge being interpreted as archaic design. This game is a really polished gem.… Expand
  8. jasonc
    Apr 2, 2009
    10
    I brought this game recently, the actual gameplay is brilliant, not massively different from past castlevania games but then this would not be castlevania if they changed the way it plays out too much. the game bosses are difficult...and i love it!!, a boss is called a boss because hes the big daddy at the end of the level, he's the one the other enemies look up to. this is what we I brought this game recently, the actual gameplay is brilliant, not massively different from past castlevania games but then this would not be castlevania if they changed the way it plays out too much. the game bosses are difficult...and i love it!!, a boss is called a boss because hes the big daddy at the end of the level, he's the one the other enemies look up to. this is what we loved about old school 2d scrollers, theres nothing more memorable that kick ass bosses. ok nobody likes being stumped by bosses, but there is always a way, a tactic to beat every boss, when you get it you are pleased and look forward to the next big boss!... aside from GTA:CW this is the next best DS game available, classic 2d scrolling with a few good new features and memorable kick arse bosses you wont forget in a hurry. you gotta love it.… Expand
  9. HansC
    Aug 6, 2009
    9
    This was my first Castlevania game ever. I think the gameplay was really amazing. I enjoyed the boss fights -- I like it when you need to really think up strategies and practice them a bit before being able to beat a boss. The only thing I didn't like about this game was the story. Imo it's weak, and the pacing is not very well done. To be frank: storywise, I think the second This was my first Castlevania game ever. I think the gameplay was really amazing. I enjoyed the boss fights -- I like it when you need to really think up strategies and practice them a bit before being able to beat a boss. The only thing I didn't like about this game was the story. Imo it's weak, and the pacing is not very well done. To be frank: storywise, I think the second part of the game sucks. Then again, I don't think story is that important in this kind of game. I'm really looking forward to playing the other Castlevania games on the DS. I got a hold of Dawn of Sorrow and am searching for Portrait of Ruin. Order of Ecclesia really got me hooked.… Expand
  10. BrianS
    Dec 27, 2008
    10
    This is the best Castlevania game since Symphony of the Night, hands down. The characters are fresh (there aren't any Belmonts in it!), the gameplay is at an all-time high. If you're complaining about the difficulty, it's because you're bad at video games, not because the game is too hard. I'm at a fairly average skill level and I beat it in a couple nights. This is the best Castlevania game since Symphony of the Night, hands down. The characters are fresh (there aren't any Belmonts in it!), the gameplay is at an all-time high. If you're complaining about the difficulty, it's because you're bad at video games, not because the game is too hard. I'm at a fairly average skill level and I beat it in a couple nights. It's harder than most recent Castlevania games, and you will die many, many times on your way through it, but the difficulty never reaches the point where you just quit playing. On top of that, there's plenty of depth to keep you coming back for more. The highlight is the boss battles. This game has some of the coolest I've seen in a while. Wouldn't it be a disappointment if that really gnarly looking boss was the pushover so many people seem to be complaining about him not being? I think so. I dug this game.… Expand
  11. Milan
    Oct 11, 2010
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia is often overlooked because of its higher difficulty level. However, I would argue that this is actually one of the game's strong points. Unlike other metroidvanias such as SotN and PoR, OoE gives a challenge actually that stays consistent throughout the game, meaning that the player will never become bored with lack of combat immersion. Contrary to many other games with RPG elements, Castlevania doesn't force you to level grind in order to defeat the more difficult enemies and bosses. Instead, all you need is a little bit of patience and pattern recognition, and you'll be running through levels without taking any damage in no time. OoE also boasts a wonderful style of art, leaning toward the traditional, more Gothic and dark theme that the original Castlevanias employed over the anime style that was featured in Dawn of Sorrow and Portrait of Ruin. The enemies look sharp and crisp and Shanoa herself is very well animated. The backdrops throughout the game are also detailed and varied whilst remaining mysterious-looking and Gothic, and the new levels outside of Dracula's castle also give more variety. No longer will you be confined to the same old castle - you can now fight in locales ranging from foggy forests to cloud-piercing mountains. This new gameplay feature of locations outside of the castle may be seen by some as linear but, in reality, OoE still features the same old metroidvania gameplay of going back to old levels with new abilities to find secrets and new items; it's just that you are no longer limited to one big castle when doing this. Speaking of which, there are several secret items and glyphs to go back and retrieve at later points in the game.

