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Post by Slime on Oct 22, 2008 2:48:31 GMT -5
Went into the game blind, not knowing what are the new features, didn't even know who the  n character's name is, only that the n character is a girl. Bought the game and have been playing it for a few hours. Haven't gotten too far, but it is what you expect out of Castlevania which is still a crap load of fun. Some stuff I got out of Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, World Map. You select dungeons or villages with the world map. Glyphs. You attack using glyphs. Glyphs are your weapons; swords, dagger, lance, etc, that are dropped by enemies. There are 3 glyph slots and 2 of them are for your weapons. You can fill both slots with the same weapon or have 2 different weapons in each slot. The difference is the combos you can do when attacking which is new in this Castlevania. You can experiment with all the weapons you can find to experiment with different combos. You could also combine both weapons to use special skills which consumes hearts. Glyphs are also your gadgets which takes up the 3rd glyph slot, for example, magnets which is somewhat similar to the hookshot, where it allows you to move to unreachable spots. Bad description, but you'll know it when you play it. One thing about using glyphs , even just for regular attacking, it consumes MP. A minor nuisance since you'll drain your MP pretty fast doing combos, but MP will regenerate pretty quickly. Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia is fun so far even though I'm not too deep into it. One small problem I have about the game so far is the instruction book. Either these guys are getting too lazy or nobody is just reading instruction books anymore. The instruction book is deceiving, by the looks of it, it looks as thick as any other instruction books for the DS, looks like it would contain some juicy information. Instead, it's only 5 pages with your basic information. Controls, screen information, some features about the game etc. There isn't a short story to start you off or a character bio page. Not a big deal, but just a thought. 26 paged instruction book, 5 pages of English. |
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Post by Slime on Oct 24, 2008 18:05:09 GMT -5
I think I hit the halfway mark, being able to see the worst ending, typical for a Castlevania game. Can't help but feel the dungeons are a bit small than other Castlevanias. There is more places to go through, but you won't spend that much time in them.
Still, it is what you expect from a Castlevania game. Get it.
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Post by MRW1215 on Oct 24, 2008 18:19:09 GMT -5
Mine came by UPS today, but I haven't found the time to start it yet. :/
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Post by Slime on Oct 24, 2008 19:54:17 GMT -5
Bomberman in Castlevania
and check this
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Post by Joe Snack Road on Oct 24, 2008 21:32:20 GMT -5
This one sounds a LOT more like Simon's Quest, where you go from different environments, from towns to the graveyards to the castle itself.
...but, it's 2D Castlevania on the DS; chances are even if its sucks, it's still going to be pretty good compared to most else.
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Post by motosada on Oct 25, 2008 0:56:33 GMT -5
I think I'll be holding off on this one a bit. I know that, just like Dawn and Portrait, if I don't act soon, I'll be s.o.l. (shit, I'm still trying to get my mitts on fucking Contra 4 - THANKS, KONAMI! IS MY MONEYS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU?!). Buuuutttt.... Disgaea is eating up all my time. I think I've put more time into it on the DS than I did on the PS2. And that says a lot.  ; So... What's this aboot Bomberman in Castlevania? Oh. And if Castlevania Judgement doesn't have Sophia Belmont in it, it can go fuck itself. |
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Post by Slime on Oct 25, 2008 0:58:36 GMT -5
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Post by motosada on Oct 25, 2008 1:06:28 GMT -5
Wow.
That was a really shitty and short bossfight. Damn.
