Castlevania Order of Ecclesia (DS)

[Dogg Thang]

Is there no first play thread for this already?

Arrived from Tronix this morning. First impressions - how have they managed to make this game so dull? Hopefully it will pick up but, man, it's a bad start.

Visually, it looks like the last two DS outings but with better character portraits. Very colourful, which works quite well. And there are new sprites here, which is nice.

But the level design so far is next to non-existent. Just long corridor sequences with the same enemies just constantly appearing. Platforms only serve to get you to another corridor sequence just so the map doesn't have to go off the screen. It's not really platforming.

It is divided up into levels, so loses that Metroid feel. Considering how long they had been throwing out half-assed SotN wannabes, that's something I guess I'd probably welcome, if they actually had realised that the levels themselves need to feel like, well, a game. And, so far, they don't.

This may well pick up. It couldn't be worse than the

->Open Spoiler<-

forest sequence

I went through earlier so it has to pick up.

But, so far, this game just isn't fun.

[Daragon]

I've heard nothing but praise for the game, maybe it does start off slow - apparently it blends Simon's Quest with SotN, my two favourites, so I'm personally looking forward to experiencing it.

[Dogg Thang]

The IGN review is glowing and does imply that the game changes quite dramatically later on so it may just be a case of getting these early levels out of the way.

[SuperBeatBoy]

I will post my impressions as soon as i have recieved it. I ordered it from Yesasia as i had some store credit to use.

[ShadowDancer]

Same..should be here next week now. I'm ready for this...it does pick up (from what I have seen)

[Dogg Thang]

Well a day's more play and good news - yeah, it gets better and more interesting. There are a few good boss fights even early on and, although they still suffer slightly from the modern CV flaw that you could beat them by just stocking up on potions, if you want a challenge and aren't loaded up with potions the bosses require some effort.

The locations and enemies get more interesting too and things begin to expand.

I still don't feel there is a huge amount of thought put into the level design yet but if this keeps improving at the current rate, I could well end up doing a complete 180 on my first impressions.

[ShadowDancer]

Well well well...so far so good. 25&#37; in and its progressed lovely and is good.

The first thing that hit me were the graphics, the detail, the colours..it is a graphical tour de force.

It plays beautifully. You start off completing one small map then move onto the next...I like this format..its good.

It is definitely harder than any of the exploration games I have played so far. (have played them all) The 'crab' boss inparticular is pretty tricky.

I just don't want to temp fate..but it seems to be getting better and better and I've got a long way to go yet.

It reaks of high production and polish from the word go. I can see a lot of CV fans falling in love with this one.

The glyphs work nice...I need to go back to it!

Looks like a return to form.

[ShadowDancer]

Duplicate (sorry)

[ShadowDancer]

Its also worth a mention that some areas kick off with an instant boss battle..I love that!

But

->Open Spoiler<-

You can always go to the village first and heart replenish and save then start the boss

[SuperBeatBoy]

Hows the music?

[ShadowDancer]

Its good, but so far a lot of it has been used in the different stages. What I have heard so far I have enjoyed. Then again..I thought the music in POR save a few areas was pretty average but everyone seemed to enjoy that.

I definitely am looking forward to opening new areas and hearing new pieces.

[SuperBeatBoy]

I thought the music in POR is dissapointing. So what you say sounds promising at least.

[ShadowDancer]

The more I play this the more i think this is the best Castlevania on DS yet.

For a start..the side quests are purposeful, doing things for the sake if it is boring...but this is really different.

I'm encoutering more areas, as a lot of them are small..but it keeps things really fresh. I'm coming across new music in different areas and i think this is a really decent soundtrack so far..loads of catchy pieces and definitely well composed with loads going on if you listen to it.

Some of the old enemies from other games..they've been re-drawn and the new enemies so far look great.

If this keeps going like it has..I think this might be my 2nd favourite CV...(AOS for me..i adore that game)

I hope others are getting the positive from this game..it is absolutely fantastic..and its on pause as i write this....just making a cuppa then I'm back on it.

[ShadowDancer]

Time for a break..its now 4.34am!

Not finished by a longshot...maybe its not quite correct to say this, but, if it maintains this quality and enjoyment for the other half it is without a doubt the best DS castlevania..and i don't mean by 'just' I mean by a long long way.

It throws everything into the mix..scrolling right to left from the off in areas, bosses here, there and everywhere..not just at the end of a stage.

The glyphs are fun and a very good idea to give it depth..it has depth.

And when all is said and done..it looks so ****ing beautiful. it reminds me of the detail in AOS.

I loved DOS but realised on my second playthrough of POR that POR was pretty average (to me anyway) and didn't ever bother with that again..the whip was poor I thought and felt better using a knife. Whatever Shanoa uses feels comfortable and right.

This is getting a massive thumbs up from me. This is an amazing chapter in the Castlevania timeline.

[SUMIRE]

God damn that crab boss is a pain in the ass..apart from that its more of the same, which is ok.