    The combat system in OoE is great. Shanoa uses magical weapons called Glyphs, which function just as standard weapons from previous Castlevanias, except with new features such as Unions and mixing magic-based Glyphs with physically-based Glyphs. The combat is fluid and Shanoa is very agile; the controls are prefect whether you are double-jumping, backdashing, or even dodging an enemy's ranged attacks in the air. There are also some minor online features - shop mode and race, but only shop mode will really catch your attention.

    The story in Order of Ecclesia is pretty good, but nothing groundbreaking, but the characters themselves slightly make up for this. The music in OoE is a bit of a disappointment compared to previous music-heavy Castlevanias such as PoR and SotN, with only 1 or 2 exceptional tracks, but the overall quality is still quite good.

    The re-playability of Order of Ecclesia is excellent. Whereas the normal story generally takes about 25 hours to complete, you will spend another 25 simply hunting for all of the secret items, weapons, and glyphs, playing around in Boss Rush and Sound modes, completing the Training Hall and Large Cavern, playing Albus and hard modes and subsequently reaching level 255, and maxing out all attributes familiars.

    All-in-all Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia is an excellent game that shouldn't be ignored simply because it is harder than your average game (which, to be frank, isn't hard in the slightest). OoE is a great game for anyone looking for a side-scrolling platformer with RPG elements, and an excellent game for a Castlevania fan in particular.    … Expand
  12. Rockinsquat
    Mar 13, 2013
    10
    Certainement un des meilleurs Castlevania avec SOTN le jeu est sublimes Shanoa est incroyable les animations sont a tomber par terre Les musiques sublimes bref le Perfect pour ce jeu.
  13. systemjimmy
    Apr 3, 2013
    10
    Having played all three DS Castlevania games I must say that I enjoyed this one the most.
    Don't get me wrong, all three Castlevania on DS were awesome but order of ecclesia brought something fresh.
  14. ShawnD
    Jun 1, 2019
    10
    I might be a decade late to review this, but this game is a lot of fun. The weapon system is rather unique so you can come up with your own ideas for how to play the game.
  15. Vermillion32
    May 30, 2018
    10
    Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia its a must play for castlevania fans.

    Although the game is very hard, specially for newcomers, it offers a great sense of satisfaction (bosses are really hard, but once you get the hang of the game, you will beat them in no time, even with Comfodere), enemies are strong and their resistances are very pronounced like in Portrait of Ruin so you have to be    Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia its a must play for castlevania fans.

    Although the game is very hard, specially for newcomers, it offers a great sense of satisfaction (bosses are really hard, but once you get the hang of the game, you will beat them in no time, even with Comfodere), enemies are strong and their resistances are very pronounced like in Portrait of Ruin so you have to be careful on how you use both physical and magical glyphs.

    the controlls are tight and the backdash its the best out of all the ds vanias (once you get the moonwalkers you will feel straight like in symphony), you dont have a "super jump" but you do get a flight glyph, you also get Rapidus Fio wich is just like the speed up spell from Portrait, or the Black Panther soul from Dawn/Aria.

    The music its amazing (like in most castlevanias), Michiru Yamane´s work its always incredible (the main theme, An Empty Tome, its very good and it plays throughout most of dracula´s castle), and the graphics are really good like in the other ds castlevanias, BUT the art style is better! (i also like the character sprites in this one better).

    the story overall its pretty descent, with the belmonts out, other vampire hunters had to stop dracula (like the morris and lecarde from bloodlines and portrait), i think the difficulty its higher because of this (wich would make sence since Ecclesia did not have the whip or the holy items).

    Overall the game its a rewarding experience, for experienced players*, its unforgiving and health items are few and expensive, enemies will drop items but the drop rates for good items are very low, Glyphs on the other hand arent that hard to get. Bosses will kill you in seconds if you dont fight them carefully and you level up very slowly, but the game its not a non-stop boss rush, savepoints are well placed (after stage hazards and before bosses) the village has a fountain of infinite hearts and a save point, you get the "Magical Ticket" so you can get to the village in no time, unless you are fighting a boss (in wich case you cant use the item). and once you finish each mission the villagers give you, you get an use/equip item or money! you also get a hard mode (max level 50 and max level 1!!!!) wich buffs all enemies and adds some more and changes their behaviour.
    i really enjoyed every single hour i spent in this game!!    … Expand
  16. stigmatwilight
    Feb 12, 2021
    10
    This is the best Castlevania game ever!