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Post by orochigeese on Oct 25, 2008 1:57:46 GMT -5
This one sounds a LOT more like Simon's Quest, where you go from different environments, from towns to the graveyards to the castle itself. I kinda hope that's true. (Slime if you could confirm that, that would rule). I like the "choose a map" idea here. I gotta be honest, Portrait of Ruin was a fun game but I stopped playing it cause I didn't want to have to remember where everything was. (if i'd go more then a week without playing it, I'd totally lose the feel for it). The Castletroid games are of very high quality but they don't work for me personally. I prefer more self-contained stages. So if this is more self-contained and you just go to different stages without having to memorize too much terrain and paths, I'd really prefer this game over POR. Basically, I'm looking for something closer to Mega Man with Castlevania gameplay/settings. I just can't deal with mentally plotting out a whole map anymore. And it's not fun for me to constantly be checking a pre-made one either. |
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Post by Slime on Oct 25, 2008 2:46:41 GMT -5
This one sounds a LOT more like Simon's Quest, where you go from different environments, from towns to the graveyards to the castle itself. I kinda hope that's true. (Slime if you could confirm that, that would rule). I like the "choose a map" idea here. I gotta be honest, Portrait of Ruin was a fun game but I stopped playing it cause I didn't want to have to remember where everything was. (if i'd go more then a week without playing it, I'd totally lose the feel for it). The Castletroid games are of very high quality but they don't work for me personally. I prefer more self-contained stages. So if this is more self-contained and you just go to different stages without having to memorize too much terrain and paths, I'd really prefer this game over POR. Basically, I'm looking for something closer to Mega Man with Castlevania gameplay/settings. I just can't deal with mentally plotting out a whole map anymore. And it's not fun for me to constantly be checking a pre-made one either. I've never played Simon's Quest so I can't confirm any similarities, but maps are smaller and dungeons are separated from one another, different from any other Castlevanias I've played which is all the portable Castlevanias, from Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (1st GBA game) to Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia including Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles for PSP. Except for Dracula's castle in this game, which I've seen so far goes back to the other formula for Castlevania. A large dungeon, broken down in many parts. |
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Post by orochigeese on Oct 25, 2008 2:56:31 GMT -5
I've never played Simon's Quest so I can't confirm any similarities, but maps are smaller and dungeons are separated from one another, different from any other Castlevanias I've played which is all the portable Castlevanias, from Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (1st GBA game) to Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia including Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles for PSP. Except for Dracula's castle in this game, which I've seen so far goes back to the other formula for Castlevania. A large dungeon, broken down in many parts. Thanks man, that's pretty much the answer I wanted to hear. It's been a while since I've played Simon's Quest but the old NES games were more classic side-scroller then "Castletroid" style IIRC. Having smaller maps and separated dungeons means I can play this game and not have to use a map. That said, I can accept Dracula's castle being a bit more of an intensive affair as I'd imagine it's the final stage. |
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Post by MRW1215 on Oct 25, 2008 13:27:46 GMT -5
I played some of it last night (I finished the first boss fight), and having only ever played the other DS Castlevanias, it basically feels like more of the same. Er, don't get me wrong, I don't mean that in a negative way; I actually LIKE the Castlevania formula, and that's a big part of why I always tend to enjoy the DS games. The only thing I'm not that crazy about is how attacks consume MP. It hasn't been a problem for me (yet), because it refills pretty fast, but I don't like that "restriction" of possibly being left unable to attack. Again, though, it probably won't end up being much of a problem (if at all), because Castlevania games have never been "button mashy" for me, so... Anyway, Geese, even though you've apparently already got the answer you were looking for, the way I sort of think of it is, it's kind of like PoR's system of having different levels, except that you don't have to go running around one big level to find each of their entrances. Whenever you exit a "level" or "area" (whatever you like to call them  ), you're taken to a big world map, with each location plotted out, then you just move the cursor over the one you want to go to, click it, and you're there. Ever play the DS game Lunar Knights? If so, that's basically the same way you traverse to different areas or levels. |
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Post by orochigeese on Oct 25, 2008 17:54:08 GMT -5