    The game takes a more linear approach, which allows for a better paced story and a higher focus on combat. The story and characters are pretty amazing for a Castlevania game, which are well known for being not exactly story-heavy. The emotionless Shanoa is a compelling protagonist, Albus is one of my favorite characters EVER, and even the    This is the best Castlevania game ever!

    The game takes a more linear approach, which allows for a better paced story and a higher focus on combat. The story and characters are pretty amazing for a Castlevania game, which are well known for being not exactly story-heavy. The emotionless Shanoa is a compelling protagonist, Albus is one of my favorite characters EVER, and even the sidequest villagers have fairly fleshed out personalities. These sidequests also allow an insight into how Shanoa's emotionless state effects how she interacts with others. I won't spoil much, but the ending is just beautiful and bittersweet.

    The map is split into around 20 different smaller maps, rather than being one large interconnected castle. I think this actually helps the game rather than hinders it, as it's kind of easier to digest, and easy to put down and pick back up again. This also allows for the player to explore new and exciting outdoor locations like forests, oceans, and mountains, which haven't seen much love in the "metroidvania" games. It really creates the sense of going on a journey across the Transylvanian countryside! The castle itself- once you actually make it there- is pretty decently sized, anyway.

    The gameplay itself is pretty fun and addicting. Never before have i felt so compelled to hunt down every last item and spell, and the combat is a thing of beauty. Shanoa is quick, responsive, and has a really versatile output, which she needs considering the increased difficulty of this entry in the series. Shanoa has a ton of Glyph spells available for her arsenal, that she can combine into "Glyph Unions". Her damage output is high, but her defenses are lackluster, making her a speedy, powerful glass cannon. I LOVE HER. The new boss fights are challenging in a fun and engaging way. Grinding for better stats and attacks isn't what will help you- learning the best strategy will. It requires a bit more thought than just button mashing and I love it. I struggled with this game's difficulty at times, but I was never frustrated at all! (And that's coming from someone who's pretty impatient lol). There are also two optional challenge areas (one focused on combat, and one on platforming) and an unlockable extra character with a very unique play-style, as he uses mostly ranged attacks.

    The OST is wonderful and there are some atmospheric tunes (Edge of the Sky, Wandering the Crystal Blue, Jaws of a Scorched Earth, Cantus Motteten, etc), some total bangers (Sorrow's Distortion, Lament to the Master, An Empty Tome, Chamber of Ruin, Dissonant Courage, etc) and the sprites and animation are very pretty.

    Definitely give this hidden gem a playthrough. It changed a lot of things about the Castlevania formula, which made for an incredible, unique experience.    … Expand
  17. Watermelon789
    Jul 28, 2011
    8
    Before you throw your DS to the floor, play Order of Ecclesia in my case I found the plat forming with the action, challenging. Ridiculous boss battles beat the crap out of you, frustrating levels mixed with exploration.
  18. Caestus
    Mar 11, 2013
    8
    Better than dawn of sorrow.
  19. AndyP
    Jan 1, 2009
    10
    This game is a fun add on to the already great castlevania series for the ds. I really enjoy the music (a nice break from all the piano style music) and the gameplay some parts were frustrating but the boss battles were REALLY easy it normally took me my 2nd or 3rd try to beat a boss ( maybe because i took like 2 hours to level up =P) but the boss battles are still a lot of fun and the This game is a fun add on to the already great castlevania series for the ds. I really enjoy the music (a nice break from all the piano style music) and the gameplay some parts were frustrating but the boss battles were REALLY easy it normally took me my 2nd or 3rd try to beat a boss ( maybe because i took like 2 hours to level up =P) but the boss battles are still a lot of fun and the side quests are nice too ( rating is actually 9.7).… Expand
  20. simpletaste
    Apr 5, 2012
    9
    Great game. Punishing difficulty for newcomers equals steep learning curve. Once you overcome that, you'll have a greater appreciation on the game design as well as confidence in your own abilities. Weapon selection is limited compared to past entries, but are all either useful or can be useful depending on individual play styles. The game will force you to switch your tactics andGreat game. Punishing difficulty for newcomers equals steep learning curve. Once you overcome that, you'll have a greater appreciation on the game design as well as confidence in your own abilities. Weapon selection is limited compared to past entries, but are all either useful or can be useful depending on individual play styles. The game will force you to switch your tactics and mindset. People who don't will have a harder time, while people who do or think outside the box will be rewarded. Character design is brilliant, option to toggle in game voice to either English or Japanese is a welcomed addition although the children sound annoying in both languages IMO. Level design is good aside from a few palette swaps. I did enjoy the various nods to previous Castlevania titles. Various monster designs are good with a handful redone from previous titles. Story is comparable to other Castlevania entries on the DS which is lacking in that department. I did like the strong main female protagonist, however, I believe the story presentation could have been improved by adding more pieces of art to overlay the story parts, going more in depth with the characters and Ecclesia as an organization itself.… Expand
  21. Decemuladores
    Nov 20, 2011
    8
    Konami and Castlevania is like Square Enix and Final Fantasy and the new plot of this Castlevania is envelope as if it were the original series. With almost the same formula of the previous but with new touches Order of Ecclsesia represent de best Castlevania in portable console this generation.
  22. Aeon
    Mar 7, 2013
    10
    This my friends is the best Castlevania. This game is the hardest out of the Castlevania (okay lets take out those 8 bit Castlevanias) games and the most unique one using a glyph system, which haven't been used before and will never be used again I guess (too bad), This game has the typical Castlevania atmosphere with some old mixed Castlevania action music and alot new music, giving youThis my friends is the best Castlevania. This game is the hardest out of the Castlevania (okay lets take out those 8 bit Castlevanias) games and the most unique one using a glyph system, which haven't been used before and will never be used again I guess (too bad), This game has the typical Castlevania atmosphere with some old mixed Castlevania action music and alot new music, giving you the Castlevania typical feeling. That's the first step for a good Castlevania game. Another one is being Metroidvania. Mixed with the difficulty, the damn cool bosses and a friggin damn new glyph system. All in all I can say, just play this if you search challenge a, nice story along with nice NDS graphics. Must have for Castlevania fans. Other people shuld play this aswell.… Expand
  23. Plasmaneedle
    Mar 16, 2014
    9
    This alongside Dawn of Sorrow is the best Castlevania game since Symphony of The Night. Its challenging difficulty makes it extra rewarding and its hack n slash gameplay is the best on the DS. And of course there's the great Metroidvania formula that makes the series so popular. Definitely worth your time.
  24. jksteiner1974
    Jan 26, 2014
    9
    This is an excellent game that pulls you in from the start. The glyph system is innovative and easy to use. Why some have called this game difficult is hard to understand. It's certainly not easy, but to call it 'difficult' s a stretch. Many who complain that the game is difficult seem to offer examples that are in the beginning of the game, indicating that they haven't really put anyThis is an excellent game that pulls you in from the start. The glyph system is innovative and easy to use. Why some have called this game difficult is hard to understand. It's certainly not easy, but to call it 'difficult' s a stretch. Many who complain that the game is difficult seem to offer examples that are in the beginning of the game, indicating that they haven't really put any time or effort into it. Grinding is not necessary if one takes the time to actually understand how the glyphs and elementals work (yes you might have to actually study the menu). The music is great, the boss battles are fun, the story is compelling, it's just an all-around great game that provides hours and hours of fun.… Expand
  25. tom974
    Aug 7, 2021
    8
    Very nice Castlevania game. Be warned it's the toughest of the DS trilogy, but the learning curve perfectly works against the bosses. Nice artistic direction, the music were a bit better in Portrait of ruins though. A must play for the Metroidvania amateurs.
  26. ylnylmn
    Aug 25, 2021
    8
    What a tough game. I was expecting a game on Aria and Dawn difficulty. But no, it's definitely much harder. Especially Bosses. Blackmore was tough. I can't count how many times I've died in Dracula. I used 9 potions and 8 high potions. I finally managed to kill it. In general, it was difficult to evade the attacks of all bosses. But the bosses were good. I liked it. It was nice to walkWhat a tough game. I was expecting a game on Aria and Dawn difficulty. But no, it's definitely much harder. Especially Bosses. Blackmore was tough. I can't count how many times I've died in Dracula. I used 9 potions and 8 high potions. I finally managed to kill it. In general, it was difficult to evade the attacks of all bosses. But the bosses were good. I liked it. It was nice to walk around the Village and do quests. But it takes a long time to drop items from enemies. Large Cavern was very difficult. I didn't like Castle's level design. And the enemies inside were very challenging. It was a more linear game than previous CV metroidvanias. The story wasn't bad. The music was still good. It was a good game but a little too hard.… Expand
  27. Alexander838
    Feb 28, 2021
    10
    10/10 *********************************************************************
  28. ireviewgames123
    May 29, 2021
    9
    TL;DR If you liked other Metroidvanias you'll probably like this one but keep in mind it's harder. No stylus required Thank God.