but I don't like that "restriction" of possibly being left unable to attack. Again, though, it probably won't end up being much of a problem (if at all), because Castlevania games have never been "button mashy" for me, so... On one hand, from a gameplay perspective, that's kind of annoying. On the other hand, from a psychological viewpoint, that's kind of awesome. the idea of being without attacks as monsters chase you is more "survival horror" then most games are. And as long as the meter does fill back up soon, I think this kinda lends an interesting twist to the game. (I wonder if the next game will have an "L" breathe button ala Fire Pro ;D ) Anyway, Geese, even though you've apparently already got the answer you were looking for, the way I sort of think of it is, it's kind of like PoR's system of having different levels, except that you don't have to go running around one big level to find each of their entrances. Whenever you exit a "level" or "area" (whatever you like to call them ), you're taken to a big world map, with each location plotted out, then you just move the cursor over the one you want to go to, click it, and you're there. Ever play the DS game Lunar Knights? If so, that's basically the same way you traverse to different areas or levels. I appreciate your description as well  That's exactly what I wanted to hear too. Again, I thought PoR was an excellent game, I really do. But it falls into that category of "excellent games that OG can't play cause he no longer has patience for a particular gameplay aspect." (Every Final Fantasy game besides VI has that issue for me now as well, so I don't mean to take it out on Castlevania, a series I have the utmost respect for). I just can't keep plotting my own routes out, I just want to PLAY and fight rather then re-trace my steps. Especially if I take a few weeks off from the game and get totally lost. |
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Post by Slime on Oct 29, 2008 1:30:39 GMT -5
"I am the blade to banish all evil, and I've come to see you annihilated"
Just beat Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia and it was fun while it lasted, but felt very short. Timer in the game says about 8 hours, but subtract about 2 hours of grinding so about 6 hours. It is what you would expect out of Castlevania. Like it? Get it. Don't like Castlevania? This won't change your mind. Either my skills are diminishing or they shot up the difficulty, but I can't help but feel the game is a little harder than the other Castlevania games.
Some of you might still have questions about attacking using up your MP, but it was never a problem for me. But, melee weapons are useless, atleast for me. It's good early in the game, but when you start getting magic glyphs, melee weapons become obsolete.
Typical Castlevania modes are unlocked after you beat the game such as Boss Rush Mode and play the game as another character.
I still haven't beat Portrait of Ruins and will have to get back into it eventually, but I forgot what it had on wifi. But, in Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia there is a wifi mode where you can set up shop to sell your items. You set up shop in a small room with other people and you are able to buy items from the other players. There are some things about the shop that can be used to exploit the game. First, you can sell to yourself, pretty much duplicate what you have in your file. Second, there is no limit. Even if you only have one, lets say "Death Ring," someone can buy 5 of those Death Rings off of you. Third, you can use it to make your game a push over. With all the items that you buy early in the game just makes everything easy. Plus, for those who cheats the game can just generate items from cheats and sell those. Though, the shops can save you some frustration.
There are minor side quests in the game given to you to unlock new items in the shop. Most of these require drops from enemies and you can skip those by buying those drops from wifi shops.
Overall a fun experience and well worth $29.99.
"Hear me, Dracula! I am the morning sun coming to vanquish this horrible night!"
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Post by orochigeese on Oct 29, 2008 4:06:30 GMT -5
Wow, 6-8 hours is pretty damn quick  So magic is pretty much the n weapon in the game once things really start progressing? And regular weapons don't continue to have any real merit? I kinda like using actual weapons, you know. While I did enjoy the split system in PoR and the potential to use magic, i tended to use the guy more cause of the actual physical weaponry. I really am interested in Ecclesia though, i'm kinda on the border line of deciding whether to buy this next, get more Wii points or get Super Paper Mario as my next purchase. |
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), you're taken to a big world map, with each location plotted out, then you just move the cursor over the one you want to go to, click it, and you're there. Ever play the DS game Lunar Knights? If so, that's basically the same way you traverse to different areas or levels.
That's exactly what I wanted to hear too. Again, I thought PoR was an excellent game, I really do. But it falls into that category of "excellent games that OG can't play cause he no longer has patience for a particular gameplay aspect." (Every Final Fantasy game besides VI has that issue for me now as well, so I don't mean to take it out on Castlevania, a series I have the utmost respect for). I just can't keep plotting my own routes out, I just want to PLAY and fight rather then re-trace my steps. Especially if I take a few weeks off from the game and get totally lost. 