    Taking place after the events of Symphony of the Night- you play as Shanoa a Glyph Master apart of an organization (The Order of Ecclesia) that has been tasked with finding a way to destroy Dracula in the absence of the Belmont clan. The story is similar in    TL;DR If you liked other Metroidvanias you'll probably like this one but keep in mind it's harder. No stylus required Thank God.

    Taking place after the events of Symphony of the Night- you play as Shanoa a Glyph Master apart of an organization (The Order of Ecclesia) that has been tasked with finding a way to destroy Dracula in the absence of the Belmont clan. The story is similar in some respects to other Castlevanias in the past (SOTN, COTM and HoD come to mind) with a rivalry motif but it's neat to see a non-dominant-Belmont story with a new power. No Vampire Killer here!

    Gone is the anime style from Dawn of Sorrow and Portrait of Ruin. The art style here is fantastic with lovely sprites and character art for portraits. Some sprites are recycled from previous games but they fit fine and the ones added are well done. The music is amazing as well only bummer was sometimes tracks were repeated in different levels I was wanting more because all of it was so good and catchy.

    One of the main mechanics is the Glyph System which allows you to absorb Glyphs, either dropped by enemies or hanging around in the environment, and give you special abilities typically in the form of a weapon or some sort of buff. The closest thing to it would be Soma's 'Power of Dominance' soul-absorbing ability from Aria/Dawn of Sorrow. You no longer equip weapons like in previous games instead weapons are in the form of Glyphs (e.g. your sword, rapier, hammer, etc. is a Glyph you equip). Armor is still equipped and is separate. Using Glyphs absorb MP, MP can be slow to drain depending on your weapons and MP does recharge rather quickly after you cease attacking. So yes- doing attacks drains MP but it's really noticeable and can even add an extra layer of strategy. You get two slots for attacks each assigned to a different button. You can mix and match or have the same weapon for both buttons. On top of MP you have a heart meter. Hearts are used for special attacks typically stronger than your normal. Depending on the weapons you have equipped depends on the special attack you will have.

    This game can be seen as a hybrid between old-school Castlevania and Metroidvania. You have a map where you have a hub-world and levels you select, go through, and open up more as you go along. The hub-world is home to the villagers you save and interact with them. You can do quests, buy items and equipment, talk, save and refill your hearts. Levels can be boiled down into one of two layouts (or can be a mixture: More of a straight-line where you fight enemies until you get to the end (closer to OG) or you explore a large structure that has branching paths (closer to Metroidvania). I think this works quite well.

    The game itself came off harder to me than previous Metroidvanias. I don't mind this Metroidvanias are usually way too easy (but difficulty does let up about 2/3 of the way through). Enemies feel like they have more of a presence and the bosses are quite a spectacle and fun to fight. Most bosses are memorable and you're gonna have to pay attention they aren't complete pushovers like in previous Metroidvanias.

    Aside from some parts that felt a bit tedious/grindy (some quests have you grind for items that have an awful drop rate in order to unlock extra items in the shop) and feeling ripped off from the merchant's prices the game was a blast. Does not require you to use the stylus at all!! Make sure you save all the villagers so you can get to (spoilers wow) Dracula's castle since it essentially doubles your content and makes the game feel complete.    … Expand
  29. thebaaloff
    Jul 26, 2021
    8
    Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia is a fantastic game, though, I don't hold it as close to myself as other people. While this game did fix a lot of Symphony's problems, I prefer the classic style. Though the world itself, looks beautiful. It's not set indoors the whole times. That's a problem I had with Symphony. But I prefer the more "open ended" style of Symphony. This game sort of goesCastlevania: Order of Ecclesia is a fantastic game, though, I don't hold it as close to myself as other people. While this game did fix a lot of Symphony's problems, I prefer the classic style. Though the world itself, looks beautiful. It's not set indoors the whole times. That's a problem I had with Symphony. But I prefer the more "open ended" style of Symphony. This game sort of goes level by level with mini Metroidvania levels rather then a giant one, which makes it a bit less fun to traverse.
    However the game is still a masterpiece and it is worth everybody's time    … Expand
  30. Darkspawn677
    Aug 8, 2022
    10
    Shanoa has to be more like bayonetta the game should be easier she has to learn how to control dominus and she also has to be a witch like bayonetta if the game was easier monsters would have been easier to defeat it also has to be easier to level up and your stats should also go up in castlevania
  31. GamerSparrow
    Jul 24, 2022
    10
    Una vuelta de tuerca refrescante a la clásica fórmula metroidvania. Un buen juego para iniciarse en la saga. Con una dificultad desafiante, y mecánicas intuitivas, es la prueba de que cambiar la receta funciona.
  32. Darkshade
    Aug 22, 2022
    10
    Shanoa has to be like bayonetta and shanoa have to be like ahsoka tano for dracula
  33. Sou_o_Storm
    Dec 20, 2022
    8
    PT-BR: Desafiador, incrível e bem feito. Simplesmente o meu Castlevania favorito. A mecânica dos glifos, os chefões, os mapas. Simplesmente maravilhoso, eu genuinamente senti medo quando lutei com o esqueleto pela primeira vez, e amo o quanto esse jogo consegue me fazer gostar mais e mais dele conforme eu vou jogando.
    EN: Challenging, amazing and well done. Simply my favorite    PT-BR: Desafiador, incrível e bem feito. Simplesmente o meu Castlevania favorito. A mecânica dos glifos, os chefões, os mapas. Simplesmente maravilhoso, eu genuinamente senti medo quando lutei com o esqueleto pela primeira vez, e amo o quanto esse jogo consegue me fazer gostar mais e mais dele conforme eu vou jogando.
    EN: Challenging, amazing and well done. Simply my favorite Castlevania. The mechanics of the glyphs, the bosses, the maps. Just wonderful, I genuinely felt scared when I first fought the skeleton, and I love how much this game manages to make me like it more and more the more I play it.    … Expand
  34. Yojimbo2015
    May 21, 2023
    8
    Another Metroid-style entry to the Castlevania series and it works just as well as the previous instalment. Good horror-orientated platforming fun.
  35. MrMello
    Sep 3, 2023
    10
    Order of Ecclesia is easily the best Castlevania on the Nintendo DS so anyone who has played the other two games will feel right at home great gameplay difficulty Superb graphics the best of the trilogy memorable soundtrack and a good story The system of glyphs works very well, it is pleasant to destroy your enemies with spells or physical weapons, the variety of enemies is huge, from aOrder of Ecclesia is easily the best Castlevania on the Nintendo DS so anyone who has played the other two games will feel right at home great gameplay difficulty Superb graphics the best of the trilogy memorable soundtrack and a good story The system of glyphs works very well, it is pleasant to destroy your enemies with spells or physical weapons, the variety of enemies is huge, from a zombie to a merman, mermaids, skeletons and of course many others Bosses are challenging but fun to fight even more with soundtrack during battle The game rewards you for exploration either with glyphs or items that make you even more powerful. . In case if I were to point out something negative I would say the villager's quest system which usually boils down to picking up a number of items and bringing them here varying occasionally to take pictures Or recording the sound of a creature but still a great game one of the best Castlevania for me I hope you can enjoy it the same way I enjoyed it … Expand

Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best DS Game of 2008
5
#5 Most Discussed DS Game of 2008
3
#3 Most Shared DS Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 46
  3. Negative: 0 out of 46
  1. GamePro
    80
    Take gorgeous graphics, intense action, and interesting gameplay concepts, marry it to the legendary Castlevania franchise and release it on the DS. [Nov 2008, p.100]
  2. Nintendo Power
    80
    Order of Ecclesia may not have a wealth of newness to contribute, but the Castlevania formula still works like a charm, and the game's traditionally strong boss and level designs hold up well in the smaller, more focused areas. [Dec 2008, p.92]
  3. IGN
    90
    Stronger than Portrait of Ruin, Circle of the Moon, and Harmony of Dissonance? Is this reviewer's opinion, yes. The best on DS, or top in the series? I just don't think so.
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